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:
- Policy and state capability – We support governments in creating an enabling environment for private sector involvement in agricultural transformation.
- 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.
- Sustainable farming – We support farmers in building resilient farming systems for sustained high yields through interventions such as mechanization and irrigation.
- 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 optimising 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
Lead – Nutrition Sensitive Agriculture
Role purpose
The Lead – Nutrition Sensitive Agriculture will be responsible for promoting nutritionsensitive agriculture within AGRA programs. The incumbent will collaborate with internal stakeholders, including technical leads and country managers, to integrate nutrition considerations into agricultural practices and programs. Additionally, S/he will engage with external partners, contribute to fundraising efforts, advocacy, and provide expert guidance on nutrition-sensitive agriculture. The ideal candidate will possess a strong background in nutrition, agriculture, and development, and will be skilled in strategic planning, coordination, communication, and crafting partnerships.
Role Summary
S/he will provide technical guidance on the development and implementation of approaches, models, technologies, and practices from various thematic work areas to promote nutrition and food systems at global, national, systems, farmer, agribusiness and consumer level.
Key Measures of Performance
The performance of this role holder will be assessed based on the achievements made on:
- Percentage of agricultural projects and programs that have successfully integrated nutrition-sensitive agriculture practices and interventions.
- Number of nutrition-sensitive agriculture initiatives developed and implemented.
- Increase in the adoption of nutrition-sensitive agricultural practices among farmers or project beneficiaries.
- Number of effective partnerships established with external stakeholders, such as government agencies, NGOs, and academic institutions.
- Contribution to policy influencing and advocacy efforts related to nutrition and agriculture.
- Amount of funding secured through successful proposal development and donor engagement for nutrition-sensitive agriculture projects.
- Percentage of fundraising targets achieved for nutrition-related initiatives.
- Timeliness and completeness of project progress reports submitted to donors and stakeholder.
- Contribution to the organization’s knowledge and data base on nutrition-sensitive agriculture through research and analysis.
- Publication of relevant articles, case studies, or papers on nutrition and agriculture.
- Data and informatics on nutrition advances from AGRA interventions
Major Duties and Responsibilities
Purpose – Innovate
Promote Nutrition-Sensitive Agriculture
- Develop strategies and initiatives to integrate nutrition considerations into agricultural business lines, practices and programs.
- Conduct research and analysis and generate evidence to identify opportunities for improving nutrition outcomes in agricultural development projects.
- Collaborate with technical leads and country managers to design and implement nutrition-sensitive agriculture interventions through customized approaches in each business line.
- Provide technical expertise and support to ensure the implementation of evidencebased nutrition interventions.
- Develop and deliver nutrition education materials, workshops, and training sessions to diverse audiences, including seed companies, extension agents, farmers, community groups, agribusinesses and project beneficiaries.
- Monitor and evaluate the impact of nutrition interventions and make necessary adjustments to ensure effectiveness.
- Providing real time feedback to business line leads on negative critics to nutritional oriented programs.
- Lead formation of smart partnerships that lead to scale up of nutritional programs to support AGRA business lines.
Engagement – Advocate
Internal Collaboration:
- Work closely with other technical leads and country managers to mainstream nutrition across different agricultural projects and programs.
- Provide guidance and training to program staff to enhance their understanding of nutrition-sensitive agriculture.
- Participate in cross-functional teams and contribute to the development of integrated approaches that address both agricultural and nutrition objectives.
- Coordinate with monitoring and evaluation teams to assess the impact of nutrition-sensitive agriculture interventions.
External Partnership:
- Establish and maintain effective relationships with external partners, including government agencies, NGOs, academic institutions, and healthcare providers.
- Collaborate with partners to leverage resources, share knowledge, and implement joint initiatives that promote nutrition-sensitive agriculture.
- Represent the organization in relevant networks, working groups, and conferences related to nutrition and agriculture.
- Contribute to the development of policy briefs, reports, and other advocacy materials to influence stakeholders and decision-makers.
Purpose – Innovate
Fundraising and Resource Mobilization:
- Support the organization’s fundraising efforts by identifying funding opportunities, developing project proposals, and participating in donor meetings.
- Collaborate with the fundraising team to ensure nutrition-sensitive agriculture is adequately represented in funding proposals.
- Monitor and report on project progress to donors, ensuring compliance with grant requirements.
- Engage with donors and partners to communicate the impact and value of nutrition-sensitive agriculture initiatives.
Knowledge and Evidence Gathering:
- Collate data and evidence from AGRA and partners practices to inform policy and practices, program design and portfolio enhancement.
