Open to opportunities

Oliver Juma

@oliverjuma

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Food security and livelihoods expert with 13+ years in climate-smart agriculture, improving incomes and resilience.

Kenya

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What I'm looking for

I’m looking to lead climate-smart food security and livelihood programs—training farmers, strengthening value chains, and partnering with stakeholders to deliver measurable income, resilience, and sustainable agriculture outcomes in Kenya.

I’m a dedicated Food Security and Livelihood expert with over 13 years of technical expertise in Climate Smart and Regenerative Agriculture. I focus beyond food availability to livelihood improvement, building resilient outcomes in resource-limited farming communities.

I’m adept at working in fast-paced, multicultural, and challenging environments that demand resilience, flexibility, and adaptability. I bring deep involvement in income generating projects through capacity building, while actively engaging stakeholders, including local communities, government agencies, and international organizations.

In my current role as Programme Officer at GORTA SELF HELP AFRICA, I supported enhancement of a reliable, efficient cassava seed system for 8,000 smallholder farmers in Western Kenya using Semi Autotrophic Hydroponics (SAH) technology in partnership with IITA, KALRO, and KEPHIS. I also advanced Cassava Value Chain promotion and supported the Kenya Flour Blending Initiative by advocating to incorporate 10–30% cassava in maize flour.

Previously, as a Climate “Smart” Agriculture Expert (PAFID-KENYA), I applied farmer-train-farmer techniques with over 200 Lead Farmers, creating a ripple effect of 3,000+ households trained in livelihood improvement techniques. As Regional Sustainable and Regenerative Agriculture Project Area Coordinator (SACDEP KENYA), I improved livelihoods of 5,000+ households through construction of 48 roof catchment water tanks, 4 subsurface dams, and 2 boreholes, and established 400 Rural Savings and Credit Schemes. Earlier experience also includes enhancing poultry value chains (7 breeder farms) and training ToTs and farmers in good agricultural practices.

Experience

Work history, roles, and key accomplishments

Current

Programme Officer

Current

Gorta Self Help Africa

Aug 2023 - Present (2 years 10 months)

Enhanced a cassava seed system for 8,000 smallholder farmers in Western Kenya using Semi Autotrophic Hydroponics (SAH) in partnership with IITA, KALRO and KEPHIS. Supported cassava value-chain certification for 12 aggregator groups and helped expand an asset-based financing portfolio for processors to over Kes 4,000,000 within 1 year.

Climate Smart Agriculture SAH Hydroponics Stakeholder Management Environmental Monitoring

Climate Smart Agriculture Expert

Participatory Approaches for Integrated Development (PAFID-K

Jun 2021 - Aug 2022 (1 year 2 months)

Applied a farmer-train-farmer approach through 200 lead farmers, delivering climate smart interventions (minimum tillage, crop residue retention, and crop rotation) with a ripple effect to over 3,000 households. Trained communities on livelihood improvement practices linked to climate smart agriculture.

Climate Smart Agriculture Farmer Train Farmer Model Minimum Tillage Crop Residue Retention Crop Rotation Lead Farmer Facilitation Livelihoods

Value Chain Project Officer

Caritas

Feb 2021 - May 2021 (3 months)

Strengthened the poultry value chain by establishing 7 breeder farms with an average of 1,000 day-old chicks each. Improved incomes, food security and nutrition for smallholder farming communities.

Poultry Breeding And Upgrading Breeder Farm Setup Food Security Agriculture Project Support

Regional Agriculture Project Coordinator

Sustainable Agriculture Community Development Programme (SAC

Jul 2016 - Jan 2021 (4 years 6 months)

Improved livelihoods of 5,000+ households by increasing access to portable water through construction of 48 roof catchment water tanks, 4 subsurface dams and 2 boreholes. Established 400+ rural savings and credit schemes managed by farmers to provide affordable, sustainable credit.

Community Development Water Resource Management Rural Savings And Credit (VSLA)Livelihoods Project Implementation Monitoring and Evaluation Capacity Building

Agricultural Training Consultant

Busara Center for Behavioral Economics

Aug 2016 - Oct 2016 (2 months)

Recruited and mentored 15 trainers of trainees (ToTs) on good agricultural practices, cascading training to 600+ farmers in 3 months. Developed a user training manual covering crop and livestock husbandry and financial management for ToTs.

Mentoring Crop Husbandry

Project Field Officer

PAFID Wajibu

Nov 2011 - Dec 2015 (4 years 1 month)

Implemented a Conservation Farming program among smallholder farmers, onboarding 10,000+ households to adopt climate smart agriculture techniques. Provided field support and delivery of program activities through 2011–2015.

Conservation Farming Climate Smart Agriculture Farmer Onboarding Farmer Support And Coaching Program Delivery