Position Title: Agroecology Specialist
Reports to: Sub-landscape
Coordinator
Supervises: None
Job Grade: TBD
Location: Loitokitok
town , Kajiado, Kenya
Background and Position Summary
The Southern Kenya – Northern Tanzania (SOKNOT)- UNGANISHA landscape for
an important conservation landscape that includes the Serengeti, Masai Mara,
Chyullu, Tsavo, Mkomazi, Kilimanjaro and the Ngorongoro crater, important
biospheres and bird habitats including Lake Natron, Loita, Amboseli, West
Kilimanjaro. There are 39 communal conservancies and 2 wildlife management
areas (WMAs) that reflect its extraordinary biodiversity and tourism
value. The landscape is home to millions of wild animals including
threatened and endangered species such as elephant, black rhino, lion, cheetah,
hirola and African wild dog. The annual wildlife migrations of up to 1.3
million animals are among the largest worldwide and a main tourist attraction.
The Section of SOKNOT-UNGANISHA in Kenya is referred to as The Southern Kenya
(SoK) and stretches from Mara through Amboseli-Chyullu to Tsavo.
There is a critical interdependence between
people and nature across SOKNOT. Agriculture, including small
scale/supplementary crop farming, and small-scale enterprises are the main
sources of income generally. The rapidly escalating human population and
high levels of rural poverty in wildlife dispersal areas and priority corridors
are key drivers of land-use change, fragmentation and habitat degradation,
increasing encroachment and potential human and wildlife
conflict. Unsustainable agricultural practices to meet a growing demand
for food – in the context of a changing climate – are threatening the
ecological integrity of natural landscapes and the resilience of smallholder
farming within the SOKNOT landscape. Developing more resilient food systems,
anchored on climate resilient agroecological practices with livestock and
natural resource management, can help communities achieve food security while
protecting the planet.
It is both critical and urgent that wildlife
and ecosystem services (including water, grasslands) are valued and sustained
through community control and stewardship through sustainable food production
and consumption systems.
Role Description
The Agroecology Specialist role is critical
in building sustainable food systems for the communities that WWF and its
partners support within the Southern Kenya (SoK) landscape, whilst safeguarding
critical wildlife habitats.
Key Duties and
Responsibilities
- Lead in the development of a
comprehensive agriculture and food implementation plan for the SoK
landscape (based on Africa’s Food Future Strategy), including detailed
plans to ensure sustainability, in partnership with WWF SOKNOT staff and
landscape stakeholders.
- Lead timely and effective design
and implementation of agriculture and sustainable food systems
projects/activities/interventions across the SoK landscape, aligning with
the SOKNOT landscape strategy and the WWF Africa’s Food Future Initiative
(AFFI).
- In collaboration with the AFFI
team, elevate and fast-track the development, piloting and implementation
of agroecology and sustainable food systems solutions aimed at increasing
production while protecting nature.
- Support the co-creation of
sustainable food production models and, in collaboration with the WWF
market team/value chain expert, establishing sustainable supply chain
models for existing agricultural crops/commodities;
- Support the co-creation and
establishment of demonstration plots/farms for agroecology-based models;
exploring the potential of carbon farming; developing models for food loss
management; exploring the potential of voluntary standards and other
schemes as sustainability accelerators within the SoK landscape;
- work with farming communities on
integrated land and water use management models along riverine, forest and
grassland ecosystems to develop sustainable farming models;
- work with a range of stakeholders
across the SoK landscape, including close collaboration with local farming
communities, conservancies, partners, and other experts and agencies
- Support consulting missions
related to agriculture and food systems within the SoK landscape;
- Lead agriculture and
livestock-related scoping analyses, baseline reviews and other studies
aimed at informing or measuring impact of project activities.
- Lead on the monitoring and
evaluation of agriculture/livestock-related data and reporting of
projects, to track performance/impact and adapt as required.
- Conduct capacity building
activities aimed at creating awareness, while facilitating co-learning.
- Provide appropriate high-level
representation for activities with governments, the private sector and
NGOs to develop and implement AFFI actions.
