Job Description:
Project
Planning, Coordination, Implementation and technical guidance
- Carry out community-based targeting and registration of small holder
farmers in collaboration with WFP and the technical departments from the
County.
- Liaise with partners to prepare guiding material on key and
contextual technical approaches for the program including value chain
development, market systems strengthening, financial services access,
climate smart production
- Lead coordination and implementation of all Market Systems
Development interventions, focusing on improving access to inputs,
financial services and strengthening key value chains.
- Ensure integration of market systems with climate-smart agriculture,
nutrition, gender, and resilience components to achieve holistic project
impact.
- Collaborate with the Program Officer – (Disaster Management) to
ensure compliance with Donor guidelines and standards for quality, timely
delivery, and alignment for high-level coordination.
- Facilitate stakeholder engagement with Makueni and Kitui County
Government, donors, private sector actors, and other partners through
Business-to-Business (B2B) meetings, ward-level agri-business fairs, and
field days to promote climate-smart technologies and inclusive market
access.
- Support youth and women Small Holder Farmers (SHFs) and Farmer
Service Centers to participate in County-level Agricultural fairs to
showcase innovations and build market linkages, demonstrating leadership
in fostering external partnerships.
- Promotion of market systems strengthening initiatives to achieve
project outcomes, such as increased production, Innovation and uptake of
efficient techniques and access to viable markets (e.g., schools),
particularly for women and youth.
- Monitor budgeted resources for market systems activities in
collaboration with the Grants Finance Officer to ensure efficient
utilization and compliance with WVK’s financial oversight
expectations.
- Develop and distribute technical materials on value chain
development, market systems strengthening, pro-SHF procurement, and
business development to partners.
- Promote strategies for youth and women engagement in sustainable
income through climate-smart value chains and inclusive business models,
linking producers to markets like school feeding programs,
- Support production, productivity and post-harvest practices; climate
resilient value chains; Inclusive access to markets, farm inputs and
financial and other agri-enterprise services as well as access to gender
inclusive financial services among households
Quality
Assurance – Design Monitoring, Evaluation and Budget Utilization
- Work with MEA&L Coordinator and stakeholders to implement
monitoring and evaluation tools for MSD/LVCD, tracking indicators.
- Develop monitoring plan for MSD/LVCD interventions, capturing data
on market linkages, business model adoption, and value chain performance
- Implement PSC and County PSC decisions related to market systems,
ensuring adherence to project design, Kenyan regulations, and donor
standards, reflecting accountability for quality assurance.
- Develop a monitoring plan for Market Systems Development
interventions, capturing data on market linkages, business model adoption,
and value chain performance using WVK’s DM&E systems e.g. (Horizon)
- Track expenditure levels and value for money for market systems
activities with the Grants Finance Officer, ensuring financial
accountability
- Compile monthly, quarterly, and annual reports, including success
stories on market access and private sector engagement, for submission to
the Program Officer – Disaster Management,
- Collaborate with the communications department to document
innovations, such as outcomes from B2B meetings and mindset change
dialogues, for partnership sharing, demonstrating communication and
documentation skills.
- Conduct regular progress reviews with partners to address technical
and coordination issues, focusing on post-harvest loss management, value
addition, and food safety
- Support measurements, baselines, assessments, and evaluations to
ensure compliance with established standards, emphasizing market systems
matrices,
- Ensure integration of livelihoods and other components (Natural
resource management, gender, advocacy and policy)
- Work closely with the Senior Manager (DMT) to ensure that the
appropriate controls are in place to realize effective, quality and timely
project delivery in full compliance with the project guidelines and donor
standards
- Enhance coordination with respective government and partners to
ensure synergy building and joint execution.
- In collaboration with the Programme Finance Manager, monitor and
support the timely and appropriate utilization of budgeted resources for
all livelihood and resilience related project interventions
- Liaise with partners to prepare guiding material on key and
contextual technical approaches for the program including value chain
development, market systems strengthening, financial services access,
climate smart production
- Work with the partners and relevant stakeholders to promote
approaches and strategies to enhance resilience and diversified
livelihoods; sustainable income from climate smart resilient value chains;
- production, productivity and post-harvest practices; climate
resilient value chains; Inclusive access to markets, farm inputs and
financial and other Agri-enterprise services as well as access to gender
inclusive financial services among households
- Document and disseminate best practices on Emergency shelter
response projects.
