INTERN – PRODUCTION (LIVESTOCK & AGRICULTURE) – MERTI
JOB DESCRIPTION
Location: Merti
Period: 6 months
ABOUT CATHOLIC RELIEF SERVICES:
Catholic Relief Services (CRS) carries out the commitment of the Catholic Bishops of the United States to assist the poor and vulnerable overseas. Our Catholic identity is at the heart of our mission and operations. We welcome as a part of our staff and as partners people of all faiths and secular traditions who share our values and our commitment to serving those in need.
CRS is an international non-governmental organization (NGO) supporting relief and development work in over 100 countries around the world. CRS programs assist persons on the basis of need, regardless of creed, ethnicity, race or nationality. CRS works through local church and non-church partners, including the Government to implement its programs.
CRS opened operations in Kenya in 1965. For over 50 years, we have worked throughout the country to implement programs in agriculture, livelihoods, health and nutrition, water, sanitation, emergency relief and peace building. We have built deep relationships with the Government of Kenya and the Catholic Church through ongoing collaboration and support.
Similar Monitoring Evaluation Research & Learning MERL
BACKGROUND
CRS, representing a consortium of international non-governmental organizations, local implementing partners and research institutions is leading the USAID Nawiri Program, a USAID Office of Bureau of Humanitarian Assistance (BHA) funded Resilience Food Security Activity (RFSA) in Kenya. The overarching goal of this multi-sectoral activity is to sustainably reduce persistent levels of acute malnutrition in Kenya’s arid and semi-arid lands (ASALs) counties of Isiolo and Marsabit.
WHY?
To support local community to sustainably reduce acute malnutrition, Nawiri has continued to to rollout livelihood interventions geared toward promoting vulnerable households to have sustainable livelihoods. The interventions will enable targeted Households (HHs) to be able to source and consume diverse food year-round through production or purchase. This contributes to increased consumption of nutritious and safe diets. Nawiri has thus adopted multisectoral approaches that promote continuous capacity building, linkage and support to targeted HHs that require regular contact and mentorship to enhance adoption of nutrition sensitive context specific livestock and crop related interventions.
OBJECTIVE?
- To enhance monitoring, linkages and capacity building of pastoralist and agro-pastoral groups to accelerate adoption of climate smart, nutrition sensitives livestock and agricultural technologies.
- To equip young professionals with relevant crop and livestock related skills and experience to enhance their employability and capacity to deliver quality services to communities, county department, private sector, and other development agencies.
HOW
The Intern – Production (Livestock and crop) will support the project in the implementation of Nawiri program activities with close supervision and guidance from the Nawiri production team and County Department of agriculture, livestock production and veterinary services. S/he will work in close supervision with Nawiri production officers to support all Nawiri livestock and agriculture activities at the sub-County level. S/he will support a variety of agriculture and livestock-related activities, including research activities, capacity strengthening of local partners, and facilitating private sector partnership and engagements. In addition, the engagement will provide learning and development opportunities to the interns by providing platform for on- job-training and mentorship by project staff, partners, communities, and county government departments.
ROLE
The intern will:
- Build and maintain close coordination and co-operation with county departments of agriculture, livestock and veterinary services, research institutions, sector working groups and development agencies to ensure synergy and improved coordination of interventions with liaison with Production officers.
- Coordinate with Production officer (agriculture & livestock), Markets Systems and Value chain officer and county teams to facilitate private sector partners engagement that improve farmer access to input and output markets.
- Collaborate with production officer (agriculture & livestock) to integrate messaging in the rollout of crop and livestock production interventions.
- Coordinate with public and private service providers (animal health, crop husbandry, etc) to reach Nawiri participants with livestock and crop services and products.
- Mentor, supervise and follow-up, TOT in collaboration with Government counterparts, LIPs, and partners.
- Facilitate livestock and agriculture producers to have improved knowledge and skills and to adopt practices that are nutrition sensitive and support resilience.
- Monitor and measure outputs related to production interventions and in liaison with the accountability and learning team, ensure community feedback is monitored and acted upon and that learning around production interventions is documented and shared at all levels.
- Compile activity reports and field visit reports at end the of each activity using standard tools including weekly progress reports.
- Participate in team meetings as part of learning.
- Any other activities assigned by the line manager.
Personal Skills
- Strong relationship management abilities. Ability to relate to people at all levels internally and externally. Strategic in how you approach each relationship.
- Excellent negotiation skills.
- Strong communications and presentation skills.
- Proactive, resourceful, solutions-oriented and results-oriented.
- Capable of working in a dynamic, results oriented environment; ability to multi-task across various work streams/priorities.
