Qualifications, skills & experience
- 4-5 years of relevant experience in community development, business development or related fields.
- Bachelor's degree in agriculture, agricultural economics, or a related field.
- Proven experience in cooperative development and agricultural extension services, preferably in horticultural GAP training, agroecology, post-harvest management and cold chain systems.
- Sound knowledge of smallholder farming practices, management of out-grower schemes, value chains/market system development.
- Strong communication and interpersonal skills to effectively engage with farmers, cooperatives, and stakeholders from diverse backgrounds.
- Ability to deliver training programs and facilitate workshops to build capacity and knowledge among project beneficiaries.
- Self-motivated, proactive, and able to work independently in remote field locations with limited supervision.
- Proficiency in computer applications and data management software.
- Fluency in English, Swahili and local languages is a requirement.
- Must be a licensed motorbike rider (or willing to learn) & be willing to reside in the Sub-County of placement.
Technical support and guidance:
- Mobilize and onboard farmers, cooperatives, and trader associations and provide technical assistance during implementation of L2V project.
- Enhance organisational, governance and management capacity of farmer, farmer organisations and trader associations through training, mentorship, and exposure.
- Conduct training programs on Good Agricultural Practices (GAPS), post-harvest management, food safety cold storage best practices, and efficient utilization of the cooling units.
Business development support:
- Identify and nurture business opportunities for smallholder horticulture farmers in alignment with project objectives.
- Provide tailored training programs and support to enhance the business skills of selected farmers and Farmer Organizations, enabling active engagement in the market.
- Facilitate market linkages and trade relationships between smallholder farmers and relevant markets.
- Assist in establishing strategic partnerships between farmers, cooperatives, and financial institutions to explore potential financing options.
- Facilitate effective business relationships between farmers and off-takers/exporters within targeted value chains.
- Cultivate robust partnerships with farmers, relevant County government departments, input suppliers, and other stakeholders to drive project objectives at the local level.
Project implementation and monitoring:
- Assist in the identification and setup process of cooling units through participatory approaches.
- Provide regular progress reports, data collection, and documentation of field activities.
- Contribute to project monitoring and evaluation, identifying challenges and proposing solutions.
Communication and Representation:
- Represent the project at relevant meetings, workshops, and conferences to promote project objectives.
- Document and share key achievements / impact created by implementation of the project.
- Collaborate with project partners and stakeholders to raise awareness about the project and its benefits.