The Ugandan Jobline

Job Title:       Business Development Officer

Organization:
Action Against Hunger

Duty Station:
Uganda

About US:

Action Against
Hunger is a humanitarian relief organization operating in over 40 countries
worldwide in the sectors of nutrition, health, water/sanitation, and food
security. Action Against Hunger-USA, an independent NGO, currently manages
operations in 8 countries: Kenya, South Sudan, Cambodia, Tanzania, Uganda, Ethiopia,
Haiti and Somalia. Action Against Hunger-USA has over $75 million in programs,
and approximately 2000 staff based in in the various country offices, Head
Quarter in New York City and Operational Centre in Nairobi. Additional growth
is anticipated.

Job Summary:  The Business Development Officer will lead in
the development of commercial opportunities for farmers in the Cassava, Chia,
vegetables, soap and mushroom value chains and train farmers and farmer
organizations in agribusiness development and marketing. The job holder will
have a strong micro finance back ground to develop and grow savings groups to
commercial business. The post requires an individual with solid expert
knowledge of marketing, micro finance and out-grower supply chains in a
commercial setting.

Key Duties and Responsibilities: 

·       Purpose Provide
technical support in the
implementation and supervision of village savings and loans association (VSLA)
groups, the Income Generating Activities’ (IGA) beneficiaries, and the farmer
groups as required by the supervisor, compile reports, learning documents and case
studies that inform key project indicators as required by the grant.

·        Engagement: The Business Development Officer
shall directly work under the Deputy Program Manager as the direct supervisor for technical support, Information
sharing and in liaison with the Field Coordinator as the overall Supervisor for
Technical support and Information sharing. He/she will also directly supervise
a community based facilitator.

·        In
addition, he/she will work with governmental and non-governmental partners in
the exchange of information, coordination and representation Other NGOs:
technical relationship at field level, coordination of activities at field
level.

·        Delivery: The Business Development Officer
will contribute to positive livelihoods outcome through the implementation of various community led Food Security and
Livelihoods (FSL) programs. Support the supervision of community based
facilitators and prepare weekly, monthly and donor reports as per the standard
reporting format.

·       Establish the
needs of the Cassava, chia, selected vegetables, soap and mushroom IGAs in the project locations and country at large and
identify key market players who can be linked to the project.

·       Provide capacity
development training and support to the project in Kiryandongo and Adjumani Districts to effectively mobilize
and deliver agri-business development services to beneficiaries (social
mobilizing, identification of interest groups, business planning, and strengthening
market linkages).

·       Support the DPM
to identify key stakeholders involved in the value chain (agro dealers, agro processors, transporter, middle men, finance
services provider, governmental technical services, and professional
organization. Conduct discussions with all stakeholders and identify area of
supports to develop linkages and collaborative way of working

·       Coordinate
relevant stakeholders and service providers to deliver trainings to project beneficiaries such as financial literacy
trainings, agriculture loans, inputs, quality control and management, etc.

·       Review existing
information in the projects and provide training on identified markets and viable opportunities in the Cassava, chia,
vegetables, soap and mushroom IGAs value chains.

·       Ensure there is
an up to date information about market in the Cassava, chia, vegetables, soap and mushroom IGAs value chains and conduct
analysis of trends in these value chains: identify critical constraints and
promising opportunities in order to improve the functioning of the five value
chains, thereby improving access to markets.

·       Participate in
developing business plans and training program, and conduct training to the farmer groups and individual farmers on-farm
support and IGA

·       Conduct market
studies and advise on best implementation strategies that would ensure that targeted farmers and farmer groups have
profitable agribusiness ventures.

·       Develop a
sustainable marketing structure,
including an umbrella commodity marketing associations to enhance market access

·       Develop training
manuals per thematic area, and Participate in the training of beneficiaries per
the project requirements.

·       Participate in
all project review assessments, surveys
and studies and ensure these are conducted per protocol.

·       Conduct monthly
periodic reviews and report to ensure that all business plans are adhered to and the entrepreneurial capacity of the
beneficiaries is enhanced

·       Document and
compile reports on project
activities including Monthly & Quarterly donor reports, Action Against
Hunger internal reports (Project Activity Reports (APRs), SITREP) and activity
reports (meetings, and any other activity).

·       Support the
establishment of a database for all project activities to regularly monitor and evaluate their activities.

·       Participate in
appropriate multi-district activities related to FSL for example; field days, workshops, seminars, agricultural shows, and
field monitoring visits.

·       Mobilize
communities and community
leaders to participate in Action Against Hunger project in community activities
and organize regular community meetings to address areas for program
improvement.

