Rangelands Specialist at Millennium Water Alliance

Job Description

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At the World Summit for Sustainable Development, then-Secretary of State Colin Powell announced the U.S. commitment to the Goals for Sustainable Development. One goal is to “reduce by half, the proportion of people without access to safe and affordable drinking water and sanitation” by the year .

Job Summary

The Rangelands Specialist will provide implementation coordination and technical support on rangelands activities across the RAPID+ program partners and geographies. He/she will be responsible for supporting and advising MWA and the RAPID+ partners on methodologies and sector programming practices that will contribute towards improved livestock and rangeland management systems and attainment of the overall goal of the RAPID+. Within MWA, he/she will report to and work closely with the RAPID+ Program Director and collaborate with the other sectors of the program such as Integrated Water Resource Management (IWRM), water governance, market systems development, gender, and multiple uses of water. He/she will also work closely with the RAPID+ partners, specifically the County Coordination Units in the five counties, as well as the county governments.

Roles and Key Responsibilities

Program and Technical Roles

Support the development and contribute to the implementation of policies, laws, strategies, standards, tools and best practice in the rangelands and livestock sectors in the target counties. This will include providing technical support to the counties to develop rangeland policies and Acts, rules, and regulations to contribute to sustainable rangeland management. Develop approaches that ensure integration of rangelands activities across other RAPID+ sectors as well as cross-sectoral interventions such as gender mainstreaming. Provide technical solutions to program teams, remotely and on-site, for strategic planning to ensure that RAPID+ applies standards, uniform partnership best principles, tools, and systems to help ensure high-quality implementation. Advise program teams on integrating government and donor strategies, priorities, and technical requirements into RAPID+. Support capacity strengthening initiatives in rangelands and livestock management programming for RAPID+ partners, through helping to develop learning and training strategies and agendas/curriculums, conducting trainings and workshops, and coaching. Contribute to maintaining relationships with donors, partner organizations, and other institutions, and participate in forums in the rangelands and livestock sectors to collect and share best practices. Work with the RAPID+ partners to define quality control processes and suggest improvements for the rangelands and livestock related activities. Provide technical support to strengthen County Departments of Agriculture and Livestock in rangelands management. Support timely and prudent expenditure by RAPID+ partners on rangelands related activities. Work closely with existing private sector partners and engage new potential partners whose innovative approaches could lead to sustainable rangeland management in the target counties.

Monitoring, Learning and Reporting

Collect and analyze program data, capture, and share lessons learned and best practices to facilitate improvements in decision-making. Contribute to rangeland and livestock related learning agenda. Support the development, execution and periodic review of the program’s Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL). Support MEL personnel in analysis of field data to be used in program reporting, learning and program improvements. Support the preparation, consolidation, and review of periodic program progress reports.

Requirements

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

Strong relationship management skills with ability to influence and get buy-in from people not under direct supervision and to work with individuals in diverse geographical and cultural settings. Strategic, analytical, problem-solving and systems thinking skills with capacity to see the big picture and ability to make sound judgment. Able to research, learn and implement new technologies quickly. Good technical writing skills. Excellent presentation, facilitation, training, mentoring, and coaching skills. Proactive, resourceful, and results oriented.

Qualifications:

Masters in Rangelands, Environment or related studies that focus on ASAL ecosystems is strongly preferred. Ten years of relevant experience in an advisory or management role in Livestock and Rangeland Management. Experience in complex, multi-sectoral and multi-year donor funded projects is desired. Experience in market systems development is desirable. Governance experience and working with county governments in Kenya’s ASALs a plus. Experience working through partners, strengthening partnerships and abilities to nature a conducive learning environment is essential. Experience in donor reporting, work plan development, and budget oversight is desirable. Experience in MS Office package (Excel, Word, PowerPoint) and virtual meeting software is essential.

Location:  Applicants must have the right to work in Kenya and will be based in Nairobi with travels to program sites