Technical Advisor (Promotion of Self Employment and Entrepreneurship in Kenya)

The Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH is a global service provider in the field of international cooperation for sustainable development dedicated to shaping a future worth living around the world. As a public-benefit federal enterprise, GIZ supports the German Government – in particular the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and many public and private sector clients in achieving their objectives in international cooperation in around 120 countries.

One of the projects currently implemented by GIZ in Kenya is Programme for Promotion of Self Employment and Entrepreneurship II. This project is implemented in close collaboration with the Kenyan State Department for Micro Small and Medium Enterprises Development and its agencies. The project aims to improve framework conditions for sustainable business development of MSMEs in Kenya.

Three outputs have been defined for the project namely:

(1) Supporting the Ministry of Cooperatives and MSME Development and their agencies with trainings to improve support and promotion of MSMEs

(2) Developing the skills of state agencies as well as private business development service providers in offering training, matching, and coaching services to increase the business skills within MSMEs

(3) Enabling MSMEs in essential oils and leather value chains to achieve quality improvement in their production and integrating them into national and international supply chains.

The project is recruiting a technical advisor to support activities aligned to output 3.

A. Responsibilities

• Support the implementation of the project with a focus on Output 3 (development of essential oil and leather value chains and integration of MSMEs thereof into national and global supply chains).
  

• Collaborate with project partners in developing approaches to strengthen the essential oils and leather value chains.
  

• Offer expertise on production processes, quality standards, and market requirements to ensure compliance with both local and international markets for essential oils and leather products.
  

• Identify and recommend market-driven solutions to enhance competitiveness and sustainability of essential oils and leather value chains.
  

• Identify market opportunities and facilitate linkages between MSMEs and domestic and international buyers.

• Promote the adoption of sustainable production and processing practices in the essential oil and leather value chain.
  

• Facilitate partnerships between MSMEs and local and international market actors.
  

• Promote access to finance and investment opportunities for value chain actors.
  

• Establish knowledge base and professional network for GIZ work in promotion of essential oil and leather value chains.
  

• Ensure that activities are implemented in line with best practices of the professional field and development cooperation.
  

B. Tasks

1. Coordination of project activities

• Plan and coordinate project activities in collaboration with internal and external stakeholders.
  

• Provide technical input to support policy dialogue and advocacy efforts for an enabling
  business environment.

• Coordinate with certification bodies, standard-setting organizations, and trade
  associations to support MSMEs in meeting compliance requirements.

• Participate in the procurement of services and goods for the project.
  

• Take responsibility for the preparation, execution and documentation of relevant trainings,
  workshops, forums, meetings, and other project activities.

• Monitor the progress of MSMEs in improving quality of their products and value chain integration and ensure that latest findings are incorporated into project implementation.
  

• Collaborate with project team in evaluating impact of interventions.
  

• Provide timely reports on project performance and recommend adaptive strategies where
  necessary.

2. Communication and Networking

• Lead in the preparation of relevant reports, studies, background papers, policy guidelines, correspondence and presentations on value chain development.
  

• Collect and circulate relevant information, disseminating programme experiences and
  developing a database on project related information.

• Document lessons learned, best practices, and success stories for knowledge sharing and project improvement.
  

• Establish and maintain contact with government officials, development partners, non-governmental organizations, private sector actors; ensures appropriate mechanisms to facilitate collaboration and exchange of information both in and outside the GIZ.
  

• Organize and participate in working groups, meetings, conferences and leads consultations with other stakeholders in value chain promotion-related matters.
  

• Organize relevant project events.
  

C. Required qualifications, competences and experience

The technical advisor should have the following academic qualifications

• Master’s degree in Agribusiness, Agricultural Economics, Business Management, or a related field with additional training in value chain development.
  

The technical advisor should have the following experience:

• Minimum of 5 years of working experience in agricultural value chain development, preferably within development cooperation projects.
  

• Proven experience working with cooperatives and business member organizations and
  facilitating partnerships with the private sector.

• Expertise on essential oils and/or leather value chains will be an added advantage.
  

The technical advisor should have the following competences

• Expert knowledge on value chain development with an emphasis on the agricultural sector.
  

• Good understanding of international market standards and certification processes.
  

• Expert knowledge and experience in the field of promotion of entrepreneurship, stakeholder and partnerships management.
  

• Demonstrable skills in developing relevant policy position papers and technical documents.
  

• Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities with experience in monitoring and
  evaluation.

• Ability to develop clear work goals that are consistent with defined project strategies.
  

• Demonstrable capacity to manage budgets and time efficiently.
  

• Ability to work under minimal supervision.
  

• Strong capacity to handle tense situations with diplomacy and tact.
  

• Proven track record in establishing and maintaining productive partnerships.
  

• Should be able to speak and write clearly in both English.
  

Assignment period:

Up to 31.08.2027

Duty location

Nairobi.

Submission of Application

Vacancy Reference Number: GIZ/ARD/09/05/2025

All applications should be received by 12th June 2025

GIZ Kenya is proud to be an equal opportunity workplace and is an affirmative action employer. We are committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status or disability.

Disclaimer: As per GIZ’s data confidentiality policy, candidate’s application is stored in our database for 6 (six) months and is deleted thereafter. More info can be found at Privacy Policy - giz.de

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.