Project Coordinator Enterprise Development Manager Finance & Administrative Assistant

Function:
The Project Coordinator, under the management of the Director for Programmes, will assume overall responsibility for the management and coordination of the Food for All Project Kenya, which is implemented in partnership with Solidaridad Eastern and Central Africa Expertise Center, Meru Greens Horticulture, Soil Cares Foundation and Horticultural Crop Directorate.
This is a five year € 5,352,986 project funded by Sustainable Entrepreneurship and Food Security Facility (FDOV) in which Heifer International Kenya is responsible for establishment and strengthening 5 farmer owned milk marketing organizations through which 10,000 smallholder farmers will be able to sell their milk.
This position is expected to contribute to the development and replication of the hub model in the Heifer Kenya Country Program.
Essential Character Traits:
Heifer International Kenya is looking for a self-motivated and result oriented person to fill in the position of the Food for All Project Coordinator.
Responsibilities for the Project Coordinator Jobs:
Project Management ( 30%)
Assume overall responsibility for the management of the Food for All Project including project resources ensuring adherence to the compliance and accountability policies
Manage the performance of any temporary employees and partners engaged in the implementation of the project
Manage the implementation of the project to achieve the planned milestones
Facilitate establishment of project management structures at the project, Hub and collection center levels
Profile and develop a data base of all the potential resource persons in the project area that the project can utilize to provide specialized trainings once need arises

Develop and implement sustainability plans for the project
Deliverables:
All the temporary employees and partners engaged to work for the project are effectively managed to achieve their targets
 Over 80 % of the planned milestones achieved by end each quarter 
Project resources for Food
All Project maintained in good condition throughout the project period
Project Management structures operational and meetings documented which will include the Project Management Committee, Group Coordination Committee and Group Management Committees at least 6 months after the project start up
Project Sustainability and exit plans developed and implemented by the fourth year of the project implementation
A data base of local resources developed and used to guide in engagement of external resources persons to support in implementation of certain trainings by the first quarter after the start of project implementation
Annual planning and budgeting ( 5%) Develop an overall project operational plan aligned to the project log frame that will guide in project implementation.
Development and implementation of project work plans (monthly, quarterly) that are aligned to the project log frame
Develop monthly and quarterly budgets aligned to the project work plan, and manage the spending as per the budgets
Review the Monthly and Quarterly Budget
Monitoring reports and provide reports on status of the project spending 
On a quarterly basis, develop project procurement plans and submit to the procurement committee
Deliverables:
Overall project operational plan developed and implemented by the first month after start of project implementation
Project Work plans (monthly, quarterly) developed and implemented as per the schedule
 Budgets (monthly, quarterly, annual projections) developed and managed ensuring spending variance is within +/- 10%

Reports on status of monthly and quarterly project spending developed every month
Project procurement plans developed and shared with the procurement committee on a quarterly basis
Project reporting ( 10%)
Compile the monthly, Quarterly and annual project progress reports and submit them on schedule
Compile the donor reports as requested by the donor through Solidaridad and submit them on schedule and in the recommended formats
Compile and submit a monthly business analysis report for each of the hubs supported by the project, making recommendations to address any issues noted
Deliverables:
Monthly, Quarterly and annual project progress reports submitted on schedule using the right formats
Donor reports submitted whenever requested using the specified formats
Monthly Business Analysis reports for each of the hubs supported by the project submitted on schedule
Private sector linkages, partnerships and Collaboration ( 5%)
Provide overall leadership in designing and implementing partnerships that will entail provision of specialized business advisory services and training to address the commercial needs of various value chain actors within the Food for All project.
Identify MFIs/Banks and other financial service providers ready to engage with producer organizations and agro entrepreneurs and assist in developing financing options with a view to increase net returns to producer organizations
Identify and facilitate the engagement of producer organizations and service providers in agro inputs products, animal health and AI services.
Establish and maintain and close collaboration with the county government and other NGOs that will support the sustainability of the project interventions.
Be the key contact and relationship manager between Heifer International and project partners at the field level and maintain a relationship management framework to cover joint planning, reporting, financial management, training and all other relevant project field level outputs.
Deliverables:
At least 3 Partnerships developed and implemented to address different needs of producers in all the Producer Organizations by June 2020
Partnerships with other stakeholders such as County Government, NGOs and other public and private sector actors developed and used to leverage the project initiatives while also supporting project sustainability.

5 Producer Organizations and agro entrepreneurs providing services to farmers are linked to appropriated financing opportunities by end of the first year of project implementation.
Producer Organizations being supported by the project are implementing checkoff systems to facilitate farmers to access agro inputs, animal health, AI and other essential services by end of the second year of project implementation. 
Enhanced field level relationship with the project partners
Producer Organizations Capacity Building ( 30%)
Facilitate the transformation of producer organizations (POs) into formal collective enterprises that stimulate rural dairy business hubs
Producer Organizations supported to install and utilize milk equipment, ensuring their utilization is above 75%
A total of 10,000 farmers mobilized to join 5 producer organizations by end of the project
Facilitate development of business planning guidelines and conduct strategic business planning sessions for member organizations
Facilitate the capacity building of the 5 Producer Organizations on business skills, financial management, leadership and governance
Facilitate market linkages for the 5 producer organizations in order to implement the appropriate business model for each of the hubs
Conduct monthly Business review meetings with each of the hubs and advise on actions to address any gaps noted.
Deliverables:

