Technical Specialist, Enterprise Development, Kenya

Fauna & Flora International

Fauna & Flora International (FFI) saves species from extinction and habitats from destruction, while improving the livelihoods of local people. Our guiding principles are to work with and alongside local partnerships, act as a catalyst for change, make conservation relevant, and base decisions on sound science. Founded in 1903, FFI is the world’s longest established international conservation body; our conservation work, and impact, spans the globe.

Africa Programme

Working closely with local partners, FFI’s Africa Programme currently supports operations in 13 countries in West, Central, East and Southern Africa, and is implementing a range of projects focused on both terrestrial and marine species and habitat conservation, biodiversity planning, protected area management, institutional development and capacity building, sustainable use and community-focused wildlife management initiatives.

To achieve its mission in Africa, FFI uses different approaches to work with and alongside local partners to focus on the sustainable use and management of natural resources as a means to effective conservation in the long-term. In all its projects in Africa, FFI seeks to:

• Build and support local partnerships with African conservation and community development organisations
• Strengthen institutions to bring sustainability and added value to projects
• Maintain long term presence and relationships
• Reconcile conservation goals with the needs of local people
• Incorporate sound science in decision-making

Kenya Programme

FFI has been championing wildlife conservation in Kenya in some shape or form since our foundation in 1903. Exactly a century later, we opened an office in Nairobi and established a formal country programme, and have been supporting local partners to protect key habitats and species. In particular, we have played a crucial role in establishing a number of wildlife conservancies in northern Kenya that protect wildlife, and increasingly support our partners generate sustainable income from enterprise development that directly fund conservation efforts and support sustainable local livelihoods. Beyond our terrestrial conservation programme, we are also supporting the efforts of communities in the North coast of Kenya to secure greater involvement in the management and husbandry of their marine resources.

The Opportunity

FFI is seeking an experienced Technical Specialist, Enterprise Development to enable our work to proactively respond to and shape the conservation enterprise and finance agenda, with a specific focus on tourism, agribusiness and blue economy sectors in Kenya. You will provide technical assistance to our partners developing nature-positive business models, to enable post-covid economic recovery through enhanced tourism revenue, and develop new cash flows from agribusiness, fisheries and other emerging opportunities in conservation finance. Playing an important role in supporting and enabling the development of impactful, financially sustainable conservation enterprises in Kenya.

You will feed into FFI’s global enterprise work with support from our Social Equity, Agriculture and Enterprise (SAGE) team. You will have a proven track record in development of innovative and successful conservation enterprise within Kenya. You will have excellent understanding of tailor-made, up-to-date responses that address today’s barriers to sustainable conservation enterprise in Kenya and experience with non-profit conservation organisations.

You will demonstrate capacity in strategic and analytical thinking; excellent written and verbal communication skills, the ability to work and deliver within a diverse and multidisciplinary team, proposal writing, project management and donor reporting.

Terms and Conditions

Start Date: As soon as possible

Duration of Contract: 2 years

Probation Period: 6 months

Salary: USD 33,000 per annum

Location: FFI Office in Nairobi, Kenya. With travel to domestic project sites as required. International travel to FFI’s head office in Cambridge, UK may be required.

Benefits: 25 working days’ annual leave entitlement plus national public holidays observed in Kenya

Hours of Work: This is a full-time position, working 40 hours per week Monday to Friday inclusive. These hours may vary depending on the requirements of the job in the field.

Job Description

Job Title: Technical Specialist**,** Enterprise Development, Kenya

Reporting to: Country Manager, Kenya Programme

Key Internal Relationships: Kenya Programme Staff

Senior Programme Manager, Eastern Africa

Africa Programme Staff

FFI Finance and Enterprise team, SAGE

Other FFI Cross-Cutting teams

External Relationships: This role will represent FFI with national and local government agencies, communities and community-based organisations; international and national partner NGOs and for-profit entities, academic institutions, financiers and donors, representing the values and interests of FFI at all times.

Purpose:

The Technical Specialist, Enterprise Development will work with FFI staffs and partners to develop a portfolio of nature-positive enterprises in diverse sectors (tourism, agriculture, fisheries) that have clear biodiversity and social impacts, enhancing financial resilience of conservation action within priority Kenya projects as directed by the Country Manager, and supported by the cross-cutting Enterprise & Finance technical staffs from Social Equity, Agriculture and Enterprise (SAGE) team.

Ensuring all approaches support the delivery of the FFI Strategy and Business Plan, this role will identify current and emerging themes relating to enterprise development concerning conservation in Kenya and will both enable and implement FFI’s and FFI partner’s responses through high quality and collaboratively developed projects and funds.

