Project Officer: REF. HR/GEAP/07/2024

ABOUT MESPT

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 Programmes 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.

For further information kindly visit our website www.mespt.org

VACANT POSITION

As part of its development programme, MESPT is seeking to engage a highly committed, results-oriented, self-driven professional with strong project management, communication and coordination skills to support the Green Employment in Agriculture Programme (GEAP). The programme seeks to contribute directly to Kenya’s vision 2030 and to one of the Denmark-Kenya Strategic Framework on accelerated decent employment creation in MSMEs and improved competitiveness of targeted value chains in agriculture which will contribute to transforming the economy towards a greener and more inclusive growth.

Job Title: Project Officer

Organization: Micro Enterprise Support Programme Trust (MESPT)

Department: Green Employment in Agriculture Programme (GEAP)

Position Reports to: Programme Manager

Position Supervises : None

Duty Station: Kakamega, Kenya.

Benefits: 25 working days annual leave, Medical Insurance, 20% Gratuity, 7.5% annual leave allowance.

Restrictions: 3 months’ probation period, 16-months fixed contract & one-month notice period.

Expected Travel: Significant

Job Purpose:

Working in the Green Employment in Agriculture programme under the supervision of the Programme Manager, the Programme Officer will be responsible for all implementation of the programme including technical support to beneficiaries using the market systems approach and other business models, partnership management for stakeholders, facilitating capacity development, data management for programme and facilitate policy dialogues with County government and value chain actors.

Key Responsibilities Key Roles

• Formulating and implementing work plans and budgets for programme activities.
• Promote functional collaboration with County Governments, Central Competent Authorities, and project/ development stakeholders.
• Take the lead in operationalizing the project implementation strategies and activities as defined in the project work plan.
• Work closely with farmers’ organizations in the respective/assigned Counties to identify opportunities, risks, and approaches for the Value Chain programme.
• Identify and review internally produced content and research new and innovative best practices to be incorporated in the Value Chain Programme.
• Analyze data for the purpose of improving the beneficiary training programme.
• Linking and integrating Value Chain various Models defined by programmes in value chain development.
• Ensure requisite site visits for key programme stakeholders are carried out to track financial and programmatic implementation Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning.
• Participate in programme planning & review and programme co-ordination meetings for MESPT.
• Participate in setting and tracking programme performance targets in line with overall strategic goal of the Programme.
• Support in data tracking, coding, and development of the value chain database in collaboration with MEAL to compile reliable and comparable data at an appropriate level of detail.
• Contribute to analytical work, advisory services and knowledge products related to the value chain, including studies and action plans, benchmarks, and indicators to monitor progress, training, and dissemination activities.
• Strengthening the linkages between Competent Authorities and County Governments for data collection coherence.
• Participate in preparation of activity, monthly, quarterly, biannual, and annual programmatic and financial reports.
• Facilitate documentation and sharing of information and lessons learnt with partners and other programme staff.
• Make complete and accurate periodic programme reports

Strategic Planning & Team Support

• Contribute to the formulation and review of MESPT Value Chain programme strategy and planning
• Work with other MESPT staff to identify and develop new ideas and strategic opportunities that contribute to the growth of the organization.
• Participate in fundraising proposal & concept note writing for new projects.
• Support Value Chain team members with information, tools and resources to improve performance and achieve objectives.
• Promote accountability, communicate expectations and provide constructive feedback informally or formally during regular one-on-one performance reviews
• Maintain a work environment that promotes mutual respect where team members strive to achieve excellence

Partnerships & Networking

• Identity partnership opportunities for MESPT leverage among the relevant stakeholders.
• In liaison with the Programme Manager represent the programme at county and national government levels, donors, partners, and other relevant events.
• Coordinate day to day activities with consortium partners, sub grantees, local government and other implementers, as well as with other MESPT programmes

Facilitate access to credit for farmers

• Sensitize and disseminate information to farmers on available credit products from the financial service providers.
• Coordinate trainings of farmer organizations on financial literacy, savings, and credit.

Other Duties and Responsibilities

• Any Other Duties that may be assigned by the Supervisor/Manager

Key Relationships Internal

• Programme Managers
• Finance team
• Project officers
• Programme Assistants
• Human Resource officer
• ICT Team
• Communication Officer
• Credit Team
• Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability & Learning Team

External

• Partner organizations & County Government Officials.
• Stakeholders including farmer groups, co-operatives, donors, and private companies.

Knowledge, Experience and Skills

• Minimum of 5 years relevant experience implementing agricultural programmes using the value chain and market systems approaches.
• Experience working in community development in non-governmental organizations.
• Experience in Monitoring & Evaluation will be an added advantage.
• Certification in Project Management will be an added advantage.
• Excellent computer skills especially with MS Word and Excel and presentation related packages.

Qualifications/Other Requirements:

• A minimum of bachelor’s degree in agribusiness, agriculture education and extension, agriculture economics or agronomy.

Professional Qualification or equivalent

• 3 years driving experience and license

Role Competencies:

• Holds self and the team accountable to deliver on their responsibilities.
• Sets ambitious and challenging goals for themselves (and their team).
• Engages and motivates others.
• Future orientated, thinks strategically.
• Develops and encourages new and innovative solutions.
• Willing to take disciplined risks.
• Honest, encourages openness and transparency.
• Builds and maintains effective relationships, with their team, colleagues, members and external partners and supporters

Behaviour

• Accountable: Taking responsibility for appropriate decisions that you make, and the actions and behaviour you demonstrate
• Embracing Change: Openness to embracing change within the organisation and being able to adjust plans/activities accordingly.
• Team Player: with excellent interpersonal skills, motivated by cooperating with a diverse mix of professionals and different cultures. Ability to build and maintain networks.
• Innovative: Thinking creatively and outside of the box so that ideas generated create a positive outcome

This Job Description only serves as a guide for the position available and MESPT reserves the right to make necessary changes.