SNV
is a non-profit international development organization established in the
Netherlands in 1965.
For
over 40 years, SNV has been at the forefront of development, helping to build
local capacity and empower local families and communities to break the cycle of
poverty.
Our 900 advisors in the field come from a variety of cultural and technical backgrounds, and over 60 per cent are nationals of the countries where we work.
Project Country Coordinator
This is a National post Based in Kenya
Purpose
The Project Country Coordinator will provide in-country leadership for designing and managing a multi-layered project to improve smallholder farmer access to the structured market demand represented by Homegrown School Feeding (HGSF) programs.
The
Country Coordinator will be based in Kenya working under the supervision of SNV
Kenya’s Head of Agriculture or his/her assignee, and in close coordination with
the Project Manager based in Washington, DC.
The
project will be executed in as many as 15 districts in Kenya, and the Country
Coordinator will be responsible for the delivery of results at the country
level, working in coordination and supervising the participation of local SNV
Advisors and other partners.
This
is a four-year project funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates
Foundation.
Responsibilities
Responsibilities
- Providing
leadership for the implementation of SNV’s Procurement Governance in HGSF
at the country level with responsibility for program implementation,
including financial administration of project resources in coordination
with SNV country financial officer. This will includes oversight and
reporting on all activities taking place in the various districts where
the project is executed, addressing four key objectives:
- Improving the
HGSF procurement process and strengthening the capacity of all actors to ensure
that smallholder farmers have access to that market.
- Enhancing supply
chain governance for these programs and introducing Inclusive Business
practice when appropriate to meet these needs.
- Developing
effective and participatory mechanisms for increased accountability by and
for the program’s stakeholders.
- Ensuring
effective monitoring and documentation of lessons learned for broad
dissemination to increase the likelihood of replication/scaling-up of best
practices.
- Building and
managing a team of highly qualified professional SNV Advisors and partners
based in the country to ensure effective program implementation, a strong
team spirit that ensures coordination with the other two country programs
(Ghana and Mali), productive working relationships with colleagues in
Washington DC and in other SNV divisions, and with external donors and
other stakeholders, especially the Partnership for Child Development (PCD)
and other critical stakeholders such as World Food Program, Ministry of
Education and Ministry of Agriculture.
- Developing and
presenting to Project Manager yearly plans within proper timelines for
execution of the project; monitoring the activities and impact at the
country level.
- Developing and
overseeing effective and collaborative working relationships with other
in-country project partners to ensure coordination at the local and
national levels and successful delivery of project results.
- Contracting of
local partners and consultants as required by the country plan, in
coordination with country finance officer and other relevant staff.
- Establishing
strong working relationships with national government, businesses,
bilateral and multilateral actors, NGOs and academics in field of
smallholder access to HGSF to ensure exposure and success of the project.
- Prepare and
finalize the content for country-level periodic narrative and financial
reports to the BMGF and SNV Head Office under the coordination of Project
Manager (financial prepared by financial officer).
- Serve as SNV
Advisor within area of competence (business development and Value chain
development).
- Develop and
propose activities among countries with other two country coordinators
(For Mali & Ghana), to ensure benefits of networking.
- Consolidate the
experiences from the School feeding program to develop a food security
Program within SNV Kenya. This includes developing a concept paper
articulating the future vision for the program. Initiate market
assessment and new resource mobilization for both short and long term interventions.
Candidate
profile
The right candidate will have:
- University
degree (Masters level in MBA, Rural Development, Agriculture) or
equivalent with experience in a field relevant to SNV’s mission and
programs and at least 7 years of work experience.
- Demonstrated
experience managing complex international programs and budgets that
involve donors and partners, a strong team of advisors, a multifaceted set
of activities, and a strong monitoring, learning and dissemination
component.
- A collegial
management style that emphasizes both achieving results and working with a
highly skilled team of professional colleagues, and ability to enlist
participation of other SNV experts as needed for the project.
- Independent
professional with strong networking and partnership development
capabilities.
- Strong proposal
writing and other resource mobilization skills.
- Academic
training and/or practical experience in agriculture and rural development
and/or procurement governance, or business development is desired.
- Deep personal
commitment to social and economic development that recognizes women and
smallholder farmers as critical actors and beneficiaries.
- Thorough
understanding of the principal issues facing rural and low-income
communities in the region gained through experience in civil society,
government, or private sector organizations.
- Excellent
communication skills, both oral and written (in English) for overseeing
production of local dissemination presentations and periodic narrative
reports.
- Networks and
networking skills.
Contract
Duration: 2
years (with a possibility of extension).
Desired start date: July 15, 2013
How to apply
Desired start date: July 15, 2013
How to apply
Please send your application letter, CV together with names and email contacts of three referees to (att. Country HR Officer) before 5th July, 2013, by clicking Apply for this job.
