Summary
Date Posted: Thursday, August 25, 2022 , Base Salary: Not Disclosed

JOB DETAILS:
Micro Enterprises Support Programme Trust (MESPT) was established in 2002 by the Government of Kenya and European Union. EU later relinquished their position to the Royal Danish Embassy in Kenya, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark (DANIDA) through a Trust Deed of 2013.
The Trust is a development organization with a purpose to grow small holder farmers and Agri SMEs to increase productivity, incomes and enhance competitiveness for job creation especially for youth and women. This is achieved through capacity building which includes skills development, technical support, business advisory, financial and market linkages.
Our focus is to facilitate support and provision of integrated financial and business development services for small holder farmers and Agri SMEs in Kenya. This is aimed at enabling beneficiaries to access finance, increase agricultural productivity, agro-processing, and access markets/ trade opportunities. For over a decade, MESPT has partnered with development agencies, donors, and investors to build the capacity of the business services sector and the agricultural sector in Kenya through a unique tripartite business model that links Farmers, Agri- SMEs, and Financial Institutions - creating linkages along value chains.
We pride ourselves for successfully implementing 12 agriculture-based Programme that have seen us facilitate creation of 70,000 decent jobs at various levels of the agriculture market systems. We have also cumulatively disbursed KES 6.4 billion to financial institutions and over 250,000 end users have accessed finance.
ABOUT THE JOB:
Position: Chief of Party for an anticipated USAID-funded private sector development initiative.
Start Date: Contingent upon award
Location: Nairobi, Kenya
Project Overview:
MESPT is recruiting for a Chief of Party for the anticipated USAID Kenya and East Africa Private Sector Development Initiative Activity. The activity is focused on accelerating ag-led growth in Kenya through partnerships with larger agricultural sector firms (such as processors and off-takers) and expansion of smallholder farmer out-grower schemes. The anticipated activity will focus on creating jobs and generating large scale increases in sales/exports in the agriculture sector cost-effectively and, ideally, through a sustainable and locally led vehicle.
Role:
The COP will provide overall leadership, management, and technical direction for the program – ensuring an integrated vision among diverse components and actors – to achieve the desired results. This position will lead program strategic planning and decision making and will be responsible for overall activities of sub-recipients. The COP will work directly with USAID and will be a key liaison to implementing partners and other stakeholders. This position will ensure full compliance with all USAID, MESPT, and other fiduciary regulations and will oversee the project reporting process in line with donor requirements. The COP will supervise project staff including professional performance management and coaching.
Qualifications
• Minimum of ten (10) years of experience in designing and implementing agriculture projects.
• Minimum of ten (10) years of work experience in developing countries, preferably in Kenya or another East African country.
• Minimum five (5) years of successful experience as Chief of Party, Team Leader, Project Director, or equivalent position for donor-funded projects of similar magnitude and complexity in developing countries. Experience with USAID and/or other USG funding agencies strongly preferred.
• Strong technical understanding of market systems, private sector development, agri-finance, and agricultural enabling environment approaches
• Extensive experience working in the financial sector, including a wide range of financial instruments (debt, equity, blended finance)
• Track record working with investors, financial institutions, SMEs, government, and other key project stakeholders
• Master’s degree or higher in Agricultural Development, Agricultural Economics, Business, International Development, Public Policy, or another related field.
• Demonstrated experience in progressively responsible supervisory positions, including direct supervision of professional and support staff; quality evaluation of staff performance and deliverables; and contracts/grants management.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Fluency in English required.
• Local candidates are strongly encouraged to apply

Work Hours: 8

Experience in Months: 120

Level of Education: Bachelor Degree

Job application procedure
Interested applicants should send expressions of interest including detailed curriculum vitae/s with contact references of previous relevant works done, to careers@mespt.org by 2nd September 2022, 5.00pm EAT.

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