Program Officer Kitchen Garden

Job Summary:

We are seeking a dedicated and experienced person to lead our Kitchen Garden Initiative across India. The ideal candidate will have 3-5 years of experience in working in agriculture in the field with a proven track record of working directly with communities to implement Kitchen Gardens. Key roles:

- Implementing kitchen gardens in locations around Bhopal,

- With the support of SOS teams in other locations pan India work with communities and their SHGs to establish, maintain, and scale kitchen gardens.

- Train local SOS teams in developing and managing kitchen gardens.

The goal is to ensure SOS beneficiaries are equipped with the knowledge and resources and are able to grow their own food.

Key Responsibilities:

Project Implementation:

• Lead the planning, implementation, and monitoring of the kitchen garden initiative in target communities in Bhopal
• Develop required protocols for suitable location identification, resources, and techniques for kitchen gardens to support teams across India.

Capacity Building:

• Provide hands-on training and support to team members and community members/beneficiaries/ SHGs on kitchen gardens, composting, water conservation, and pest management.
• Develop easy-to-understand educational materials and guides for communities

Community Engagement:

• Foster strong relationships with community leaders, local stakeholders, and beneficiaries to ensure project buy-in and sustainability.
• Organize community meetings and focus group discussions to gather feedback and address challenges.
• Promote gender inclusivity and ensure the active participation of women and marginalized groups in the initiative.

Monitoring and Evaluation:

• Track the progress of kitchen gardens and measure their impact on food security and nutrition.
• Collect and analyse data to assess the effectiveness of the program and identify areas for improvement.
• Prepare regular reports for the Program Manager and donors, highlighting achievements and challenges.

Resource Management:

• Manage project resources, including seeds, tools, and training materials, ensuring their efficient and equitable distribution.
• Develop partnerships with local Kitchen Garden support ecosystems to identify and mobilize additional resources to scale the initiative.

Qualifications and Skills

• Education: Bachelors degree in Agriculture. Masters is an added advantage. Lower education with extensive experience can also be considered for this role.
• Experience: 3-5 years of experience in agriculture value chains or a similar role, in a for-profit or not for-profit agriculture related organization
• Mandatory Skills:
• Strong knowledge of sustainable farming practices, composting, water conservation.
• Excellent communication, facilitation, and interpersonal skills, with the ability to work effectively with diverse communities.
• Proven experience in training and capacity building, with a participatory approach.
• Proficiency in data collection, analysis, and reporting.
• Fluency in English and Hindi both written and spoken.
• Willingness to travel extensively in different projects across India.
• Ability to drive a two wheeler (Those who are learning driving need not apply)
• Desirable Attributes:
• Passion for community development and sustainable agriculture.
• Experience working with vulnerable or marginalized communities.
• Knowledge of nutrition and its link to food security.
• Familiarity with participatory rural appraisal (PRA) tools and techniques.
• Soft Skills:
• Ability to work with highly experienced team members
• Attention to detail and ability to work under pressure.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.Role & responsibilities

Preferred candidate profile

Perks and benefits