Job Title: Chief Program Officer
Organisation: aBi Development
Duty Station: Kampala, Uganda
About Organisation:
aBi Development Ltd focuses on increasing agricultural production & value addition by extending matching grants & Business Development Services (BDS) to agribusinesses, farmer organisations & intermediaries to enhance planning & management, production & business infrastructure, as well as upstream & downstream market linkages of producers & agribusinesses.
Job Summary: The Chief Program Officer (CPO) provides strategic leadership for aBiD’s programme portfolio, ensuring the design and execution of high-impact, market-driven interventions that support inclusive and sustainable agribusiness growth in Uganda. As a member of the Executive Team, the CPO plays a key role in shaping strategy, mobilizing resources, and fostering strategic partnerships to enhance aBiD’s role as a leader in sustainable agribusiness development. By embedding innovation and adaptive learning into programme design, the CPO ensures that aBiD remains at the forefront of market-led solutions that improve competitiveness, inclusivity, and climate resilience in the sector.
The CPO enhances organizational effectiveness by ensuring a well-balanced portfolio that aligns with aBiD’s strategic priorities, attracts investment, and delivers measurable impact. The role provides leadership to ensure strong execution, financial oversight, and risk management while building an agile, high-performing team. Through thought leadership and external engagement, the CPO strengthens aBiD’s influence, positioning the organization as a key driver of agribusiness growth in Uganda.
Key Duties and Responsibilities:
- Strategic Leadership and Portfolio Development.
- Act as a recognized thought leader in agribusiness and market systems development, shaping overall program portfolio, industry narratives, influencing policy, and driving inclusive, climate-resilient transformation in Uganda’s agricultural sector. Promote sustainability and green growth in alignment with national priorities and global development goals.
- Action Steps
- Lead the team in keeping abreast of developments in agribusiness and market systems development; liaise with the CEO and Head of RMRD to develop structured research and learning agenda.
- Ensure comprehensive analysis is carried out (e.g. sectors, value chains, stakeholders, impact); develop a profound understanding of the ecosystems that aBiD is seeking to develop, including supply, demand, and the enabling environment.
- Deploy technical specialists, expert consultants, and other internal colleagues to conduct deep investigations of opportunities; lead programme teams to develop theories of change, logical results chains, and learning frameworks.
- Support the CEO in managing the development of strategic plans, annual business plans, and investment pipelines; proactively support the Board Investment Committee.
- Oversee the integration and management of blended and innovative finance, and impact investment initiatives across the portfolio, ensuring initiatives deliver measurable and sustainable impacts that catalyze sustainable agribusinesses and resilient food systems.
- Sustainability and Ecosystems Transformation: working with the Sustainability Specialist oversee the portfolio to ensure integration of ESG factors across the portfolio, monitoring and reporting on key climate aspects and sustainability KPIs, ethical and socially responsible conduct, and adoption of good governance among private sector partners.
- Ensure rigorous Monitoring, Evaluation and Reporting frameworks are in place.
- Success Criteria/Measures
- Stakeholder engagement and policy dialogues result in aBiD’s recommendations being integrated into national or regional agribusiness policies and regulatory frameworks.
- Program portfolios are well balanced and strategically aligned.
- Program & Portfolio Oversight
- As a member of the Executive Team, contribute to aBiD’s overarching strategy and lead the
- development of a dynamic, high-impact programme portfolio that catalyzes sustainable
- agribusiness growth and investment in Uganda
- Action Steps
- Constitute technical teams and lead them to build on the insights gained from research and learning to develop investment concepts; encourage the teams to develop innovative yet evidence-based interventions with new tools and approaches being trialed regularly.
- Work together with the Management and Board Investment Committees to approve a balanced portfolio of projects that will deliver against aBiD’s strategy; support the team in submitting proposals that meet investment committee quality standards.
- Work with Portfolio Managers to develop partner selection criteria and procedures, including strategies for attracting and selecting partners with the greatest potential for adding value to the sector and driving achievement of aBiD’s goals.
