Description

The Role Purpose

Reporting to the Pillar Leaders - GM and Associate Director, the Senior Program Manager will provide strategic leadership in implementing and scaling EGF's Food and Agriculture projects across Kenya. The role is responsible for mobilizing and supporting thousands of smallholder farmers, youth, women, and Ag-MSMEs through transformative interventions, driving financial inclusion, productivity, and market access. The Senior Program Manager will serve as a key pipeline builder for Equity Bank, ensuring robust beneficiary acquisition and integration into sustainable agri-food ecosystems.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the strategic design, implementation, and monitoring of large-scale agribusiness and food systems programs, ensuring alignment with EGF's national and regional objectives.

• Mobilize, recruit, and conduct sensitization forums for target participants, partners, and value chain actors, including smallholder farmers and Ag-MSMEs, with a focus on youth and women.

• Oversee the enrolment of targeted beneficiaries into Equity Bank and related financial products, ensuring achievement of project-set targets and timelines.

• Delivery advanced training on financial education, agribusiness management, good agricultural practices, climate-smart agriculture, biodiversity conservation, and adoption of digital technologies and mechanization.

• Support farmers and other value chain actors to improve technical, financial, and entrepreneurial skills, increasing productivity and profitability.

• Facilitate access to Equity Bank's financial services, handholding beneficiaries to utilize bank products and services according to their financial needs.

• Organize and coordinate regular farmer group meetings, mentoring, and coaching to enhance capacity, track project interventions, and promote ecosystem participation.

• Respond to farmer queries on agribusiness and financial services, supporting informed decision-making and business growth.

• Prepare comprehensive weekly, monthly, and quarterly status reports for senior management, including analytical and critical data for program monitoring and evaluation.

• Organize, coordinate, and execute project activities (e.g., field days, exchange visits, value chain meetings) as per the project work plan and targets.

• Represent EGF in agriculture, engaging with Equity staff, local partners, and stakeholders at branch, county, and regional levels.

• Collaborate with the monitoring and evaluation team to collect high-quality data, track program impact, and ensure timely reporting on commercial and program targets.

• Undertake any other business activities as required by organizational needs

Qualifications

Experience Requirements

• Minimum 10 years of experience in agribusiness program management, with at least 5 years in senior leadership roles e.g., leading large-scale projects, managing multi-million USD budgets, or overseeing national and regional program portfolios.

• Extensive practical experience in agricultural production and management, including implementation of sustainable and climate-smart agricultural practices.

• Deep understanding of agronomic principles, seed selection, fertilizer application, irrigation management, and on-farm demonstrations.

• Strong experience in MSME development, including facilitating access to microfinance, credit guarantee schemes, and government grants.

• Experience in managing agricultural development projects, including planning, implementation, and monitoring.

Academic Qualifications and Certifications

• Advanced university degree in Agriculture, Agribusiness Management, Agricultural Economics, or a related field; business/finance courses with agriculture program exposure are an added advantage

• Highly motivated and results-oriented professional with at least 10 years of progressive experience in agribusiness, agricultural production, MSME development, and extension services.

• Demonstrated expertise in agronomic principles, agribusiness management, and market linkages, with a proven ability to drive sustainable growth and innovation.

• Proven track record in conducting farmer and MSME training, developing business plans, and facilitating access to finance and markets for smallholder farmers and Ag-MSMEs.
• Committed to empowering rural communities and fostering economic development through sustainable agricultural practices.