Beekeeping Expert - Tana River

Role Overview

This consultancy places you as the lead apiculture specialist for the beekeeping pillar of the AGROBLUE project, operating in Tana River County with frequent travel to community apiaries and farmer groups. You will work alongside CEFA field staff, local partners, and a second beekeeping consultant to ensure that smallholder beekeepers and Beach Management Units adopt reliable, low-cost practices that boost hive health, honey yield, and market access. Your day-to-day focus is practical: supervising apiary installations, troubleshooting colony failures, delivering hands-on training, and reporting on productivity so that the project's climate-resilience and income goals stay on track.

Key Responsibilities

• Oversee the day-to-day execution of all beekeeping activities, coordinating closely with the Project Officer and Project Manager to align field work with the overall work plan.
• Carry out regular site visits to apiaries and group sites, providing on-the-spot technical guidance on colony management, queen identification, pest and disease control, and proper harvesting methods.
• Conduct structured technical audits of installed hives, measuring colony health and colonisation success; where colonisation is low, diagnose causes and implement corrective measures that fit the local Tana River environment.
• Strengthen the capacity of farmer groups and BMU members in post-harvest hygiene, bee product handling, consumer education, and simple marketing and promotional techniques for honey and other hive products.
• Monitor how hives and equipment are being used, offering advice on maintenance and usage so that assets remain productive and are not abandoned by communities.
• Design and propose site-specific technical solutions adapted to Tana River's micro-climates, local bee behaviour, and seasonal forage availability.
• Prepare and submit detailed work plans and technical progress reports, including data on hive productivity, colony health, training outcomes, and indicator achievement.
• Supervise and quality-assure training delivered by technical consultants, identifying any remaining capacity gaps and arranging follow-up support where needed.

Requirements & Qualifications

• A university degree in agriculture, apiculture, animal science, veterinary science, forestry, or a related field.
• At least four years of professional experience in apiculture-related work, with proven hands-on involvement in beekeeping project implementation.
• Demonstrated experience facilitating beekeeping trainings and participating in study tours focused on apiculture and honey value chains.
• Practical experience in marketing and promotion of beekeeping products, including honey branding, packaging considerations, or market linkage activities.
• Strong practical bee-handling skills in varied conditions, including colony reading, preparation and assessment of bee products, and accurate diagnosis and treatment of common hive diseases and pests.
• Excellent written and spoken communication skills in both English and Swahili, with the ability to prepare clear technical reports.
• Familiarity with Tana River County, particularly its coastal apiculture ecosystems and the socio-cultural context of rural beekeeping communities.
• A valid Kenyan motorcycle riding licence (minimum Class A2) with a demonstrated ability and willingness to ride in rural and remote areas is considered an asset.

What We Offer / Why Join

This role offers the chance to put your apiculture expertise to work within a multi-partner EU-supported initiative that combines food security, ecosystem protection, and livelihood diversification. You will have the autonomy to shape technical approaches at the field level, mentor community groups, and contribute directly to measurable gains in hive productivity and farmer income. Working with CEFA and consortium members, you will also gain exposure to integrated climate-smart programming spanning both agriculture and the blue economy.