Partnerships (LINK) Advisor – Regenerative Agriculture & Productive Use of Energy

📌 Core Information

🔹 Job Title: Partnerships (LINK) Advisor – Regenerative Agriculture & Productive Use of Energy

🔹 Company: SNV

🔹 Location: Eldoret, Kenya

🔹 Job Type: Full-time

🔹 Category: Non-profit Organizations

🔹 Date Posted: April 3, 2025

🔹 Experience Level: 10+ years

🔹 Remote Status: On-site

🚀 Job Overview

Key aspects of this role include:

• Engaging with partners at high-level to rethink the linkages between regenerative agriculture (RA) and productive use of renewable energy (PURE) systems.
• Providing leadership, strategic direction, and guidance on activities within the LINK pathway.
• Collaborating closely with other pathway leads for coherent implementation and reporting.
• Working closely with identified program partners and local actors across the targeted Counties in Kenya.
• Driving the development and roll-out of the Link agenda, which underpins the integration of the RA-PURE nexus thinking into the program.

ASSUMPTION: This role requires a high level of strategic thinking, partnership development, and stakeholder engagement skills. The ideal candidate will have a strong background in both the agriculture and energy sectors, with a deep understanding of the Kenya context.

📋 Key Responsibilities

✅ Stimulating Linkages

• Co-design and facilitate cross-sector collaboration by building partnerships, creating dialogue platforms, and implementing strategies to integrate RA-PURE practices among diverse system actors.
• Catalyse ecosystem development by supporting organizations with technical assistance, activating demand through community engagement, and enabling viable RA-PURE business models and partnerships.
• Support financial service providers in enhancing end-user affordability, developing innovative financial products, and raising awareness of available financing solutions among smallholder farmers and agri-businesses.
• Drive mindset shifts and adoption by promoting RA-PURE solutions, utilising early adopters as advocates, and amplifying diverse voices and perspectives in shaping inclusive innovations.
• Advance systems transformation along the Link Pathway by addressing key systemic barriers, such as power dynamics, limited linkages and relationships between RA and PURE, and access to finance challenges on both the demand and supply side, while fostering equitable relationships.
• Facilitate Business to Business interactions and matchmaking events between partners for improved RA/PURE business ecosystem performance.
• Support collaborations and linkages to RA/PURE service providers to improve access and availability of RA/PURE solutions.
• Support partners in the development of activity plans, risk assessments, and corresponding budgets to ensure quality and value for money.
• The Advisor will provide leadership, strategic direction, and guidance on the activities and intervention, collaborating closely with other pathway Advisors to ensure coherence in quality implementation and reporting.

ASSUMPTION: This role requires a high level of strategic thinking, partnership development, and stakeholder engagement skills. The ideal candidate will have a strong background in both the agriculture and energy sectors, with a deep understanding of the Kenya context.

🎯 Required Qualifications

Education: A master's degree in agriculture, energy, engineering, or related disciplines is required.

Experience: A minimum of 10 years of relevant work experience in programmes in areas of learning, linking, and leveraging is required.

Required Skills:

• Good understanding of the Kenya agriculture and energy sectors.
• Strong leadership skills, experience in partnership development, and deep understanding and experience in consortia management.
• Good communication skills in English, both written and spoken, with excellent reporting, facilitation, and presentation skills.
• Demonstrated commitment to gender equality and social inclusion at all levels of work.
• Willingness to travel to all program locations, including remote areas.

Preferred Skills:

• Conceptual thinking: Having and gaining insight into situations, problems, and processes. Deconstructing problems and systematically investigating the various components.
• Coaching: Encouraging and guiding employees in order to make their performance more effective and to enhance their self-perception and problem-solving skills.
• Focus on quality: Setting high quality standards and striving for continuous improvement and quality assurance.
• Result orientation: The ability to take direct action in order to attain or exceed objectives.
• Persuasiveness: The ambition to win over other people for one's views and ideas and to generate support.

ASSUMPTION: Given the nature of the role, candidates with a strong background in both the agriculture and energy sectors, as well as proven leadership and partnership development skills, will be most competitive.

💰 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: The salary range for this position is KES 250,000 - 350,000 per month, depending on experience and qualifications. This is an estimate based on industry standards for similar roles in Kenya.

Benefits:

• Contract Type: Full time (40 hours per week)
• Contract Duration: 1 year with potential for extension
• Expected Start Date: June 1, 2025
• Information Duty Station: Eldoret, Kenya

Working Hours: The working hours for this position are 40 hours per week, with flexibility to work remotely as needed.

