Reports to: Program Manager

Salary: UGX 4,000,000 /=

DURATION & HOURS: Six months fixed-term contract, full-time, renewable based on availability of funds

About Organisation:

Farm Africa, founded in 1985, is an international non-governmental organization working in Uganda, Ethiopia, Kenya and Tanzania. We drive agricultural and environmental change to improve lives. Our strategy has three pillars: agricultural expertise, management and preservation of ecosystems, and the power of business to drive prosperity. We believe Africa has the power to feed itself and are helping make this happen by establishing and spreading the best farming and forestry techniques so that poor farmers and herders have more food to feed their families and to sell. We help smallholders manage their natural resources sustainably so that they can withstand climate change challenges and shocks and ensure their families have enough food in the future as well as now. Farm Africa works in partnership with communities, government, local and international organizations, and the private sector to innovate, learn and share best practices for maximum impact of our projects.

Purpose of the role: The purpose of the role is to provide technical capacity building of farmer organizations in Kenya and Uganda in the farmer organizations development incubation hub work funded by VI Agroforestry.

Our donor Vi Agroforestry have designed an incubation hub model for farmer organizations development, built on real practical experiences and learnings to provide relevant support to their early growth stages; enabling them to grow and provide the needed support to their members. As the Farmer organizations strive to increase efficiency and effectiveness, a need arises for strengthened governance and systems. For most grassroots organizations that bring farmers in their local communities together, they often do not have adequate capacity; even as they have the zeal and drive to support their members to adopt sustainable farming practices; improve their livelihoods and resilience to effects of climate change.

Farm Africa has therefore been contracted by VI agroforestry as technical partner organizations to spearhead the implementation of the farmer’s organizations incubation process.

The Business Advisor should have a strong background in entrepreneurship, Farmer organisational development, business management, or a related field, with a deep understanding of farmer organization’s operations in the agricultural sector in Kenya/ Uganda. He/she should be well experienced in agriculture business development, Farmer organization capacity building, value chain strengthening, market linkages, analytical, problem-solving and communication skills, along with the ability to work with diverse multicounty teams. A high level of competence in project budgeting, quality reporting and work planning is essential.

Key Duties and Responsibilities:

Activity Implementation and Reporting

• Take overall responsibility for the work planning, implementation and management of the agribusiness Farmer organization (FO) development incubation hub work in Kenya/ Uganda
• Track project progress on a weekly basis and provide routine updates as agreed with the Programme Manager.
• To manage the farmer organizations development incubation hub work in accordance with programme documents, work plans and budgets and ensure that work is consistent with Farm Africa’s strategies and the conditions of VI agroforestry contract.
• Spearhead the development of monthly, quarterly and annual reports.
• Maintain regular communications with the line manager and other team members.

Delivering Technical Excellence

• The Business advisor will be responsible for ensuring the technical excellence of all activities delivered within the project with a specific focus on training of the FO’s. Work with the Business and Programme Managers to identify areas of technical development within the project and team and mobilize resources to support this. Ensure follow up of technical trainings to analyze effectiveness and uptake of trainings. Conduct an organisational needs assessments for each of the targeted Farmer organisations and develop a capacity assessment reports.
• Using the results of the organisation needs assessment develop a capacity building plan and appropriate training materials for each of the target farmer organisations. Providing training, coaching, and mentorship to the target Farmer Organisations board committee and management team to ensure that they have the necessary skills and knowledge to successfully manage and grow their Farmer organisation.
• In collaboration with other Farm Africa team members develop key policies and procedures including HR manual, Board charter, financial policy and procedure, Procurement policy, Ant corruption and Anti-fraud policy and Sexual and harassment policy for each farmer organisation.
• In collaboration with other Farm Africa team members develop a strategic and resource mobilization plan for each target farmer organisations.
• Ensuring that each of the farmer organisations have the relevant government registration.

Monitoring Evaluation and Learning

• Adhere to Farm Africa’s Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) practices and frameworks and ensure that project team actively collect, analyze and manage data to feed into project delivery.
• In collaboration with the M&E team, develop and implement a project monitoring and evaluation process, capturing project outcomes/impact and lessons learned. Monitoring and evaluating the performance of the farmer’s organizations, identifying areas for improvement, and developing and implementing mitigation plans for risks and challenges.

Visibility, Communication and stakeholder management

• To manage and nurture mutually beneficial partnerships with other stakeholders, including implementing partners, various service providers and private sector companies in the value chains promoted.
• Contribute to the development and implementation of the project’s visibility strategy in line with donor guidelines.

Other Roles

• In consultation with the Programme manager, to act as an ambassador, promoting the project and the work of Farm Africa, including hosting visitors, speaking at workshops, conferences and meeting donors and other officials as and when required.
• To undertake any other duty as may be directed by the line manager or Country Programmes Manager from time to time.
• To play an active role in the Farm Africa Kenya/ Uganda team.

Qualifications, Skills and Experience:

Essential:

• Bachelor’s degree in Agriculture, Agribusiness or other related field.
• Extensive knowledge of Organisational capacity building, agribusiness development, market analysis, value chain development, and market-oriented approaches.
• Demonstrable experience working with multiple farmer organisations and
• agribusinesses in different agriculture value chains in the Kenya/ Uganda.
• Experience providing capacity building support to farmer organisations including helping them develop appropriate policies.
• Proven experience in management, preferably in agricultural development projects with a focus on agribusiness working with organisations
• Experience in developing capacity building materials and providing training to various actors in the agricultural sector.

Experience                                    

• At least five years of experience in the agricultural sector preferably working   with Farmer organisations including cooperatives and a strong value chains and market engagement focus.

Skills and Abilities:                   

• Project management
• Capacity building of organisations and individuals.
• Financial management
• Field level training.
• Agricultural value chains development
• Participatory planning, monitoring evaluation.
• Effective communication (both verbal and written).
• Team player
• Report writing skills.
• Strong, decisive and results oriented leader

Desired:

• Deep Knowledge in Agribusiness and Farmer organisation Management.
• Clear understanding of how small-scale producers in Farmer organisations are linked to the private sector or markets for their produce.
• Field-based experience implementing small holder projects and providing capacity building and Business Development Services (BDS) to Farmer organisations and agribusinesses in the agricultural sector.
• Negotiating and managing partner relationships
• Policy influencing
• Familiarity with smartphone mobile training tools

To apply, please send a CV, salary history, and a two-page supporting statement detailing how you meet the person specification and your availability/notice period to ugandarecruitment@farmafrica.org including ‘Business Advisor Officer’ in the subject line.

NB: Please DO NOT send additional documents such as certificates and references with your application. Successful candidates ONLY will be required to provide these documents during the referencing process.

Due to the urgent requirement to fill this position, applications will be assessed and suitable candidates invited for interview on a rolling basis. This may mean that the position is filled before the closing date so qualified candidates are urged to submit their applications promptly.