Project Manager - Smart Water for Agriculture (SWA)

Job Description

Vacancy Announcement

SNV Netherlands Development Organisation in Kenya seeks to fill the following position:

Project Manager – Smart Water for Agriculture (farmer-led irrigation)

(For a Kenyan National OR Kenyan based international)

Based in Nairobi

Subject to donor funding

SNV is a not-for-profit international development organization. Founded in the Netherlands nearly 50 years ago, we have built a long-term, local presence in 38 of the poorest countries in Asia, Africa and Latin America. Our global team of local and international advisors work with local partners to equip communities, businesses and organizations with the tools, knowledge and connections they need to increase their incomes and gain access to basic services – empowering them to break the cycle of poverty and guide their own development.

Background

The Kenya Smart Water for Agriculture (SWA) is a 4 year, 6 million euro program under consideration for funding by the Netherland’s Embassy in Nairobi as part of its food security and private sector development agenda. SWA is implemented by a Consortium of partners. The Consortium consists of SNV, MetaMeta, KIT, Practica and Aqua for All. SNV Kenya will be the lead organisation.

This programme aims to improve the food security through optimized water availability and efficiency by small and medium farmers and businesses. In overall, SWA wishes to support SME farmer-led irrigation.

Project Summary

The SWA programme will support entrepreneurial irrigated agriculture in Kenya, the promotion of a range of water-smart solutions appropriate to different groups of farmers and the strengthening of the financial and commercial products and services within the fodder and horticulture value chains. The latter will open up the development of long term linkages with Dutch businesses. In Kenya a transition takes place with SME farmers supplying growing urban markets. This development is not unlike other countries in Sub-Saharan-Africa (SSA), the difference being that Kenya has progressed further in the development of its commercial SME irrigation sector. We see the program therefore as setting the scene for other emerging middle-income countries in Africa and the development of international trade linkages in that respect.

The SWA approach is farmer-led and market-based – in line with the draft National Irrigation Strategy (2015). SWA will look at smart water agriculture as part of understanding the entire value chain. The smart water solutions (SWS) that are promoted concern market–based options, both products and services that will save water and energy and serve sustainable resource use, but also in many cases reduce labour and inputs, which makes them extra attractive. Many SWS increase yields and timeliness/ quality of products – positioning them in value chain dynamics.

The SWA Team will consist of a core team of around 4 advisors (who operate from the SNV Offices in Nairobi. The advisors are supported by high level short term back-stopping missions bringing expertise and knowledge from the consortium members.

The consortium partners have successfully established a network in the SWA sector both in Kenya and in the Netherlands. The project works with a large number of local stakeholders and will facilitate linkages and partnerships between stakeholders in Kenya and Dutch private sector and knowledge institutes.

Key Responsibilities

• Establish, organize and manage the SWA programme support office (project management)
• Coordination and supervision of SWA staff
• Coordination of the incoming expert missions
• Oversee the development of an Irrigation Acceleration Platform starting with joint (market) assessments of farmer-led irrigation development, mapping potential commercial farming areas and explore strong business cases
• Identify investment opportunities in SWA supply chains and market development develop partnerships with financial organisations that are interested to develop SWA financial packages for SME farmers
• Oversee the implementation of the knowledge, communication and marketing strategy
• Liaise with local, public and private knowledge and training providers to explore their potential contribution to the SWA programme
• Conduct and supervise impact monitoring and evaluation activities
• Budgeting planning and control supervision
• Provide input for various internal and external publications and reports in English
• Network and represent the SWA program at national / international level during fairs, seminars and other platforms in collaboration with the consortium

Candidate Profile

• Degree in soil and water conservation, irrigation, land and water development or agribusiness
• At least 8-10 years of practical experience in project management, office administration, market facilitation and business development
• Exposure to project development and management at sector/systemic level, including the management of projects with an investment fund
• Knowledge and experience on aspects of farmer-led irrigation, Land and Water and agricultural supply chains in the Kenya context
• Demonstrated experience in strategy development in terms of choice of interventions, clients and partnerships, in view of SWA being farmer/market-led and driving innovation
• Experience in partnership development, particularly at the sector level with Kenyan and Dutch private sector partners, training institutes, policy makers, donors and finance institutes.
• Excellent relationship management skills to manage the consortium
• Proven ability in overseeing M&E and a knowledge development agenda which will include – reviewing SWA Theory of Change, results framework and annual work plans, design and quality assurance of the M&E framework, and design/quality assurance of a framework for documentation of interventions around innovations facilitated by SWA
• Good networks in the Kenya and Dutch SWA sector is an advantage

Other requirements

• Experience in establishing and running an office organization (HR, Finance, Admin)
• International experience
• (People) management, training and coaching experience and skills
• Extensive work experience in a multicultural environment
• Good communication skills in English (Dutch is an advantage)
• Good computer skills
• Willingness to travel to project regions in Kenya

Contract Duration:

2 years with possibility of extension.

Desired start date:

January 2016

How to apply

Please apply by clicking the APPLY tab on this page and submitting application letter and a CV that contains three referees in English to the attention of Human Resources Officer before 9th December, 2015 citing the position title as reference.

We do not appreciate third-party mediation based on this advertisement.

NB: Only shortlisted will be contacted