AGRA

 Job Reference: FOPF/08/2023

About AGRA 

AGRA and its Work

AGRA is an African-led institution that actively supports the drive towards inclusive agricultural transformation and sustainable food systems. We do this by empowering the continent’s 33 million smallholder farming households to transform their agriculture from a struggle to survive to profitable businesses. The continent’s farmers regularly face challenges, and we aspire to provide uniquely African solutions that respond to their agricultural and environmental challenges, leading to increased harvests for reduced hunger and more income. 

Working in alignment with the development priorities of our focus countries, we enable farmers to access improved and high-yielding seeds, gain knowledge on sustainable farming, and linkages to profitable markets. 

In our work, we aspire to build the alliances, partnerships, and networks required to drive an inclusive agricultural transformation. We work with our partners to create an equitable youth-friendly environment that harnesses the youth dividend on the continent to drive growth and facilitate open employment opportunities for young women and men. We achieve our key objectives through a focus on the following four areas of intervention:

1. Policy and state capability – We support governments in creating an enabling environment for private sector involvement in agricultural transformation. 
2. Seed systems – We trigger higher productivity by increasing the availability and access to improved seeds by farmers allowing them to increase their harvests for food security and better incomes. 
3. Sustainable farming – We support farmers in building resilient farming systems for sustained high yields through interventions such as mechanization and irrigation. 
4. Inclusive markets and trade – We work to increase the linkages between farmers, and other market actors for a positive, sustained cycle of commercialization and reinvestment.

AGRA’s 2030 Strategy

The continent has, in recent years, taken steps towards inclusive agricultural transformation resulting in notable improvements in food security, with clear progress across all AGRA’s focus countries. However, with over 20% of Africans still suffering from hunger, we need to accelerate our progress and mitigate against the growing external pressures of conflict and climate on our food systems.

AGRA 2022-2030 Strategic Framework (SF2030) demonstrates our long-term vision for how we intend to contribute to, and align with, global and continental priorities, applying a food systems lens towards the goals of zero hunger, improved nutrition, an end to poverty, and climate adaptation. We have split our Strategic Framework 2030 into two 5-year strategies so that we have a clear mid-way point to evaluate progress and re-route our strategic focus if necessary. Our 2023-2027 Strategic Plan sets out to catalyze the growth of sustainable food systems across Africa by influencing and leveraging partners to build a robust enabling environment where the private sector thrives, and smallholders are empowered to produce sufficient, healthy food.

AGRA’s Vision

To contribute to a food system-inspired inclusive agricultural transformation across Africa, to reduce hunger, improve nutrition, and adapt to climate.

AGRA’s Mission

To catalyze the growth of sustainable food systems across Africa by influencing and leveraging partners to build a robust enabling environment where private sector thrives, and smallholder farmers are empowered to produce sufficient, healthy food.

AGRA’s Strategy

• Empowering and building the resilience of small holder farmers
• Supporting the development of inclusive markets and finance to strengthen agricultural systems.
• Strengthening state capability to sustain agricultural transformation.

Implementing Our New Strategy Through People

AGRA is at the threshold of a new chapter where we begin implementing our new strategy of catalyzing inclusive, resilient and sustainable agricultural transformation. At AGRA we believe Agriculture is the single greatest opportunity to deliver inclusive economic growth, jobs, and health to the African continent.

People are the heart of our organisation and remain the true drivers of our delivery and our impact.

We are excited about a new fit-for-purpose organizational structure that is largely driven by an ambition to enhance collaboration across teams and drive sustainable growth. We have therefore purposed more focus on delivery of country programs within the new strategy giving even greater attention to optimizing existing talent in addition to upscaling technical and operational resources. 

We work with incredible people and partners who have roots in farming communities across the continent combined with an inclusive and diverse workforce from over 24 nationalities. Our values of (I-RISE; Integrity, Respect, Innovation, Stewardship and Equity) espouse our commitment to a call to action to go beyond ourselves as we arise and transform Africa’s Agriculture.

We are looking for people who are passionate about Africa, curious and collaborative to join our innovative, growing, and multidisciplinary team. Together, we can grow Africa’s food systems improving the livelihoods of smallholder farmers. Want to join us?

