Social Development Advisor, Heifer International

Social Development Advisor

Summary: Our Client Heifer International is a global nonprofit humanitarian development organization dedicated to ending hunger and poverty and caring for the Earth by empowering small holder farm families around the globe to become self reliant and attain sustainable livelihood through economically viable animal agricultural enterprise.  

Function: The Social development Advisor will work in conjunction with the project coordinator to develop projects and community group’s social capital including enhancing sustainable growth fostering equity, mainstreaming gender, social inclusion and strong resource mobilization and

management (internal savings and loans schemes), developing networks for groups, facilitating internalization and application of cornerstones, enhancing groups’ organizational development with ultimate growth into umbrella societies or cooperatives. 

He/ she will assess community groups’ social development needs, design strategies and interventions to address these including trainings, conflict resolution, development of governance tools to ensure successful projects. 

Responsibilities

• Conduct assessments to identify the social development needs of project participants; families, communities and groups
• Sensitization and or mobilization of communities’ participation in project development (screen farmer groups: men, women and youth groups) in Kenya program activities
• Conduct stakeholder analysis and identify appropriate partnerships with other community groups, MFI’s, funding agencies and other development agencies to address emerging needs
• Design and manage community social development agenda (organizational development, social capital development including micro finance management) and its integration into sustainable development strategy
• Formulate detailed work plans to implement activities that address identified community development needs of the project participants and families
• Facilitate internalization and institutionalization of the program’s core values and International Cornerstones for just and sustainable development among communities, collaborators and our staff
• Review groups constitutions and by-laws to make them strong tools of governance and leadership
• Design and execute plans to facilitate development of community groups’ capacity in resource mobilization and management (especially micro finance/ financial management) through introduction and or strengthening of rural based saving and borrowing strategies
• Develop and coordinate growth of community groups into or affiliation to umbrella bodies: farmer associations, cooperatives and or companies
• Mainstream gender equity, HIV-AIDS awareness and mitigation in all project activities ensuring men, women and youth are motivated and participate in the program activities
• Monitor project participants routinely to assess implementation of cornerstones, community development aspects and plan for improvement accordingly.
• Perform any other duty as may be assigned by supervisor or country program director

Minimum Requirements

• Bachelors degree in Social sciences; sociology or any related field plus 3 years of work experience in the dairy sector
• Knowledge or experience with NGO world, working directly to mobilization of communities and develop social capitals of community groups
• Excellent interpersonal, facilitation and mobilization skills, with proven tract in social development

Most Critical Proficiency

• Clear understanding of community development; stake holder analysis and building synergies, handling and developing commodity groups into strong associations or institutions
• Self motivated, innovative, critical thinker and results oriented
• Strong skills in stakeholder and organizational capacity assessment, community social development needs assessment, conflict resolution, motivation and capacity building
• Demonstrated skills in designing and implementing social development strategies aimed at ensuring sustainable institutional capacity to implement strong and sustainable community projects. 
• Knowledge of development concepts, social inclusion, equity and able to prepare trainings and monitor relevant progress indicators
• Good understanding of dairy sector players and both internal and external threats to effective dairy business
• Strong ability to demonstrate equity in implementing dairy business with gender lenses and fairness to the less privileged in the society   
• Effective team player with exceptional communication and organizational skills
• Proficient in computer applications including use of Word processing and presentations, and use of internet
• Demonstrated relevant knowledge, experiences and  achievements in managing a successful community organizations
• Must have good command of written and spoken English and Kiswahili with local languages as an added advantage

Essential Job Functions and Physical Demands:

• Excellent interpersonal skills with the ability to relate to individuals diplomatically and tactfully.
• Ability to integrate social development aspects with financial services and livestock and agriculture value chains developments with details to achieving overall project and organizational goals.
• Must be courteous, honest and of high integrity, especially in high-pressure situations.
• Proven interpersonal and communication skills with ability to relate to individuals and groups diplomatically and tactfully.
• A critical thinker, self-starter and self-motivator with the ability to work in a multicultural setting.
• Must be a team player and have the ability to execute and manage multiple tasks with minimal supervision.
• Ability to follow directions and independently complete assigned tasks (written or verbal).
• Ability to work a varied schedule to include early mornings, weekends and some evenings.
• Ability to work with sensitive information and maintain confidentiality

How to Apply: 

You should only apply for only one position and your application should include a cover letter that demonstrates why you are the best suited candidate for it; a detailed CV highlighting relevant experience; details of current and expected remuneration; a daytime phone contact, email address, and the names of three professional referees. 

All applications and enquiries should be sent to 

Adept Systems

Management Consultants

P O Box 6416, 

Nairobi, GPO 00100

Email: recruit@adeptsystems.co.ke

Closing date: Thursday 10th April 2014

Only short listed candidates will be contacted. 

Please note that we do not charge fees for receiving or processing job applications.