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
- Masters’ degree (PhD preferred) in nutrition, combined with knowledge in either agriculture, economics, agricultural economics, food science, or a related field.
- Strong understanding of nutrition-sensitive agriculture concepts, business approaches such as food fortification, food quality standards and safety, and other related best practices.
- Knowledge of global and regional nutrition policies, guidelines, and frameworks.
- Experience in project management, including planning, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation
Required Skills/Abilities
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to effectively engage with internal and external stakeholders.
- Strong analytical and research skills, with the ability to synthesize complex information and generate actionable recommendations.
- Experience in fundraising, proposal development, and donor relationship management is desirable.
- Familiarity with advocacy and policy influencing related to nutrition and agriculture.
- Ability to work independently, prioritize tasks, and meet deadlines.
- Proficiency in relevant computer applications and software.
- Fluency in English is required; the ability to communicate in French will be considered an asset.
Relevant Experience
- Extensive experience working in nutrition sensitive agriculture, nutrition-agriculture nexus or rural development programs.
- Program design, implementation and management, monitoring and evaluation working with nutrition sensitive agriculture, working with governments and institutional partners, private sector on nutrition and healthy diets.
- Excellent track recordin leading evidence-based analysis in the field of nutrition policy, practices and concepts and approaches in agriculture and food systems.
- Experiences working with nutrition- business nexus, nutrition- gender nexus, and other key nutrition concepts.
- Good command of English, a working knowledge of French will be an advantage.
Core Competencies
- Achieving Results Effectively: Anticipates constraints, identifies solutions and takes responsibility for addressing critical situations; Sets self and others stretching goals, over and above those required to meet organizational standards and targets; Takes the necessary actions to meet these goals; identifies and applies measures to track and quantify achievement; Aligns projects with organization’s mission and objectives and demonstrates a good understanding of the impact of team’s and own work on external and internal counterparts.
- Managing & Sharing Knowledge: Disseminates and shares knowledge openly and actively contributes to knowledge/network communities for topics relevant to area of expertise; Builds networks for the effective communication and exchange of knowledge and ideas and puts others into contact with various sources of knowledge; Contributes to an environment that is conducive to innovation and learning.
- Accountability: Maintains ethical behavior, admits mistakes and exhibits responsible behavior in the meeting of performance expectations; Actively seeks out solutions to achieve results; Holds self-accountable for achieving results as an individual as well as team members; Identifies and assists in addressing areas of weakness that may impact the department’s performance.
- Diversity & Inclusion: Takes a conscious effort to learn about different styles of conflict resolution; Has insight into and monitors own preferred conflict management style and its impact on others; Is proactive in managing conflict over differences when it arises rather than avoiding it; Actively creates the space for people to use different forms of conflict resolution; 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: Adapts personal approach to meet the needs of different or new situations; Seeks guidance in adapting behavior to the needs of a new or different situation.
- Stakeholder Focus/Partnerships: Contacts stakeholders to follow up on services, solutions or products to ensure that their needs have been correctly and effectively met; Understands issues from the stakeholder’s perspective; Keeps stakeholders upto-date with information and decisions that affect them; Monitors services provided to stakeholders and makes timely adjustments as required; Maintains ongoing communication with stakeholders; Regularly and systematically contacts stakeholders or prospective stakeholders to determine their needs; Uses understanding of stakeholder’s perspective to identify constraints and advocate on their behalf; Works with stakeholders to adapt services, products or solutions to meet their needs; Encourages co-workers and teams to achieve a high standard of service excellence; Anticipates areas where support or influence will be required and discusses situation/concerns with appropriate individuals; Proposes new, creative and sound alternatives to improve stakeholder service delivery; Engages effectively with all stakeholders.
- Teamwork: Establishes strong relationships with colleagues and partners; relates well to people at all levels; Is fully aware of the team purposes, respects and understands individual and collective responsibilities; Willingly puts in extra effort without being asked and adopts a ‘hands-on’ approach whenever necessary to achieve team objectives; Coordinates own work with that of the team to meet agreed priorities and deadlines.
Terms of Appointment
3 Years Fixed Term (Consideration for renewal will be made subject to AGRA’s needs, available funding and performance)
Location
Based in Nairobi, Kenya with frequent travel, approximately 30% per month/year.
How to Apply
If you wish to be considered for this position, please complete the Application Form below on or before 4th October 2023. In addition, we encourage you to please attach a copy of the most recent English version of your CV.
All information will be treated in the strictest confidence.
SRI Executive is exclusively retained by AGRA to undertake this assignment