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Job Title:    Digital Agriculture Specialist

Organization: UN Capital Development Fund (UNCDF)

Duty Station: Gulu, Uganda

About US:

United Nations Capital Development Fund (UNCDF) is the UN’s capital investment agency for the world’s least developed countries. It creates new opportunities for poor people and their communities by increasing access to microfinance and investment capital.  UNCDF focuses on Africa and the poorest countries of Asia and the Pacific, with a special commitment to countries emerging from conflict or crisis.  It provides seed capital – grants and loans – and technical support to help microfinance institutions reach more poor households and small businesses, and local governments finance the capital investments – water systems, feeder roads, schools, irrigation schemes – that will improve poor peoples’ lives.

Key Duties and Responsibilities:

Provision of technical Assistance to Implementing Partners:

• Implementation of specific technical assistance related to digital agriculture interventions and possible delivery of specific funding (grants, loans and guarantees) by UNCDF
• Development of concept notes on proposed investment opportunities
• Conduct assessment of digital agriculture transformation potential, E-agriculture strategies and digital inclusive finance strategies
• Develop Digitization strategies of sub-sectors
• Establishing building blocks for digital agriculture transformation (farmers’ registries and digital literacy, rural connectivity and policy and regulatory framework
• Supporting in preparation of presentations providing project updates to partners
• Build and manage relationships with implementing aggrotech’s in prioritized districts in the region in order to identify and catalyze strategic opportunities to develop and support initiatives that align with the program’s core objectives
• Facilitate linkages between farmer groups/organizations, MSEs, and entrepreneurs and prequalified FSPs. The aim is to go beyond service provision that is partially or fully covered under the MCF and WFP intervention so that an increasing number of the AMS participants are not only aware of available services, including requirements and fees (e.g., individual or group account opening, savings, loans, and digital transactions), but also have begun utilizing services and or become regular clients by the end of their AMS participation
• Undertake a study on the digital ecosystem in the selected AMS districts to inform the gaps and constraints that need to be prioritized in this intervention. The study will look at availability and quality of GSM connectivity (2G, 3G, and 4G), device ownership or access, mobile network operator agent network, digital literacy, and other feedback with regard to the use of digital services.
• Support UNCDF conduct various studies to assess the situation on a particular subject/s in the AMS operational districts and sub-regions. The conclusions and recommendations of the studies will serve as benchmarks and inform the AMS capacity strengthening focus
• Support UNCDF conduct a gender analysis on agricultural labor across the three AMS operational sub-regions: Karamojong, North, and Southwest. This study will identify existing and emerging demand and supply of labor in food transformation and marketing and agriculture-related services (e.g., finance).

Tracking and drafting of donor reporting requirements

• Maintain up-to-date reports on progress of programme implementation for funding partners;
• Lead the drafting process for funding partner reports by collecting inputs from different Partners and ensuring that all parties are using the latest versions;
• Ensure on-time review and submission of reports and all relevant annexes.

Monitoring and Evaluation of Projects

• Monthly, Quarterly and Annual Monitoring of key performance Indicators for Implementing Partners ;
• Support Implementing partners on performance reviews & course correction to achieve desired outcomes / targets;
• Coordinate project governance proceedings like steering committee, project team meeting and annual review meetings.

Facilitation of knowledge building and management

• Maintaining a pipeline of Knowledge management documentation;
• Jointly conduct stock taking work and prepare knowledge products (e.g., publications, videos, presentations, images) related to the delivered support activities;
• Coordinate all on field evidence-based learning and documentation;
• On-going management of in-country projects. This may include organizing and facilitating multi-stakeholder workshops, conducting desk-based landscaping research, assisting with project management and managing relationships across a range of stakeholders (e.g., mobile operators, development partners, start-ups and third-party solution providers);
• Support and convene regional learning agenda on the impact of the project interventions undertaken within the target region.

Qualifications, Skills and Experience:

• The applicant for the UN Capital Development Fund (UNCDF) Digital Agriculture Specialist job must hold a Master’s Degree with five years of relevant experience or Bachelor’s degree with 7 years relevant experience in Business Administration, Public Administration, Economics, Political Sciences, Social Sciences or related field.
• Seven years of relevant experience at the national or international level in providing project management advisory services;
• Hands-on experience in monitoring and implementation of development projects;
• Experience in value chain digitization, food systems and small holder farmers;
• Experience working with Agritech digital solutions;
• Experience in deploying Digital Financial services (Mobile Money) in rural communities.
• Time Management: Experience in the usage of computers and office software packages (MS Word, Excel, etc.);
• Experience with a UN organization/agency is desirable; along with knowledge of UNCDF/UNDP and the UN system and / or the donor community;
• Knowledgeable about the Uganda context is highly desirable;
• Development and operational efficiency;
• Ability to deliver with minimum supervision.
• Language: Excellent knowledge of the English language both fluency in oral and written English.

Competencies

Core Competencies

• Innovation: Ability to make new and useful ideas work. Creating an environment of creativity and innovation.
• Leadership: Ability to persuade others to follow. Contributes effectively to team-based activities, working collaboratively and sharing information openly; works effectively with colleagues inside the UNCDF and the UN as well as its partners and other stakeholders to pursue common goals.
• People Management: Ability to improve performance and satisfaction.
• Communication: Ability to listen, adapt, persuade, and transform. Creating and promoting enabling environment for open communication.
• Delivery: Ability to get things done. Ability to produce high-quality outputs in a timely manner while understanding and anticipating the evolving client and programme needs.

How to Apply:

All applicants who wish to join the UN Capital Development Fund (UNCDF) should apply online at the link below.

Click Here

Deadline:  15^th February 2022

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