Adam Smith International Agricultural Processing Sector Lead Job in Kenya – Mombasa County Youth Employment Project

Agricultural Processing Sector Lead – Mombasa County Youth Employment Project
 

Adam Smith International is seeking a Sector Lead for a three-year, DFID-funded youth employment and skills development project in Mombasa County, Kenya. 

This is a full-time position, based in Mombasa with trips to Nairobi, reporting to the project’s Portfolio Manager and Technical Team Leader (TTL), and working closely with the rest of the team. 

The Sector Lead will be responsible for developing and managing interventions in the Agricultural Processing sector.
 

Background to Adam Smith International
 

Adam Smith International is a leading professional services business that delivers real impact, value and lasting change through projects supporting economic growth and government reform internationally.
 

Our reputation as a global leader has been built on the positive results our projects have achieved in many of the world’s most challenging environments.
 

Our wide-ranging experience can be grouped into two main areas that contribute to Government Reform and Economic Growth. Government Reform includes Justice, Security and Peace-building, Public Administration Reform, Public Financial Management, Revenue Reform and Education Reform. 

Economic Growth includes services in Extractive Industries Governance, Infrastructure, Climate Change and Private Sector Development.
 

We are headquartered in London, with offices in Nairobi, Delhi and Sydney, along with major project offices in many developing countries worldwide. 

Our projects are funded by a wide range of donor organisations, including the UK Government's Department for International Development (DFID), the World Bank, the Swedish and Danish Government's development agencies Sida and Danida, the European Commission and the Asian Development Bank. In addition, we also work directly for host governments.
 

Over more than 20 years, Adam Smith International has implemented some of the most complex solutions in many of the world’s most challenging environments. 

We apply professional standards, technical know-how and cultural sensitivity to every context. We’re proven to bring the best minds together and are known for turning policies into action. 

Our work is award-winning, such as the most recent 2011/12 British Expertise Development Project of the Year, Major Project of the Year, Consultancy Project of the Year and Young Consultant of the Year.
 

Background to the project
 

The three-year, DFID-funded Mombasa County Youth Employment Project intends to address the roots causes of youth unemployment in Kenya’s second city, and thereby to encourage productive and sustainable job creation for Mombasa’s young men and women. 

It will consist of a combination of demand-driven technical and vocational education and training (TVET), market and value chain development, and policy and advocacy support. 

The project will be market-led, so that jobs and skills are focused on sectors of the economy that have long-term growth potential, and will align itself with the objectives and plans of the national and Mombasa County governments.
 

Responsibilities
 

During the Inception Phase (mid-January to mid-July 2014):

• Lead on research and analysis of the Agricultural Processing sector (output: Sector Analysis report).
• Set strategic direction (vision) for the programme’s engagement in the sector, in partnership with the Portfolio Manager, other programme components and sector stakeholders.
• Plan, in detail, the programme’s interventions in the sector (output: Intervention Plan).
• Work closely with the M&E Manager to develop results chains, baselines, indicators, measurement plans and impact projections for the sector.
• Develop credibility and effective partnerships, where appropriate, with sector players.
• Engage with other development initiatives in the sector to identify and act on synergies and avoid duplication of effort.
• Together with the Portfolio Manager, determine requirements for short term national and international technical assistance. Effectively manage technical assistance inputs.

During the Implementation Phase (mid-July 2014 to December 2016)

• Manage successful delivery of each intervention in the Agricultural Processing sector.
• Take responsibility for the performance of consultants supporting delivery of the interventions.
• Develop effective partnerships with stakeholders (including other donor funded programmes) to maximise the prospects for successful delivery of each intervention.
• Proactively identify opportunities for additional sector research and analysis, as well as expansion of interventions within the sector.
• Participate fully in the programme’s M&E function, attending meetings, submitting information as requested, proactively identifying impact as well as areas of strong and weak performance.
• Lead the process of reporting on sector interventions, and in doing so to facilitate wider lesson learning (both within the programme and externally). In addition to progress updates, the Sector Lead is expected to proactively produce research papers designed to shape the dialogue on sector issues, produce impact case studies in collaboration with other team members, participate in sector workshops, conferences and meetings, etc.

Selection criteria
 

We are looking for a dynamic and energetic team player with:

• At least five years’ experience working in the sector. Private sector experience in an executive/managerial capacity would be desirable;
• Proven, in-depth knowledge of the challenges and opportunities in the sector, as well as strong credibility with key sector players;
• Strong understanding of economic development principles;
• Experience working on, or with, donor funded private sector development projects would be desirable;
• Undergraduate degree in a relevant field such as politics, economics, business management, etc. (postgraduate qualification is desirable);
• Experience working with a range of public and private sector and civil society clients;
• Fluency in English and Kiswahili;
• Excellent communications and writing skills; and
• Teamwork, enthusiasm and flexibility.

Duration and Timing
 

This is a full time role that will commence in March 2014. 

The selected candidate will be based in Mombasa with travel to Nairobi.

Benefits
 

A competitive salary, commensurate with experience, will be provided. 

In addition, the candidate can expect opportunities for professional development over the course of the programme.

To apply
 

Please send a CV and short cover email to mombasa-recruitment@adamsmithinernational.com by 7th March 2014, with the subject line “Agricultural Processing Sector Lead application”.