Farm Africa is an international non-governmental organization working to increase the incomes and improve food security of smallholder farmers, pastoralists, agro-pastoralists, and forest dwellers in East Africa.Farm Africa is a different kind of charity, working to end hunger and bring prosperity to rural Africa.
The Kenya country office is currently recruiting highly qualified persons to fill the following position:
1. Job Title: Agribusiness Manager, MAEF
Reports To: Head of Market Engagement
Staff Reporting to Post Holder: Portfolio Officers, Grants Specialist
Location: Nairobi with regular travel locally and within East Africa
Duration & Hours: One year, renewable
Purpose of the Role:
To provide leadership and oversight of all enterprise development and capacity building activities of Farm Africa’s Maendeleo Agricultural Enterprise Fund (MAEF).
Key Tasks and Responsibilities
1. Define and implement an investment strategy based on market research, and ensure that work is consistent with Farm Africa’s strategies and business plans
Identify priority areas for investment and plan market interventions where MAEF can have highest impact
Set and take full responsibility for achieving overall and individual grantee targets related to sales, income and company profitability2. Identify and select MAEF investments (grants)
Source for business opportunities through various methods, including networking, advertising and other solicitation means
Working with the Advisory Committee, review and shortlist concept notes and business cases
Work with potential grantees to develop business plans
Lead the final selection process including subsequent budget and contract negotiations with selected grantees3. Oversee grantees in project implementation, providing business capacity building and other support, as needed
Monitor grantees’ progress against targets through regular report reviews, site visits and third-party verification
Assess capacity building needs of grantees and ensure proper support is provided, either internally or through external consultants/specialist firms
Liaise with and create partnerships with relevant companies, organizations, financial institutions and government agencies, to ensure success of project outcomes
Document and disseminate lessons learned4. Provide leadership in overall management of the MAEF programme in accordance with project documents, work plans and budgets
Responsible for the preparation and implementation of budgets and work plans
Write or review and approve narrative and financial reports to MAEF donors
Comply with Farm Africa internal processes and procedures5. Supervise MAEF staff members and collaborate with Farm Africa’s other projects and senior managers in East Africa and London
Provide guidance and mentoring to MAEF programme and support staff
Conduct regular appraisals, set and monitor objectives, assist with work planning
Liaise and collaborate with other Farm Africa country offices involved with the MAEF project, including CDs, Communications, M&E and any other relevant staff6. Increase visibility through promotion and marketing of the MAEF programme and grantees’ commercial activities
Assist the Country Director and London-based fundraising staff to actively seek new funding opportunities for MAEF
Contribute to writing funding proposals and preparing budgets
As directed by the Country Director, liaise with current and potential donors7. Any other duties as directed by the Head of Market Engagement or the Country Director
Education, qualifications & other knowledge
Essential
A Bachelor’s degree in a relevant subject
Demonstrated knowledge of rural enterprise development and/or small business management
Minimum 5 years’ professional experience in agriculture, agribusiness or related sector
Fluency in written and spoken EnglishDesirable
MBA or equivalent
Private sector experience
Experience in banking, finance, investment or related field
Fluency in Swahili or other East African languageExperience
Essential
Capacity building of organisations and companies
Financial management and budgetingDesirable
Business planning and company growth strategiesSkills & abilities
Essential
Networking, collaboration and convening capacity
Communication (both verbal & written)
Report writingDesirable
Negotiating and managing partner relationships
Fundraising and policy influencing2.Job Title: Project Coordinator (PC)
Reports To: Programmes Manager (PM)
Staff Reporting to the Post Holder: Project Officer,
Location: Kitale, with regular field travel
Duration: One year fixed term, renewable
Purpose of the Role:
To manage the implementation, monitoring and reporting of the Youth Empowerment in Sustainable Agriculture (YESA) project.
This position requires an experienced manager with strong technical skills in implementing agriculture projects specifically with youth and with a track record of production, marketing, product logistics, post-harvest handling, seed systems or similar.
Key Tasks and Responsibilities
To provide overall technical and operations leadership in implementation of the YESA project
To manage the project in accordance with project documents, work plans and budgets and ensure that work is consistent with Farm Africa’s strategies and the conditions of donor contracts
To line manage the project staff and provide technical and operational backstopping while, on day to day basis, be directly engaged in practical elements of project implementation
To manage and nurture mutually beneficial partnerships with other stakeholders, including other NGOs, County government, private sector companies, etc
To keep abreast of relevant changes in government policy that could affect the project and advise senior management accordingly
To play an active role as a member of the Farm Africa Kenya team.