 5 Producer organizations supported to become functional dairy hubs by June 2020
 By June 2020 at least 5 producer organizations supported with milk cooling equipment and other infrastructural support according to the project proposal, ensuring utilization of these facilities is over 75%.
 10,000 farmers mobilized to join 5 producer organizations by June 2020
Business
Plans developed for each of the hubs and regularly reviewed to monitor the performance against targets by the first 4 months after the start of project implementation
Comprehensive capacity building of
5 Producer organizations (hubs) developed on business skills, entrepreneurship, record keeping, Financial Management, Governance and Leadership undertaken by end of the first 6 months of project implementation.
5 producer Organizations linked to sustainable markets by end of the first year of project implementation
One monthly business review meeting held with each of the hubs and actions to address any gaps noted identified
Manage the delivery of farmer trainings by the technical resource persons (10%)
Manage the delivery of farmer trainings by the technical resource persons (10%)
With Support from the Animal Wellbeing Manager and the Training Manager, develop and manage the implementation of an extension system to ensure the target farmers are adequately trained according to the project plan.
With support from the Training Manager, oversee the formation and strengthening of Dairy Interest Groups in the 5 hubs being supported by the project through Value Based Community
Development Approaches
With support from the Animal Wellbeing Specialist and the Training Manager, oversee the capacity building Dairy Interest Groups on dairy husbandry, savings and credit mobilization and group dynamics as planned in the project document
Deliverables:
10,000 farmers trained on dairy production by June 2020
 By June 2020, at least 500 TOTs trained and mobilized to train 45,000 farmers on group dynamics
Extension systems developed and made operational in each of the
Producer Organization being supported by the project by end of the second year of project implementation
 Dairy Interest Groups are formed and strengthened to become active in dairy based activities with increased application of Value Based Holistic Community
Development approaches by end of the first year of project implementation
All Dairy Interest Groups are trained on Group dynamics, Savings and Credit Mobilization and technical aspects of dairy husbandry as planned in the project document.
Monitoring and Evaluation ( 5%).Work closely with the M&E officer to:
Develop and implement a system for monitoring the delivery and effectiveness of farmer trainings
 Tracking of the achievement of project outcomes
Undertake quarterly technical reviews for project

Collaborate with Project partners during the project evaluation activities
Monitoring the project risks and issues and making recommendations of actions to address them
Deliverables:
A system for monitoring the hub extension system developed and implemented.

Project outcomes tracked and reported on a quarterly basis
 Technical Reviews of the project, based on the M&E framework developed
Project issues and risks monitored and reported Program Development and Scaling Up of Hub Models ( 5%)
Program Development and Scaling Up of Hub Models ( 5%)
Participate in the development of new initiatives including the scaling up of the Heifer Hub model in Kenya 
 Support the documentation of the project model for its replication in other Heifer International Kenya Program areas.

Regular document case studies and success stories for dissemination
Deliverables:
Project model documented for future scale up and replication 
 Opportunities for future growth of the program in the County identified and shared with the country office 
 At least 3 case studies or success stories developed and submitted for dissemination
Any other duties as assigned by the supervisor
Most Critical Proficiencies:
Strong project cycle management skills and financial management skills including planning, management of project budgets and reporting
Strong business skills, leadership, strategic and innovation skills.
Demonstrated creativity, ability to think systematically, willingness and ability to incorporate innovative solutions and design catalytic activities within the value chain (e.g. the concept of quality-based pricing,
Demonstrated knowledge of the latest developments in advancing good/best practices in value chain designing appropriate business models that link hubs to the markets directly etc.).
Demonstrated ability to design and implement strategies aimed at providing institutional capacity building’ to Producer Organizations with a view to build a more efficient, competitive, and sustainable dairy value chain. This requirement is in line with the need to have in-built ‘exit strategies’ within the project as a measure of ensuring that there are self-sustaining businesses by project end.
Knowledge of and experience in setting up cottage industries for processing locally branded dairy products (e.g. cheese, butter, fortified milk and yoghurt among others) for onward supply to niche and markets as well as implementing supply promotion/stimulation strategies in the context of dairy sub-sector.
Experience in facilitating establishment of strategic alliances and joint ventures with local and foreign processors.
Knowledge of equity financing (e.g. venture capital and/or private equity investing).
Strong computer literacy, preferably with Microsoft Office Suite.
Essential Job Functions and Physical Demands:
Excellent interpersonal skills with the ability to relate to individuals diplomatically and tactfully.
Ability to integrate financial services within a value chain with the view to foster trust and build strong relationship between chain actors and financial service providers.
Must be courteous, honest and of high integrity, especially in high-pressure situations.
Proven interpersonal and communication skills with ability to relate to individuals and groups diplomatically and tactfully.
Self-starter and self-motivator with the ability to work in a multicultural setting.
Must be a team player and have the ability to execute and manage multiple tasks with minimal supervision.
Ability to work with sensitive information and maintain confidentiality.
Requirements for the Project Coordinator Jobs:
Bachelor’s degree or equivalent in the fields of Agriculture Economics, Business Administration, Entrepreneurship, Enterprise Development or other related field, plus five (5) years in a mix of economic growth/trade, value chain competitiveness, investment promotion, or agriculture development.
Master’s degree or equivalent in the fields of Agriculture Economics, Business Administration, Entrepreneurship, Enterprise Development or other related field, plus five (5) years in a mix of economic growth/trade, value chain competitiveness, investment promotion, or agriculture development.
Minimum of five (5) years’ management level work experience.
Significant experience in building public/private partnerships, preferably in the dairy sector.
Demonstrated experience in conducting business, investment analyses, and capital budgeting and sufficient evidence on how the results were used to develop potentially viable business ideas and subsequently tangible businesses.
Proven experience in building the capacity of partner institutions, manage knowledge, measure progress and plan and innovate within the dairy industry.
Demonstrated experience in project management including in donor project budgets management, proposal development and monitoring and evaluation.
Demonstrated project reporting and donor reporting experience.
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