Seed potato project Kenya
Being the second largest food crop, potato plays an important role in Kenyan agriculture. The crop has the potential to improve food security of its inhabitants. Yet, yields are currently below their potential, and producers often lack access to good quality seed potatoes.
As a result, a four-year Seed Potato project was launched early 2012 by different Dutch-Kenyan public and private stakeholders. The project is managed by the Centre for Development Innovation (CDI) of Wageningen University (Wageningen UR), and is funded by the Dutch ministry through its Embassy in Nairobi. Key to the project is close collaboration between Kenyan and Dutch potato sector stakeholders.
The project focuses on the import of Dutch seed potatoes on an annual basis, the multiplication of this seed in Kenya with professional seed growers, and to make the seed available to the many small and medium-scale farmers. The ultimate goal of the project is to improve the food security situation in Kenya.
Purpose and function of the network facilitator
The network facilitator will be a Kenyan development practitioner who supports and facilitates the implementation of the seed potato project in Kenya. The Network Facilitator will be able to coordinate collaboration processes, support networking, communications, and policy engagement at national level. The coordinator will be based in a secretariat in Nairobi, Kenya, and will work in close collaboration with CDI in the Netherlands, and with the Netherlands Embassy in Nairobi.
The facilitator should have adequate experience in public-private partnership projects and in agri-business development aiming at food security. The facilitator has relevant experience in seed sector development and is familiar with the main stakeholders of the Kenyan potato sector.
Main duties and responsibilities:
The facilitator will:
- Provide leadership in linking relevant stakeholders in the seed potato value chain to contribute to the project to achieve its objectives and expected outcomes;
- Network with Kenyan expert institutes, research groups, (non) government organisations, development organisations and private sector actors;
- Coordinate and facilitate regular stakeholder meetings;
- Support the development of a potato information and business centre hosted by one of the main stakeholders;
- Identify and support the implementation of innovation projects that involve several stakeholders and contribute to the project objectives, in close coordination with the core group of stakeholder representatives;
- Coordinate and administrate the Intensive National Performance Trials in close coordination with Kephis and the private sector;
- Support seed and ware potato chain development initiatives;
- Facilitate the communication between the potato seed sector in Kenya and Dutch seed companies;
- Identify new stakeholders to participate in the project;
- Contribute to the overall monitoring and evaluation of the seed potato project;
- Provide regular updates and reports of project activities;
- Contribute to online communication via the website of the seed potato platform, in close coordination with the CDI project management and communication specialist.
Minimum knowledge, skills, and qualifications:
- Relevant academic qualifications in agriculture and agri-business development, e.g. MSc/MA in agriculture or agricultural economics with a development or business orientation;
- At least 10 years relevant work experience with implementation of public private partnership projects in agriculture;
- At least 5 years’ work experience in network facilitation and communications in a management/coordination position;
- Strong interest in seed sector development issues and agri-business development;
- Adequate knowledge of the main issues related to (seed) potato sector development and innovative seed supply systems;
- Familiarity with the stakeholders, main policies and procedures in the Kenyan seed and ware potato sector;
- Experience in the facilitation of partnerships with different type of stakeholder groups (across different levels) and ability to balance contrasting interests between different stakeholders;
- Affinity with capacity strengthening and facilitation of trainings and workshops;
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills in English, including the ability to present written documents to a large audience;
- Ability to work in an intercultural and multi-disciplinary team, excellent interpersonal skills, analytical and attentive to details;
- Computer literate, excellent in word processing, MS Excel, MS PowerPoint and internet use;
- Kenyan nationality.
The position
A part-time position (8-10 days per month) for one year, starting June 2014, with the possibility of extension. The position is based in Nairobi, Kenya, associated with one of the main Kenyan Institutes involved in potato development. The salary depends on the relevant experience of the applicant.
Application procedure
When interested in this position, please send your letter of application and a full CV to Siert Wiersema, Project Manager at CDI (siert.wiersema@wur.nl) before 1 May 2014.
Please include the names and contact details of two professional references with your application. With consent, we will be contacting the referees of all short-listed candidates prior to interview. In your letter of application, also shortly outline your approach in view of the project tasks and your ideas how to fulfill the 8-10 days per month.
We intend to organise interviews at the Netherlands Embassy in Nairobi around mid-May.
You can find more information about the seed potato project on the project’s website or through the website of CDI.
Network Facilitator Kenya
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