Specific Duties:

Technical

• Provide technical input on enterprise development components of FFI projects in Kenya.
• Undertake research and analysis on markets, partners, costs, revenues, compliance requirements, enabling environments and other topics related to conservation enterprise..
• Track emerging opportunities for conservation enterprises in diverse sectors including tourism, agribusiness, fisheries and renewable energy.
• Undertake feasibility assessments of new products and ventures.
• To write business models, including strategy and planning for nature-positive enterprises and projects, and in collaboration with conservation and private sector partners and FFI colleagues.
• Develop financial models to align with business models and demonstrate financial viability and sustainability of nature-positive enterprises and projects.
• Collaborate with Enterprise and finance specialists in the SAGE team on the development of legal ownership models and structures for enterprises.
• Collaborate with enterprise and finance specialists in SAGE team on the development of investment and fundraising pitches
• Facilitate supply chain development including documentation, certification, promotion and engagement with buyers.
• Facilitate engagement with wider market system actors using Participatory Market Systems Development (PMSD) and other relevant approaches.
• Design and deliver biodiversity impact models and metrics, and monitoring and evaluation plans, relevant to enterprise development.
• Working closely with the Technical Specialist, Livelihoods and Governance (Kenya),
  • ensure the business models developed have clear social benefits, and gender and social equity are carefully considered during design and implementation
  • develop robust governance structure for the enterprise, clarifying membership rules, ensuring equitable benefit sharing agreements, participation of women and men in the conservation enterprise

Project Management & Development

• Identify potential private sector partners and sources of funding relevant to enterprise development.
• Manage the local implementation and delivery of FFI’s commitments within specific projects as directed by the Country Manager.
• Ensure full compliance with FFI protocols, policies and procedures, ensuring work is done to high quality and within fund budgets.
• Undertake specific fund management responsibilities where appropriate, including:
• Lead FFI and donor technical report writing and editing, coordinating the inputs of team members, cross-cutting teams, specialists and partners, ensuring accurate and timely technical reports as per FFI and donor requirements
• Ensure all funding proposals and resulting contracts and grant agreements are appropriate to, and comply with, FFI operating standards, the FFI Delegation of Authority (DoA), and implementation context within the region.
• Delivery of grant funded projects within time-frames and budgets.
• Manage project inputs from relevant technical and operational staff and consultants, and implementing partners, ensuring appropriate contracts are in place where relevant.
• Ensure that project monitoring and evaluation is in place and fit for purpose, working with FFI team (in Kenya and in Cambridge) to review results and adapt project implementation as required.
• Be responsible for fund finances and ensure all expenditure complies with donor and FFI regulations, FFI’s DoA, and Kenyan laws.
• Management of cash flow for relevant activities and accountability of funds, including required finance planning and reporting
• Prepare project financial reports, with support from the Finance Business Partner, East Africa and ensure timely, high quality and accurate technical, operational and financial funder and institutional reporting
• Ensure the regular back-up and appropriate storage of all project data and financial records, in line with in-country and donor auditing requirements, internal and donor reporting requirements, and ensuring there is sufficient detail for overall institutional auditing of FFI. Under the guidance of the Country Manager provide active input and support, and when appropriate lead, new project development

Communications and Representation

• Develop and collaborate on training materials including documentation, talks and lectures.
• Develop and collaborate on articles, guidelines, briefing papers, templates etc.
• Provide training and mentoring on enterprise development to partners and communities.
• Contribute to a global Community of Practice on nature-based enterprise development as well as national and regional forums, networks and events.

Other

• Work as an active member of the wider Africa team and attend Africa team meetings and work planning sessions as required.
• Provide technical input, where appropriate and requested, on other work undertaken by the SAGE, Kenya and Africa programme.
• With agreement of the Country Manager perform any other tasks that may be requested from time to time, which are appropriate to the roles skills and experience, and relevant to the scope of this role.

Person Specification

Skills

Essential:

• Excellent project management skills
• Excellent analytical skills
• Ability to successfully negotiate with diverse audiences
• Excellent information organisation and presentation skills
• Strong prioritisation and time management skills
• Ability to lead and manage both decisions and people, in line with other decision makers, in high stress environments

Desirable:

• Business impact measurement, costing, marketing and sales plan, investment pitches and risk assessments skills

Knowledge and experience

Essential:

• Undergraduate level qualification or equivalent in economics, business management, tourism or rural development
• Excellent written and spoken Swahili and English
• Demonstratable knowledge of at least one of the following sectors: sustainable fisheries, agriculture/agroforestry
• Track record of setting up tourism-based enterprises that generate funds for species conservation and local community development.
• Proven track record in conducting market research
• Demonstrable experience in project management
• Previous experience working for an I/NGOs in rural entrepreneurship/ enterprises development.

Desirable:

• MBA or Advanced degree in business-related discipline
• Private sector experience in agribusiness or tourism or seafood sector
• Experience working for a startup enterprise
• Knowledge of development approaches to enterprise development and strengthening of market systems, such as Practical Action’s Participatory Market Systems Development (PMSD)
• Experience in developing inclusive finance models (such as eco-credits, Village Savings and Loan Associations) and micro-insurance
• Experience working in international conservation NGOs or organization in enterprise development.
• Experience reporting to multiple managers or projects

Behavioural qualities

Essential:

• Team player, with ability to seek out views of others and build positive working relationships
• Ability to work to multiple deadlines
• Impact-focused
• Well-organised with a strong attention to detail
• Ability to self-motivate
• Ability to work within a multi-cultural environment
• Ability to work under pressure and to deal with challenges in a positive and constructive way
• Commitment to working in a collaborative manner, sharing information and learning
• Commitment to organisational and legal compliance, and responsible management of donor funds

Other

• Commitment to FFI’s values, vision and mission
• Entitlement to live and work in Kenya (without employee sponsorship)
• Available to travel domestically and/or internationally, and work occasional evening and weekend hours

FFI Values

Values underpin who we are and how we act. Just as values shape who we are as individuals, they define us as an organisation, creating the culture of success for which FFI is renowned. Our people exemplify our shared values, which are interconnected and interdependent:

• We act with integrity
• We are collaborative
• We are committed
• We are supportive & respectful
• We get things done