Wednesday, March 7, 2012

AFRICA HARVEST FIELD OFFICERS AND PROJECT MANAGER JOBS IN KENYA

Africa Harvest Biotech Foundation International (AHBFI or Africa Harvest) is an International Technology Development and Transfer Foundation incorporated in the United States of America as a non-profit organization. It has its headquarters in Kenya and operational regional offices in Johannesburg, South Africa, Toronto Canada and Washington D.C in the U.S.A.

The Vision of the foundation is an Africa free of hunger, malnutrition and poverty. The Foundation seeks to empower rural communities in Africa by providing appropriate technologies to boost their food production and income (see our website www.africaharvest.org).
The Foundation is seeking to recruit dynamic individuals to support its Sorghum for Multiple Uses Project in Tharaka, Makueni, Kathonzweni and Kibwezi:

Project Manager Nairobi

Department: Food & Nutritional Security
Report To:Director, Food & Nutritional Security

Purpose:

Manage, monitor and report on project activities to ensure the efficient, effective and timely attainment of project objectives and goals as well as provide leadership and act as a liaison between the organization and other project partners.

Primary Responsibilities:

Participate in formulating project design through preparation of proposals to Donors and development partners;

Develop project work plans and cascade to the field teams;
Develop project technical and financial plans for projects;
Facilitate training and build capacity for field teams
Authorize and approve allocation of funds to field teams and project sites;
Coordinate project activities and calendar in consultation with field officers to enhance project implementation in a timely and cost efficient manner;
Prepare field budgets and approve staff expenses for payment;
Monitor and evaluate project progress and resources against agreed timelines, milestones and budgets;
Prepare project progress reports for internal as well as external reporting;
Liaise with project implementation partners to share data and information;
Represent the organization in relevant project related forum;
Develop relevant data collection instruments for socio economic studies; and
Provide guidance and participate in field data collection, compilation and analysis.


Person Specification

Academic Qualifications
Master’s degree in Agriculture Economic, Agri-business, Agriculture or related field.

Experience:
5 years relevant experience, with at least 1 in a similar role

Key Competences

Good writing skills,
Negotiation skills
Managing Field survey
Working knowledge of data analysis computer packages - SPSS
Demonstrated communication and interpersonal skills
Ability to work in a team

Field Officers (2)

Makueni, Kathonzweni and Kibwezi
Department: Food & Nutritional Security
Report To: Project Manager

Purpose:
Lead and coordinate project implementation activities on the ground in specific areas of operation towards the achievement of project milestones, objectives and goals.


Primary Responsibilities:

Sensitize stakeholders on the ground on project goals and objectives;
Mobilize and aggregate communities into functional farmer groups;
Facilitate training for field teams as well as train farmer groups to adopt good agronomic practices;
Carry out farm visits and provide technical support to the farmers;
Facilitate group activities through regular meetings;
Coordinate farmer access to seeds/seedlings and farm inputs;
Monitor project milestones and ensure appropriate documentation;
Prepare and submit field status reports in a timely manner;
Facilitate marketing activities of surplus produce for farmers;
Facilitate linkages to credit and other service providers for farmers; and
Attend and participate in agricultural development Forums.

Person Specification

Academic Qualifications
Diploma or Degree in Agriculture, Biological Sciences or other related field

Experience:
3 years relevant experience

Key Competences

Demonstrated good communication and interpersonal skills,
Ability to work in a Team
Fluency in local dialect will be an added advantage.

All applications should be sent with current CV, cover letter explaining your suitability for the job, salary expectations and three names of your referees.

Hard copies OR electronic copies of applications should be submitted on or before March14, 2012 to:

The Human Resources Manager
Africa Harvest P.O. BOX 642-00621
Village Market, Nairobi
Kenya.

E mail address: kenya@ahbfi.or.ke