Vacancy Announcement – Outreach Project Manager

What we do

Biovision Africa Trust (BvAT), a not-for-profit organization established in Kenya in 2009 and is situated on the main campus of the International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (ICIPE) in Kasarani, Nairobi. The Trust’s goal is to alleviate poverty and improve the livelihoods of smallholder farmers in Kenya and other African countries, through dissemination of information and knowledge on appropriate technology, to improve human, animal, plant, and environmental health. Through the Farmer Communication Programme (FCP), BvAT has farmer resource centres established in 11 counties in Kenya managed under the Farmer Communication Outreach Project as the outreach springboards, from where farmers are reached and trained on ecological sustainable agriculture (ESA). BvAT also runs the Ecological Organic Agriculture Initiative (EOA-I), Knowledge Centre on Organic Agriculture (KCOA) and other agro-based initiatives in Africa.

To help us achieve our ambitious goals, we seek to hire a competent and highly motivated “Outreach Project Manager” to be based in Nairobi.

Job Purpose:

The overall purpose of this job is to provide support and overall management of the Farmer Communication Outreach Project activities under the Farmer Communication Programme aimed at information dissemination on ESA to enhance economic, social, and environmental

livelihoods of smallholder farmers.

Key Duties and Responsibilities:

Project Management

1. 1. Provide technical support the project staff and Project partners on awareness creation, training, and overall project activities implementation on ecological sustainable agriculture.
   
   1. Support designing of project activities, development of logical frameworks and performance indicators.
   
   
   2. Lead and co-ordinate programme/project assessments, planning, implementation monitoring and reporting.
   
   
   3. Provide team management support in terms of feedback, communication and skill development to keep staff, partners and other stakeholder motivated and committed to project deliverables.
   
   
   4. Work closely with the finance department and manage project budgets and work plans, ensuring value for money and that project expenditures are within approved budgets.
   
   
   5. Liaise closely with other BvAT programmes and projects e.g., other FCP projects (Biovision Infonet, TOF Radio, Mkulima Mbunifu, and TOF Magazine), EOA Initiative and KCOA to share/contribute content/information for dissemination.
   
   

Support to Resource Centers

1. 1. Ensure outreach farmer resource centres are operational while meeting centres management standards that foster quality advisory and extension services and enhanced accessibility by the farmers and other users.
   
   1. Applying staff performance management tools, carryout periodic staff capacity assessments against skills requirements and facilitate capacity building for field teams including on-the job training, workshops, exchange visits, and training courses
   
   
   2. Coordinate the development and dissemination of communication and outreach training materials and resources such as posters, banners, flyers, fact sheets, brochures, farmer participatory-produced videos, farmer magazines and modules, among others.
   
   
   3. Monitor the farmers’ database (name, gender, group affiliation, and age group, key farming enterprises) to ensure it is up to date on key areas of information needed.
   
   
   4. Develop and implement strategies that ensure visibility of BvAT and the Outreach project including supporting field teams to actively participate in county stakeholder forums.
   
   

Networking and Resource Mobilization

1. 1. Develop project proposals including budgets for the Outreach project and seek other project sustainability strategies.
   
   1. Foster and leverage on working partnerships with key national and county level partners for greater impact and scale. This also entails identifying new initiatives/partners, where Outreach Project might wish to have a greater focus in the future.
   
   

Monitoring and Reporting

1. 1. Coordinate and support preparation and submission of Outreach reports according to BvAT/FCP reporting guidelines and donor policies.
   
   1. Ensure timely tracking and reporting of project implementation and achievement of expected monitoring visits, staff training and support on use of M&E tools.
   
   
   2. Review timesheets for FFOs and submit to HR office.
   
   
   3. Coordinate annual performance appraisals for all project staff.
   
   
   4. Carry out resource centre monitoring to check on the progress of project implementation by field staff and adoption by farmers
   
   
   5. Any other duties that may be assigned by the supervisor from time to time.
   
   

Responsibility for Finances and Physical Assets.

• * The jobholder has accountability to oversee the utilization of the budget, ensure funds are properly utilized and monitor outreach assets/equipment, and rent payment for the resource centers.

Required Qualifications

• Master’s Degree in Agriculture and/or related course.


• Project Management certification is an added advantage


• Minimum of at least 8 years of relevant experience

Required Skills and Competencies

Technical Skills

Background knowledge in agriculture

▪ Computer skills

▪ Negotiation skills

▪ Networking skills

▪ Fundraising/resource mobilization skills

▪ Creativity, innovative skills

▪ Project management

▪ Fundraising or resource mobilization

▪ Innovative and creative

Behavioural Skills

▪ Teamwork skills

▪ People management skills

▪ Effective collaborator and positive influencer.

▪ Strong facilitation and organisational capabilities.

▪ Strong work ethics

▪ Excellent communication skills (both oral and written)

Working Relationships

Internal Relationships: Interacts frequently with the FCP Coordinator, FCP Projects, HR Department, Farmer Field Officers and the Finance Department
External Relationships: Contact with Partners, icipe, KALRO, KEFRI and Ministry of Agriculture, county governments

How to apply

Please apply with your CV and cover letter as one file indicating a summary of your key qualifications and expected salary to info@biovisionafricatrust.org with the job title: Outreach Project Manager, on the subject line to to be received no later than May 20, 2021. We will not accept applications without a CV and cover letter. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted for interviews

Please visit our website: https://biovisionafricatrust.org/ for full job description and more about the organizational profile and projects.