KEN - Programs - Food Security and Livelihood Officer

• Action Against Hunger is looking to fill the position of Food Security & Livelihood based in Tana River with frequent field visit to Kwale county.
  
• The Food Security and Livelihoods (FSL) Program Officer will provide technical support for the design, planning, implementation (including technical oversight), monitoring, and reporting of Food Security and Livelihoods activities. The role contributes to the effective delivery of high-quality FSL interventions that enhance sustainable, climate-resilient food production and improved household livelihoods.
  
• We are seeking a dedicated, proactive, and motivated individual to join the consortium in Tan River/Kwale office. The position requires a highly energetic professional who is eager to learn and willing to travel extensively across counties to support mother-to-mother support groups, farmer groups, and community partners.
  
• As part of the program team, the FSL Program Officer will play a key role in implementing FSL interventions, providing agronomic and technical support, and working closely with communities and partners to achieve impactful and sustainable results in climate-resilient food systems.
  

Purpose:

• To support the implementation of FSL project activities that are geared towards addressing malnutrition among vulnerable populations through a multi-sector integrated approach and represent the AICS consortium in the FSL coordination forums at the county and sub-county level.
  

Project planning, design and implementation - 30%

• In coordination with the Consortium Director and program teams, participate in the design, development, and implementation of Food Security and Livelihoods (FSL) projects.
  
• Promote the integration of Nutrition and WASH activities—particularly those targeting women and youth groups into all livelihood initiatives to strengthen household dietary diversity and resilience.
  
• Participate in FSL program planning, organization, and implementation of surveys, assessments, research studies, and post-distribution monitoring activities.
  
• Establish and maintain positive, cohesive working relationships with communities and direct project beneficiaries, ensuring active listening and inclusion of women and youth perspectives.
  
• Oversee beneficiary selection for livelihood activities (crop, livestock, fisheries, apiculture, etc.) in accordance with agreed selection criteria.
  
• Engage and coordinate with County Government officials to ensure a clear understanding of project objectives, requirements, and provisions.
  
• In liaison with the Consortuim Director, Finance and logistcs, and other project Officers to identify funding opportunities and contribute to the development of project proposals addressing county-specific gaps.
  
• Train farmers on agri-enterprise establishment to increase crop, vegetable, and livestock production, while promoting the adoption of agro-ecology principles.
  
• Build farmer capacity in value chain management and value addition, with a focus on food handling, preservation, processing, and reduction of post-harvest losses.
  
• Promote climate-smart and conservation agriculture practices to mitigate climate change impacts, including tree planting, soil management, and other climate-friendly initiatives.
  
• Ensure meaningful participation of beneficiaries—especially women, youth, persons with disabilities, and other vulnerable groups—in decision-making processes through management committees, appointed leadership, information sessions, and administrative structures.
  
• Create and strengthen linkages between FSL groups (women, youth, and community groups) and financial institutions, farmers’ associations, cooperatives, social services, and private sector partners.
  
• Work closely with Nutrition and WASH sector focal persons at both government and program levels to ensure effective integrated programming.
  
• Ensure strong participation of communities, government officers, and leaders (community, sub-county, and county levels) throughout project development, start-up, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation phases.
  
• In collaboration with the consortium team, contribute to defining and refining technical strategies when required.
  

Project Monitoring, Evaluation and Data Management - 20%

• Participate in the planning, organization, and implementation of surveys, assessments, and research studies, including post-distribution monitoring (PDM).
  
• Regularly monitor and evaluate the performance of Food Security and Livelihoods (FSL) projects, providing timely inputs, feedback, and analysis on the impact of consortium FSL interventions on target communities.
  
• Support county teams in monitoring food security activities in the field, including conducting market analyses for market-based programming and cash-based interventions; identify challenges and risks, report findings to management, and support project handover to relevant community groups, local authorities, and government structures.
  
• Ensure that all beneficiary and assessment data are securely stored within the organization’s database and are accessible to relevant teams in accordance with data protection standards.
  
• Participate in community-level needs assessments, including household food security assessments, to inform agriculture and food security interventions.
  
• Conduct capacity assessments of smallholder farmers for agricultural interventions and facilitate private sector engagement, including mentoring and coaching of farmers at the household level.
  
• Lead and/or conduct FSL project baseline, midline, end-line, context, and follow-up assessments, as well as surveys as required.
  
• Lead Food Security and Livelihoods emergency assessments, response planning, and coordination in collaboration with relevant stakeholders.
  

Reporting, documentation and communication - 20%

• Coordinate with the MEAL Officer to prepare timely, accurate, and high-quality activity reports, including Weekly Situation Reports (SitReps), monthly (statistical and narrative), quarterly, and semi-annual reports, as well as DHIS2 submissions, in line with the AICS consortium (ACF) and donor reporting guidelines.
  
• Document and compile lessons learned, best practices, human-interest stories, and success stories that demonstrate project outcomes and impact.
  
• Participate in information sharing with program teams, government counterparts, and partners by disseminating activity results and feedback from the field.
  
• Support Ministry of Agriculture (MoA) focal persons, Agriculture Extension Officers on information and data management related to Food Security and Livelihoods interventions.
  
• Enhance project visibility across all project sites by ensuring proper branding of equipment, tools, and materials in accordance with donor visibility guidelines.
  
• Maintain comprehensive qualitative and quantitative records of project activities, ensuring data is disaggregated by age, gender, and disability status.
  
• Prepare progress updates, quarterly donor reports, project proposals, program reports, procurement plans, and contribute to survey and assessment reports as required.
  
• Support Ministry of Health (MoH) and Ministry of Agriculture (MoA) focal persons with information management, data reporting, and use of government reporting systems and software.
  

Information exchange and cooperation with all Action Against Hunger interventions and external stakeholders - 10%

• Collaborate closely with all Action Against Hunger departments and sectors to ensure effective integration of program activities across sectors.
  
• Strengthen and maintain partnerships with relevant County Government departments and ministries, community structures, beneficiaries, INGOs, NGOs, CBOs, and private-sector actors to support smooth project implementation and maximize impact.
  
• Actively participate in county-level coordination forums and platforms related to agriculture, nutrition, WASH, gender, and livelihood resilience.
  

Finance and Logistics - 20%

• Prepare monthly cash forecasts in liaison with other program staff, in line with approved work plans and project timelines.
  
• Ensure all project expenditures are aligned with approved budget lines and comply strictly with budget limits and donor requirements.
  
• Propose and justify anticipated budget realignments or revisions based on field realities and program needs, in coordination with relevant staff.
  
• Support the finance officer to review and monitor project budgets, tracking burn rates, and ensuring diligent grant utilization, efficient resource use, and value for money.
  
• Perform any other duties and responsibilities as assigned by the supervisor
  

Supervisory Responsibilities

• The FSL Project Officer position does not have direct line management responsibilities.
  

Fiscal Responsibility

• Prepare cash forecasts in line with approved project work plans and proactively address anticipated budget realignments in consultation with the finance officer.
  
• Monitor budget expenditure against the spending plan, ensuring diligent grant utilization, timely spending, and value for money.
  
• Support the Programs team during monthly Budget Forecast Update (BFU) review meetings by reviewing corrective actions and proposing necessary budget amendments or realignments to the Finance team.