Agricultural Economist (Evidence Creation and Reporting)

To support the scale of these successful interventions and business models, WFP seeks a dedicated professional to support the Food Systems and Resilience team in Nairobi to create the evidence for designing new business cases and proposals, manage research partnerships, guide monitoring processes, prepare donor reports, manage unit communication and visibility, documenting and sharing best practices, and support in maintaining and establishing efficient business processes.

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES (not all-inclusive)

• Ensure cross-learning and close interactions across FtMA project areas and the arid counties, where the FSC model is being scaled-up (including the documentation of success stories and best practices). 
• Support the technical units on key programmatic areas including but not limited to gender transformation and youth empowerment.
• Produce and review analyses, strategies, and papers for WFP’s climate resilience and food systems interventions.
• Generate analysis that investigates cost-benefit of different intervention packages, return of investments and related research question
• Create evidence generation and knowledge management strategy for the climate, food system and resilience portfolio   
• Coordinate monitoring and evaluation activities under Outcome 2 in close collaboration with the Monitoring & Evaluation Officer.
• Coordinate and draft the development of funding proposals and concept notes as required and support on ad-hoc donor engagements.
• Produce corporate reporting products and donor reports in close collaboration with technical units.
• Develop and maintain relevant partnerships with private sector, research institutions and Government of Kenya.
• Create content for communication for internal and external channels, working closely with WFP communications unit.
• Support the development of tools and processes to manage FSC performance and ensure intended smallholder impact is achieved.

OTHER SPECIFIC JOB REQUIREMENTS

• Evidence created that supports the development of new business cases (including return of investment studies).
• Timely and quality corporate/donor reports and proposals and other communication materials produced.
• Efficient climate, food system and resilience knowledge management system established and corporate monitoring and evaluation processes supported
• Rural entrepreneurs' models within operational areas mapped out.
• Experience setting-up scalable and sustainable middle and last mile value chain solutions targeting small holder farmers and other actors along the value-chain of advantage
• Demonstrated ability to engage with public and private entities, planning and working together
• Ability to work in a team and establish effective working relations across multi-functional teams as well as with a results-oriented private sector, research, think tanks and other key stakeholders
• Solid operational skills including creative thinking, problem solving and project management skills
• Resourcefulness, initiative, maturity of judgment, tact, and negotiating skills.
• Strong presentation skills and experience in public speaking of advantage.
• Ability to frequently travel within the country.

DESIRED EXPERIENCES FOR ENTRY INTO THE ROLE

• Excellent analytical, communication and report-writing skills
• Ability to conduct economic and analysis, including cost-benefit analysis, preferably in the agriculture, water and land management sector
• Experience in proposal development as well as monitoring and reporting processes and ability to create/manage databases
• Experience working with agro- and agro-pastoral/pastoral communities and organizations, and designing and implementing development projects

STANDARD MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• Experience : At least five (5) years of experience in agribusiness, either in private sector enterprises or in non-profit value chain related projects, with exposure to the private sector segment and research institutions.
• Language: Fluency (oral and written) in English and Kiswahili necessary; proficiency in other languages spoken regionally in Kenya is an asset.