PROJECT SPECIALIST- KENYA INTERGRATED AGRICULTURE MANAGEMENT INFORMATION SYSTEM- SC8

Organizational Setting

The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) is a specialized agency of the United Nations that leads international efforts to defeat hunger. FAO’s goal is to achieve food security for all and ensure that people have regular access to enough high-quality food to lead active, healthy lives. FAO’s Strategic Framework (2022-2031) seeks to support the 2030 Agenda and the SDGs through the transformation to more efficient, inclusive, resilient and sustainable, agrifood systems for better production, better nutrition, a better environment, and a better life, leaving no one behind.

Within FAO, The Digital Villages Initiative (DVI) is a corporate initiative that fosters rural digital transformation to combat hunger, poverty, and inequality. It is being carried out through the establishment or support of 1,000 smart rural villages that include all the elements of digitalization needed for rural and agri-food systems transformation. Implementation of the DVI in Africa is led by the FAO Regional Office for Africa (RAF). The initiative falls within RAF’s Digital Innovation Strategy framework. Kenya is among seven countries selected to be part of the DVI in Africa and is operationalizing this through the Kenya Integrated Agriculture Management Information System (KIAMIS).

KIAMIS is an integrated, module-based, digital platform solution that now supports farmer registration and e-voucher redemption in line with the GoK digitization agenda under the ASTGS. Following the successful development and piloting of the Kenya Integrated Agriculture Management Information system (KIAMIS) in Nyandarua and Uasin Gishu counties; the 4th Intergovernmental Consultative Forum on Agriculture (IGF-A) which took place in Mombasa in January 2022 endorsed KIAMIS as the primary system for national farmer registration and e-subsidy management in the country. Building on the success of the pilot, the Government is keen to institutionalize and scale up the System. In response to this, FAO has committed to work with the Government, resourcing and other partners to provide the support the government requires to adopt and scale up KIAMIS.

Reporting Lines

Under the overall guidance of the FAO Representative, direct supervision of the National Policy Officer, and close collaboration with the FAO Kenya Digital Agriculture Expert, the incumbent will execute activities for Upscaling and Institutionalization of KIAMIS and its related Digital Services. The incumbent will be guided by the outposted CSI technical officer. On request, meetings and technical reports will need proving to CSI, to the RAF DVI focal point as well as regular interaction with responsible Technical Units in HQ (i.e., agriculture, environment, gender, youth, climate change, etc.). Technical clearances will be required from relevant HQ technical teams (procurement, IT-Solutions).

Technical Focus

The main objective of the KIAMIS Project Specialist is to work closely with the KIAMIS Project team and the Digital Agriculture Specialist to provide technical support in IT design and architecture, IT Security, IT implementation, IT assessment, and food and agriculture statistics for the project. They will manage the project on a day-to-day basis, including managing and delivering the pathways as described above, as well as promoting and supporting the identification and implementation of digital technologies that enhance FAO Kenya’s programmatic delivery. The incumbent may have to exchange and share knowledge and experiences with other FAO digital teams from headquarters, the Regional Office for Africa (RAF), sub-regional offices and other country offices.

Tasks and responsibilities

The incumbent will be primarily responsible for following: • Responsible for the day-to-day operations and prioritisation and task coordination, and meeting milestones, objectives, and deliverables for KIAMIS within agreed timeframes and budgets • Project management and reporting • Project team/Consultants’ coordination • Coordinate with National and County counterparts the delivery of project outputs (described in the above pathways); • Facilitate the process of development of additional KIAMIS services. • Guide the establishment of an API framework. • Management of IT related procurement processes and contracts • Identify suitable Digital tools and technologies for project implementation. • Support the FAO Kenya office in the development of its Digital Portfolio • Collects, analyses, and summarizes information and trends as needed to prepare project status reports. • Performs other related duties as assigned.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

• University degree in computer science, Information Technology, Information Systems, or related areas with at least six (6) years of work Experience OR a master’s degree with at least 3 years of relevant work experience. • At least three (3) years’ experience in managing a large ICT development and data project for International Organizations, Governments or Private sector entities. • Working knowledge of English and Kiswahili. • Must be a Kenyan National.

FAO Core Competencies

• Results Focus • Teamwork • Communication • Building Effective Relationships • Knowledge Sharing and Continuous Improvement

Technical/Functional Skills

• ICT certification in system development • Relevant experience in managing large scale ICT projects. • Capabilities designing and building ICT systems • Experience in developing reports and interactive dashboards in for example Microsoft Power BI or Tableau • Understanding of data security, privacy and governance frameworks • Capacity to interact professionally with a wide variety of stakeholders. • Willingness to work for extended hours and respond to strict deadlines. • Ability to work with multi-disciplinary teams. • Good communication skills and computer literacy.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

• FAO does not charge a fee at any stage of the recruitment process (application, interview meeting, processing)
• Incomplete applications will not be considered. If you need help please contact: [email protected]
• Applications received after the closing date will not be accepted
• Please note that FAO only considers higher educational qualifications obtained from an institution accredited/recognized in the World Higher Education Database (WHED), a list updated by the International Association of Universities (IAU) / United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The list can be accessed at http://www.whed.net/
• For additional employment opportunities visit the FAO employment website: http://www.fao.org/employment/home/en/
• Appointment will be subject to certification that the candidate is medically fit for appointment, accreditation, any residency or visa requirements, and security clearances.