County MUS/Household Production Specialist (Busia) at SNV Netherlands Development Organisation

Summary of Primary Duties:

The County MUS/Household ProductionSpecialist will support and advise on the expansion of WASH MUS technologies in the assigned target county. He/she will work closely with the respective KIWASH MUS/Household Production Regional Manager and integrate KIWASH MUS activities with other USAID projects to promote expanded use of MUS systems. The Specialist, will be based in one of the above listed counties and will work with county government staff/partners in supporting MUS/Household Production activities in the target county. 

Reporting

The County Embedded MUS/Household Production Specialist will report to the Regional MUS Household Production Manager, and in his/her absence, the KIWASH Agriculture and Nutrition Advisor.

Key Responsibilities 

Essential Duties

• Provide technical assistance to County staff in identification and use of MUS systems and technologies;
• Identify county-specific investment opportunities to promote MUS that have the potential to provide household and economic benefits;
• Advocate for, and provide, technical support to county government in the development and review of county agriculture /irrigation strategies/plans, while identifying areas of synergy with KIWASH plans;
• Collaborate with county agriculture staff to promote household production through MUS such as:

• • promoting micro-entrepreneur opportunities, e.g. engaging in the supply, operation, and maintenance of MUS WASH and irrigation technology services;
  • Advocate for access to water for agricultural productivity at the household level through use of innovative technologies, while improving access for MUS at the community level;

• Work together with county Agriculture/Irrigation staff and stakeholders to support identified appropriate irrigation technologies and suppliers for improvement of the supply chain for MUS;
• Together with the County Nutrition and WASH Specialist and the Feed the Future (FTF) partners in the county, work with the Agriculture extension workers to:

• • Identify farmer groups (including Women and Youth groups) as beneficiaries for integration of WASH actions;
  • Promote integration of essential WASH/Nutrition actions through promotion of productive use of water to produce nutritious foods for consumption at households level;

• Together with county staff, prepare plans to integrate KIWASH MUS activities with others (including USAID FTF implementers, Community Savings Groups, Water Users Associations and other groups) with kitchen garden and agriculture activities;
• Coordinate with FTF partners to identify:

• • Gaps that farmers/households have in gaining access to MUS water systems;
  • Roll out agricultural training and extension in locations without FTF support.

• Support county staff and partners to integrate the use of low-cost, high-impact WASH interventions within MUS. These include:

• • optimal hand washing with soap at appropriate times, treatment and safe storage of household drinking water, and adequate sanitation/ feces management that prevent diarrhea and under-nutrition.

• Support community and facility-level demonstration and uptake of MUS;
• Identify activities to empower youth as sales/extension agents for input dealers to reach women and youth;
• Coordinate with county-based Water/Sanitation Infrastructure Specialists on the design and construction of MUS systems;
• Other tasks as required by the MUS/Household Production Regional Manager and Agriculture and Nutrition Advisor.

Supervisory Responsibilities

• None. 

Candidate Profile

• An advanced graduate degree in a related field of study preferred, e.g. agricultural engineering, water resources management, Irrigation engineering, etc.;
• A minimum of 5 years of professional experience in Agriculture with a specialization in agricultural extension work; and preferably small scale irrigation infrastructure and
• Experience and knowledge of working in the Kenyan agricultural sector;
• Field-based experience at the farmer level and working with farmer groups and NGO’s/ Associations;
• Knowledge of Kenyan environmental and agriculture legislation and issues preferred;
• Familiarity with Government of Kenya structures and reporting systems desirable;
• English language written and verbal fluency essential.