Save the Children, a leading international non-governmental organization with operations in over 100 countries, is seeking to fill the position of Agronomic Advisor for its Kenya Country Office. The role is an integral part of a new five-year program that seeks to improve agro-economies, enhance climate resilience, and strengthen the well-being of smallholder tea farmers, women, and children in Nandi County. Through the promotion of climate-sensitive sustainable land-management practices and expanded access to carbon market finance, this initiative is designed to foster long-term sustainable agricultural livelihoods.
The program will reach smallholder farmers with climate-smart agriculture extension services, introduce agroforestry practices, encourage afforestation and reforestation activities in both protected and community areas, and reinforce market linkages alongside supply chain infrastructure. In addition, nutrition awareness interventions will be integrated to support household food security and child well-being.
The Agronomic Advisor will be central to this project, ensuring the application of sustainable crop production systems, capacity building of local farmers, and advisory services on land management. This role requires a professional who can provide technical guidance, participate in field visits, support training efforts, document learnings, and ensure inclusivity in all interventions. The position will be based in Nandi County headquarters, with frequent travel to surrounding project sites.
Job Description
The Agronomic Advisor will directly report to the Operations Manager and have a secondary reporting line to the Child Poverty Technical Specialist. The post does not supervise any staff directly but requires consistent collaboration with implementing partners, government entities, farmer cooperatives, and community organizations.
The detailed job responsibilities include the following:
Programme Design and Oversight
The Agronomic Advisor will provide leadership in designing, planning, and overseeing the implementation of agroforestry and crop production initiatives within the program. The responsibilities in this area include:
- Designing and guiding the implementation of agroforestry systems, such as indigenous forestry integration, hedgerows, fruit trees, and companion planting. These systems should be adapted to local farmer needs and environmental conditions.
- Providing technical guidance on sustainable land management techniques, including soil erosion control, terracing, alley cropping, and integrated approaches that support long-term resilience.
- Advising on the cultivation of key food crops, particularly vegetables, with a focus on climate-smart agricultural practices that improve yields while conserving resources.
- Establishing monitoring frameworks for food crops and agroforestry systems to ensure compliance with climate-smart agriculture principles and carbon credit methodology requirements.
- Supporting the inclusion of smallholder farmers in crop farming approaches that strengthen their adaptive capacity and resilience.
- Providing technical input for program and project designs at the Country Office level.
- Contributing to donor engagement and supporting strategic discussions on agriculture, food security, and livelihoods.
- Performing other duties assigned by the line manager as part of program oversight.
Capacity Building and Collaboration
A key aspect of the role is building the capacity of local farmers, program staff, and partner organizations to sustain climate-smart agricultural practices. Responsibilities include:
- Facilitating training sessions and workshops for farmers on agroforestry practices, focusing on native species, high-value trees, and climate-smart principles.
- Organizing and conducting training on monitoring, verification, and reporting related to carbon credit processes.
- Engaging and partnering with farmer cooperatives, community-based organizations, and government agencies to encourage broad participation in sustainable agricultural practices.
- Providing technical support and maintaining liaison with staff of relevant government departments and research institutions in the areas of crop science, agroforestry, and climate adaptation.
- Developing and distributing training manuals, guidelines, and other knowledge products tailored to project beneficiaries on climate-smart crop production.
- Conducting awareness and sensitization programs on climate change impacts and adaptation strategies to ensure farmers are prepared for future challenges.
- Promoting inclusivity by ensuring women, men, girls, and boys participate equitably in capacity-building initiatives.
Advisory Services and Recommendations
As a technical advisor, the Agronomic Advisor will be responsible for providing expert recommendations to improve program impact and sustainability. This includes:
- Advising on tree species selection and agroforestry design to maximize both ecological and economic benefits for farming communities.
- Offering guidance on risk mitigation strategies for common agricultural challenges, such as soil degradation, pest invasions, erosion, and human-wildlife conflicts.
- Delivering recommendations that enhance scalability, replicability, and sustainability of program activities beyond the initial implementation sites.
- Supporting the integration of nutrition-sensitive agriculture into training and advisory services to link food production with improved community health outcomes.
Monitoring, Reporting, and Evaluation
To ensure accountability and progress tracking, the Agronomic Advisor will be actively involved in monitoring, evaluation, and documentation processes. Key responsibilities include:
- Developing and implementing monitoring tools to track outcomes such as crop productivity, carbon sequestration, biodiversity enhancement, and household income improvements.
- Compiling and analyzing data to produce progress reports with actionable insights for both internal and external stakeholders.
- Leading field-based assessments and studies that capture lessons learned, identify best practices, and inform future interventions.
- Ensuring documentation of experiences, challenges, and success stories in climate-smart crop production and agroforestry.
- Presenting program findings and recommendations to stakeholders, including donors, implementing partners, and community representatives.
Skills, Attributes, and Competencies
The Agronomic Advisor role requires a professional who demonstrates a high level of technical expertise, interpersonal skills, and integrity. The expected competencies include:
- Accountability in decision-making, resource management, and adherence to Save the Children values.
- Strong collaborative abilities, maintaining effective relationships with internal colleagues, partners, and external stakeholders.
- Clear communication skills that enable effective dialogue, stakeholder engagement, and community participation.
- Innovative thinking and creativity in developing practical, context-appropriate solutions.
- Integrity, transparency, and honesty in all professional dealings.
- Commitment to child safeguarding, gender inclusivity, and diversity within program activities.
- Strong organizational and problem-solving skills to manage multiple tasks under tight deadlines.
Organizational Context
Save the Children has been operational in Kenya since 1950 and continues to make a significant impact across the country. In 2024, the organization directly reached over 695,000 individuals through programs spanning health, nutrition, education, child protection, water and sanitation, and food security. The Kenya Country Office manages several donor-funded awards from key partners, including USAID, ECHO, LEGO, BHA, and FCDO.
Globally, Save the Children employs approximately 25,000 staff members and operates in more than 100 countries. The organization is driven by the mission to ensure no child dies from preventable causes before their fifth birthday, that all children access quality education, and that violence against children is eliminated.
The Agronomic Advisor role aligns with Save the Children’s broader objectives by promoting sustainable food systems, strengthening rural livelihoods, and safeguarding the rights of children and communities.
Equal Opportunities and Safeguarding
Save the Children is an equal opportunity employer and encourages applications from qualified individuals regardless of gender, ethnicity, disability, or background. The organization is committed to safeguarding children and expects all staff and partners to uphold the highest standards of child protection and safeguarding.
All recruitment processes include rigorous background checks to ensure child safety and uphold the organization’s safeguarding commitments.
Disclaimer
Save the Children does not request recruitment fees or engage third-party agencies for candidate placement. Jobseekers are advised to be cautious of fraudulent activities and report any suspicious recruitment practices to [email protected]. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted for the next stage of the recruitment process.
Application Information
- Job Title: Agronomic Advisor
- Location: Nandi County, Kenya (with frequent travel to project sites)
- Reporting Line: Operations Manager (primary) and Child Poverty Technical Specialist (secondary)
- Application Deadline: 18 September 2025, 23:59
- Job ID: 14065
- Category: Programme Operations
- Posting Date: 05 September 2025, 14:05
