Project Officer (Green Transformation): REF. HR/DMDP/08/2024

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 Danida Market Development Partnership (DMDP) Programme in Taita Taveta county in its Green Transformation objective.

Job Title : Project Officer (Green Transformation).

Organization :Micro Enterprise Support Programme Trust (MESPT)

Department : DANIDA Market Development Programme (DMDP).

Position Reports to :Programme Manager

Position Supervises: None

Duty Station :Taveta, Kenya.

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

Restrictions: 3 months’ probation period, 10-months fixed contract & one-month notice period.

Expected Travel: Significant

Job Purpose

The Project Officer will be responsible for the design and implementation of the greening agenda integral to achieving the objectives of the DMDP Programme in the Banana Value Chain. This position requires a highly committed and results-orientated person with good coordination, project management and communication skills.

Key Responsibilities

Project Management

• Take the lead in spearheading the roll out of greening initiatives proposed by the DMDP programme and continuously research on new and innovative approaches.
• Organizing stakeholder forums for sensitization of key implementing partners on climate change mitigation and adaptation and natural resources management approaches.
• Carry out surveys to establish natural resources requirement for smallholder farmers.
• Give technical input and build capacities of implementation team(s), partners, and key stakeholders in adopting green growth and Agri – circular solutions as well as responsible business conduct.
• Coordination and implementation of greening projects in the banana value chain.
• Verification of green technology installations carried out by contracted service providers.
• Identification and development of strategies to minimize environmental impacts of installations related to agricultural production.
• Identifying suitable institutions for collaboration in implementation of appropriate clean and climate friendly technologies and possible opportunities for youth and women MSMEs.
• Formulating and implementing workplans and budgets for programme greening activities.
• Make complete and accurate periodic reports on green interventions.

Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning

• Participate in programme planning & review and programme co-ordination meetings
• 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.
• Support development of the green initiatives data base. This will require working with other departments to compile reliable and comparable data.
• Facilitate documentation and sharing of information and lessons learnt with partners and other programme staff.
• Participate in preparation of activity, monthly, quarterly, biannual, and annual programmatic and financial reports.

Programme Strategy & Team Support

• Contribute to the formulation and review of DMDP programme strategies and implementation models.
• Support project officers in the development of essential local capacity for greening service provision at the grassroot level.
• Support other project officers in undertaking sensitization programmes on climate smart technologies in the county.
• Participate in proposal & concept note writing for projects in line with Natural Resources Management
• Work with other MESPT staff to identify and develop new ideas and strategic opportunities that contribute to the growth of the organization.

Facilitate access to credit for farmers

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

Partnerships & Networking

• 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

Any other duties as assigned by the Supervisor from time to time

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

• A minimum of 5 years relevant working experience, with at least 3 years’ experience gained in the field of climate change adaptation and mitigation related activities.
• Previous working experience in donor-funded programmes is desirable.
• An understanding of project cycle management approaches and tools – including participatory capacity assessment and planning, project appraisal, monitoring and evaluation and partners’ capacity building,
• Experience in community-based programming
• Experience in waste management, water utilization and conservation projects
• Experience in networking among development partners and government departments
• Ability and resilience to cope with multiple internal and external demands.
• High level skills and experience in training & capacity building
• Excellent communication and report writing skills.
• Highly organized individual in planning activities and tracking activity implementation.
• Willingness to travel and interact effectively with stakeholders.

Qualifications/Other Requirements:

• A minimum of bachelor’s degree in environmental Conservation and Natural Resource Management, Environmental Sciences, Agroforestry, General Agriculture, or Related Field
• Certification in Project Management will be an added advantage.
• Excellent computer skills especially with MS Word and Excel and presentation related packages

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