- Lead initiatives to assure programme quality; oversee the documentation and dissemination of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), tools, trainings, and other knowledge resources
- Oversee the development of detailed implementation plans, budgets, and cash¬flow forecasts to achieve fund utilization targets, ensure project success, and address capacity gaps of partners.
- Success Criteria/Measures
- Programme impact evaluations confirm that aBiD’s interventions are driving systemic improvements in agribusiness market competitiveness, value chain efficiency, or climate resilience.
- Audit and donor reviews confirm compliance, value for money and strong risk management.
- Portfolio Management and Oversight.
- Oversee the management and execution of aBiD’s programme portfolio, ensuring each intervention delivers measurable impact, contributes to sector-wide change, and aligns with strategic objectives.
- Action Steps
- Ensure that Programme Directors and Leads are effectively coordinating the roll¬out of projects, ensuring that milestones are achieved on time.
- Establish, monitor, and report on sustainability, impact, and financial return targets across the portfolio; ensures regular performance reviews to assess progress, drive adaptive management, and implement course corrections that enhance both commercial viability and environmental and social outcomes.
- Collaborate closely with the RMRD team to ensure the collection of data, analysis of results, and identification of opportunities for improvement in a blame-free spirit of academic enquiry.
- If desired results have been achieved, initiate strategies for widespread awareness- raising.
- If desired results have not been achieved, either manage performance of the implementation team, or take corrective measures such as adjusting the strategy/approach.
- Periodically review theories of change, revising as appropriate.
- Develop and oversee the budget for aBiD’s Programmes department, ensuring that plans and resources are matched and priorities for expenditure identified; support the development of strategic resourcing plans (HR, Finance, Procurement).
- Ensure the management of program outcomes (benefits) from identification, delivery, and transitioning into the operations of aBi’s Anchor Partners, or Beneficiary organization so that these benefits are sustained and scalable.
- Manage the finances of the department, reviewing expenditure/disbursement against budget and taking any necessary corrective actions; ensure value-for- money utilization of resources and compliance with aBiD’s financial procedures.
- Ensure program life cycle reviews are undertaken periodically, especially phase gate reviews, to enhance adaptive management so that learning, adjustments, and capacity building take place across entire program life cycles for all programs.
- Oversee the management of risk across all of aBiD’s programme activities, ensuring that a comprehensive understanding of risks has been developed and that strategies are in place and implemented for effective risk management.
- Success Criteria/Measures
- Targets articulated in the annual business plan are achieved; otherwise, learning is documented, and adaptive management is applied.
- Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) reports demonstrate that programme investments are delivering measurable, scalable, and sustainable impact in agribusiness market development.
- Internal and external audits, including donor reviews, verify that programme funds are allocated and utilized in line with financial stewardship, risk management, and compliance best practices.
- Innovation & Sustainability
- Identify, develop, and scale innovative agribusiness solutions, financing models, and investment mechanisms that drive inclusive and green growth, working closely with internal teams and external partners to test and refine new approaches.
- Action Steps
- Establish an internal innovation pipeline, identifying high-potential initiatives, financing structures, and agribusiness solutions that address systemic market challenges.
- Lead cross-sector collaborations with research institutions, financial partners, and agribusiness stakeholders to develop and test innovative market-led solutions.
- Oversee the design and incubation of pilot interventions, ensuring structured testing, risk assessment, and scalability planning before broader implementation.
- Integrate digital transformation and green finance into aBiD’s innovation strategy, ensuring relevance to climate-smart and inclusive agribusiness development.
- Institutionalize learning from pilots and scale-up initiatives, ensuring successful models are embedded in mainstream programme strategies.
- Success Criteria/Measures
- Innovation pilots are tested, refined, and scaled, with evidence of adoption by market actors, financial institutions, or agribusiness enterprises.
- ESG, Climate Resilience and sustainability KPIs embedded and tracked across the portfolio.
- New models incorporated into mainstream program design and financing.
- External Relationships, Partnerships & Representation
- Strengthen aBiD’s role as a key driver of agribusiness development by cultivating strategic partnerships, engaging policymakers, and representing the organization in high-level national and international forums to mobilize resources for financial sustainability and influence sector reform.
- Action Steps
- Develop a strategic stakeholder engagement framework that enhances collaboration with government, donors, private sector, and development partners.