The Opportunity

Finance Officer – Program Finance (Maternity Cover) Job Reference: FOPF/08/2023

Role Purpose

The Finance Officer – Program Finance is responsible for supporting and coordinating program finance through effective program, financial and award management.

Role Summary

S/he will be responsible for the financial management of allocated AGRA’s program/awards. S/he will collaborate with the Financial Management team, Financial Accounting team, Grants team, Internal Audit team, Legal and Program teams to oversee financial policies and procedures supporting AGRA’s administration and management of the Award agreements and sub-agreements; and the implementation of financial oversight mechanisms to ensure financial integrity and compliance with donor requirements across the programs. S/he will serve as the financial liaison to donors in the allocated portfolio and will represent AGRA at any of donor and project partner meetings (as required) and ensure creation of award budgets, financial reports, strong tracking of program expenditures, continual analysis of project cash flow, ensuring compliance with AGRA’s policies and donor requirements.

Key Measures of Performance

• Creation of accurate and timely donor financial reports in line with donor financial requirements.
• Creation of donor award budgets in conformity with AGRA’s policies and donor stipulated financial requirements, from the proposal development phase and throughout the life of the awards.
• Preparation of accurate and timely budget monitoring reports and escalation of variances.
• Provision of accurate and timely project audit Financial information to both external and internal auditors as per AGRA’s policies and donor audit requirements.
• Ensure that the institutional annual budget is aligned with available award budgets.
• Ensure donor requirements are considered in new system development.
• Capacity building of both program and operations team on donor financial requirements.
• Regular reconciliation of financial information between Finance and grants management systems to ensure accurate and reliable information.
• Ensure budget availability and donor allocation before a grant is awarded and during the implementation phase.

Major Duties and Responsibilities

Purpose – Apply Basic Concepts

• Develops dimensions that sufficiently reflects AGRA’s reporting requirements on AGRA’s system in collaboration with the Financial Accounting, Management team and HR team.
• Develops and updates project-specific budget and financial reporting templates for AGRA and sub-recipients, as requested by the donor.   
• Creates award budgets and budget narratives that are accurate, reasonable, consistent with the strategy, and adhere to donor and AGRA policies.  
• Analyzes the consolidated project expenses, burn rates, and cash received from donors/funders on a monthly basis.  Provides periodic budget monitoring reports to the project teams to guide in decision making with the aim of meeting donor expectations.
• Maintain and monitor a consolidated sub-award financial tracking tool for the whole project. Ensuring the Grants schedule is up to date. 
• Analyzes all the projects to ensure that they comply to the project audits in relation to specific donor regulations, accounting best practice and standard provisions.  

Engagement – Acquire

• Aligns AGRA’s policies to the new donor financial regulations.
• Support the AGRA programs in the financial stages including timely preparation of budgets, and financial reports.
• Aligns the postings to the project’s design and budgets and verifies on the accuracy.
• Builds and maintains relationship with donors. Correspond with donors on all financial requests and questions.
• Aligns the projects to AGRA’s institutional strategy i.e.  reviews all financial implications of grant agreements and contracts to ensure that all cost drivers are sufficiently addressed, and cost elements adequately factored in the proposal.
• Aligns the projects’ components to the funding requirements e.g. resource mobilization and key processes are followed so that Award risk assessment receives consistent attention and direct support
• Builds the capacity of the Program staff through training on financial terms, conditions, and standards, Navision Award Vision Module to ensure that programs are delivered with minimized compliance risk.

Delivery – Understand Project Cycle

• Assesses that all project audits are conducted on time, audit findings are resolved adequately.
• Implements guidelines, procedures, standards, work processes, manuals, metrics, and methodologies for a successful and comprehensive financial management system applicable to all projects.
• Devises improvement ideas to ensure Financial systems and any other financial toolkits are effective and have efficient financial clarity.
• Delivers on AGRA’s core activities such as supporting in the development of financial policies, support approval of documents and raise red flags to management of any possible non-compliance at all levels.

Model the IRISE Values & Be a Culture Carrier

• Integrity: Uphold moral convictions and always doing the right thing.
• Respect: Value differences and embrace diversity and inclusion.
• Innovation: Strive for excellence and embracing continuous improvement, bold creativity, and change.
• Stewardship: Be responsible for actions undertaken and resources entrusted.
• Equity: Be governed by fairness in all undertakings.

