Project Summary
The project AGROBLUE - Promoting Sustainable Agriculture and Blue Economy in Kenya is a 36-month initiative implemented in four sub-counties (Galole, Tana Delta, Msambweni, and Lunga Lunga) within the counties of Kwale and Tana River, Kenya. The project is implemented by a consortium of partners with extensive experience in resilient agricultural models and the blue economy, led by Action Against Hunger (ACF) in collaboration with the European Committee for Training and Agriculture (CEFA), MWARP, and the Politecnico di Milano. The initiative works closely with the Ministry of Agriculture and the Ministry of Health to ensure institutional sustainability and long-term impact.
The project is committed to increasing food security, income, and resilience to food crises through an integrated, climate-smart, and gender-sensitive approach. It aims to overcome barriers such as low productivity, high post-harvest losses, and limited economic participation of women by providing farmers and fishermen with the necessary tools, technologies, and knowledge to diversify their livelihoods and increase their incomes, while protecting natural ecosystems.
To achieve these goals, the project proposes several strategic actions across three main result areas:
- Increase access for small-scale farmers and artisanal fishermen to products and services to implement climate-resilient production and fishing systems and community practices and preventing ecosystem degradation
- Increase access of families in rural and coastal areas (farmers and fishermen) to technical, financial services, infrastructure and knowledge to sustainably manage supply chains that add value to their food production in order to increase and diversify their income.
- Sensitizing communities on nutritional needs, with a focus on vulnerable groups such as women and children, to improve access to and consumption of diverse, nutritious food.
Tasks and Responsibilities of the Project Officer
The Project Officer will support CEFA in coordinating and implementing all project activities in collaboration with project staff and partners. (S)He is responsible for ensuring that all activities align with the established work plan through diligent tracking and reporting of project indicators. Specifically, the PO will lead and supervise the correct implementation of the “Agro-Blue” project, both fisheries and beekeeping components, directly contributing to the achievement of its strategic objectives.
Main duties and responsibilities
Coordination, planning and implementation
- Coordinate with the Project Manager on activity tracking and reporting;
- Develop, coordinate and submit annual, quarterly and monthly work plans to the Project Manager (including budget forecasts, travel plans etc.).
- Coordinate day-to-day activities related to field work including communication with targeted participants’ groups, local authorities and other relevant stakeholders based at field level.
- Track the implementation of activities against the approved work plans and consult with the Project Manager on relevant changes to the activity design/implementation.
- Organise and coordinates assessment for data collection, and prepare data analysis and reporting.
- Oversee and review all aspects of fieldwork on a daily basis.
- Oversee the logistics and control of field operations including missions from regional support Staff.
- Attend and organise weekly internal coordination meetings, both with regional support staff and field staff, to plan future activities, discuss the challenges and successes and share lessons learned.
- Organise, keep track and submit to the Project Manager all the documents related to implementation and reporting, including Cash Requests for field activities, missions’ ToRs, Daily Allowances forms, and narrative reports.
- Submit to the Project Manager all the supporting documents of the expenses incurred to in the previous month, including list of attendances, transport allowances sheets, narrative reports, activities’ pictures.
Monitoring and Reporting
- Support the Project Manager in monitoring project activities and regular reporting of the findings (i.e., daily oversight of project activities, etc.);
- Develop and submit without delay monthly progress reports to the Project Manager;
- Support and ensure the collection and submission of continuous quality data (i.e., evaluate the quality of the data received; report to the project team if discrepancies are found, and obtain prompt feedback etc.).
- Provide feedback to the Project Manager on reporting problems met by CEFA staff and suggest potential solutions.
- Perform specific operational/control tasks for project activities, including undertaking field visits for specific monitoring and evaluation issues when required.
- Respects and relevantly implement the project’s M&E Standard Operating Procedures and updates all the relevant M&E Tools, through collecting information on the field and coordinating with Partners;
- Support the Project Manager and coordinate the field team for the data collection, statistics, and reporting;
- Is responsible for the collection and archiving of all project’s Means of Verification:
- Is responsible for orderly organising the online soft archive based on outputs and outcomes, according to the project’s Means of Verification and the documentation collected on the field;
- Keeps an organised and updated file with all beneficiaries’ lists, related to each activity, and submits quarterly the updated beneficiary list to the Project Manager;
- Ensure coordination with the Project Manager for the completion of the Quarterly/Annual monthly tracking tool
- Document lessons learned, success stories, case studies, and best practices to support organizational learning and donor reporting.
- Liaise with and provide oversight to the Beekeeping Experts in Kwale and Tana River to ensure the effective and timely implementation of beekeeping component activities in accordance with project objectives and work plans.
- Ensure the effective and efficient implementation of all Fisheries Component activities, including the organization and coordination of training sessions, supervision of consultants and review of their deliverables, monitoring the performance of Beach Management Units (BMUs), collection and analysis of project data, and preparation of technical and progress reports.
Technical Assistance
- Supports and coordinates CEFA Beekeeping Experts in Kwale and Tana River in various components (including training organization, data collection, survey preparation)
- Monitor the relevant consultants during training sessions and supervise training events;
- Support the development of most suitable and effective concepts and/or implementation methods to reflect strategic and long-term impact.
Synergies
- Liaise with local authorities and other stakeholders representing CEFA when requested.
- Attend conferences, roundtables and other fora relevant for the project.
- Ensure synergies of all project components with project partners, the local government and the international community in Kenya.
- Identify and support the realisation of synergetic initiatives and/or contribution from various stakeholders, which would add value and maximise the project impact.
- Conducts other activities in line with the profile and technical expertise, as required by the Project Manager/Regional Coordinator
Requirements
- Bachelor's degree in Agriculture, Agribusiness, Aquaculture, Environmental Science, Natural Resource Management, Rural Development, or a related field.
- At least three (3) years of experience in the implementation of Agriculture, blue economy, climate resilience, or livelihoods projects. A Master's degree in a relevant discipline will be an added advantage.
- Excellent knowledge of English;
- Excellent knowledge of the project cycle (Project Cycle Management – PCM).
- Excellent command of the Microsoft Office package.
- Strong attention to detail, with the ability to work accurately and consistently.
- Excellent problem-solving skills, with the ability to identify critical issues and effective solutions.
- Strong inclination towards teamwork, with the ability to collaborate constructively and foster a positive working environment focused on the achievement of objectives.
- Solid analytical skills, with the ability to collect, analyse and synthesize information to support decision-making processes.
- Previous work experience with CEFA and/or AICS is considered an asset.
