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SNV
is a non-profit international development organisation established in
the Netherlands in 1965. For over 40 years, SNV has been at the
forefront of development, helping to build local capacity and empower local
families and communities to break the cycle of poverty. We are present on the
ground in 36 developing countries in Africa, Asia, Latin America and the
Balkans and operate in Agriculture & Food Security, Renewable Energy (RE),
and Water, Sanitation & Hygiene.
Our
900 advisors in the field come from a variety of cultural and technical
backgrounds, and over 60 per cent are nationals of the countries where we
work.
In its
Renewable Energy Sector, SNV Kenya working closely with HIVOS wishes to recruit
a Kenyan National as an advisor to
serve in an upcoming project /programme named Sustainable and Secure
Smallholder Systems @ Scale (4S@Scale).
The purpose
of the programme is to create
viable smallholder coffee farming systems, that will allow the coffee sector in
East Africa to regain its vitality and offer long-term business opportunities
for 2.4 million smallholder coffee farms and 16 million people dependent on the
sector.
Key
activities of the programme will include incorporating
biogas into the whole farm system; diversification of incomes, in particular
through dairy and horticulture; the provision of credit facilities; enhanced
good agricultural practices including climate resilience; and women and youth
targeted training and support. Women and
young farmers are priority clients as key actors to revitalise the sector
and ensure long-term sustainability.
For SNV
Kenya as the “lead country” for this PPP, specific interventions that the
advisor and RE/AGRIC teams will ensure are planned as follows:
- Expand farmer support to include non-coffee activities, in particular animal husbandry.
- Build markets for non-coffee products, lead role for local cooperatives
- Provide biogas digesters to 40% of program farmers.
- Setting up agro-investment support, readily accessible to women and youth.
- Implement whole-farm approach with 30.000 farmers who have received basic training
- Roll out approach to 30.000 farmers who have had no prior training.
- Implement business model for fully self-funding farmer services by project end.
Responsibilities
The advisor will be reporting to Sector
Leader, Renewable Energy (RE) BUT will work closely with colleagues within
the Renewable Energy and Agriculture Sectors. The advisor will work
directly with KENDBIP, Producer Cooperatives and Extension services and will be
responsible for providing technical guidance for the improvement of farm
productivity utilising bio-slurry to produce high value organic manure for coffee
and other farm crops.
More
specifically the SNV advisor will;
- Establish and maintain effective working relationships with project partners and stakeholders
- Act as the focal point for the project with the technical team in RE and Dairy and partners
- Strengthen synergies between dairy and RE sectors
- Lead in the development and testing of extension models which farmers must be able and willing to pay.
- Support the biogas programme to improve current extension models.
- Assure proper learning and knowledge development (10%)
Candidate profile
- Master’s degree in a rural development related course (or in Management of appropriate development technologies), Economics of Sustainable development, Agro-economy, Rural development;
- A minimum of 5 years of work experience in agricultural extension and/or rural technology dissemination. Experience in extension / investments for renewable energy, business skills will be an added advantage;
- Have proven track record in capacity building, experience in micro and medium size enterprise development and insight into problems and constraints in stimulating private-public partnerships.
- Have experience in networking, alliance building and facilitation of multi-stakeholder processes, product development, organizational learning, institutional change processes, and project proposal formulation.
- Strong applied analytic skills are required.
- Leadership skills, including independent initiative, meeting facilitation, flexibility, ability to drive multiple aspects of initiatives and projects from inception to implementation within a limited time frame, and ability to develop and sustain effective working relationships with people of diverse backgrounds and levels of expertise.
- Have superior oral, written, and interpersonal communication skills, including keen attention to detail and ability to express complex ideas clearly to a broad range of audiences.
- An advanced knowledge of and experience with MS Office Suite and internet use.
- An ability to travel moderately with readiness to work and travel in rural districts with minimal amenities.
Contract Duration:
Two (2) years BUT renewable subject to
availability of programme funding
Desired start date:
ASAP
Description
duty station
Medical facilities: Good,
numerous private clinics
Educational facilities: Very good. There are several International
Schools in Nairobi, including
a Dutch School
Security
situation: Peace is
prevailing in most parts of the country
Accessibility: Good telephone fax, email and
internet facilities are available. There are
daily flights with KLM and several connection flights
Communication: Good
How
to apply?
Please send your application letter and CV with
three referees by clicking the send tab (att.
HR Officer) before 20th July 2013 with reference title as “Business Development & Extension”. Through the following link
More
information about SNV Country
For more information, please refer to our website: www.snvworld.org
