Development Of Climate Smart Agriculture Manual And Training Aids (Consultancy)

Nairobi, Nairobi County, Kenya

Contract

Contract type: Short term consultancy contract

Company Description

SNV is a not-for-profit international development organization that applies practical know-how to make a lasting difference in the lives of people living in poverty. We use our extensive and long-term in-country presence to apply and adapt our top-notch expertise in agriculture, energy and WASH to local contexts. SNV has an annual turnover of €130 million, over 1,250 staff in more than 25 countries in Asia, Africa and Latin America. We are proud to be a not-for-profit organization that uses project financing to implement our mission. This requires us to work efficiently and to invest in operational excellence.

In its new Strategic Plan period (2019 – 2022), SNV will more explicitly aim for systems change during project preparation and implementation – by strengthening institutions and kick-starting markets that help many more to escape poverty beyond our projects. We will continue to position ourselves as a premium organization, with decentralized management.

For more information on our operations in Kenya and SNV generally visit our website: www.snv.org

Background

The climate change projections for East Africa and Kenya in particular shows increasing temperatures and more frequent climate shocks (droughts and floods). This, coupled with the expected exponential increase in human population estimated to increase to 95 million by 2050, poses a serious threat to Kenya’s future development and attainment of Kenya Vision 2030 and the Government’s Big Four agenda especially on Food Security, Increased Manufacturing and Affordable Healthcare.

The use of climate smart agricultural innovations and technologies to adapt to or mitigate against effects of climate change is often limited to a small group of farmers –mainly large scale farmers. Thus knowledge dissemination to small scale farmers for implementation at farm level and climate proofing agricultural value chains will be critical.

SNV is implementing the Climate Resilient Agribusiness for Tomorrow (CRAFT) project in partnership with Wageningen University & Research (WUR), the CGIAR Research Program on Climate Change, Agriculture and Food Security (CCAFS), Agriterra and Rabo Partnerships. The five year project which is funded by Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs uses an inclusive business development approach to support the international and Dutch efforts on climate change and sustainable production in arable farming. The programme will work with and through the private sector and support public sector partners in creating an institutional environment for wide-scale adoption of climate smart agriculture (CSA) practices, including more efficient use of water and (renewable) energy sources. The project is driven by 3 pillars:

 Adoption of CSA practices & technologies in arable crop production farming systems;

 Acceleration of investments and business growth in selected value chains;

Improved enabling environment for scaling out of CSA.

Job Description

Objectives and Scope of the Assignment

There exist different farmer training manuals on different value chains crops developed by different organizations and institutions, but many of these manuals are very general, not updated or customized to specific agro-ecological zones in Kenya.

The CRAFT project in an effort to provide appropriate tools for farmers to adapt their farming practices for increased productivity and income in an inclusive, climate resilient way; is seeking the services of an agri-consultant and an illustrator to review and develop-without reinventing the wheel- climate smart agriculture training manuals (only where necessary) and training/teaching aids for the following value chains: green grams, potatoes, common beans and sorghum.

The assignment will consist of desk review of the existing farmer training manuals developed by different organisations and institutions and identifying gaps. The manuals (where applicable) and training aids must incooperate the climate change impacts and projections/assessments of these value chains for specific geographic zones /counties as provided by the CRAFT consortium partners.

Target counties are; Makueni, Kitui, Tharaka Nithi, Meru, Embu, Kirinyanga, Nyeri, Laikipia, Nyandarua, Nakuru, Bomet, Narok.

1.        Specific tasks/activities.

The consultant will be responsible for the following activities and tasks:

Developing a time-defined proposal of the methodology the consultant aims to use to undertake the exercise

Reviewing the existing crop production and technology manuals for the following value chains/crops – Potatoes, Green grams, Sorghum, and Common Beans- from different sources e.g. FAO, Ministry of Agriculture, Research institutions, Universities, NPCK, NGOs etc.

Collate the existing climate smart agriculture (CSA) manuals (and training aids if available) from different stakeholders (CCADS, FAO, Ministry of Agriculture, NGOs, Universities, KALRO, etc.) and establish the climate change related knowledge gaps.

Based on the gaps, suggest appropriate CSA content suitable for target value chains and agro-ecological zones in consultation with CCAFS and SNV stakeholders.

Study the climate information related to the value chains, and incorporate climate projections content in consultation with CCAFS, and climate risk assessment in consultation with Wageningen University & Research (WUR) for the value chains in the manuals and training aids been developed.

Incorporate a gender inclusion/lens module with regards to adoption of the various proposed CSA practices and technologies.

Incorporate a monitoring and evaluation content in the manuals.

Work with a book illustrator/graphic designer to develop simplified CSA technical drawings or illustrations to be used as training aid by the TOTs (facilitators guide), extension officers, farmers and other value chain actors.

Coordinate validation workshops for content approval of the developed manuals (where applicable) and training aids

Qualifications

Minimum of a master’s degree in agricultural sciences.

Strong knowledge and experience on Climate Smart agricultural practices and technologies, the pros, cons and challenges in adopting them.

Experience in developing agricultural training manuals and aid for small holder farmers in Africa.

Ability to synthesize climate change related information and risks facing agriculture and communicate adaptation strategies and ideas.

Knowledge of the agricultural systems and agro-ecological zones, and an understanding of and experience with key issues related to agriculture and food security in Kenya in general and target counties.

Ability to work independently with minimum supervision.

Ability to execute  this task within the stipulated time without compromising quality

Additional Information

Expected outputs and timelines

Training manual (CRAFT handbook / toolkit of CSA practices and technologies ) for some of the above selected value chains/crops  (max 4)

Training aid /illustrations for each of the above  value chains/ crop (4)

Where necessary a facilitators guide

The client reserves the rights to separate the deliverables –i.e manuals and trainings aids together and/or development of training aids alone. Either way, the most urgent value chains/crops are potatoes and green grams. Deliverables for common beans and sorghum could be done by November 2019

Duty station: SNV- Nairobi, Kenya

How to apply

Please apply by clicking on the I’M INTERESTED button on this page and complete your application in our in-house recruitment system before 05 August 2019. Please submit your application letter and CV that contains three referees as you apply.

Clearly indicate the cost and time of developing;

Manuals and training aids

Trainings aids alone.

We do not appreciate any commercial mediation based on this advertisement.

NB: Kindly note that SNV Kenya does not require you to undergo any medical test prior to employment.

Only shortlisted will be contacted.