Business Development Advisor (Level IV)
(Local staff on full time OR International staff on consultancy/part-time placement)
Based
in Nairobi with frequent travel to the field, KENYA
Job Summary & Responsibilities
Job Summary & Responsibilities
The Business Development Advisor (BDA) provides business development support for designing and implementing a multi-layered project to improve smallholder farmer access to the structured market demand represented by Homegrown School Feeding programs.
The
Business Development Advisor will be based in Nairobi working under the
supervision of his/her Country Coordinator to provide Business Development
Advise to the HGSF Project.
The
project will be executed in as many as 15 districts in Kenya, and the Business
Development Advisor will be responsible for the delivery of results on the
objectives associated with Business Development in the Kenya Country
Program.
The
Advisor will do this working closely and in coordination with the rest of the
team, and other partners.
Responsibilities
Responsibilities
- Support the
implementation of SNV’s Procurement Governance in Home Grown School
Feeding Program Kenya including the oversight responsibility and reporting
on activities related to market development and business development
services taking place in the various districts where the project is
executed.
- Support farmers
to set up grain business hubs and warehousing facilities as well as
ensuring creation of relevant market linkages.
- Improving the
HGSF procurement process by strengthening the capacity of all actors to
ensure that smallholder farmers have access to that market.
- Enhancing supply
chain governance and introducing Inclusive business practice.
- Ensuring
effective monitoring and documentation of lessons learned for broad
dissemination to increase the likelihood of replication/scaling-up of best
practices.
- Assist the
Country Coordinator to ensure effective program implementation and existence
of a strong HGSF country team spirit that ensures coordination of the
project, with external donors and other stakeholders, especially the PCD.
P4P and the relevant Ministries and Local Governments (Education,
Agriculture, Finance, District Assemblies etc.).
- Assist Country
Coordinator to develop and present to Project Manager annual plans with
proper timelines for execution of the project; monitor the activities and
impact at the country level.
- Establish strong
working relationships with local government, businesses, bilateral and
multilateral actors, NGOs, private sector and academics in field of small
holder Farmers access to HGSF to ensure exposure and success of the
project.
- Support Country
Coordinator and Governance Advisor to develop and implement
effective, participation and accountability mechanism for the
project
- Develop
matchmaking mechanisms between suppliers to School Feeding Programs and
smallholder farmers to stimulate improved marketing relationship using the
SNV Inclusive Business approach
- Assist project
to select the most promising business opportunities, giving special
attention to those that involve women farmers and organizations, and
support them by linking to appropriate service providers.
- Support services
oriented toward the strengthening of the capacities of smallholder farmers
and farmer-based organizations to fulfill arrangements (contract
compliance) made with their new business partners through on going
technical assistance, thus addressing a key issue of building trust.
- Explore funding
opportunities for the FBOs and/or service providers Facilitate matchmaking
for supply to school feeding that will be oriented to create independent
mechanisms embedded in the institutional framework established.
- Advisory
and business development services to client or local partner
organizations
- Assist Learning
Manager/ Coordinator with the documentation of lessons learned, best
practices and sharing across countries covered by the project
- Assist Country
Coordinator to maximize the utility of the data gathering systems and use
technology to enhance learning and sharing among users.
- Assist Learning
Manager to identify and conduct research activities, and organize
learning-related and dissemination events (including issue briefs and
events sponsored by SNV or others).
Requirements/Qualifications
- Master degree or
equivalent in Business Development Services, Economic Development or
equivalent
- Good knowledge
of warehousing technics/technologies including running of grain business
hubs with structured markets such school feeding procurement etc.
- At least 5 years
of work experience working with market and warehouse systems, Public
Private Partnerships. Development program planning monitoring and
reporting is key.
- Academic
training and/or practical experience in economics, agriculture and rural
development. Understanding of procurement governance or business
development services is desired.
- Personal
commitment to social and economic development that recognizes women and
smallholder farmers as critical actors and beneficiaries.
- Thorough
understanding of the principal issues facing rural and low-income
communities in the region gained through experience in civil society,
government, or private sector organizations.
- Excellent
communication skills, both oral and written in English (This role will
oversee production of local information dissemination presentations and
periodic narrative reports).
In
addition to professional qualifications and work experience, the candidate
shall be expected to be:
- A self-motivated
achiever with demonstrated ability to work with minimum supervision
- Strong in report
writing skills and understanding of Local Economic Development status.
- Good in resource
management, organizational skills, M & E/ Data handling and/or
knowledge development.
- Proficient in MS
Word at an advanced level.
- In a position to
demonstrate knowledge of relevant Networks and networking skills.
Contract
Duration: 2 years (with a possibility of extension).
Desired start date: ASAP
How to apply
Desired start date: ASAP
How to apply
Apply
by clicking APPLY. Please unsure to
send your application letter, CV together with names and email contacts of
three referees as you apply before 5th July, 2013.
