CARE is an international NGO with local staff and community partners in 100 countries. We create local solutions to poverty and inequality and we seek dignity for everyone every day and during times of crisis.  These solutions have a broad range, from disaster response to food and nutrition to education and work for women and girls to healthy mothers and children. 
CARE International in Kenya (CIK) has been working in Kenya since 1968, and its core programming areas include community adaptation to climate change and disaster risk reduction; humanitarian assistance and emergency response; agriculture & market systems for food and nutrition security; Water, Sanitation & Hygiene (WASH); health, equity & rights; and women’s economic empowerment.

Project Description

The CASCADE programme goal is to improve food security and contribute to the reduction of malnutrition of at least 5 million women of reproductive age and children under 5 in Benin, Nigeria, Uganda, Kenya, Ethiopia and Mozambique. The consortium is comprised of CARE International and GAIN, two organisations that have extensive experience in tackling malnutrition in the programme countries at multiple levels. The programme has two strategic objectives: it aims to increase access to and consumption of healthy diets, as well as increasing the resilience of households to economic and climate change-related shocks across the six countries, with a focus on women of reproductive age and children. The programme will galvanise government, business, and communities around 5 domains: 1) Policy change and accountability; 2) Re-engineering markets and mobilising private sector; 3) Transforming cultural norms and practices; 4) Taking a gender transformative approach; 5) Systematising data and learning for policy. In Kenya, the programme will focus on the counties of Nakuru, Nyandarua and Nairobi, aligning with GAIN’s A1 programming areas. CASCADE will build on successful projects in Nyandarua by CARE which have successfully implemented FFBSs that integrated gender-transformative interventions.

JOB SUMMARY

The purpose of the Livelihoods Project Officer is to provide leadership in the delivery of the CASCADE activities on increasing women’s access/control and influence over of household and agricultural assets and incomes, specifically the delivery of the Farmer Field and Business School, Social Analysis and Action and VSLA methodologies in the project. The Project Officer will work with partners and other stakeholders in equipping the small-holder women farmers and community-based trainers with the necessary capacities for increased food and nutrition security in the targeted project implementation areas. Jointly with the Project team, S/He will be responsible for planning and implementation of the CASCADE, monitoring, Evaluation, and documentation; partnerships development, coordination and representation at the County level and maintenance of the Project resources among other activities related to the achievement of CASCADE project objectives in the area of operation.

RESPONSIBILITY 1: Planning & implementation of CASCADE project milestones-40%

• Conduct community entry activities, adapting the FFBS to the agricultural seasonal cycle
• Together with social services, VSLA groups and agriculture extension department identify community-based trainers (CBTs) for the intervention
• With support from the CASCADE Project Manager develop FFBS training modules for the selected value chains
• Conduct TOT for Extension and CBTs on the FFBS and SAA
• In collaboration with the Country agriculture extension departments, support training of staff and partners and community-based trainers on the farmer field and business school model and SAA
• Support linkages between the trained female small scale farmers to allow inter and intra skills transfer and support and implementation of the action plans generated from the SAA.
• Jointly with the Country Agriculture extension departments, establish FFBS at the community and apply the FFBS (trainings and dialogues) as a capacity strengthening model around agency, structure and relation on agriculture, markets, financial services and business development skills for women and project targets

RESPONSIBILITY 2: Supporting Monitoring, Evaluation, Reporting and Learning on CASCADE-30%

• Liaise with Project Manager and MEAL Coordinator to ensure preparation of timely draft narrative reports meeting donor standards.
• Support in the development of annual workplans, and detailed implementation and monitoring plans. 
• Identify and document challenges in implementation that would have negative impact and or undermine the performance of the project, identify solutions and implement actions on timely basis to avert negative performance in consultation with project manager and M&E Coordinator.
• Share monthly data on indicator performance, discuss and ensure partners are aware of the indicators performance and that they can identify actions to enhance performance
• Timely respond to all data queries on Project arising from MEAL Coordinator, partners and Project team
• Monitor compliance of project implementing partners and monitoring progress of work plan implementation in consultation with Project Manager.
• Collaborating with the Project Manager and the M&E Coordinator, facilitate in trainings and orientation of stakeholders on data requirements for the project, management and data for decision making.
• Facilitate the collection and verification of data on all indicators.
• Working closely with Project team and partners to support the documentation of Human-Interest Stories and lessons learnt for internal and external dissemination.

RESPONSIBILTY 3: Linkage and networking with other collaborators - 20%

• Represent CARE in relevant community development planning meetings.
• Establish and maintain a good working relationship with other CARE colleagues and project staff, project Partner, County government, MOA, collaborators, other stakeholders and enhance CARE image.
• Liaise with the Relevant County government officials, collaborators, and other stakeholders as appropriate.
• Enhance teamwork and synergy in programming and CAREs activities.

Other Responsibilities as assigned-10% 

• Keep up to date with CARE’s emerging strategies and approaches and contribute proactively towards implementation. Take responsibility for ensuring personal safety and security, giving due care and consideration to the impact of personal decisions on the safety and security of others

Mandatory 

• Bachelor's degree in related field such as agriculture, agriculture economics, agriculture policy, agribusiness

Experience and Competencies Required

• At least three (3) years’ experience in agronomy, agricultural markets and value chain development, business planning
• Strong abilities in, understands market system change, is flexible, self-initiative. 
• Practical experience supporting the development of farmers’ and farmers’ enterprises 
• Demonstrated capacity to work with private sector players (financial institutions, exporters, buyers, traders, transporters, input suppliers or processors)
• Ability to work with minimum supervision
• Good interpersonal and communication skills
• Working knowledge of MS computer packages
• Strong conceptual and analytical skills
• The ability to work independently, think innovatively and strategically and work effectively within a team
• Fluency in written and spoken English and excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Detailed understanding and experience of gender and diversity issues and commitment to addressing inequalities in all the key areas of responsibility
• Demonstrate high levels of initiative and flexibility in tasks undertaken 
• Ability to work under pressure and deadlines
• Extensive knowledge of participatory approaches
• Understanding of development/relief issues

AUTHORITY:

• Spending Authority: None
• Supervision:     None
• Indirect: External partners and collaborators
• Decision Making: on work plan implementation in designated region in consultation with supervisor

WORKING CONDITIONS:

• Shall be based Nakuru with frequent field travel to the project implementation sites

CONTACTS/KEY RELATIONSHIPS  

• This role is expected to establish and maintain open, professional, and cordial relations with the COs internal and external customers. These include and not limited to.

Internal

• Project team, Country Office teams

External

• County officials, partner agency staff

CARE is an Equal Opportunity Employer promoting gender, equity, and diversity. Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.

Deadline to receive all applications will be on or before  15th August 2022, at 5.00 P.M EAT. 

We do require that you have the legal ability to work in Kenya and while we would like to respond to all applicants, only short-listed candidates will be contacted. Canvassing will lead to automatic disqualification

CARE does not charge a fee at any stage of the recruitment process. Qualified Female candidates are highly encouraged to apply. CARE has a commitment to gender, equity and diversity in our workplace and operations. CARE respects and values diversity and does not discriminate on the basis of race, sex, gender identity, sexuality, ethnicity, age, disability, religion or politics. This is reflected in our recruitment decisions which are made entirely through a transparent, merit-based selection process. All CARE staffs are required to comply with the Code of Conduct, Prevention of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (PSEA) and Child Protection (CP) policies.