Agriculture Advisor (Business Development)

A. Introduction of the project

Soils in Western Kenya face ongoing degradation due to unsustainable management practices that accelerate wind and water erosion, deplete nutrients, and lower soil pH. Key drivers include limited farmer knowledge, lack of incentives to intensify sustainable production, and inadequate public investment in agricultural extension services. This degradation negatively impacts food security and reduces the ability of soils to provide vital environmental services such as clean water, biodiversity support, and carbon sequestration.

To address these challenges, the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), through its initiative "A Life Free of Hunger – Transformation of Agricultural and Food Systems" (SI AGER), supports rural populations in combating hunger and malnutrition. Under this initiative, the "Soil Matters – Udongo ni mali" project, implemented by GIZ from April 2025 to October 2028 and co-funded by the European Union (EU), seeks to restore soil health in Western Kenya. It builds on the achievements and insights of the previous ProSoil project.

The project is part of the Global Programme "Soil Matters – Innovations for Soil Health and Agroecology," implemented in five German Development Cooperation partner countries. It aims to scale innovations in soil health and agroecology at national, regional, and global levels. It also supports implementation of the 2024 Nairobi Declaration adopted by African Union member states at the Africa Fertilizer and Soil Health Summit (AFSHS).

"Soil Matters – Udongo ni mali" is structured around three key fields of action:

1. Strengthening technical and institutional capacities of farmers and relevant private sector actors to promote sustainable soil practices.
   

2. Transforming framework conditions to create an enabling environment for soil health and agroecological approaches.
   

3. Documenting and disseminating learnings from implementation to facilitate knowledge exchange and replication.
   

By addressing both practical and systemic barriers, the project aims to enhance sustainable agricultural productivity while restoring critical ecosystem functions of the soil.

A. Responsibilities

The key responsibility of the Advisor “Agriculture – Business Development” is to oversee and coordinate the implementation of project activities in the field of action I “Strengthening technical and institutional capacities of farmers and relevant private sector” of the “Soil Matters – Udongo ni mali” project with a focus on strengthening the capacities of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) that offer innovative inputs and services for soil health and agroecology. The aspired outcome of the project’s business and organizational development support is to scale the utilization of such innovations by farmers within and beyond Western Kenya.

• Support the “Soil Matters – Udongo ni mali” project manager in the conceptual design and oversight of the field of action I “Strengthening technical and institutional capacities of farmers and relevant private sector” with a focus on business development support for MSMEs
  

• Contribute to transformation initiatives supported by the project through the supporting the organizational development of private sector associations
  

• Ensure the achievement of the project’s output indicator 1.2 thereby contributing to the
  achievement of the “Soil Matters – Udongo ni mali” module objective indicators 1 and 2

B. Core Tasks

Technical tasks and duties:

• Support the identification of MSMEs that offer innovative inputs and services for soil health and agroecology as well as barriers for business development
  

• Develop and manage contractual relationships with service providers and grant recipients in the areas business development and organizational development in the private Oversee and coordinate the activities of service providers and grant recipients in the areas business development and organizational development in the private sector
  

• Support MSMEs in linking supply and demand for soil health inputs and services and entering formal agricultural trade in Western Kenya
  

• Ensure the technical quality of MSME support activities incl. their responsiveness to the different needs and potentials of female, male, young and elderly farmers
  

• Contribute to the alignment of interfaces between business development and organizational development in the private sector activities and other workstreams in the project
  

• Contribute to the alignment of interfaces between business development and organizational development in the private sector activities and projects of other stakeholders within and outside of German Development Cooperation
  

Knowledge management, M&E and C&V tasks and duties

• Contribute to the sharing of information, knowledge and learnings within the “Soil Matters – Udongo ni mali” project incl. its various implementing partners
  

• Contribute to the development of knowledge products on learnings and good practices as well as cross-country knowledge exchange
  

• Contribute to communication activities such as site selection, organization of visits to the project, production of communication materials, etc.
  

• Support to the project’s monitoring and evaluation activities
  

• Perform any other duty as required by the superior
  

C. Required qualifications, experiences and competences

Qualifications

• Education: Master’s degree in agribusiness, business administration, economics or any field related to the assignment
  

• Languages: Excellent oral and written communication skills in English and Kiswahili
  

Professional experience

• At least 10 years of working experience in a similar position in the areas of agribusiness, business development services, economic development or rural development with a focus on supporting MSMEs
  

• Work experience in projects implemented by international cooperation in Kenya with a focus on agriculture and rural development
  

• Collaborative experience in collaborating with public authorities responsible for facilitating the market entry for agricultural inputs and services
  

• Management experience with grant contracts, consultancies, service providers
  

Knowledge and additional competences

• In-depth understanding of agroecology and circular economy as conceptual frameworks for the transformation of food systems and the agricultural sector
  

• Substantive understanding of sustainable soil management
  

• Ability to implement complex projects under tight schedules and deadlines
  

• Experience in organizing multi-stakeholders platforms and workshop facilitation
  

• Proven ability to produce high-quality reports and documents, including publications
  

• Excellent knowledge of Microsoft Office applications
  

• Integrity regarding GIZ values and ethical standards
  

Assignment period:

Initial contract will run until 15th September 2026 with possibility of extension

Duty location

Kisumu with frequent visits to rural areas in Western Kenya

Submission of Application

Vacancy Reference Number: GIZ/ARD/02/08/2025

Equal Employment Opportunity

At GIZ Kenya, we are committed to fostering a diverse, inclusive, and respectful workplace. We are an equal opportunity employer and do not tolerate discrimination of any kind. We actively seek individuals with diverse backgrounds, perspectives, and skills to build a stronger, more impactful global team.

We provide an environment of respect and psychological safety, ensuring equal employment

opportunities for all. Discrimination based on race, colour, ancestry, religion, age, gender, sexual orientation, ethnic origin, disability, marital status, or any other protected status is not tolerated in any of our workplaces.

Ethics

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All staff are expected to behave professionally, respect local laws and customs, and complete mandatory ethics e-learning courses upon hire.

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In accordance with GIZ’s data protection policy, all candidate applications are stored in our database for six (6) months and deleted thereafter

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.