ASSUMPTION: The salary range provided is an estimate based on industry standards for similar roles in Kenya. The actual salary may vary depending on the candidate's qualifications and experience.

📌 Applicant Insights

🔍 Company Context

Industry: SNV operates in the non-profit sector, focusing on global development and transformation in vital agri-food, energy, and water systems. They work to strengthen capacities and catalyse partnerships in these sectors, with a strong commitment to gender equality, social inclusion, and climate action.

Company Size: SNV is a medium-sized organisation with approximately 1,600 colleagues operating in more than 20 countries in Africa and Asia.

Founded: SNV was founded in 1965 and has since built a strong reputation as a global development partner, deeply rooted in the countries where it operates.

Company Description:

• SNV is driven by a vision of a better world where all people live with dignity and have equitable opportunities to thrive sustainably.
• The organisation contributes to transformations in vital agri-food, energy, and water systems by strengthening capacities and catalysing partnerships in these sectors.
• SNV supports its partners with technical and process expertise and methodological rigour, tailoring its approaches to different contexts to achieve impact at scale.

Company Specialties:

• Agri-food systems
• Energy
• Water
• Climate
• Governance
• Youth employment
• Innovative finance
• GESI (Gender, Equality, Social Inclusion)
• Systems transformation
• Systems change
• Impact
• Equity & inclusion
• Climate adaptation and mitigation
• Local action for global impact
• Locally-led
• Global development
• Climate finance

Company Website: https://www.snv.org

ASSUMPTION: SNV's work is deeply rooted in the countries where it operates, with a strong focus on local context and community engagement. The organisation's approach to development is holistic and integrated, addressing the complex interconnections between different systems and sectors.

📊 Role Analysis

Career Level: This role is a senior position, requiring a high level of strategic thinking, partnership development, and stakeholder engagement skills.

Reporting Structure: The Partnerships (LINK) Advisor will report directly to the Program Manager and work closely with other pathway leads to ensure coherent implementation and reporting.

Work Arrangement: This role is based in Eldoret, Kenya, with regular travel to all program locations, including remote areas. The working hours are 40 hours per week, with flexibility to work remotely as needed.

Growth Opportunities:

• This role offers the opportunity to work at the nexus of regenerative agriculture and productive use of renewable energy, driving systems transformation in Kenya.
• The ideal candidate will have the chance to build a movement with and through partners, facilitating a new way of working to achieve an integrated, sustainable, and resilient agri-food system.
• This role also provides the opportunity to leverage additional funding and resources, improving people's lives and livelihoods in Kenya.

ASSUMPTION: This role offers significant growth potential for the right candidate, with the opportunity to make a real impact on the ground in Kenya.

🌍 Location & Work Environment

Office Type: SNV's office in Eldoret is a regional office, providing a collaborative and inclusive work environment for its team members.

Office Location(s): Eldoret, Kenya

Geographic Context:

• Eldoret is located in the Uasin Gishu County of Kenya, approximately 310 km northwest of Nairobi, the capital city.
• The region is known for its agricultural production, with a focus on crops such as maize, wheat, and barley.
• The area also has significant potential for renewable energy development, with abundant solar and wind resources.

Work Schedule: The working hours for this position are 40 hours per week, with flexibility to work remotely as needed.

ASSUMPTION: Eldoret provides a unique opportunity to work at the intersection of agriculture and energy, with a strong focus on local context and community engagement.

💼 Interview & Application Insights

Typical Process:

• Applicants will be reviewed by the Selection Committee.
• Shortlisted candidates will be invited for two interviews with the Selection Committee.

Key Assessment Areas:

• Strategic thinking and partnership development skills
• Understanding of the Kenya agriculture and energy sectors
• Leadership and teamwork skills
• Communication and presentation skills
• Commitment to gender equality and social inclusion

Application Tips:

• Tailor your resume and cover letter to highlight your relevant experience and skills in the agriculture and energy sectors, as well as your commitment to gender equality and social inclusion.
• Be prepared to discuss your understanding of the Kenya context and your vision for driving systems transformation in the RA-PURE nexus space.
• Demonstrate your ability to work collaboratively and build partnerships with diverse stakeholders.

ATS Keywords: regenerative agriculture, productive use of renewable energy, partnership development, stakeholder engagement, systems transformation, Kenya agriculture, Kenya energy, gender equality, social inclusion

ASSUMPTION: The interview process will focus on assessing the candidate's strategic thinking, partnership development, and stakeholder engagement skills, as well as their understanding of the Kenya context and commitment to gender equality and social inclusion.