- Provide oversight of project
technical and financial management including annual work planning,
budgeting and reporting related to agriculture/livestock projects.
- Assist communities in planning,
prioritizing and implementing sustainable production and consumption
activities in line with agreed work-plans and objectives.
- Support communities to gain
access to information, resources and opportunities, and to connect with
other relevant stakeholders that are likely to empower them to manage
conservation resources more effectively.
- Support fundraising and fund
tracking efforts for the agriculture/livestock projects/activities, in
collaboration with the WWF-Kenya, leadership.
- In collaboration with relevant
WWF-Kenya Staff and partners, measure the amount of benefits (including
non-monetary) that households and community members accrue from
agriculture/livestock projects.
- On behalf of WWF, establish good
working relationships with local communities and their leaders, and
endeavour to uphold the reputation of WWF.
- Liaise closely with other
Programmes of WWF-Kenya and the WWF Network in identifying sustainable
production and consumption models and ideas that can be replicated and
adapted to priority landscapes globally.
- Share and document learnings to
support the wider development of resilient community livelihoods in the
region and globally.
- Ensure implementation of
activities is in line with respective donor grants, expectations, planned
outcomes and report to key stakeholders, including the preparation of
progress reports to donors as required.
This job description covers the main tasks
and conveys the spirit of the sort of tasks that are anticipated from the role.
Other tasks may be assigned as necessary, according to organizational needs.
Qualifications
A university Bachelors degree in the field of
agricultural sciences / agronomy / food systems / natural resource management
or related field. A relevant Master’s degree is an added advantage.
Experience
A minimum of 5 years of active engagement and experience of working with local
rural communities on agriculture and sustainable production.
Key Skills / Competencies
- Experience in developing and
implementing agriculture and sustainable food systems related projects,
preferably in a natural-resource context.
- Skilled in financial and
planning, managing large budgets and project management.
- Familiarity with the dynamics and
key issues related to agriculture and food systems in Kenya.
- Understanding of factors related
to the agriculture- conservation nexus.
- Ability to work effectively in a
multicultural and diverse setting.
- Understanding of and experience
supporting gender and climate change issues is a must.
- Experience dealing with power
differentials and inequalities within and across communities is desirable.
- Ability to build good
relationships and work collaboratively with diverse stakeholders in a
respectful, participatory manner.
- Experience engaging with ‘hard to
reach’ members of society is desirable.
- Experience working with
communities to support natural resource management and agriculture.
- Experience with participatory
(action) research and co-creation of conservation initiatives with a wide
range of stakeholders is highly desirable.
- Ability to organize and host
community meetings, with strong diplomatic skills.
- A command of written and spoken
English and spoken Swahili; knowledge of Masai community is highly
desirable and an added advantage.
- Understanding of socio-economic
and cultural aspects of wildlife conservation, including drivers of
human-wildlife conflict, poaching and habitat degradation.
- Experience with qualitative and
quantitative social science research methods, including surveys, semi-structured
interviews, focus groups, research on sensitive topics and their analysis;
understanding of research ethics.
- Self-driven with a proactive
approach to problem solving.
- Demonstrated ability to manage
and prioritize multiple tasks.
- Ability to work with minimal
supervision and as part of a team.
- Frequent field trips away from
assigned location, potentially overnight and during weekends.
- Ability to communicate
effectively (written and verbal) with a wide range of
collaborators/audiences, including proven ability to write project and
donor reports.
- High levels of computer literacy;
competent use of Microsoft Office (Excel, PowerPoint and Word).
- Commitment to WWF and its
mission.
Working Relationships
External: Interacts frequently with consultants, researchers, donors,
government departments and other agencies, conservation officials in Kenya,
development agencies, communities, NGOs and INGOs.
Internal: Interacts
frequently with a range of WWF office staff, including WWF-Tanzania and
WWF-Kenya staff, WWF Food Practice representatives, and WWF Regional Office for
Africa (ROA) staff.
How to Apply
Please Click Here to apply for the
role.
Applications will close on 10th February
2023. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.
Kindly note that only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.