- Drive policy dialogue and sector advocacy, ensuring aBiD influences regulatory reforms that create an enabling environment for agribusiness growth.
- Ensure that grant-making, fundraising, and resource mobilization strategies are integrated across the portfolio to maximize program outcomes and impact, value- for-money, transparent reporting, and auditability in line with fundraising, regulatory and compliance standards of funders and financing partners.
- Secure investment partnerships by engaging impact investors, DFIs, and development agencies to mobilize blended finance solutions for agribusiness.
- Represent aBiD at global, regional, and national forums, ensuring visibility and
- strengthening the organization’s leadership in the sector.
- Position aBiD as a thought leader by contributing to high-level discussions, research publications, and advisory panels.
- Success Criteria/Measures
- Investment Committee and development partner appraisals confirm that aBiD is effectively mobilizing and deploying capital to achieve strategic agribusiness development objectives.
- aBi D recognized as a preferred partner in agribusiness transformation.
- Increased visibility and thought leadership demonstrated through policy influence and sector representation.
- Team Leadership & Organizational Development
- Foster a high-performance team culture by attracting, developing, and retaining top talent, ensuring that the Programmes team operates with excellence, agility, and shared accountability.
- Action Steps
- Communicate to the Programmes Team a clear and exciting vision for the work of the organization and the importance of their personal contributions.
- Ensure the team is resourced with the expertise necessary to deliver on strategy through a combination of recruitment and the management of staff and procurement of consultants.
- Plan and organize the work of the team to accomplish strategic and project goals in the most cost-effective and impactful manner possible.
- Provide expert advice, mentoring, and guidance to both staff and external stakeholders; contribute towards positioning aBiD as a center of knowledge and learning.
- Ensure that each team member is provided with clarity concerning expectations; provide training, coaching, and accountability to support them in achieving results and delivering required standards and behavior.
- Notice and cultivate talent; ensure delivery of an engaging leadership style that motivates team members and encourages high performance.
- Uphold, model, and promote the highest standards of professionalism, ethical conduct, social responsibility, and good governance in line with aBiD values, policies, standards, and sustainability commitments with stakeholders.
Qualifications, Skills and Experience:
- Master’s degree in Agribusiness, Economics, Development Finance, Business Administration, or a related field.
- Additional professional qualifications in investment, market systems development, or project management are an advantage.
Experience
- At least 10-15 years of progressive experience in agribusiness development, market systems, or impact investment, with a strong track record in portfolio leadership.
- Proven experience in designing and managing large-scale, high-impact Programmes in economic development or financial inclusion.
- Significant experience in mobilizing and managing funding from development partners, impact investors, and blended finance structures.
- Strong background in leading multi-stakeholder engagements, influencing policy, and building strategic partnerships at national and international levels.
- Demonstrated success in organizational leadership, team development, and performance management within complex programme environments.
Technical Skills & Knowledge
- Deep understanding of market systems approaches (M4P), agribusiness finance, and investment structuring in developing economies.
- Strong financial acumen, including budgeting, risk management, and impact measurement for large-scale programme portfolios.
- Expertise in programme design, adaptive management, and innovation-led approaches to agribusiness development.
- Knowledge of Uganda’s agribusiness landscape, regulatory frameworks, and private sector engagement strategies.
- Advanced skills in data-driven decision-making, MEL (Monitoring, Evaluation & Learning), and strategic planning to enhance programme effectiveness
Competency
- Level 4- Leadership
- Ownership & Initiative
- Learning & Adaptability
- Situational Awareness & Thinking
- Execution & Drive for Results
- Understanding Others & Team Collaboration
- Communicating & Influencing
How to Apply:
To apply, please send your resume and cover letter to [email protected] with subject line Chief Program Officer before 6th October 2025.
All applications shall be acknowledged as received but only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.
All applicants should share their CV’s and Cover Letters in PDF or MS Word STRICTLY
Deadline: 6th October 2025
For any inquiries on this career opportunity and the application process please e-mail [email protected]
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Level of Education: Postgraduate Degree
Work Hours: 8
Experience in Months: 120