·       Work closely with relevant district
departments (Production & Natural resources) and NARO to share relevant
information.

·       Participate in
internal and external meetings per the DPM guidance

·       As delegated by
the DPM, respond to complaints and questions on related to Agribusiness, marketing, micro finance and value chain
analysis.

·       Actively
participate in events organized in the refugee and host community setting. Coordinate
with other sections of Action Against Hunger and all other stakeholders in the response.

·       As delegated by
the PM, attend interagency & sectoral coordination meetings at the settlements and District level.

·       Attend donor
meetings and field visits as required.

·       Other duties as
assigned by the DPM from time to time.

·       The BDO will
directly supervise community based facilitators (CBF). He/she will ensure that staff/persons under his/her
supervision are effectively engaged in their tasks and perform their duties in
accordance with Action Against Hunger expectation.

·       Ensuring that they follow weekly and
quarterly activity work plans.

·        Identify training needs of Community
Facilitators and suggest an appropriate training plan.

·       Conduct detailed
induction and orientation of new staff under your supervision ensuring that all relevant documents and
tools of work are shared with new staff

·       Set probationary
objectives with new staff and follow reviews are done in time for timely support

·       Foster an
environment that supports values
of women and men, and equal access to information.

·       Provide a work
environment where women and men must be evaluated and promoted based on their skills and performance.

·       Respect
beneficiaries’ women, men, children (boys and girls) regardless of gender, sex orientation, disability, religion, race,
color, ancestry, national origin, age, or marital status.

·       Value and
respect all cultures.

·       Work closely with the Deputy Program Manager
in updating the project BFU in relation to the activity implementation plan on
regular basis, ensuring that relevant documentation on food security and
livelihoods activities is filed and archived.

·       While performing
the duties of this job, the employee is required to have field travels up to 60% interfacing with
beneficiaries, the district agricultural officer/extension staff, district production
officer among others. 30% of the employee’s time will require him/her to sit
and concentrate on work, including typing of reports, developing training manuals
among others within short time frames under stressful situations in the context
of a moderately noisy office with many interruptions. He/she must be able to
proofread own work accurately so that only minor corrections are needed on an
infrequent basis.

·       While performing
the duties of this job, the employee is required to ride a motorcycle for long distances on rough terrain in order to
access and support our beneficiaries. 10% of his/her time, the employee may
also be required to stand for long periods of time especially when delivering
trainings to the beneficiaries.

·        The physical demands described here are
representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.
Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities
to perform the essential functions.

Qualifications, Skills and Experience:

·       The ideal
candidate must hold a Bachelor degree (honors) in Agribusiness
Management/Agricultural Economics/Commerce/Business
Administration/ Micro finance management from a recognized university or any
other relevant field.

·       Knowledge and
practical experience in value chain development.

·       Knowledge and
practical experience in public private partnerships.

·       Previous work
experience with farmer organizations.

·       At least 3+
years work experience in agribusiness
development or agribusiness marketing

·       Experience in
smallholder farmer agribusiness capacity development

·       Knowledge of the
agribusiness sector in Uganda

·        Strong background in business administration
and management from the private sector

·       Capacity building of organizations and individuals

·       Participatory
training methodologies

·       Network of
private sector contacts

·       Previous work
with a busy multi-sectoral setting/programming is an asset.

·       Previous work in
a refugee setting is desirable.

·       Strong communication skills (written and oral)
in English

·       Ability to
exercise sound judgment and make decisions independently

·       Extremely
flexible with the ability to cope with stressful situations

·        Excellent reporting skills with good oral and
written communication skills

·       Knowledge of the
local language is an added advantage

·       Culturally
sensitive

·       Fluency in
written and spoken English

·       Must own a valid
riding permit

·       The duties of the job require regular job
attendance at least five days per week. Must be available to work outside
normal office hours or on the weekends as required.

·       Must be able to travel as required for
standard domestic and international business purposes. While performing the
duties of this job in the field, the employee may be exposed to precarious
settings under high security risks and/or very basic living conditions and
outside weather conditions, as well as to infectious diseases.

How to Apply:

All Interested
applicants should submit their CV and cover letter by email to

recruitment@ug-actionagainsthunger.org
stating the title of position Base Human Resources

Officer on the subject
line of the email

NB:

We provide equal
employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees & qualified applicants for
employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, ancestry, national
origin, age, handicap, disability, marital status, or status as a veteran.
Action Against Hunger-USA complies with all applicable laws governing nondiscrimination
in employment.

Deadline: 30^th June 2020

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