- Provide technical support during rapid assessments, monitoring,
reporting and evaluation.
Advocacy,
Engagement with strategic partners, Linkages and networks & partnership
development
- Engage Makueni and Kitui County Governments to leverage resources
for program sustainability, advocating for policies supporting CSA,
inclusive procurement, and nutrition-sensitive agriculture, aligning with
expectations for high-level advocacy.
- Participate in National and County Sector Technical Working Groups
to promote pro-SHF policies and institutionalize resilient agri-food
systems, reflecting leadership in policy influence.
- Build partnerships with private sector actors, financial
institutions, and government for technical capacity development in CSA,
inputs, financial services, and market access, demonstrating expertise in
strategic collaborations.
- Contribute to policy formulation processes, particularly in public
procurement, food safety, and nutrition integration, to support school
feeding programs and other markets.
- Support context-specific media communications on project activities
and integrate messaging with other components for outreach, consistent
with communication standards.
- Keep stakeholders informed of relevant government laws, policies,
and budget changes impacting agriculture, nutrition, and market systems
- Participate in County technical engagements to influence
agriculture, trade, and nutrition policies, aligning with the program
objectives.
Capacity
Development
- Build capacity of SHFs, FSCs, aggregators, and farmer organizations
in CSA, market systems, leadership, governance, financial literacy, and
nutrition-sensitive agriculture, meeting expectations for capacity
development leadership.
- Develop training curricula on EWV, CSA, Agri-Nutrition, gender
roles, and pro-SHF procurement, ensuring inclusivity for youth, women, and
persons with disabilities (PWDs)
- Establish capacity-building methodologies, such as Training of
Trainers (ToT) and community dialogue forums, to ensure sustainable
delivery of interventions, reflecting focus on sustainability.
- Lead staff and community training to enhance project activity
management, focusing on CSA, market-driven solutions, and nutrition
integration.
- Support partners to achieve project objectives, strengthening
local institutions like VSLAs and FSCs for long-term sustainability,
consistent with responsibilities for community empowerment.
Qualifications
Role
Requirements & Qualifications
Professional
Experience
- Core Expertise: Minimum of 5 years of experience driving
initiatives in Climate-Smart Agriculture (CSA), market systems
strengthening, agribusiness, nutrition integration, and economic
empowerment.
- Specialized Skills: Proven track record in
gender mainstreaming, social inclusion, and private sector engagement.
- Contextual Knowledge: Direct experience
coordinating and implementing integrated resilience programs within Arid
and Semi-Arid Land (ASAL) contexts.
- Stakeholder Management: Demonstrated success
collaborating with multi-sectoral actors, including UN agencies, county
government technical departments, civil society, donors, and local
community structures.
Technical
& Operational Skills
- Program Management: Strong background in
project management, coupled with robust Monitoring, Evaluation,
Accountability, and Learning (MEA&L) practices.
- Research & Analysis: Proficient in designing and
conducting technical assessments, surveys, and information management
systems related to agriculture and nutrition.
- Community Engagement: Deep understanding of
extension delivery, market facilitation, and inclusive business models,
backed by strong cross-cultural sensitivity.
- Communication: Exceptional written and verbal communication
skills, with a proven ability to deliver high-quality reports and
presentations for diverse audiences.
Education
& Qualifications
- Required: Bachelor’s Degree in Agriculture, Agricultural Economics,
Agribusiness, Agricultural Education & Extension, Entrepreneurship
Development, Market Systems Development, or a closely related field from a
recognized university.
- Preferred: Postgraduate training in Project Management or Monitoring
& Evaluation (M&E).
- Added Advantage: Previous experience working within the NGO
sector and a practical background implementing agricultural value chain
components.
How to Apply
