Charles Ayieko

Charles Kevin Otieno has over 12 years of experience in working with Somali communities on urban/rural livelihoods, climate change adaptation, gender, and social inclusion. Charles has an in-depth understanding of all components of livelihood development including selection, planning, and management of small businesses; livelihood resilience and diversification strategies; establishment of market linkages; and engagement with the private sector. He has extensive experience with value addition, market systems, and environmental and cultural constraints to livelihoods in Somalia. In his role as the Sector Lead for Resilience and Livelihoods for Somalia Programs in World Vision (WV) Somalia, Charles provided technical support to the development and enhancement of sustainable livelihood skill-building programs including on-farm, off-farm, and/or non-farm livelihoods, Fisheries from self-employment to small business creation. Moreover, he initiated innovative programming such as Farmer Managed Natural Regeneration (FMNR), Ultra Poor Graduation model, Community-based Rangeland Management and other alternative Livelihoods diversification activities aimed at addressing socio-economic challenges with communities in Somalia. Charles his reading for his MA in Leadership and a holds a BSc in Range Management and is fluent in English, Swahili and basic Somali

• Health improvement and marketing of livestock enhances agri-business opportunities for rural communities in Southern Kenya – Business Minds Africa Case Series, number 4 - Professionals for Agricultural Entrepreneurship, https://businessmindsafrica.org
• European Development Day Lab Debate on DRR, Resilience, Climate Change Adaptation: Joining the Dots for Sustainable Development, European Union, Brussels, Belgium June 2015 – Guest Speaker, https://eudevdays.eu/sites/
• ‘’Urgent, short term relief efforts, disaster risk reduction: Connecting FMNR/EVA to food relief programs’’ – Beating Famine Conference- Bamako, Mali- February 2019- Expert Speaker, https://beatingfamine.com/session-10/

• World Vision, Baidoa, Somalia, 06/2024, Present, Consortium Lead/ Program Manager, Ultra poor Graduation Project, To provide operational oversight and project management of the BHA-funded Ultra Poor Graduation project in Somalia to achieve project objectives; having the overall responsibility for project management and deliverables. Serving as the point of contact on both project management and grant issues to ensure the ability to address all project deliverables To provide the representation of the projects to donor, Local Authorities regional government in Somalia, and other key stakeholders. Representing the Project and World Vision in engagement opportunities with the donor, the State government, UN agencies, clusters, implementing and technical partners and other relevant stakeholders. Supports in overseeing adherence to contractual agreements, recommend amendments and contract extensions, advises concerned parties with respect to contractual rights/obligations
• World Vision Somalia, Dollow, Somalia, 06/2018, 12/2023, Sector Lead for Resilience and Livelihoods, Food and Livelihoods Security, Developed of project proposals/concept papers in line with WV program strategy and raised over $40 million in Resilience, Food Security and Livelihoods funding. Established and maintained good donor linkages and funding streams with UN FAO, WFP, BHA, DTAFT/ANCP and many others including WV Support Offices (SOs). Initiated innovative Livelihoods and resilience programming in Somalia aimed at addressing socio/ economic challenges with communities in Somalia. The innovations included FMNR, Ultra Poor Graduation model, Community based Rangeland Management and other alternative Livelihoods diversification activities. Ensured gender is mainstreamed in livelihoods programming, through innovative approaches and affirmative action initiatives to minimize exclusions and addressing social barriers. Pioneered the establishment of the Somalia Resilience Program (SomRep), a consortium of 7INGOs responsible for fundraising and implementing projects to build resilience of Somali communities. Line managed thematic sector technical advisors in Health and Nutrition, Livelihood and Resilience, WASH, Education and Protection, Humanitarian Emergency Affairs and Partnering Represented WV in various donor and coordination forums, providing programmatic information as required.
• World Vision Somalia, Dollow, Somalia, 06/2013, 05/2018, Technical Advisor, Food and Livelihoods Security, Ensured technical competencies and implementation Rigour of WV FSL projects Ensured high level technical rigor in the design and implementation of livelihoods and resilience programs making WV Somalia an office of choice with donors and other WV SOs Undertook timely and accurate projects reporting which addresses the needs of various donors. Trained partners and staff on Good agricultural practices, land management, agricultural technologies and economic development initiatives Successfully designed and implemented various innovative alternative livelihoods projects including apiary development, poultry, run off water harvesting for productive use, beef and milk value addition targeting women project participants.
• World Vision Somalia, Baidoa, Somalia, 10/2017, 12/2017, Acting Operations Manager, Ensured all new projects have project management tools. Ensured continuity of projects that were closing out and had them end on time and on targets with expenditure rates of 95%. Fostered Internal and External Engagement by ensuring management of emerging issues from the local authorities and partners. Managed to cultivate a mutual working relation between WV and the Local Administration while at same time protected the image of WV. Provided leadership to staff during the transition ensuring guidance for high performance levels. Worked with the Field Security Focal points and Security Advisor in ensuring safe operation and security for staff.
• World Vision Somalia, Nairobi, Kenya, 12/2011, 04/2013, Program Officer, Food and Livelihoods Security, Supported programming and proposal development for the food security and livelihoods projects during the Horn of Africa Response, in Somalia Provided timely, detailed and quality program reports to Support Offices and donors and Ensured success stories are shared with communications to enhance the visibility of programming; Established and strengthened linkages and networks with key actors and leading NGOs to build collaborative relationships. WV became a thought leader in the Food security cluster of Somalia, taking leadership roles in the Cluster review committee, Technical working groups for Agriculture and Livestock. Planned and lead start-up workshop or process to ensure comprehensive hand-over of project to Project Manager and wider grant project teams
• Heifer International, Kenya, 12/2007, 12/2011, Project Manager- Maasai Animal Health and Marketing Project, Successfully established a functional feedlot in Suswa complete with designed Livestock handling infrastructures, rehabilitated the degraded land through re - seeding with natural and improved pastures and presently is a model community owned livestock marketing enterprise of its kind within the region. Initiated vaccination programs together with project partners, linked producers to service providers and succeeded in reduction of livestock mortalities within the project area. Conducted several range extension trainings to communities on rehabilitation of rangelands, land use and natural resources management. Promoted community-based animal health interventions through use of para-vets and trained community animal health technicians for efficient delivery of animal health services. Facilitated formation of livestock trader youth and women groups presently participating actively in livestock marketing through entrepreneurship training and market linkages. Linked RAMAT Livestock Enterprises – the marketing venture to research institutions, reliable livestock markets and relevant government Departments.

• Kevin Mackey, Country Director, World Vision Somalia, Kevin_mackey@wvi.org, +254 716798 431
• Oscar Koech PhD., Lecturer, University of Nairobi, oscarkip@uonbi.ac.ke, +254 725 513044
• Henry Awika PhD., University of The Virgin Islands, henry.awika@uvi.edu, +1 979.739.7364