KCSEED Foundation Food and Economic Security Officer Job in Keringet, Kenya

Job Title: Food and Economic Security Officer 

Location: Keringet, Kenya

KCSEED foundation is a community owned foundation based at Keringet Location of Kuresoi District in Kenya. 

Keringet Community Social Economic and Environmental Development Programme is an initiative of the KCSEED foundation modeled on Global Management Approach (GMA) where community members start by mapping the available resources and asking themselves what they can do to effectively and efficiently use the resources for community member’s health and prosperity. 

The 5 year programme commenced in April 2012. 

The programme is funded by Gorta. The overall aim of this programme (achievable in 5 years) is a healthy community which is socially, economically and culturally developed, living in harmony with their environment. 

KCSEED foundation wishes to recruit a food and economic security officer to based at KCSEED office in Keringet.

Job Title: Food and Economic Security Officer 

Location: Keringet, Kenya

Main Purpose of Role: To drive and manage the food and economic security component of KCSEED Foundation Trust within Keringet Location.

Job Outline: The job holder will be responsible for the day to day implementation and management of the food and economic security component of Keringet CSEED Area Development Plan; namely; livestock and crop production leading to diversified and increased household incomes which ultimately leads to improved food and economic security at the household level. 

The jobholder will work under the supervision of the Programme Manager and will be based at KCSEED Kimalany office 2 kilometers from Keringet town along Keringet Molo tarmac road. 

S/he will work with a team of community facilitators and other private service providers in crop and livestock sector. 

S/he will also ensure close collaboration with the national and county government Ministry of Agriculture staff and in forging strong partnerships with local leaders, administration and representatives of targeted communities.

Reporting to: Programme Manager (Team Leader) Keringet Global Village

The jobholder will be responsible for the following activities:

Responsible for day to day implementation of food and economic security activities in the livestock and crop production sector.

Livestock production:

• Will design and drive the extension support that will mobilize and link dairy farmers with milk chilling and processing firms leading to joint marketing of milk by farmers and ultimately increased farmer incomes.
• Design and manage training programs targeting dairy farmers to transfer knowledge and skills in breeding, feeding, disease control and general management of a dairy herd with an objective of improving livestock production

Crop Production:

• Will design community structures and extension support that will mobilize and link Irish potato farmers to jointly supply high quality Irish potatoes to potato processing firms and other markets as per market demand.
• Design and manage training programs targeting Irish potato farmers to transfer knowledge and skills in seed selection, modern agronomic practices, pest and disease control, pre and post harvesting technologies and value addition with an objective of adding value to Irish potatoes leading to increased farmer incomes.

Other Responsibilities

• Directly plan, organize and supervise any other food and economic security activities in addition to the dairy and Irish potato whilst progressively building the capacity of local community structures to manage the linkages between farmers and the milk and potato value addition enterprises.
• Ensure the preparation and required approval of detailed implementation work plans in line with the food and economic security Project design and Monitoring & /Evaluation plans. Provide the necessary guidance and support to KCSEED program team to achieve timely and quality implementation of activities,
• Carry out regular field visits to offer technical support to farmers, review progress and determine/receive feedback from the agribusiness service providers and the beneficiaries regarding emerging challenges and gaps in original plans, providing timely feedback and suggestions for changes to the Programme manager.
• Organize regular project review sessions through participatory methodologies involving beneficiaries and other stakeholders in the areas of intervention, with the aim of establishing and/or verifying emerging needs, gaps and priorities, and communicate these to the Programme manager as part of a continuous programme review and improvement process.
• Compile food and economic security progress reports from the various activity reports as per established monitoring plans, formats and schedules and submit to the Program Manager in a timely manner.

Procurement and Budget Expenditure

• Prepare procurement plans against approved work plans and ensure timely initiation of procurement requests in line with KCSEED Foundation Trust guidelines and procedures.
• Monitor and track food and economic security budget expenditure and burn rates, flagging over/under expenditures and recommending corrective measures to the program manager in a timely manner.
• Prepare monthly and quarterly budget forecasts with reference to the overall programme annual budget forecast and submit to the program manager on time.

Preparation of Project Designs and Funding Concepts

• Conduct field assessments within the programme area as may be requested by the Programme Manager from time to time to gather baseline data for new project designs or for improvement of on-going projects.
• Contribute towards preparation of food and economic security budgets, funding concepts and proposals through collation and analysis of field data and actual costs incurred on activity implementation.
• Contribute to the drafting of food and economic security donor reports through the maintenance of an up to date project database as per KCSEED and donor log frames and monitoring plans.

Monitoring and Evaluation, Collaboration and Coordination

• Participate in design of M&E Framework for the food and economic security activities. Implement the food and economic security M&E plan and ensure regular collection and analysis of food and economic security outputs and participate in internal and external evaluation of the project.
• Closely coordinate the planning and implementation of programme activities with other Project staff to achieve synergy and realize holistic impact of the larger programme.
• Liaise closely with the program manager on project implementation , general administration, logistics and Staff Safety.
• Forge good working and collaborative links with the government staff working in the agriculture sector at the district, other agriculture sector organizations including agribusiness firms, as well as the local administration, leaders and community representatives in the respective sub-locations of Keringet Location
• Provide regular feedback and updates to program manager on the progress of the project.
• Contribute to the development of the Keringet Area Development Plan and strategy

Qualifications and Experience:

• Diploma in Agricultural Extension and Education, horticulture or animal production.
• Minimum 3 years experience in implementing food security projects including hands-on experience in the dairy and horticulture sectors.
• Community mobilization skills.Excellent communication skills (written and verbal)Fluent English (written and spoken)
• Very strong IT skills required with extensive knowledge of Microsoft Office/Excel, email
• Holder of a valid motorbike riding license.

If you meet the above requirements please write via email by 4:00 PM of 11th April 2014 to; Chairman BOT, Keringet CSEED Foundation Trust, P.O. Box 118-20131 Keringet

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

e-mail- info@keringetcseedfoundation.org, subject-application for employment food and economic security officer.