To prepare the project budget and work plan in line with Farm Africa’s planning process and schedules on timely basis
To prepare and submit quarterly narrative and financial reports in the standard format to the line manager with both internal and donor requirements
To ensure that financial management in the field office is in compliance with the basic standards contained in the Farm Africa finance procedures manual and donor requirements
To work with senior management and the UK-based teams in identifying new business opportunities, new project design, contributing to funding proposal preparation, and interacting with donors, as needed
In collaboration with the M&E manager, to develop and implement a project monitoring and evaluation process, capturing project outcomes/impact and lessons learned.
In liaison with the PM, to lead on the recruitment of new staff to the project team, including proper induction processes
To provide leadership to all project staff and develop effective team work and individual staff skills relevant to the project and the Farm Africa business plan.
To carry out quarterly and annual appraisals with all line-managed staff in line with Farm Africa staff appraisal system.
In consultation with the PM, to act as an ambassador, promoting the project and the work of Farm Africa, including hosting visitors, speaking at workshops, conferences and meeting donors and other officials as and when required
To ensure that the project contributes to, responds to and complies with all relevant agriculture sector policy developments.
To identify and lobby for policy support to smallholder producer and marketing groups at county and higher levels of governance.
To contribute to the development of Farm Africa policies and strategies related to smallholder climate smart agriculture.
To participate in regional programme meetings with other project coordinators, as requested by senior management
To undertake any other duty as may be directed by the line manager or CD from time to timeEducation, qualifications & other knowledge
Essential
Bachelor degree in relevant agriculture/natural resource/ agri economics / marketing or related field
Knowledge of the development and policy environment in Kenya
Good understanding of youth-friendly value chains and business development / marketingDesirable
Masters degree in relevant subject
Knowledge & practical experience of farmer participatory approaches
Previous private sector agriculture value chains and rural development experienceExperience
Essential
At least 2 years field based experience implementing agricultural projects and with youthDesirable
Experience with a private sector agricultural actorSkills & Abilities
Essential
Project management
Team building
Financial management
Agricultural value chains development
Participatory planning, monitoring & evaluation
Communication (both verbal & written)
Proposal & report writingDesirable
Negotiating & managing partner relationships
Field level training
Policy influencing
Fundraising
Capacity building of organisations & individuals3.Country Director, Tanzania
Location: Dar es Salaam with significant national travel and some international travel
Duration: Fixed term, 3 year contract
Salary: Highly competitive
The impact that we are making with our long-term sustainable, community-led projects in sub-Saharan Africa is enabling communities to significantly improve their livelihoods and manage their natural resources sustainably.
Tanzania is one of our growing programmes, and we need someone who can help us bring our pipeline of projects into fruition.
Responsible for the delivery of the country strategy, managing all operational aspects of the Tanzania country programme, including relationships with multiple partners and an income target of around £2m per year.
We are looking for skilled senior manager who has the ability to build the capacity of staff to achieve Farm Africa’s strategic objectives; whilst proactively managing relationships with external stakeholders, including institutional donors, civil society partners and the private sector.
Of particular importance in the Ethiopia context is someone who can maintain and further develop a constructive relationship with our most important partner- the Government of Ethiopia.
We are looking for someone with the ability to drive and prioritise innovative engagement with the multiple partners including rural communities, the private sector and other stakeholders in the agricultural sector along with a proven track record of providing broader input into leadership, contributing to the overall strategy and Farm Africa’s future growth.
You will have a successful track record of working in long-term development and a strong understanding of donor environments, working closely with communities, government and the private sector.
You will have lived and worked in sub-Saharan Africa, have excellent hands-on programme, financial, strategic and human resource management experience.
Exceptional multi-tasking, networking, relationship-building and financial management skills are pre-requisites.
If you are interested in this role, more information can be found in the appointment details.
If would like to apply, please send a CV and one page covering letter detailing how you meet the person specification to recruitment@farmafrica.org by 5pm on Monday 18 August 2014.
If you have any questions regarding this role, please submit them in writing to recruitment@farmafrica.org.
*Note: we will not be answering telephone enquiries about this role, all questions must be emailed.
Values
Farm Africa seeks to employ those who believe, as we do, that farmers can and will play a key role in achieving long-term rural prosperity in Africa and who seek to deliver on those beliefs by:
being experts in our field, delivering insightful/impactful evidence-based solutions
pushing boundaries, being creative with new and old solutions
acting for the long-term, building relationships and delivering long-lasting change for farmers
working flexibly, taking advantage of the most effective solutions, whether from the communities, private sector or government
sharing knowledge with others, reaching more farmers than we do alone, ensuring effective technologies are widely accessed.To apply please submit your CV, salary history and one-page application letter with the reference being the post title in the subject line to: kenyarecruitment@farmafrica.org by 8 August 2014.
Only shortlisted applicants will be contacted
