Local Research Consultant – Assessment of Climate-Smart Agriculture (CSA), Climate Adaptation Practices, and Value Chain Resilience

Mennonite Economic Development Associates (MEDA) invites applications for a Local Research Consultant: Assessment of Climate-Smart Agriculture (CSA), Climate Adaptation Practices, and Value Chain Resilience to join our dedicated and talented team in our mission to create business solutions to poverty!

MEDA’s work is built on a foundation of Mennonite business roots and faith-based values, within the global context of the UN Sustainable Development Goals. We believe business solutions are effective interventions to address poverty. Through a market-systems approach and strategic partnerships, MEDA enables access to finance and provides business and technical expertise to build transformative agri-food market systems that create decent jobs, allowing traditionally excluded groups to become active participants in a sustainable economy. MEDA welcomes all who share our values and want to join us in our mission. To find out more about MEDA, please visit our website at www.meda.org.

POSITION SUMMARY

The Local Research Consultant will conduct a comprehensive assessment of climate-smart agriculture (CSA), regenerative agriculture, climate adaptation practices, and value chain resilience across Kenya and Tanzania. The consultant will evaluate climate resilience within priority agricultural value chains supported by MEDA's LEGEND Project (Kenya) and FEGGE Project (Tanzania), identify evidence-based and innovative climate-smart practices, analyze factors influencing value chain performance, and develop a Climate-Resilient Value Chain Framework to inform future MEDA programming, partnerships, and investment decisions.

Job Status: Contract Consultancy

Start Date: As soon as possible

Location(s): Kenya and Tanzania (Consultant must be based in, or have strong operational capacity within, the region)

MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES INCLUDE:

Research Design, Planning & Inception 15%

• Develop the inception report, including methodology, analytical framework, work plan, stakeholder engagement plan, and data collection tools.
• Design an appropriate mixed-methods research approach and resilience assessment framework.
• Establish a stakeholder mapping and engagement strategy.

Sector Assessment & Literature Review 30%

• Conduct a comprehensive review of climate-smart agriculture, regenerative agriculture, and climate adaptation initiatives in Kenya and Tanzania.

• Review project reports, national policies, climate adaptation frameworks, agricultural strategies, academic literature, and relevant studies.
• Assess emerging climate-smart and regenerative agriculture innovations relevant to East Africa.
  
• Map key actors, investments, policies, partnerships, and sector trends.

Data Collection & Stakeholder Engagement 25%

• Conduct key informant interviews with government agencies, climate experts, extension officers, research institutions, development partners, private-sector actors, farmer organizations, and other relevant stakeholders.
• Facilitate virtual, in-person, or workshop-based consultations.

Value Chain Resilience, CSA & Innovation Analysis 20%

• Assess resilience of selected value chains, including climate risk exposure, sensitivity, adaptive capacity, and recovery potential.

• Evaluate effectiveness of climate-smart agriculture and regenerative agriculture interventions.
• Analyze factors contributing to resilience, vulnerability, and underperformance.

Reporting, Framework Development & Presentation 10%

• Prepare sector scan and stakeholder mapping reports.

• Develop a Climate-Resilient Value Chain Framework.

• Provide strategic recommendations on practices and investments that MEDA should scale, pilot, adapt, redesign, or discontinue.

• Prepare a final consolidated report and present findings to MEDA management and project stakeholders

REQUIREMENTS

Education:

Advanced degree in Agriculture, Agribusiness, Climate Change, or a related field.

Experience:

• Demonstrated expertise in climate-smart agriculture, regenerative agriculture, climate adaptation, and value chain resilience.
• Recent experience (within the past five years) advising, implementing, evaluating, or researching climate-smart agriculture, regenerative agriculture, climate adaptation, or agricultural resilience initiatives in Tanzania, Kenya, and/or East Africa.

Technical Expertise:

• Strong understanding of climate-smart agriculture, regenerative agriculture, and climate resilience programming.
• Expertise in agricultural value chain analysis and market systems development.
• Strong qualitative and quantitative research skills.

ADDITIONAL QUALIFICATIONS INCLUDE:

• Appreciation and support of MEDA's faith statement, values, and goals.

• Tanzania- or Kenya-based consultant, or consultancy team that includes a senior Kenya/Tanzania-based specialist.

• Operational presence, registered entity, or formal partnership arrangements in both Kenya and Tanzania preferred.

• Excellent communication, facilitation, analytical, and report-writing skills.
• Ability and willingness to coordinate fieldwork and stakeholder engagement activities across Kenya and Tanzania

CONTRACT PERIOD

The contract shall be for a period of two (2) months.

APPLICATION DEADLINE: September 24, 2026.

MEDA welcomes and encourages applications from all genders, backgrounds, religions, cultures, nationalities and abilities.

Accommodations are available on request for candidates with disabilities taking part in the selection process.

MEDA is not in a position to sponsor or assist candidates in obtaining work permits. Employees are required to establish that they will be able to work legally in the country the role is in, during the course of employment.

MEDA does not use AI for screening, assessing or selecting applicants.