Environment forestry and agriculture Jobs at Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA),Kenya Shipyards Limited and International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT)

JOB DETAILS:
The Position
• The incumbent will report to the Head for Seed Systems & Research, AGRA and will be responsible for day-to-day operational management and implementation of the grant in close liaison with other relevant stakeholders internal and external to AGRA.

Key Duties and Responsibilities
• Overall project management of this grant for quality, time and cost implementation.
• Working closely with others e.g Seed Systems, Extension and Market Teams to identify grantees, prepare for and support fundable proposals and investments.
• Ensure timely grant making through the AGRA grant process and procurement guidelines where needed.
• Work with M&E to ensure delivery of milestones and tracking of results.
• Review and approval of project reports and deliverables.
• Monitor budgets and ensure adherence to budget lines.
• Coordinate and supervise field visits in collaboration with country teams, AGRA Nairobi, donors, technical partners, and stakeholders.
• Liaise closely with all sub-grantees particularly Harvest Plus to synchronize the project teams for downstream delivery.
• Work with AGRA teams to support CESSA, incorporating key partners like One CGIAR, while maintaining AGRA nutritional and gender focus.
• Ensure donor compliance, updates and timely reporting, adherence to donor requirements, monitor progress on the ground.
• Engage in regional exchange and learning trips to share lessons.
• Work closely with knowledge management and communications team to document case studies, models for scale.
• Prepare quality and timely workplans and reports to support management decision making.
• Identify resource materials for communication that would support the achievement of the project goals.
• Secures collaboration with stakeholders to identify potentially high-impact opportunities to complement and enhance seed systems in integrated grants.
• Builds strategic partnerships with public and private sector in seed systems and nutritional reforms.
• Organizes and carries out (including the use of consultants) rapid market assessments to ascertain the areas for intervention.
• Responds to grant requests from country and regional teams.
• Builds the capacity of grantees.
• Develops concept notes and proposals for resource mobilization.
• Plans, oversees, monitors and evaluates the awarded grants to ensure that targets and milestones are being achieved in a manner that is consistent with the mission and objectives of AGRA and its funders.

Academic and Professional Qualifications
• PhD/MSc in Agriculture preferably in seed systems or breeding or extension with 5 years’ post qualification experience. At least 5 years of experience in program management, and in nutrition-oriented seed systems in Africa.
• Innovative and motivated self-starter with a strong work ethic.
• Highly organized, results and detail orientated with a very hands-on approach.
• Experience in working on joined projects with African governments, researchers, partners and familiar with agricultural development programs.
• Excellent organizational, and problem solving/decision making ability.
• Strong relationship management.
• Good command of English required; French is an added advantage.
• Proficient in MS Project or any other related software.


JOB DETAILS:
KSL/HR/201/CORP/23
Job Competencies (Knowledge, Experience and Attributes / Skills): Academic Qualifications:
• Master’s degree in any of the following fields: Occupational Safety and Health, Environment Management, Development Studies, Project Management or another relevant qualification.
• First level university degree in any of the following fields: BSc in Occupational Safety and Health, Environmental Management, Social Science, Engineering or in any other equivalent qualification from a recognized institution combined with the required work experience may be accepted in lieu of the Master’s degree.

Professional Qualifications / Membership to professional bodies:
• Professional Occupational Safety and Health qualification from a reputable professional institution.
• Member of Environment Institute of Kenya (EIK) or relevant body.
• Registered and Licensed to Practice as an Environmental Expert by National Environment Management Company (NEMA).
• Training in Environment Impact Assessment/Audit (EIA)
• Certificate in Environmental and Social Safeguards Standards.
• Undertaken Leadership/Management course from a recognized institution.

Previous relevant work experience required:
• A minimum period of ten (10) years relevant work experience three (3) of which should be in a managerial position.
• Work Experience in a manufacturing industry is desirable


JOB DETAILS:
CIMMYT is seeking a dynamic and results-oriented Cereal Seed Systems Researcher (Associate Scientist or Scientist) to join its Kenya-based Cereal Seed Systems Development Team. The position will contribute to an innovative regional research portfolio focused on solutions to the persistent challenges of cereal systems in eastern Africa related to the low uptake of new improved varieties. Research will address themes related to gender equality, seed preferences, seed access, and seed distribution for various crops, to include wheat, maize, millet, and ground nut. The selected candidate will work as a member of CIMMYT’s Sustainable Agri-food Systems (SAS) program in close collaboration with all other relevant CIMMYT programs and units.
The position will be based in CIMMYT’s campus in Nairobi, Kenya.

Specific duties:
• Contribute to an ambitious and innovative research-for-development (R4D) agenda focused on the challenges for cereal seed sector in Eastern Africa related to:
• End-user preferences for foods derived from wheat, millet, ground nut and sorghum
• Pathways for development of demand-driven cereal seed systems
• Design of innovative methods and tools to inform strategies for seed systems development
• Role of NGOs and agri-business in shaping formal seed systems performance (and farmers’ access to improved seed)
• Influence of gender relations on access to and preferences for cereal varieties
• Contribute to the design and implementation of a broader social science research agenda related to seed marketing, market intelligence, agri-business, and end-user preferences in the region.
• Contribute to the positioning of CIMMYT as a thought leader in debate related to cereal seed systems development through high level publications, presentations, and fund raising.
• Support the capacity development of CIMMYT’s partners in the region, including seed companies, extension programs, and national agricultural research centers, in themes related to cereal seed systems development.
• Engage local stakeholders (NARS, seed companies, CGIAR breeding teams, NGOs) on strategies, policies, and research needed to address bottlenecks in cereal systems in East Africa and beyond through workshops, briefs, and periodic one-on-one engagements.
• Engage staff from CIMMYT, NARS, NGOs, and seed companies in the region to understand plant breeding, seed production, and seed distribution, as input for designing a stronger client orientation by social science in its seed systems agenda.
• Support regional efforts to mobilize resources to expand R4D agenda on seed systems and related areas of work.

Required academic qualifications, skills and attitudes:
• in rural development, rural sociology, agri-business, or similar field, with at least eight years of relevant experience in a developing country context.
• Track record of publications in recognized peer reviewed journals.
• Demonstrated ability to excel in complex multidisciplinary research or development projects.
• Good partnership building skills, including the ability to interact with funding agencies and local partners.
• A high degree of personal organization and ability to work under pressure.
• Ability to work with different nationalities and disciplines as a member of a diverse work team.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English.
• The selected candidate must exhibit the following competencies: Proactivity, Problem Solving and Decision-making, Negotiation and Conflict Resolution and Teamwork.