Requirements

Academic and Professional Qualifications

• A Bachelor’s degree in accounting or finance, or equivalent work experience.
• A Master’s degree in any relevant field is an added advantage.
• CPA(k) certification.

Required Skills/Abilities

• • Strong leadership and people management experience.
  • Strong analytical, data mining ability. 
  • Understanding of auditing techniques. 
  • Thorough knowledge of basic accounting procedures.
  • In-depth understanding of Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP).
  • Awareness of business trends.
  • Familiarity with financial accounting statements.
  • Experience with general ledger functions and the month-end/year-end close process.
  • Hands-on experience with accounting software packages, like Fresh Books and QuickBooks.
  • Computer proficiency in spreadsheets, presentations and reporting software. 
  • Ability to work independently in a diverse environment.
  • Experience in working with similar organizations or institutions will be an added advantage.
  • Thoroughly familiar with and experience in working with Finance regulations and reporting standards and requirements.
  • Evidence of the practice of a high level of confidentiality.
  • Strong ability to influence positively both upwards and downwards.
  • Proven leadership ability to develop, and empower employees to achieve their best with a team approach.
  • Deep understanding of the Financial environment within which AGRA is operating.
  • Highly organized, results and detail orientated with a very hand on approach.
  • Excellent leadership, organizational, and problem solving/decision making ability.
• Intelligent, motivated self-starter with a strong work ethic.

Relevant Experience

• Minimum of 8 years of professional experience in accounting, finance, or financial monitoring.
• Knowledge of global, country/government accounting standards.

Key Competencies

• Achieving Results Effectively: Takes actions that lead to the delivery of set service targets and shows determination to meet the objectives set by others; Keeps track of and measures outcomes against own standards, over and above those set by others; Takes actions that lead to quantifiable service improvements; Manages time and resources efficiently, monitoring progress and making adjustments as necessary.
• Managing and Sharing Knowledge:  Keeps abreast of new developments in own field of competence and maintains personal contact in other parts of the organization with those who provide work- related information; Shares knowledge and learning willingly, and proactively seeks to learn from the experiences of others; Puts new learning into practice and draws on diverse sources of ideas and inspiration; Contributes to the identification of improvements to work processes and assists in implementing them.
• Accountability:  Accepts personal responsibility for quality and timeliness of work; Takes ownership of all responsibilities within own role and honors commitments to others and to the organization; Operates in compliance with organizational regulations and rules.  
• Diversity and Inclusion: Takes a conscious effort to learn about different styles of conflict resolution; Is proactive in managing conflict over differences when it arises rather than avoiding it;    Listens actively for the frames of reference and does not prejudge;  Seeks to understand and adapt to different styles when working with those who are different; Treats others as they wish to be treated; Shows readiness to change the way he/she does things to meet the needs of those from diverse backgrounds.
• Adaptability: Accepts that things will change; Seeks clarification when faced with ambiguity or uncertainty; Demonstrates willingness to try new approaches.  

Devises plans of action with explicit paths and measures of accomplishment for self and/or others and allocates suitable resources so that objectives are achieved. Strong administration skills.

• Stakeholder Focus/Partnerships:  Identifies stakeholder needs and expectations; Responds to requests efficiently and effectively; Takes action beyond explicit request within established service standards; Refers complex questions to a higher decision-making level; Meets stakeholder needs in a respectful, helpful and responsive manner; Seeks feedback to develop a clear understanding of stakeholder needs and outcomes; Uses stakeholder satisfaction monitoring methodologies to ensure stakeholder satisfaction; Adjusts service based on stakeholder feedback.
• Teamwork: Understands the goals of the team and each team member’s role within it; willingly gives support to co-workers and works collaboratively rather than competitively; Shares experiences, knowledge, and best practices with team members.

Terms of Appointment

6 Months Temporary Terms

Location

Based in Nairobi, Kenya

How to Apply

If you believe you are the right candidate for this position, kindly submit your application with a detailed CV (including your e-mail address and telephone contacts to recruit@agra.org noting to quote the job reference number in the subject of your email)

To be considered, applications must be received on or before Friday 25th August 2023.

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

AGRA is an Equal Opportunity Employer