Description

Heifer International is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, status as a protected veteran, among other things, or status as a qualified individual with disability.

FUNCTION
The East Africa Youth Inclusion Program (EAYIP) Cluster Coordinator, under the guidance of the EAYIP Social Capital and Cluster Manager, will provide leadership on hub business and will be responsible for managing and providing technical guidance to the business operations of the agricultural value chain enterprises in the Cluster for the EAYIP. S/he will ensure increased production and productivity in the agribusinesses which are the key outcome of the project. Leading and working through a team of Cluster personnel and other consortium staff, he/she will provide technical guidance and support to producer organization boards, staff, and farmers on dairy production and productivity issues.

ESSENTIAL CHARACTER TRAITS
Energetic, Positive, Collaborative

RESPONSIBILITIES & DELIVERABLES
A. Program Effectiveness (50%)

• Lead the Cluster team including consortium staff to develop practical strategies to increase income production and productivity within the respective cluster through the use of relevant input on poultry, horticulture, staple crops, animal health & husbandry, feed/nutrition, water management system, etc.
• Develop/Review systems, procedures, methods and formats to monitor production, quality, pricing, expenses and income associated with dairy production, poultry, horticulture, staple crops at farm level and at the producer organization level
• Lead the development of a farm business model as a profitable sustainable and growth proposition to smallholder farmers, which could be used to replicate and advise interested farmers particularly youth to adopt dairy, poultry, horticulture, staple crops farming
• Lead and support the Cluster team in designing a system and implement plans to support Producer organizations to set up robust business leadership extension systems and link producer organizations to input and service providers
• Support the design and implementation of appropriate curricula to help the cluster office plan and implement training programs that relate to the poultry, horticulture, staple crops farming and dairy enterprise management
• With the guidance of the Social Capital and Cluster Manager, design and lead systems to streamline gender and youth activities which promote production and productivity within the cluster
• Lead the Cluster team in designing a program that can select and support the development of model farms and put in place strategies to upscale adoption of productivity enhancement technologies

DELIVERABLE

• Ensure formed youth associations are strengthened and functional
• The hub board members trained in leadership, group dynamics and good corporate governance
• Support Hubs to develop and implement hub Sustainability plans.
• Knowledge and know-how transfer to the hubs leadership and management
• Social Capital Development (SCD) structures developed and well functioning. This includes hubs, Community Facilitator, Community Agrovet Entrepreneurs, Project Management Committees and Mentoring Teams
• Ensure effective implementation of the Market System Development approach integrated with other project approaches/models such as ISLA, SCD [Hubs and VBHCD Model), Peer to peer, gender equity.
• Organizational standards for SCD have been followed
• Groups are dynamic and vibrant with self-directed plans and carrying out regular PSRP.
• Ensure recruited Youth establish meaningful businesses or secure meaningful employment
• Support Youth businesses/products to be certified and comply with legal requirements and meet market demand.
• In collaboration with Implementing Partners support youth, youth SHGs, Cooperative, and enterprises develop fundable business plans
• Facilitate Youth youth, youth SHGs, Cooperatives, and enterprises to access loans from the revolving loan fund, youth development funds financial institutions and other private sector actors
• Support linkages of hubs with Markets and other Service providers

1. Management and Compliance (30%)

• Review and coordinate the compilation of monthly, quarterly reports and ensure that a robust database is maintained at the Cluster level to track productivity and use of inputs and services
• Working closely with the Regional Monitoring, Learning and Evaluation (MLE) Manager; and MLE Officer creates, executes and monitors action plans to support Cluster office value chains namely poultry, horticulture & livestock databases at youth farmer business associations with a view of the enterprises to use the data for improving management and profitability of the enterprises
• Ensure compliance with contractual obligations and procedures of donors

DELIVERABLE

• Submit timely reports to Country Program Manager as required
• Ensure periodic project reviews are conducted, with learnings documented and shared
• Support hubs to comply with reporting requirements stipulated in the contracts with different partners of the hub
• Support data management, quality assurance and impact tracking, success stories documentation, and profiling of model farmers at the Cluster level
• May perform other job-related responsibilities as assigned by supervisor

1. Partnership and Engagement (20%)

• Coordinate cluster team and external partnerships to bring the best farm practice to the project
• Provide leadership to the Cluster team in strategy development and creative initiatives to nurture and build linkages between producer organizations, local governments, private sector BDS providers and other development players.
• Represent EAYIP in various local stakeholder meetings, workshops, conferences and shared learning events.

