Overall purpose of the role:

The Economic Recovery Officer-Insect farming, in conjunction with the Team Leader, will ensure effective project component activity implementation oversight, monitoring and evaluation in the production and use of insects as food and feed. This position works closely with other Economic Recovery team colleagues to ensure an integrated approach in beneficiary targeting, activity execution, assessments and feedback. The role also liaises closely with stakeholders located in international and national NGOs, county/national governments and community leadership structures to ensure effective service delivery, participation and added value. This position provides technical guidance on sustainable insect farming practices for feed.

Responsibilities:

R1. Project Management and Development:

• Participate in project planning & implementation including activity, budgeting and procurement/logistics planning
• Develop and maintain detailed implementation plans to deliver program to agreed timeline and milestones
• Ensure all project activities are implemented on time and in line with the set-out work-plans
• Promote collaboration and synergy between refugee-focused interventions and the host communities
• Prepare and conduct community sensitization forums/meetings with community leaders and beneficiaries in the refugee and host community set up
• Document lessons learned from training activities, community meeting and assist in preparing training reports
• Design the business model, link farmers with the pre-identified market for feed, identify partners for project management and building the business model
• Participate in the training of farmers on BSF production.
• Support in the selection of project beneficiaries, notably through the development of selection criteria for beneficiaries participating in insect farming.
• Train insect farmers (refugees and host) and build capacities of economic recovery staff both national and community incentive workers.
• Oversee the timely set-up and quality delivery of insect farming systems which will serve as demonstration site.

R2. Monitoring, Reporting and Evaluation:

• Monitor the local manufacture, transport and installation of material, equipment, and other inputs to meet schedule, design, quality and budget requirements.
• Keep accurate records of events and activities including meeting/training attendance.
• Collect and analyze BSF production data on a monthly basis
• Participate in periodic field level program review and planning meetings
• Support with weekly, monthly, quarterly and annual donor/internal reporting
• Develop case studies, human interest stories, et cetera, for use in communications and monitoring reports
• Ensure project staff supervised adhere to CHS Principles in the day-to-day project implementation and participate in CHS audits
• Support in implementing M&E plans
• Participate in/facilitate baseline surveys, needs assessments and conduct consultative meetings with the project stakeholders

R3. Coordination & Partnerships:

• Identify partners and ensure local liaison with relevant stakeholders to effectively support project activities and value chain development, including government, universities and research organizations, the private sector, civil society, and United Nations and international agencies.
• Serve as the liaison with stakeholders and relevant Government of Kenya departments from the location to divisional levels
• Promote collaboration and synergy between the DRC host community projects and the similar projects/groups in the Dadaab refugee camps
• Ensure and maintain mutual linkages with the County and Sub-county offices, especially with any related line ministries to enhance their understanding of program needs in the assigned area of operation.

R4. Budget Management:

• Monitor the related budget-lines in order to maintain programme expenditure within budget parameters, ensuring adherence to DRC financial procedures and donor requirements with the support of the Team Leader
• Take parts in periodic budget review meetings to ensure effective budget implementation

R5. Staff Supervision:

• Line supervision of, Insect Farming Assistants and Community incentive workers
• Staff performance monitoring

Requirements

Experience and technical competencies: 

• Previous experience in insect farming is required.
• Previous experience in agribusiness, agricultural extension, and/or entomology research is required.
• 4 or more years’ experience working with I/NGOs within humanitarian/development contexts
• Demonstrable experience in livelihoods/food security programming within refugee/host community settings
• Demonstrates a good understanding of Project Cycle Management
• Has excellent communication (spoken and written) skills
• Working knowledge of MS Office, Excel and other relevant computer applications
• Good planning and organizational skills coupled with problem-solving ability
• Possess a sense of cultural awareness, sensitivity and respect for diversity
• Strong organizational, team spirit and teamwork skills
• Knowledge of the key issues and trends in BSF production

Education: 

• Bachelor’s Degree in Entomology, Biology, Agribusiness, Agriculture, Sociology, or Technical Diploma in a relevant field with a minimum 5 years of experience
• Further short training in drylands agriculture, entrepreneurship, agroecology, sustainable agriculture, organic agriculture, value-chain development, making markets work for the poor (M4P), community-managed microfinance/savings groups, or agricultural production highly desirable for this role.

Languages: 

• English – Advanced
• Kiswahili – Intermediate
• Somali (added advantage)