Jared Onyoni

I am a resourceful, flexible, innovative, and enthusiastic project coordinator with over seven years of experience. I have successfully managed projects from inception to completion. I define the project plan, timelines, and scope and execute it while analyzing before providing detailed specifications.

I have an impressive track record, having managed two projects with major operational improvement and orchestrating people, schedules, and resources for optimum productivity, efficiency, and quality. I have over 15 years' experience championing sustainable production for agricultural crops while promoting sustainable certification to crops like tea and coffee. I promote environmental conservation and rehabilitation of degraded farm and forest lands.

My strength is on building collaborations with relevant stakeholders in the different fields of operation.

Senior associate sustainable Agriculture - Rainforest alliance - Central Kenya

(2021-03)

• I designed and implemented climate mitigation and adaptation agricultural training systems through programs for farmers and extension officers. These programs were aligned with project documents, regenerative and climate-smart agriculture principles.
• I trained, mentored, and supervised 84 lead farmers and 35 field extension officers on climate-smart technologies and improved agricultural practices including agroforestry, soil health management, integrated pest management, and water-efficient production systems.
• I facilitated hands-on, field-based learning experiences through demonstration plots, farmer field schools, and peer-to-peer learning platforms, enabling farmers to observe, test, and adopt innovative practices, in real farming conditions. These experiential models strengthened knowledge retention and accelerated uptake of improved technologies.
• I coordinated county-level multi-stakeholder platforms, including the Landscape Management Board, to bring together government agencies, farmers, agribusiness actors, private sector partners, and civil society. This strengthened collaboration, improved policy dialogue, and fostered innovative ecosystems that support sustainable landscape management.
• I supported monitoring and evaluation systems by contributing to the design and implementation of tools and processes used to track training effectiveness, monitor changes in farm productivity, and assess environmental outcomes. This ensured evidence-based decision-making and continuous improvement of project interventions.
• I promoted inclusive and equitable approaches that actively integrate women and youth into agricultural value chains, strengthening their participation, enhancing their access to resources and opportunities, and supporting broader community empowerment and livelihood diversification.
• I promoted access to sustainable landscape finance to support farmers and farmer groups as they actualize their business plans. I also promoted resource mobilization through groups to enable farmers to consolidate their funds towards acquiring individual group resilience-promoting hardware.

Assistant Farm manager – JICA project - Kenya Tea Development Agency - Central Kenya, Kirinyaga

(2019-06 - 2021-02)

• Supervised while mentoring over 20 technical and supervisory staff, providing continuous guidance, performance oversight, and targeted capacity-building support. This strengthened their professional competencies, improved operational coordination, and enhanced overall organizational efficiency and service delivery.
• Led the implementation of a large-scale tea replanting program focused on introducing elite, climate-resilient tea varieties. This initiative improved long-term farm productivity, enhanced resistance to heat and drought stress, and contributed to the adaptation of tea production systems in the face of increasing climate variability.
• Addressed key social and labor issues, including gender equity, child protection, and adherence to workplace standards, by promoting responsible labor practices, facilitating compliance with international certification requirements, and fostering safer, more inclusive working environments across tea estates and smallholder farms.
• Supported structured practical learning for staff and workers through mentorship, technical coaching, and on-farm demonstrations, enabling teams to gain hands-on experience with improved agronomic practices, better field management techniques, and sustainable production methods.
• Contributed to improving operational systems by strengthening processes and procedures aligned with sustainability, certification, and compliance requirements, ensuring that organizational practices met global standards while supporting continuous improvement in environmental and social performance.

Agricultural extension officer - Ogembo tea factory - Nyanza, Kisii

(2010-07 - 2019-05)

• Delivered structured and curriculum-based training to smallholder farmers on sustainable agricultural practices, equipping them with practical knowledge on soil health management, climate-smart techniques, integrated pest management, and good agricultural practices to enhance productivity and environmental stewardship.
• Established and managed demonstration sites that served as practical learning hubs, enabling farmers to connect theoretical knowledge with real-world application. These sites provided hands-on exposure to improved agronomic practices, regenerative approaches, and adoption-ready technologies.
• Supported the implementation of Rainforest Alliance, Fairtrade, and ISO sustainability standards at the farm level, guiding farmers through compliance requirements, internal control systems, and continuous improvement processes. This strengthened certification readiness and promoted responsible production systems.
• Monitored farmer performance by tracking adoption of best practices, changes in productivity, and improvements in household income, generating insights used to enhance training approaches and inform decision-making.
• Facilitated farmer field schools that emphasized participatory, skills-based, and problem-solving approaches, empowering farmers to learn collaboratively, analyze field challenges, and adopt innovations through observation, experimentation, and peer learning.

MSc - Management of Agroecosystems and Environment - UNIVERSITY OF EMBU Eastern, Embu

BSc - Agricultural Education and Extension - KISII UNIVERSITY (2014-05) Nyanza, Kisi

Diploma - farm resource management - EGERTON UNIVERSITY (2004-05) Nakuru, Njoro