Job offer: Senior Economic Planner

MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE, FOOD SECURITY & NUTRITION

CIRCULAR NO. 4 OF 2024.

Applications are invited from suitably qualified local candidates for the following positions that are tenable in the Ministry of Agriculture, Food Security and Nutrition:

MINISTRY : AGRICULTURE, FOOD SECURITY & NUTRITION

DEPARTMENT : FIELD SERVICES

TITLE : SENIOR ECONOMIC PLANNER

GRADE : H

RESPONSIBLE TO   : DAO

LOCATION  : BEREA

JOB SUMMARY

UNDER THE GENERAL SUPERVISION OF THE CHIEF ECONOMIC PLANNER, THE SENIOR ECONOMIC PLANNER IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE FACILITATION OF THE IMPLEMENTATION OF AGRICULTURAL SECTOR PROGRAMMES; DEVELOPMENT AND REVIEW OF THE INTEGRATED MONITORING SYSTEM; DEVELOPMENT OF MANAGEMENT INFORMATION SYSTEM; COORDINATION OF SECTIONAL ACTIVITIES; PREPARATION OF THE SECTIONAL BUDGETS AND SUPERVISION AND TRAINING OF STAFF.

MAIN DUTIES

1. FACILITATION OF IMPLEMENTATION OF AGRICULTURAL SECTOR PROGRAMMES.

• Verifies that the present conditions for the implementation of programmes have been met to facilitate the implementation of the projects.
• Designs and develops guidelines to provide a framework within which the progress of the project can be analyzed.
• Analysis the submitted reports to ensure that the projects and programmes are achieving their intended goals.
• Recommends to the next level of supervision corrective measures that have to be taken to ensure that the programme does not deviate from its intended objectives.

2. DEVELOPMENT AND REVIEW OF THE INTEGRATED MONITORING AND EVALUATION SYSTEM

• Liaises with heads of Department to determine their needs in the implementation of their policies.
• Designs data collection methods to carry out surveys and studies to determine the performance of the agricultural sector.
• Develops and designs the integrated monitoring and evaluation system to be used in the monitoring and evaluation of the performance of the agricultural sector.
• Monitors and evaluates the performance of the developed system to ensure that it is relevant and effective.

3.  DEVELOPMENT OF MANAGEMENT INFORMATION SYSTEM

• Liaises with the concerned stakeholders to determine the type of information they need in order to develop a database system.
• Designs data collection methods to carry out surveys and studies to facilitate the collection of information
• Designs the database system for access by technical departments and decision- makers.
• Monitors the use of the developed database system to ensure its relevance to the needs of the stakeholders.
• Reviews and revises the data system to realign it with the changing environmental needs.

4. COORDINATION OF SECTIONAL ACTIVITIES

• Organizes weekly meetings with sub-sectional heads to harmonize and solicit mutual support for implementation of sectional activities.
• Liaises with other sectional stakeholders within the department and in the Ministry to exchange ideas and experiences in areas of common interest.
• Participates in regional and international forums (i.e. Seminars, conferences, meetings etc.) to exchange and acquire knowledge and skills relevant to the country’s hence department’s development needs.
• Collates and compiles sub-sectional annual work plans in order to rationalize resources allocation.

5. PREPARATION OF SECTIONAL BUDGET

• Interprets and enforces the budgetary guidelines on an annual basis to ensure that they are well understood and adhered to.
• Holds meetings with heads of sections to set in motion the preparation of the divisional budget to ensure that the process is completed well on time.
• Checks and verifies the sectional budgets prepared by the heads of sections to ensure that they are in line with the provided guideline and the annual work plan.
• Negotiates and defends the divisional budget at the departmental level budget discussions in order to secure the necessary funds to finance the divisional activities.
• Consolidates the annual divisional budget out of the sectional budget for inclusion in the departmental budget to be implemented.

6.SUPERVISION AND TRAINING OF STAFF

• Holds regular meetings with the sectional heads under his or her supervision to facilitate planning and reporting of the divisional activities.
• Convenes quarterly meetings with individual supervisors to review progress and accordingly approves the required and necessary revisions in their operational work plans so as to provide the required resources for their achievement.
• Conducts the annual performance appraisal on the individual supervisees to assess their performance so as to identify their success, failures and training and development needs in order to provide the necessary support.
• Identifies the training needs of the individual supervisees and establishes the strategies to guide on their training and development so as to promote their capacity, competence, efficiency and effectiveness.
• Monitors and evaluates the post training and development performance of the supervisees in order to establish the programs to determine the necessary action to maintain good skills and upgrade as necessary.

COMPENSABLE FACTORS

JOB SPECIFICATION

Education and training requirements

Master’s Degree in Degree in Development Economics or Masters in Economics Plus at least three (3) years work experience in the field of development planning at economic planner level.

OR

Bachelors’ Degree in economics plus at least four (4) years’ experience in the field of development planning.

• Working in an agricultural environment will be an added advantage.

OTHER NECESSARY KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS

Good managerial and leadership skills

Good communication and interpersonal skills Good interpretation and analytical skills Adequate computer literacy

Good report writing skills Good research skills

2.  RESPONSIBILITY2.1 For work of others

The incumbent is responsible for supervising subordinates that include, Economic Planner and two Assistant Economic Planners.

2.2. For Property

The incumbent is responsible for his or her office furniture and equipment provided in the office.

2.3.     For budget and finance in general

The incumbent is also responsible for proper and timely preparation of the sectional budget.

2.4.  For safety of others

This factor is considered minimal.

2.5.  For effect of errors

The incumbent is personally responsible for work related errors such as poor reports and negligence emanating from poor research methodologies.

3.   Complexity

• Authority for decision making

The incumbent has authority on the work schedule of the subordinates and to evaluate their performance.

3.2     Problem solving

The incumbent is expected to solve problems related to usage of research tools.

3.3     Supervision received

The incumbent has to solve own work-related problems, those of subordinates as well as those between the letter and members of the public.

3.4  Dexterity

This factor minimal in this job

4.   Contacts

The incumbent comes into contact with the following officers during the execution of duties.