DELIVERABLE

• Develop and implement plans for multi-stakeholders’ engagement and learnings.
• Develop relationships with local partners working with youth in agribusiness to facilitate access to best farming practices and market linkages.
• Maintain the relationship with different partners supporting EAYIP at Cluster level such as Civil Society Organization, Financial Institutions, Training Providers

Minimum Requirements
Bachelor’s degree in Agriculture, Animal Science, or other related fields, with five (5) years’ managerial experience in dairy production, dairy value chain management, agriculture development with at least three (3) years experience of how cooperatives work.

Preferred Requirements

• Master’s degree in Agriculture, Animal Science or a related field, plus at least five (5) years’ experience in crop and or dairy production management with a background in dairy enterprise management.
• Experience in developing private-public partnerships especially at country level working in a matrix reporting environment
• Possess the experience and ability to inoculate dairy as a financially viable business proposition at both the farm and producer organization

Most Critical Proficiencies

1. A clear understanding of the dairy value chain and Heifer’s Value-based model.
2. Proven team leadership, project management, motivational and supervisory skills with the ability to train and work cooperatively with a diverse staff.
3. Demonstrated knowledge of the latest developments in advancing good/best practices in value chain development that reaches youth, and underprivileged.
4. Demonstrated creativity, ability to think systematically, willingness, and ability to incorporate innovative solutions and design catalytic activities within the production dairy value chain (e.g. the concept of business development services provision).
5. Demonstrated experience in setting robust and sustainable extension systems for producer organizations. This requirement is in line with the need to have built-in exit strategies within the project as a measure of ensuring that there are self-sustaining businesses by the project’s end.
6. Having a business approach to the dairy farmer with a passion for farmer development and being completely farmer-centric.
7. Demonstrated knowledge and experience in facilitating the development of farm-level business plans and feasibility studies including the computation of the associated key financial ratios and benchmarks.
8. Experience in implementing supply promotion/stimulation strategies in the context of dairy sub-sector and other agricultural sub-sectors.
9. Computer literacy, including facility with Word, Excel, and other relevant Microsoft Office Suite applications, as well as any other databases.
10. Proficient in communicating in English and local languages, oral and written.

Essential Job Functions and Physical Demands

1. Proven interpersonal and communication skills with the ability to relate to individuals and groups diplomatically and tactfully.
2. Constant face-to-face, telephone, and electronic communication with colleagues and the general public.
3. Sensitivity to the needs and priorities of disadvantaged populations particularly women and children.
4. Excellent oral and written reporting skills with the ability to prepare and present documents in a well-designed and attractive format with superior attention to detail.
5. Working in a multi-cultural setting and commitment to promoting teamwork, gender equality, and sensitivity to hunger and poverty issues.
6. Ability to work under tight deadlines with minimum supervision.
7. Ability to work under pressure in response to changing needs and ability to work well in a team.
8. Ability to travel domestically and internationally, occasionally on short notice.
9. Sound judgment, professionalism, and a positive attitude with the ability to adapt to a rapidly changing environment and in sometimes difficult circumstances.
10. Ability to lift and carry up to 20 pounds (9 kilograms) floor to waist.
11. Ability to work with sensitive information and maintain confidentiality.

Deadline 26 June, 2020

Submit your CV and Application on Company Website : Click Here

Closing Date : 20th July, 2020.