Vétérinaires Sans Frontières Suisse (VSF Suisse), MCK Building, Muthangari Road, Off Gitanga Road, P. O. Box 25656, 00603 Nairobi, Kenya. E mail: Office.Nairobi@vsf-suisse.org
Background
Vétérinaires Sans Frontières Suisse (VSF-Suisse), www.vsf-suisse.org is a politically and religiously neutral humanitarian organization focusing on preventing and alleviating suffering, disease and hunger, and contributing to socio-economic development and sustainable environment, in areas where livestock, agriculture and related issues play, or could play an important role in peoples’ livelihoods, food and nutrition security and resilience. VSF-Suisse works both in humanitarian aid and in long-term development in seven countries of West and East Africa.
VSF-Suisse is advertising an exciting position of a Field Officer (Irrigation) in our Somalia Programme. Compensation will be aligned with the VSF-Suisse rates. The role requires an applicant to have the right to work in Somalia, as appropriate, where the respective position is based.

Position: Field Officer (Irrigation)
Organization: VSF-Suisse
Location: Gedo Region of Somalia
Sector: Agriculture and Food Security (AFS)
Reporting to: Project Officer
Closing Date: 1st March 2020.
Overall Responsibilities:
The Field Officer (Irrigation) will be central in the day-to-day implementation of Irrigation sub-sector activities of the project among the agro-pastoralists in Gedo Region- mainly working in Belet Xaawa and Luuq districts. He / she will be required to participate and facilitate the planned Irrigation activities in the targeted villages/sites in a timely and participatory manner. The position requires an articulate and highly skilled individual with exceptional ability and capacity to provide all rounded support to Irrigation farming activities of the Project.
Key Responsibilities:
• Conduct community mobilization, sensitization, selection and verification of project beneficiaries using the set-selection criteria
• Prepare work plans and follow up on day-to-day field activities under the Irrigation sub-sector
• Facilitate and supervise Irrigation activities (including the rehabilitation of Irrigation canals)
• Ensure that the project adheres to agreed-upon approaches, social agreements, best practices and all internal policies and procedures.
• Train farmers on the best agronomic practices, post harvest technologies, business skills, operation and maintenance of Irrigation equipment/machinery among others and participate in the distribution of agricultural tools and equipment.
• Provide agricultural extension services to the project beneficiaries to help improve productivity and devise real time solutions to address problems facing Irrigation farmers.
• Ensure that activities are carried out in a way that is sensitive to community needs and gender issues.
• Set up and operationalize Complaints and Response Mechanisms in the targeted communities and participate in solving complaints related to the project.
• Actively participate in project review meetings, baseline surveys, assessments, monitoring activities, learning and evaluations.
• Prepare timely monthly/quarterly reports, monitoring reports, progress reports, success stories as well as document lessons learned and best practices.
• Offer technical support and inputs to other project components in the Agriculture and Food Security sector
• Perform any other duties and responsibilities that will be assigned by the Line Supervisor.
Qualifications, Experience & Skills required
• A Diploma in Agronomy, Agriculture, Agricultural Engineering, Rural Development or other relevant fields from a reputable Institution. A Bachelors Degree in the same or related field will be an Added Advantage.
• Adaptability and flexibility: Ability to manage a large workload and multiple tasks in a fast-paced environment with tight deadlines.
• Minimum of 3 years’ of professional relevant experience (agriculture, food security, livelihoods activities in an agro-pastoral setting) in an NGO is highly preferable.
• Good technical knowledge and practice in Irrigation farming, crop production, Cash Transfer Approaches as well as other cross cutting issues
• Knowledge and understanding of humanitarian standards
• Ability to work in a multicultural team and strict adherence to rules, regulations and guidelines
• Communication Skills: Excellent writing and verbal skills in English, training, report writing and computer skills
• Person of integrity –honest and good moral standing
• Good interpersonal skills, commitment, motivation and conflict resolution abilities