Market Engagement Manager – CCP Project NGO Jobs – Farm Africa

Job Title:   Market Engagement Manager – Commercialising
Chilli Production (CCP)

Organization:  Farm
Africa

Duty Station:  Lira,
Uganda

Reports to: Project Coordinator – CCP

About US:

Farm Africa, founded
in 1985, is an international non-governmental organization working in Uganda,
Ethiopia, Kenya and Tanzania. We drive agricultural and environmental change to
improve lives. Our strategy has three pillars: agricultural expertise, management
and preservation of ecosystems, and the power of business to drive prosperity.
We believe Africa has the power to feed itself and are helping make this happen
by establishing and spreading the best farming and forestry techniques so that
poor farmers and herders have more food to feed their families and to sell. We
help smallholders manage their natural resources sustainably so that they can
withstand climate change challenges and shocks and ensure their families have
enough food in the future as well as now. Farm Africa works in partnership with
communities, government, local and international organizations, and the private
sector to innovate, learn and share best practices for maximum impact of our
projects.

About Project:

Farm Africa is
mid-way through implementation of a three-year project in partnership with aBi
Development Limited and the North East Chilli Producers Association (NECPA).
The project is focussed on creating a more competitive and profitable chilli
value chain within Lira, northern Uganda to capitalise on growing international
demand for varieties of Ugandan African Birds Eye (ABE) dried chillies. The
project will strengthen the technical capacity of NECPA and their extension
team to support market-orientated chilli production across their area of operation. 
Key project
activities include; delivering an enhanced extension package to 3,000 (120
groups of 25) chilli farmers in Aromo, Barr and Amach sub-counties; reforming
input supply to ensure there is an adequate flow of high-quality inputs to
service growing demand from farmers; supporting NECPA to obtain the proper
certification and licencing required in order to begin accessing and selling
their farmers’ chillies directly into high-value export markets. At the same
time, the project will promote greater inclusivity within the value chain,
encouraging female and youth-led production by educating on gender
mainstreaming and creating new enterprise opportunities.

Job Summary: The
Market Engagement Manager (MEM) will play a key role in Commercialising Chilli
Production (CCP) team, and will be critical to the success of the project. The
MEM will be responsible for providing technical assistance to our implementing
partner, NECPA, and supporting them to organise 3,000 farmers to meet the
demands of the export market for ABE chillies. In addition, the MEM will
support NECPA to achieve the necessary certifications to enter premium organic
and export markets. The MEM will work with stakeholders in the wider ABE chilli
value chain to ensure the availability of affordable, high-quality inputs for
ABE chilli farmers in Lira district. The role is based in Farm Africa’s Lira
office, and reports to the Project Coordinator. They MEM will also receive
technical support from Farm Africa’s Technical Manager for Markets & Value
Chains, based in London.

Key Duties and Responsibilities: The key responsibilities of the Market
Engagement Manager will be:

To provide ongoing
technical assistance (TA) and guidance to NECPA including:

·       
Strengthening
NECPA’s training on market-orientated planning and production for producer
groups by:

o   Supporting NECPA to develop annual and
long-term production plans, and break them down into individual farmer group
targets,

o   Working with the NECPA team to develop group
level annual production planning tools,

·       
Supporting
NECPA and their extension team to disseminate production planning tools and
engage their member farmers in market-orientated production.

·       
Providing
the NECPA team with practical support and guidance to complete registering as
an export company,

·       
Working
with the NECPA team to support NECPA and their member to farmers gain the
certifications required for premium markets

·       
Supporting
the NECPA to grow their existing seed selection and multiplication activities
in line with market demand, and in particular:

·       
To carry
out a formal review and assessment of the existing NECPA seed distribution
model, and identify new agribusinesses to stock optimal seed varieties for sale
to farmers outside of the NECPA network

·       
Working
with the NECPA team to ensure that young people engaged in producing inputs
such as drying racks and organic pesticides and fertilisers are benefitting
from the local growing demand for their products

To play a key role in
activity planning and sequencing of activities to ensure maximum impact as well
as compliance with donor deadlines, which will include:

·       
Working
in close consultation with the PC to prepare weekly and monthly detailed
activity plans to guide project implementation by both FA & NECPA.

·       
Ensuring
colleagues and partner staff are clear on project plans and required resources
during planning

·       
Providing
technical advice to the PC and NECPA management team, to assist them with the
development of weekly, monthly and annual implementation plans and budgets

·       
Working
closely with the NECPA team to ensure that delivery progress is in line with
plans, highlighting areas of concern in a timely manner and proactively
addressing them in good time.

To deliver project
activities to a high standard, and in line with Farm Africa and donor
guidelines and requirements by:

·       
Ensuring
the methodologies for each activity are clearly understood by the Farm Africa
and NECPA project teams and delivered according to Farm Africa Approaches.