- Team player with a positive attitude who can work independently while also being highly collaborative and open. Capable of building relationships and influencing the opinions of others.
Required/Desired Foreign Language: English and Swahili
Travel Required; 75 % of the time within sub counties in Isiolo.
Key Working Relationships:
Supervisory: None
Supervision: Reports to Project Officer Production
Internal: Nawiri production officer (agriculture & livestock), SPO livelihood, Nawiri Markets Systems and Value chain officer, Caritas Production officer and Caritas Markets Systems and Value chain officer.
External: Local implementing partners, government departments at different levels and local communities.
QUALIFICATIONS
WHO?
Education and Experience
- Diploma in International Development, Agriculture/Livestock and/or related field. A bachelor’s degree will be an added advantage.
- Completed studies in the relevant field within the last two years.
- Demonstrated ability to be collaborative, creative, and innovative.
- Demonstrated ability to work successfully in diverse geographic and cultural settings.
- Proficiency in the use of computer applications
- Willingness to learn new things in a rapidly changing context.
- Ability to speak at least one local language in Isiolo in addition to English and Kiswahili
- Willingness to stay long days in remote field locations.
- Demonstrated commitment to respect, equity, diversity, and inclusion including gender equality.
Agency REDI Competencies (for all CRS Staff):
Agency competencies clarify expected behaviors and attitudes for all staff. When demonstrated, they create an engaging workplace, help staff achieve their best, and help CRS achieve agency goals. These are rooted in the mission, values, and guiding principles of CRS and used by each staff member to fulfill his or her responsibilities and achieve the desired results.
- Personal Accountability – Consistently takes responsibility for one’s own actions.
- Acts with Integrity – Consistently models values aligned with CRS Guiding Principles and mission. Is considered honest.
- Builds and Maintains Trust – Shows consistency between words and actions.
- Collaborates with Others – Works effectively in intercultural and diverse teams.
- Open to Learn – Seeks out experiences that may change perspective or provide an opportunity to learn new things.
Agency Leadership Competencies:
- Lead Change – Continually looks for ways to improve the agency through a culture of agility, openness, and innovation.
- Develops and Recognizes Others – Builds the capacity of staff to reach their full potential and enhance team and agency performance.
- Strategic Mindset – Understands role in translating, communicating, and implementing agency strategy and team priorities.
Note:
The internship program participants will not be entitled to a salary as this is not considered employment. However, they will be provided with a monthly stipend and a medical and Group Personal Accident cover as per HR Compensation provisions.
CRS is under no obligation whatsoever to hire a graduate intern during or after their completion of the internship program.
What we offer:
CRS offers an opportunity for graduates to learn and work in a collaborative, mission-driven culture that is committed to improving the lives of the poor throughout the world.
***Our Catholic identity is at the heart of our mission and operations. Catholic Relief Services carries out the commitment of the Bishops of the United States to assist the poor and vulnerable overseas. We welcome as a part of our staff people of all faiths and secular traditions who share our values and our commitment to serving those in need. CRS’ processes and policies reflect our commitment to protecting children and vulnerable adults from abuse and exploitation.
CRS Kenya strives to be a place where a diverse mix of talented people want to come and work, stay, and do their best.
CRS provides equal opportunity to all qualified applicants and does not discriminate based on race, colour, religion, ancestry or national origin, sex, age, marital status, physical or mental disability or handicap, medical condition and any other status protected by law. As an equal opportunity employer, CRS will recruit, hire, train and promote persons solely on their qualifications and abilities. Women are highly encouraged to apply.
By applying to this opportunity, I understand and acknowledge that CRS requires its staff and interns to treat all people with dignity and respect and to actively prevent harassment, abuse, exploitation, and human trafficking. Further, I understand that if I am a successful candidate, I will be subject to a comprehensive background check, and my personal/professional references will be asked to evaluate my behaviours related to the above safeguarding-related topics.
ABOUT US
Catholic Relief Services is the official international humanitarian agency of the Catholic community in the United States. CRS works to save, protect, and transform lives in need in more than 100 countries, without regard to race, religion or nationality. CRS’ relief and development work is accomplished through programs of emergency response, HIV, health, agriculture, education, microfinance and peacebuilding.
ABOUT THE TEAM
CRS’ talent acquisition procedures reflect our commitment to safeguarding the rights and dignity of all people – especially children and vulnerable adults – to live free from abuse and harm.
CRS welcomes candidates from the countries and regions in which we work. In the event the successful candidate is an expatriate or global telecommuter, the anticipated duration of the assignment is informed by a term limit, based on the type and level of the job and the needs of the agency.
CRS is an Equal Opportunity Employer
