Overseas Volunteer Opportunity: Kenya

Environmental Advisor - Kenya

Contribute. Discover. Grow. Volunteer with CDF Canada.

Eligibility criteria:   Canadian citizen or permanent resident of Canada

Location:   Kajiado

Start Date:   Exact timing will be negotiated with the successful candidate.

Duration:   3-6 months, in-country and online support

Language Requirement:   English (Mandatory)

Reporting to:   Country Program Officer

The Project – VOICE for Women and Girls

The VOICE for Women and Girls project is an eight-year initiative (2020 – 2028) aimed at strengthening the performance of developing country partner (DCP) organizations to advance gender equality and economic empowerment of 50,000 women and men from marginalized communities, in particular young women (target: 60% women and girls), in Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Senegal and Malawi with a focus on action areas of the Feminist International Assistance Policy (FIAP), namely:

·        Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women and Girls, and

·        Growth that Works for Everyone.

The Project responds to the needs identified by women and men of cooperatives and all members in the countries of operation, and it is designed to increase the capacities of individual producers and primary co-operatives to support more inclusive, sustainable, and resilient growth. Supporting institutions, including apex co-operatives, co-operative colleges, and government/regulatory institutions, are also engaged to increase capacity and prioritize vulnerable groups.

Cooperative University of Kenya (CUK)

Cooperative University of Kenya (CUK) is a public institution that provides education and training with an emphasis on Cooperative development. The mission of the college was defined and stated as, a national training institute involved in the training of personnel of co-operative societies and unions, as well as middle cadre government officers who help in the supervision of activities of the movement on behalf of the Ministry in charge of Co-operative Development (COCK Annual Report, 1983). CUK also works with small and medium entrepreneurs, Co-operative Enterprises in Kenya, to build their capacities and enhance their sustainability.

What you will do – Activities and deliverables

The Environmental Advisor will report directly to the Country Program Officer (CPO), who coordinates all project activities at the country level. The volunteer will work closely with local partners, including The Co-operative University of Kenya (CUK), as well as with the Boards of Directors (BOD), management teams, and members of target cooperatives, SACCOs, and other relevant stakeholders. The Environmental Advisor is expected to regularly engage with partner organizations, cooperative leadership, and managers to facilitate collaboration, knowledge sharing, and the implementation of environmentally sustainable practices across the cooperatives.

Working as part of the VOICE project team, the volunteer will support the implementation of the project’s environmental sustainability strategy and provide technical advisory support to partners and field staff. The role will help establish appropriate environmental adaptation tools, systems, and practices to strengthen climate resilience within the targeted cooperatives. Under the supervision of the Country Program Officer in Kenya, the Environmental Advisor will support local partners in integrating environmental sustainability into cooperative operations, training programs, and community-level initiatives.

Objectives

The objective of this role is to support dairy cooperatives, beader cooperatives, and SACCOs in adopting environmentally sustainable practices that promote climate resilience and sustainable livelihoods. The Environmental Advisor will work with cooperative leaders and members to introduce improved environmental adaptation methods that contribute to soil preservation, water conservation, and climate change mitigation. This role will also involve identifying environmental capacity gaps within cooperatives and designing targeted training programs, including training cooperative members as ToTs who will cascade environmental knowledge to members at the grassroots level. In collaboration with other project volunteers and partners, the Environmental Advisor will promote the integration of environmentally responsible approaches across all project activities and strengthen cooperatives' capacity to implement sustainable environmental practices.

Deliverables

The Environmental Advisor will be responsible for the following:

·        Provide training, technical guidance, and mentorship on environmental sustainability and climate adaptation to project volunteers, cooperative development facilitators, cooperative managers, and partner institutions supporting cooperative development.

·        Support the development and implementation of environmental policies, guidelines, and procedures that strengthen sustainability practices within participating cooperatives.

·        Develop practical environmental adaptation tools and systems in collaboration with implementing partners and project staff.

·        Design training materials and conduct training sessions for cooperative leadership and members on environmental conservation, climate-smart practices, and sustainable resource management.

·        Support cooperatives in integrating environmentally responsible practices into their operations and monitor progress toward environmental sustainability goals.

·        Contribute to the development of funding proposals and concept notes, including applications to the Strategic Innovation Fund (SIF), to support environmental initiatives within the cooperatives.

·        Strengthen the technical understanding of environmental sustainability among project partners through knowledge sharing, coaching, and technical guidance.

·        Prepare and submit weekly activity updates to the Country Program Officer, highlighting progress, challenges, and support required.

·        Submit monthly reports and timesheets to the Country Program Officer and Volunteer Coordinator.

·        Develop case studies, success stories, and lessons learned in collaboration with the Communications Advisor to support documentation and social media communication of project outcomes.

Your qualifications

Education:

·        Degree in Environmental Science, Environmental Policy, Climate change or other equivalent qualifications.

Experience:

·        Experience in environmental strategy development, understanding of integrated environmental strategy, water conservation and climate change and adaptation.

·        Experience in developing concept notes and proposals for small grants.

·        Work experience within co-operatives will be an asset.

·        Well-developed presentation, report writing, communication, and interpersonal skills.

·        Ability to carry out training and capacity building sessions at the community level with understanding of adult learning methodologies.

·        Commitment to upholding the organization’s values and principles of CDFand CUK.