Arid Lands Information Network (ALIN)
Position Title: Agribusiness Support Officer
Duty Station: Kajiado County
Duration: 1 year renewable contract based on performance and availability of funds
Closing Date: 16th September 2022
Background: The Arid Lands Information Network (ALIN) is an NGO registered in Kenya in 2001. ALIN has over 20 years of experience working on sustainable development issues by providing a grass root link to policy matters in addition to empowerment activities.
ALIN’s mission is to improve the livelihoods of communities in East Africa through the delivery of knowledge and skills on sustainable agriculture and adaptation to climate change using modern technologies.
The work covers 10 of the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). SDG 1, 2, 4, 5, 7, 10, 11, 12, 13 and 17 are particularly pivotal to ALIN’s work and mission.
In its new strategy (2022-2027), ALIN promotes solutions that enhance long-term resilience of communities and enable them to thrive in the face of devastating climate shocks; supports communities to achieve food security through new production technologies and access to markets for their produce; and enhances access to digital technologies to support innovation, business processes and civic participation.
Purpose: ALIN wishes to recruit a dynamic, energetic and committed person to join its team as an Agribusiness Support Officer to support the implementation of the “Powered by the sun: climate smart irrigation systems in Kajiado County” project.
The officer will work with farmers and farmer groups in Kajiado County on agribusiness, market linkages, agro-processing, post-harvest management, value chain development, solar-powered drip irrigation, enterprise development and business linkages.
Key Responsibilities
- Training and advising farmers on matters related to crop production, value chain development, market linkages, and solar-powered drip irrigation among others
- Support farmers and farmer groups in agricultural business planning and entrepreneurship development
- Advice and develop concepts on the design of strategies and policies related to agricultural marketing and inclusive and sustainable agri-food value chain development
- Set up and maintain strategic collaboration with relevant partners in the area of agribusiness and solar-powered drip irrigation
- Formulating and advising farmers and farmer groups on strategies for value addition
- Promoting the adoption of solar-powered drip irrigation
- Developing the capacity of farmers and farmer groups to identify sustainable agro-based economic opportunities
- Provide technical expertise in areas such as enhanced agricultural production, post-harvest handling, storage, and processing, improved food security, and improved market linkages
- Work with the project team to design data collection methods and capture all the anticipated benefits from value chain interventions
- Continuous follow-up with farmers on training and agricultural activities
Qualification and Experience
- Bachelor of Science degree in any of the following fields: –
Agriculture; Agricultural Economics; Agriculture Extension; Agriculture
Education; Agribusiness; Horticulture; Food Science; Home
Economics; Food Technology; or any relevant and equivalent qualification from a recognized
institution - Have a minimum of three (3) years of relevant work in agricultural investment, agribusiness
advisory services, agribusiness investment, linkage with the private sector, project
formulation, preparation, appraisal and management; and/or business development - Experience with value chain strengthening, processing, and marketing systems development,
especially in horticulture - Demonstrated experience in facilitating value chain development, value chain analysis, and in
building the capacity of value chain actors and in identifying key intervention areas within
given value chains - Demonstrated understanding of climate-smart agriculture
- Knowledge of technologies and issues for value chain development, business development,
and rural livelihoods - Knowledge of the latest developments in advancing best practices in value chain development
and market systems development - Knowledge of certification processes regarding production traceability, sustainability, and
calculation of Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions - Experience in implementing programs aimed at increasing the competitiveness,
commercialization, and inclusiveness of value chains - Successful experience preparing and presenting detailed cost of production analyses
- Knowledge of the local language as well as residing in Kajiado County is an added advantage
- Having private sector experience will be an added advantage
- Commitment to gender equality and knowledge of gender mainstreaming principles and
approaches
Applications
If you meet the above qualification send your cover letter, curriculum vitae with contact details of three professional referees and documents to jobs@alin.net by COB 16th September 2022.
ALIN is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of ethnicity, political affiliation, age, religion, gender, disability, sexual orientation or national origin.