🛠️ Tools & Technologies

• Microsoft Office Suite
• Project management tools (e.g., Asana, Trello)
• Data analysis and visualisation tools (e.g., Excel, Power BI)
• Communication and collaboration tools (e.g., Zoom, Microsoft Teams)

ASSUMPTION: The ideal candidate will be comfortable using a range of tools and technologies to support their work, with a focus on project management, data analysis, and communication.

👔 Cultural Fit Considerations

Company Values:

• Impact
• Equity & inclusion
• Local action for global impact
• Locally-led
• Global development
• Climate finance

Work Style:

• Collaborative
• Inclusive
• Adaptable
• Tailored
• Holistic

Self-Assessment Questions:

• How do you align with SNV's values, particularly in the context of this role?
• How do you approach working collaboratively and inclusively with diverse stakeholders?
• How do you adapt your approach to different contexts and tailor your work to meet the specific needs of your partners?

ASSUMPTION: SNV values candidates who are strongly aligned with its mission and values, with a commitment to working collaboratively and inclusively with diverse stakeholders.

⚠️ Potential Challenges

• The role requires a high level of strategic thinking and partnership development, which can be challenging and time-consuming.
• The ideal candidate will need to be comfortable working in a dynamic and evolving context, with a strong focus on local context and community engagement.
• The role may require regular travel to remote areas, which can be physically demanding and logistically challenging.
• The ideal candidate will need to be comfortable working in a fast-paced and results-driven environment, with a strong focus on achieving impact at scale.

ASSUMPTION: The ideal candidate will be comfortable working in a dynamic and evolving context, with a strong focus on local context and community engagement. They will also be comfortable working in a fast-paced and results-driven environment, with a strong focus on achieving impact at scale.

📈 Similar Roles Comparison

• This role is unique in its focus on driving systems transformation at the nexus of regenerative agriculture and productive use of renewable energy.
• While similar roles may exist in other organisations, they are unlikely to have the same level of focus on local context and community engagement, or the same level of commitment to gender equality and social inclusion.
• This role offers the opportunity to work at the intersection of two critical sectors, with a strong focus on driving systems transformation and improving people's lives and livelihoods in Kenya.

ASSUMPTION: This role is unique in its focus on driving systems transformation at the nexus of regenerative agriculture and productive use of renewable energy, with a strong commitment to local context and community engagement, and a strong focus on gender equality and social inclusion.

📝 Sample Projects

• Developing a cross-sector partnership between a regenerative agriculture organisation and a renewable energy company to promote integrated RA-PURE solutions among smallholder farmers.
• Facilitating a dialogue platform to bring together diverse stakeholders from the agriculture and energy sectors to discuss the potential for RA-PURE integration and identify opportunities for collaboration.
• Supporting a financial service provider in developing innovative financial products to enhance end-user affordability and raise awareness of available financing solutions among smallholder farmers and agri-businesses.

ASSUMPTION: These sample projects illustrate the types of initiatives the Partnerships (LINK) Advisor may be involved in, highlighting the need for strategic thinking, partnership development, and stakeholder engagement skills.

❓ Key Questions to Ask During Interview

• Can you describe the most significant systems barriers you've encountered in your previous roles, and how you've addressed them?
• How have you approached building partnerships and facilitating cross-sector collaboration in your previous roles?
• Can you provide an example of a time when you've driven mindset shifts and adoption of innovative solutions in a challenging context?
• How do you ensure that your work is tailored to the specific needs and context of your partners, and how do you measure the impact of your interventions?
• How do you approach working in remote and logistically challenging environments, and how do you ensure the sustainability of your interventions in these contexts?

ASSUMPTION: These key questions are designed to assess the candidate's strategic thinking, partnership development, and stakeholder engagement skills, as well as their understanding of the Kenya context and commitment to gender equality and social inclusion.

📌 Next Steps for Applicants

To apply for this position:

• Submit your application through the Smart Recruiters platform by April 17, 2025.
• Tailor your resume and cover letter to highlight your relevant experience and skills in the agriculture and energy sectors, as well as your commitment to gender equality and social inclusion.
• Prepare for two interviews with the Selection Committee, focusing on your strategic thinking, partnership development, and stakeholder engagement skills, as well as your understanding of the Kenya context and commitment to gender equality and social inclusion.
• Follow up with the Selection Committee two weeks after the interview to inquire about the status of your application.

⚠️ This job description contains AI-assisted information. Details should be verified directly with the employer before making decisions.