Agribusiness Officer

JOB TITLE: Agribusiness Officer

REPORTS TO:  Programme Manager

STAFF REPORTING TO POSTHOLDER: None

LOCATION: Meru, Laikipia or Kirinyaga

DURATION & HOURS: Fixed term, full-time.

Positions Required :2 positions; One in Laikipia and One in Meru Counties

Specific objectives are to: 

a)Enhance resilient agricultural systems that are context specific by promoting improved agronomic practices through sustainable agriculture 

b)Advocate for sustainable farming agricultural policies through engagement of public (county governments) and private sector partners.

c)Promote sustainable productivity and resilience in smallholder farming through improved seed system support and facilitation 

d)Enhance economic opportunities and inclusivity for smallholder farmers through strengthened market engagement

The Project covers Meru, Kirinyaga and Laikipia Counties.

The Agribusiness officer should have a strong background in entrepreneurship and Agribusiness management with a deep understanding of input markets, small holder market linkages and working with frontline extension staff. He/she should be well experienced in business development, enterprise capacity building, value chain strengthening, market linkages and private sector engagement in the agricultural sector.

KEY TASKS AND RESPONSIBILITIES 

Activity Implementation and Reporting

• Collaborate with the project team to develop project plans, objectives, and strategies related to the project. 
• Design and implement activities that enhance the small scale farmer’s and frontline extension staff (Village Business advisors) skills on entrepreneurship and business management.
• Develop and manage programme timelines, budgets, and resources efficiently.
• Develop quality reports, success stories and tracking of key programme deliverables.  

Agribusiness and market development 

• Facilitate linkages between small scale farmer’s and input suppliers (agro dealers, input suppliers) for easier access to quality and certified inputs for the small scale farmers.
• Identify and develop useful partnership with different market players in the target counties including aggregators, processors, and commodity buyers all geared at ensuring that the farmers have easier access to sustainable markets for their produce.
• Identify and develop useful partnership with financial service providers (identified MFIs) and facilitate linkages and access to finance, credit, and insurance services for the small scale farmers to support their investment and expansion.
• Providing training, coaching, and mentorship to small scale farmers, village business advisors and other value chain actors to enhance their understanding of agribusiness concepts and practices.  
• Provide technical support and guidance to small scale farmers, Village business advisors and entrepreneurs in the target Counties on effective farm business management practices.
• Conducting financial analyses, including cost-benefit analyses, profitability assessment, and risk management, to determine the financial feasibility and sustainability of various agribusiness activities in the SAVES project.
• Support the development of a comprehensive curriculum specifically tailored for the training and certification of Village-Based Advisors (VBAs) through the Technical, Vocational Education and Training (TVETs) colleges in the targeted counties.

Monitoring Evaluation and Learning

• Monitoring and evaluating the performance of agricultural operations, identifying areas for improvement and implementing mitigation plans for risks and challenges.
• Working alongside the MEL department, develop and implement monitoring and evaluation frameworks to track project progress and outcomes.
• Collect and analyse data on project activities, impact, and effectiveness.

Stakeholder Engagement:

• Collaborate with government agencies, NGOs, financial institutions, market actors, and other stakeholders to foster partnerships and ensure project alignment.
• Facilitate dialogues, workshops, and knowledge-sharing sessions with stakeholders to promote collaboration and exchange of ideas. 

Reporting:

• Compile monthly and quarterly reports (with illustrations such as graphs) to indicate the progress of the programme implementation activities.
• Prepare reports and presentations summarizing project results and lessons learned.
• Any other duties as may be directed by the line manager.

Education, qualifications & other knowledge

• Bachelor’s degree in agriculture, Agribusiness, Agricultural Economics, or related field.
• Strong knowledge of agribusiness development, market analysis, value chain development, and market-oriented approaches.
• Proven experience in project implementation in the agricultural sector with a focus on agribusiness.
• Deep Knowledge in Agribusiness Management. 
  
• Good understanding of the role of the private sector in the agricultural sector.
• Previous NGO or private sector work experience in rural development
• Skills in providing business trainings and marketing.
• Knowledge of the Kenyan agricultural input sector
  

Experience

• At least 5 years’ experience in the agricultural sector and a strong value chains and market engagement focus.
• Experience in developing partnerships with agro-input companies and market actors including aggregators, processors etc. in the agricultural sector.
• Field based experience implementing small holder projects and providing Business Development Services (BDS) to enterprises in different agricultural value chains.
• Experience working in the agricultural sector in the target counties of Meru, Kirinyaga and Laikipia.
• Experience with County government officials in the target counties. 
  

Skills & abilities

• Financial management
• Report writing skills
• Agricultural value chains development
• Field level training
• Participatory planning, monitoring & evaluation
• Capacity building of organisations & individuals
• Effective communication (both verbal & written)
• Familiarity with smartphone mobile training tools

Our Values 

Investing in smallholder farming is the number one way to combat poverty in rural Africa. Farm Africa is a leading NGO specialising in growing agriculture, protecting the environment and developing businesses in rural Africa.

· EXPERT: Expertise and insightful evidence-based solutions are at the heart of everything Farm Africa does. 

· GROUNDED: Our teams and partners work closely with local communities, engaging them in every level of decision-making. 

· IMPACTFUL: We deliver long lasting change for farmers, their families, and the environments they live in. 

· BOLD: We model innovative approaches and are not afraid to challenge strategies that are failing.