Programme Overview
The climate change projections for East Africa and Kenya in particular shows increasing temperatures and more frequent climate shocks (droughts and floods). This, coupled with the expected exponential increase in human population estimated to increase to 95 million by 2050, poses a serious threat to Kenya’s future development and attainment of Kenya Vision 2030 and the Government’s Big Four agenda especially on Food Security, Increased Manufacturing and Affordable Healthcare.
The use of climate smart agricultural innovations and technologies to adapt to or mitigate against effects of climate change is often limited to a small group of farmers –mainly large scale farmers. Thus knowledge dissemination to small scale farmers for implementation at farm level and climate proofing agricultural value chains will be critical.
The Climate Smart Agriculture – East Africa (CSA-EA) Programme is a 5-year, €39 million project being implemented in Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda. The project uses an Inclusive Business development approach to support the international and Dutch efforts on climate change and sustainable production in arable farming. The programme will work with and through the private sector and supports public sector partners in creating an institutional environment for wide-scale adoption of CSA-practices, including more efficient use of water and (renewable) energy sources. It is driven by 3 pillars: i) adoption of CSA practices & technologies in arable crop production farming systems; ii) acceleration of investments and business growth in selected value chains; iii) improved enabling environment for scaling out of CSA. Interventions are centred on business cases which are derived from a thorough climate risk assessment and financial analysis of value chains in pulses, oilseeds, potatoes and grains. A climate-smart business case matching grant facility aims to further improve access to finance and facilitate scaling. The programme is implemented by a consortium consisting of SNV, Wageningen University & Research (WUR), the CGIAR research programme on Climate Change, Agriculture and Food Security (CCAFS), Agriterra and Rabobank, and is financed by the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs (DGIS).
Job Description
The Climate Smart Innovations Advisor will be responsible for guiding adoption of climate smart technologies and innovations by farmers, cooperatives and SME’s. S/he will advise on specific climate smart interventions and extension systems at the farm level and in the business cases, and in the matching grants for innovation pilots and scaling. S/he will coordinate with the CSA –EA partners to contribute to cost/benefit analysis which will underpin the investments for effective climate resilient production systems. Support will be provided to SMEs and farmer groups/cooperatives on the most appropriate climate integration strategies, which enhances productivity and income of producers/agribusiness. The incumbent will contribute to the joint learning of smallholder producers and SME adoption of climate smart agriculture. S/he will coordinate, manage and supervise local extension providers in the business cases and pilot result based performance contracts. S/he will support technical expert missions to strengthen farmer organizations/cooperatives and SMEs in arable crop farming and management.
Responsibilities
Work with CSA partners and smallholder farmers to incorporate climate smart irrigation technologies and innovations at farm level and along the selected value chains
Contribute to climate risk assessments of prioritized commodities (pulses, oilseed, potatoes and cereals)
Support CSA implementation through a contextual analysis, analyzing the barriers for uptake of climate smart agricultural best practices and innovative irrigation practices, and formulate recommendations for smallholder farmers, SMEs, financial institution and governments
Develop and implement tailored CSA training and coaching programmes for small holder farmers (including women and youth), extension services providers (public, private, NGOs etc.), farmer cooperatives on climate-proofing agricultural production systems for selected value chains.
Support SMEs in the promotion, market uptake and scaling of evidence-based climate smart technologies and innovations, integrating renewable energy and energy efficiency solutions along the chains
Support in the development of business cases especially inclusion of inclusive and innovative water and energy efficient technologies
In collaboration with agronomist organize and support in testing (demo plots ) of profitable and scalable climate smart innovation with smallholder farmers and agro-enterprises
Facilitate and/or contribute to development of strategic partnership and collaboration in the areas of climate-smart agriculture
Qualifications
A Master or B.sc degree in relevant academic qualification: Water resource management, Irrigation, Climate smart agriculture, Environmental sciences
Minimum of seven (7) years’ experience working with or in small holder irrigation , conservation agriculture , agribusiness, preferably in the arable crops
Experience working with smallholder farmers, farmer groups and cooperatives in capacity building, value addition, agribusiness finance and marketing of agri-produce.
Ability and demonstrated experience of designing water and energy efficient innovative small holder irrigation technologies at farm level
Demonstrated ability to manage and/or evaluate climate change adaptation and resilience activities with focus on agriculture production
Technical expertise in qualitative or quantitative methodologies, data collection and analysis.
Excellent communication (written and oral), reporting and presentation skills;
Flexible to take on additional responsibilities as assigned/delegated;
Willingness to travel to all project locations;
Excellent organizing, negotiation, influencing and advisory/coaching skills.
Additional Information
This is a full-time national position with the successful candidate being contracted on a 3-year basis with the possibility of renewal. Salary is competitive and commensurate with qualifications and experience and includes a competitive secondary benefit package.
