The Ugandan Jobline

 

Job Title:    Agribusiness Specialist

Organization:  Ministry of Water and Environment

Project Name: Irrigation for Climate Resilience Project
(ICRP)

Funding Source: World Bank

Duty Station:  Kampala,
Uganda

 Reports to: Project Coordinator (ICRP)

 

About US:

The Ministry of Water and Environment (MWE) was established in 2007, from
the then Ministry of Water, Lands and Environment, following the cabinet
decision taken on 15th April, 2007. It has the overall responsibility of the
development, managing, and regulating water and Environment resources in
Uganda.  In the process of executing all
its operations, the Ministry is committed to zero tolerance to fraud and
corruption as guided by the existing legal national frameworks and
institutions.

 

About World Bank ICRP Project:

The Irrigation for
Climate Resilience Project (ICRP) aims to support the Government of Uganda
(GoU) in the shift towards more resilient agriculture through the development
of sustainable irrigation services. The project intends to address Uganda’s
climate change vulnerabilities by: (i) promoting adoption of irrigation by
small farmers, in synergy with other agriculture inputs and technologies; (ii)
increasing water storage capacity; (iii) promoting drainage; and (iv) promoting
sustainable catchment management. Through the introduction of irrigation
services, combined to the provision of extension services and facilitated
access to agri-inputs, farmers are expected to record more stable and higher yields,
increase intensification (by cropping also during the dry season), and
diversification (by introducing higher value crops). This change will be pulled
by the market, with irrigation becoming the anchor for stronger producer
organizations and development of value chains. The project recognizes the need
to explore a range of irrigation models adapted to local needs.

 

Job Summary:   The Agribusiness Specialist will lead
Strengthening of Farmer Groups for Value Addition and Market Linkages. This
will include building the capacity of value chain actors for improved
post-harvest handling, agro-processing and enhanced market access. The
Agribusiness Specialist will collaborate with relevant departments,
institutions, and service providers in the development and execution of
agribusiness interventions.

 

Key Duties and
Responsibilities:

·        
Provide
technical support on planning, implementation and monitoring of agribusiness
activities in the schemes

·        
Build
capacity of MAAIF, Local Governments, farmers and private sector players on
implementation of agribusiness interventions in value addition and market
access

·        
Guide
and promote market linkages between farmers and off-takers in each of the
target value chains

·        
Support
linkages between farmers and financial institutions to increase access to
financial services

·        
Provide
specific Technical inputs in reviewing business plans submitted to the project,
make recommendations that will enhance the quality and sustainability of the
funded agribusinesses

·        
Identify
market opportunities and build the capacity of farmers in meeting grades and
standards to sustainably exploit them

·        
Support
increased access to and use of market information

·        
Oversee
project activities on increasing access to and use of financial services

·        
Guide
the formation of a market platform to bring together all the key actors in the
selected value chain

·        
Ensure
gender and environmental considerations and issues are streamlined in the
agribusiness activities

·        
Provide
technical assistance in development of higher level farmers organizations

·        
Work
closely with financial institutions to identify relevant financial services
products for program beneficiaries and identify constraints to access;

·        
Document
best practices and lessons learnt of the project and support to replicate it

·        
Review
consultants reports and make summaries of key issues and reports to the
relevant stakeholders for action

 

Key Performance Indicators

·        
Annual
and Quarterly progress reports

·        
Quarterly
capacity building of MAAIF, Local Governments, farmers and private sector
players on implementation of agribusiness interventions in value addition and
market access conducted.

·        
Capacity
building of farmers conducted as well as market opportunities identified.

·        
Timely
provision of technical assistance in development of higher-level farmers
organizations

·        
Acceptable
Record Keeping system in place

·        
Timely
Review of consultants’ reports and issues identified for action.

 

Qualifications, Skills and Experience:

·        
The
applicant must hold a Master’s degree Agricultural Economics, Agribusiness
Management, Agricultural marketing, Rural Development, or any agricultural
related degree obtained from a reputable Institution

·        
At least
five (5) years’ experience working with rural micro-to-small scale businesses
providing either business development services, training and/or technical
assistance

·        
At least
ten (10) years’ experience in managing market-led value chain development
projects and market systems development

·        
Experience
working in the agricultural sector in Uganda developing value chains preferably
on Rice, Coffee, Banana, Vegetables, Irish potatoes, and maize value chains;

·        
At least
five (5) years project management and budgeting experience, preferably in
projects financed by the World Bank or bilateral or multi-lateral donors;

·        
Working
knowledge of identifying opportunities for value addition and market access at
the processor and household level

·        
Experience
in working with financial institutions to improve farmers’ access to financial
services

·        
A good
knowledge of the local and international marketing issues

·        
Demonstrated
experience in nurturing public-private partnerships

·        
Excellent
interpersonal, communication, negotiation, organizational management, and
writing skills in English

·        
Ability
to use the latest ICT technology and computer software programs

 

How to Apply:

All suitably
qualified and interested candidates are invited to submit their expressions of
interest and CV with a phone contact, postal address and e-mail address to the
address below. Please attach (a) Copies of relevant academic documents/qualifications
and (b) Copies of the appointment letter(s)/Contract(s) of the current or most
recent employment.

 

Address to:

 

The Head,

Procurement &
Disposal Unit

Ministry of Water
and Environment Headquarters

Plot 3-7, Kabalega Crescent, Luzira

Kampala, Uganda

 

NB: Only
shortlisted candidates shall be contacted.

 

Deadline: 9th November, 2020 by 14:00 hours

 

For more of the
latest jobs, please visit https://www.theugandanjobline.com or find us on our facebook page https://www.facebook.com/UgandanJobline

 

Related Jobs