Agronomist /Agricultural Extension Specialist IFAD Grant Jobs – Ministry of Local Government

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Organisation: Ministry of
Local Government
Funding Source: International
Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD)
Project Name: Project for
Restoration of Livelihoods in the Northern Region (PRELNOR)
Duty Station: Uganda
About US:
The Government
of the Republic of Uganda has received a loan and a grant from the
International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) to finance the Project
for Restoration of Livelihoods in the Northern Region (PRELNOR), and intends to
apply some of the proceeds to recruit staff to implement the project. PRELNOR
will cover the districts of Adjumani, Agago, Amuru, Gulu, Lamwo, Kitgum, Nwoya
and Pader.
About PRELNOR Project:
The overall
goal of the PRELNOR is: Increased income, food security and reduced
vulnerability of poor rural households in the project area. This will be
through increased sustainable production, productivity and climate resilience
of smallholder farmers with increased and profitable access to domestic and
export markets.
Job Summary: The
Agronomist / Extension Specialist (AES) will provide project leadership and
technical guidance in support of crop/livestock agriculture production and
extension activities under the Livelihoods component and ensure that climate
smart technologies and approaches are promoted and adopted by the smallholder
farmers. These activities will complement the natural resource management (NRM)
and climate adaptation activities in PRELNOR led by the environment and climate
change specialist to maintain and improve the project quality, and document
lessons learnt in the area of agriculture, with a focus on crop and livestock
management, water for productive uses, agro-enterprise development and building
household and community resilience. The agronomist/agricultural extension
specialist works in liaison with the program management unit based specialists
to ensure that interventions to enhance crop production and productivity are
implemented and monitored. The incumbent will render support in institution
building and develop strong working relationships with the National
Agricultural Research Organisation (NARO) through the ZARDIs in identification
and application of appropriate technologies.
Key Duties and Responsibilities: 
1. Project Implementation:
  • Provide
    overall strategic assistance on agronomic, farming system, seed system and
    demonstration practices to achieve the intended food security objectives
  • Work
    closely with ZARDI and climate change / environment specialist, evaluate
    new varieties and climate resilient agricultural practices
  • Actively
    promote crop diversification options that lead to higher nutrition and
    food security for food insecure households
  • Work
    in close consultation with district farmers associations to implement and
    supervise agreed activities in selected communities and enhance their
    capacity in effective extension service delivery
  • Support
    the environment and climate change specialist to develop
    agro-meteorological products and decision support systems for use by the
    relevant departments of MAAIF, extension services and the private
    sector/business partners
  • Develop
    the MoU and manage the contract for the pilot small-holder mechanisation
    adaption and demonstration activity to be implemented in one village in
    each of the eight districts based on experiences of the smallholder
    mechanization programme – Farm Mechanization and Conservation Agriculture
    for Sustainable Intensification across Eastern Africa programme.
  • Work
    with the agribusiness / partnerships management specialist to introduce an
    appropriate set of post-harvest management technologies and conduct action
    research on its socio-cultural acceptability and cost effectiveness.
2. Capacity Strengthening:
  • Offer
    support and direction to the project implementers (local governments, district
    farmer associations and other agencies) on effective agricultural and
    agribusiness extension services including farmer groups, FFS and other
    participatory approaches for technology delivery to smallholder farmers.
  • Identify
    training needs for extension technical master trainers and farmer group
    facilitators and implement a capacity building plan based on these needs.
  • Steer
    and organize training of trainer activities and training of the community
    based facilitators (CBF) in required extension methodologies and technical
    innovations.
  • Manage
    the preparation of farmer user-friendly extension and technical literature
    to disseminate appropriate information and ensure it is relevant and
    appropriately written to suit farmers with limited education.
3. Monitoring, Evaluation and
Learning:
  • Work
    closely with the PMU Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning specialist,
    provide guidance to PRELNOR and partners in the design and/or enhancement
    of participatory M&E tools and protocols to strengthen data
    collection, analysis and reporting.
  • Render
    support in the design and implementation of baseline, mid-term and final
    evaluations and ensure follow-up of findings/recommendations to improve
    program quality
Qualifications, Skills and Experience: 
  • The
    incumbent should preferably hold a Master’s degree in agricultural
    sciences with particular emphasis on extension, agronomy and/or soil
    science from a recognised University / Institution.
  • A
    minimum of five to ten years of working experience with participatory
    extension approaches especially in farmer field school (FFS) and
    participatory approaches in technology transfer in the Ugandan context.
  • Highly
    innovative, energetic individual with demonstrated contributions to the
    field of agriculture and committed to seeing measurable impacts at farm
    level.
  • Demonstrated
    capacity to take on a leadership position with strong managerial skills
    and capacity to manage people and interact with a wide range of private
    sector partners and public sector representatives, as well as managers and
    implementers of large-scale rural / community / SME development
    programmes.
  • Competency
    in field data collection, monitoring, analysis and reporting.
  • Prior
    working experience in de-centralized government entities and systems.
  • Possess
    excellent communication skills – including fluency in English.
How to Apply: 
All suitably
qualified and interested candidates should send their applications accompanied
with detailed curriculum vitae, copies of academic certificates, transcripts
and testimonials including names and addresses of three referees to: Ag.
Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Local Government, Worker’s House, 3rd Floor,
P.O. Box 7037 Kampala. Uganda
Deadline: 16th November, 2015

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