·       
Ensuring
that project activities are implemented and outputs achieved as planned and
within budget and timelines that have been contractually agreed with the donor

·       
Ensuring
that accurate and detailed records are kept of activities delivered by both
Farm Africa and NECPA teams and extension staff, and logged using GPS devices
as stipulated by the donor

·       
Participating
in quarterly programme progress review sessions as requested

·       
Proactively
identify and monitor any risks to non-delivery and, where required, developing
and implementing action plans to address issues identified;

·       
Providing
high-quality inputs for internal and external reports to show delivery progress
in assigned areas

To deliver assigned
activities in accordance with financial guidelines and within available budgets
by:

·       
Closely
monitoring expenditure on all relevant activity lines, ensuring that
availability of funds is confirmed and approved before delivery of an activity
begins

·       
Supporting
the Project Accountant & Administrator (PA&A) and PC with budgeting and
reforecasting budgets as required

·       
Ensuring
that all expenditure incurred is in compliance with and exceeds the basic
standards contained in the Farm Africa finance procedures manual and is in line
with the requirements outlined in the aBi Financial Management Guidelines

·       
Reviewing
budget monitoring reports, and provide timely explanations and corrective
actions for any significant variances relating to the market engagement
components of the project

·       
Ensuring
that procurement of goods and services is carried out in line with Farm Africa
procedures and also follows the terms and conditions stipulated in the donor’s
Financial Management Guidelines

To contribute to
the monitoring and evaluation of the project’s outputs, outcomes and impact:

·       
As
requested and required, ensure that KPI data is accurately gathered on a
monthly basis using correct tools approved by aBi.

·       
Ensure
that any activities delivered by the Farm Africa and NECPA teams are logged using
GPS devices provided by the donor, and in line with the donor requirements

·       
As
requested, support the PC in the project’s annual self-assessment process
ensuring that necessary evidence is collected and all staff are actively
inputting into the process

·       
As
requested, support the PC to ensure that the project is regularly conducting
beneficiary surveys, beneficiary feedback, collecting other data through
relevant sources, developing case studies and collating photos

To establish and
maintain mutually beneficial partnerships and working relationships with
stakeholders, including:

·       
Maintaining
an excellent working relationship with the NECPA management team based on
mutual respect and joint goals.

·       
Maintaining
an excellent working relationship with the NECPA extension team

·       
Maintaining
an excellent working relationship with stakeholders across the chilli value
chain, in particular agro-input dealers and large buyers of chill in Lira
district and others directly engaged in the project.

·       
Identifying
new potential markets and buyers and brokering relationships between them and
NECPA

·       
Working
closely with the NECPA team to support them with building relationships with
financial service suppliers, participating in workshops and conferences, and
meeting donors and other officials when required 

To play an active
role as a member of the both the wider project and country teams

·       
Working
in a cohesive way with the wider CCP team to ensure that project objectives and
outcomes are delivered

·       
As
requested, providing technical input to support with developing new projects or
securing additional funding for work in the chilli value chain

·       
Ensuring
that any lessons learned during implementation are documented and built into
future project design, and shared with other Farm Africa project teams

NB: These essential
functions are not to be interpreted as a complete statement of all duties
performed. Employees will be required to perform other job related duties as
required. All work responsibilities are subject to having performance goals
and/or targets established.

Qualifications, Skills and Experience:

·       
The ideal
candidate for the Farm Africa Market Engagement Manager – Commercialising
Chilli Production (CCP) job must hold a Degree or equivalent in in a relevant
field, such as agricultural economics, rural development, business or economics

·       
Demonstrable
understanding of private sector agriculture value chains and rural development
in Uganda

·       
Excellent
understanding of market-based approaches to development and particularly
approaches which encourage greater participation of women and youth

·       
At least
three years’ experience of working with a commercial organisation or INGO working
with smallholder farmers

·       
Direct
experience of formalising smallholder supply chains, or supporting
agribusinesses to do the same

·       
Experience
of supporting private sector organisations to identify and enter new markets

·       
Experience
of designing production planning tools for smallholder farmers, and overseeing
their deployment in the field.

·       
Experience
of carrying out market analysis and demand planning

·       
Experience
of supporting SMEs to develop business plans and access finance, or directly
doing so in a commercial company

·       
Experience
of using a range of tools to monitor delivery of activities and project
outcomes and impact

·       
Excellent
written and oral communication and presentation skills with the ability to work
with both Government, CSOs and Private Sector stakeholders.

·       
Ability
to broker relationships between different stakeholders in the value chain

·       
Excellent
training/facilitation skills and experience

·       
Fluent
written and spoken English

·       
Adept in
Microsoft Windows including Word, Excel, Outlook and PowerPoint

·       
Excellent
network and excellent relationship with government partners

·       
Ability
and willingness to travel both regionally and nationally

·       
Good
knowledge of Windows including Outlook, Excel, and Power Point

Desirable:

·       
Further
relevant academic qualification in the area of agricultural economics, rural
development, business or economics

·       
Experience
of working in Lango sub-region and northern Uganda

·       
Knowledge
and understanding of the chilli value chain in Uganda and key dynamics and
stakeholders within it

·       
Experience
of working on aBi-funded projects

·       
Experience
of working within the chilli (ideally) or other horticultural value chains

·       
Experience
of supporting Ugandan businesses to enter the international export market, and
gain the necessary licences

·       
Experience
of providing hands-on business development support to small and/or micro
enterprises

·       
Negotiating
& managing partner relationships

·       
Experience
in leading teams in problem solving

·       
Fluency
in Langi/Luo

How to Apply:

All candidates
should send an updated a CV, salary history and a two-page supporting statement
detailing how you meet the person specification to
ugandarecruitment@farmafrica.org including ‘Market Engagement Manager- ‘CCP
Project ’ in the subject line.

 Please DO NOT send additional documents such
as certificates and references with your application. Successful candidates
ONLY will be required to provide these documents during the referencing
process.

It is anticipated
that first round interviews will take place w/c 11th May 2020. Only shortlisted
candidates will be contacted.

Deadline: 6th May 2020 by 5:00pm EAT

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