CHARLES AWINO ONYANGO

Consultant on Project Management, Resource Mobilisation, Agricultural Value chain Development, Climate Change & Green Financing, Business Development Services and Gender Mainstreaming

• Consulting for GoK/World Bank funded NAVCDP - National Agricultural Value Chain Development Project on Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs) and Savings and Credit Cooperatives Societies ( SAACOs, Feasibility Studies on Irrigation for Value Chain Development - June 2024 to Date
• Conducted Gender Gap Analysis for Johanniter International Assistance ( February - March 2024 )
• Training Implementing Partner NGOs of GIZ on Project Planning, Monitoring, Evaluation and Reporting ( PMER) - Diverse Dates
• Training Staff of Implementing Partner NGOs of GIZ e.g REFSO and CREADIS on Organisational Development for Cooperatives and Producers Marketing Associations - Diverse Dates
• Training & Advisory Services (BDS) to Agripreneurs supporting by GIZ Implementing Partners in Western Kenya - Diverse Dates
• Gathered, organized and input information into digital database.
• Educated staff on organizational mission and goals to help employees achieve success.
• Evaluated staff performance and provided coaching to address inefficiencies.
• Generated reports detailing findings and recommendations.
• Leveraged on-site observation and personal interviews to identify team and individual strengths.
• Delivered high-quality presentations showcasing key findings and recommendations to both internal stakeholders and clients.
• Conducted in-depth market research to inform development of features that addressed unmet user needs.

Green Innovation Centres for the Agriculture and Food Sector Programme

• Oversaw the implementation of sweet potato and dairy value chain activities, coordinated partnerships with stakeholders, and supported the development of agricultural policies to boost productivity and market access in Western Kenya
• Provided strategic oversight and guidance for the implementation of project activities, specifically targeting the sweet potato and dairy value chains in Western Kenya
• Ensured all activities align with the project's objectives and expected outcomes
• Overseeing the performance and compliance of implementing partner organizations in line with the contracts and agreements
• Managed project activities in collaboration with various stakeholders, including County administration, NGOs, and private service providers
• Working with the Ministry of Agriculture (MoA) at the National Government (JASCOM) level to assist County Governments in adopting dairy policies and developing strategies for root and tuber crops
• Building and sustaining strong networks with stakeholders at regional and national levels within the sweet potato and dairy value chains
• Collaborating with agricultural research organizations such as KALRO, NGOs, and private sector providers to facilitate the distribution of disease-free sweet potato planting materials
• Conducting detailed analyses of the sweet potato and dairy value chains
• Green Innovation Centres for the Agriculture and Food Sector Project
• Successfully identified and collaborated with key implementing partners such as KALRO, REFSO, AGRISS, ADS - Western, and CREADIS
• Pioneered the establishment of a Sweetpotato Seed System covering four counties
• Facilitated the formation and training of over 2,000 producer groups, and helped establish five cooperative societies
• Enhanced the business management capabilities of producer organizations by developing growth plans and facilitating access to agri-finance service providers
• Played a pivotal role in establishing County Roots and Tuber crops platforms in Siaya and Homa Bay Counties
• Led the formation of an Association of Lead Farmers in Homa Bay County
• Increased team productivity by implementing efficient project management methodologies tailored to unique challenges faced in each project.
• Contributed technical oversight to assist team project fulfillment.
• Communicated project status to stakeholders, authoring reports to provide up-to-date overviews of ongoing progress.
• Resolved program-level dependencies at risk of reducing efficiency by bottlenecking ongoing efforts.

Khwisero Local Rights Programme

• Led initiatives aimed at improving rural livelihoods through a rights-based approach, focusing on enhancing food security, advocating for smallholder farmers, and promoting sustainable agricultural practices in Kakamega County
• Conducted comprehensive socio-economic surveys to design and implement programs aimed at improving the livelihoods of marginalized rural communities
• Developed annual program plans, budgeted, monitored implementation, and prepared reports to ensure effective and timely program delivery
• Supervised program staff, conducted performance evaluations, and ensured efficient program execution through effective management practices and staff development
• Identified and forged strategic partnerships with County stakeholders to enhance food security by introducing agricultural technologies and policies that support smallholder farmers
• Provided training and built alliances among farmer organizations to engage in policy advocacy
• Khwisero Local Rights Programme
• Spearheaded the establishment of a County Smallholder Farmers Alliance in Kakamega County
• Spearheaded the formation of the Khwisero Emuhaya Butere Kakamega Central Cooperative Society (KEBUK)
• Led the fundraising and establishment of a Sweetpotato and Banana Processing plant in Kakamega County
• Established the Association of Social Auditors, ensuring transparency and accountability in development projects
• Met with project stakeholders on regular basis to assess progress and make adjustments.
• Addressed and resolved technical, financial, and operational concerns by working with team members and Country Management team.
• Managed cross-functional teams for successful project completion within deadlines and budgets.

Bondo Program Unit

• Provided training to farmer and youth groups on business planning, agricultural practices, and resource mobilization, empowering them to improve their livelihoods and access better market opportunities
• Conducted collaborative assessments of business opportunities for farmers and youth groups
• Delivered training sessions to farmer organizations on business planning and connected them with financial institutions
• Trained Community-Based Organizations (CBOs) on organizational development, resource mobilization, and management practices
• Developed innovative project concepts and proposals to address community needs
• Bondo Program Unit
• Successfully established a cohesive Network of Smallholder Horticultural Producers in Bondo Sub-County

• Led agricultural development initiatives in South Western Kenya, focusing on market research, product standardization, and the formation of Producer Marketing Associations
• Key achievements include the establishment of two Producer Marketing Associations and two processing plants

Community Mobilization Against Desertification

• Developed comprehensive project plans, outlining scopes, timelines, deliverables, and milestones.
• Enhanced team collaboration through regular meetings, fostering a positive work environment for increased productivity.
• Managed budgets effectively, ensuring resource allocation was optimized for maximum project success.
• Elevated overall quality of completed projects by consistently monitoring progress and addressing issues proactively.
• Established rapport and engaged with stakeholders to build lasting professional relationships.
• Assisted in developing training materials and organized workshops aimed at enhancing skill sets among staff members working under various capacities on different projects within the organization.
• Developed and implemented project plans and budgets to ensure successful execution.
• Analyzed project performance data to identify areas of improvement.
• Kept projects on schedule by managing deadlines and adjusting workflows.
• Maintained accurate documentation of all projects, facilitating efficient audits and future reference.

The Agriculture & Environment Programme ( AEP)

• Collected and managed all generated leads from promoters assigned to team on monthly basis.
• Improved team morale and productivity through effective communication and active listening skills.
• Educated farmers on product features and answered questions regarding product use.
• Helped meet changing demands by recommending improvements to business systems or procedures.