Program: HortiMAP DUTCH004-01

Number of Positions: 2

Reports to: Market Development Facility Lead

Location: Kampala

Travel: 40%

Everyone deserves the opportunity to build a better future. This simple idea has been at the heart of TechnoServe’s work around the world for over 50 years. TechnoServe is a pioneer in leveraging the power of business and markets to create sustainable pathways out of poverty.

The low-income communities in which we work are full of enterprising people. Their small-scale farms and businesses are the keys to economic development. But they face many challenges: low literacy, lack of access to jobs and markets, unpredictable political dynamics and, increasingly, the effects of climate change. For many women and young people, the challenges are even more daunting. Working with TechnoServe staff, people around the world are lifting themselves out of poverty. The results are amazing...when incomes increase and living conditions for families get better, they are able to access health care and education previously out of reach. Communities and even whole countries are better off.

Job Summary:

This position aims to effectively manage the market systems grants (micro-grants) provided through the MDF to farmer organizations and vendors through their various organizations. The MDF looks to provide infrastructure funding to several horticulture producer organizations. The incumbent will manage the disbursement of market systems grants and provision of technical assistance/trainings to producer organizations and vendor associations to ensure quality and effectiveness.

Technically, the incumbent will lead the linkages between the producer organizations and other MDF partners. Under the guidance of the MDF lead, Value chains Advisor and in coordination with the Business Advisors, the incumbent will also ensure that all interventions designed and implemented by the MDF SMEs integrate producer organizations, micro-enterprises, and market vendors.

Program Overview:

Through the four-year HortiMAP program funded by the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, TechnoServe and partners BID Capital, Wageningen University and Research, and Pum Experts jointly implement to transform the horticulture industry in Uganda. The program combines catalytic funding through a Market Development Facility and Technical Assistance fund to leverage private sector and local resources and expertise to strengthen SMEs and local supply chains while delivering world-class entrepreneurship training to farmers and retailers to realize their potential.

The project is in its final phase and has, to date, brought on board a sizable number of cooperatives, SMEs, and producer groups that have received grants. These partners require assistance in developing a sustainability plan, undergoing regular monitoring, and ensuring the success of their businesses as the project comes to a close.

Primary Functions & Responsibilities:

Producer organizations development

• Coordinate the capacity development for selected producer organizations to enable them provide reliable products and services to smallholder horticulture farmers.
• Lead the development of producer organizations that receive the MDF market systems grants into viable business units with assets and revenue to enable them become credit worthy.
• Link the credit worthy POs to the Horticulture Credit Line implementing partners to enable them access financing to expand their enterprises.
• Support farmer-facing MDF SMEs in integrating producers and/or vendors into their business models (supply chain or distribution network) to enable them to take advantage of the opportunities created by the SMEs.
• Work with the MLE team to conduct a capacity assessment for producer cooperatives to measure their progress toward self-sustainability.

Grants Management

• Coordinate assessing and selecting suitable infrastructure grant beneficiaries in line with TechnoServe policy and donor requirements.
• Coordinate with the procurement team to ensure timely disbursement of infrastructure grants.
• Monitor the implementing of partnership agreements signed between Technoserve, SMEs and small grant beneficiaries to ensure compliance to Technoserve grants policy and manage risks associated with the grants.
• Build the capacity of infrastructure grant beneficiaries to ensure effective utilization facilitating business growth and support to smallholder horticulture farmers.
• Work with the business advisors to provide post grant technical assistance to infrastructure grant beneficiaries.
• Recommend necessary procedures/processes to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of the utilization of MDF and small grants.

Learning and impact

• Monitor and report on implementation progress of producer organizations.
• Work with Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning team, MDF Lead and Senior Value Chain Advisor to ensure that monitoring and evaluation of producer organization activities are practical and reflects best practices of market systems/private sector development
• Work with the MEL team to produce case studies, assessments, and other learning documentation, as well as enhance program quality.
• Work with the MEL team to endure proper documentation and filing of all information relating to the support to producer organizations and infrastructure grants.
• Generate information to inform the Fund manager on the utilization of credit by POs to ensure they improve on finance products and services offered to the producer organizations and vendor associations.

Representation and coordination

• Represents Technoserve/HortiMAP at academic events, conferences, media forums, and other events in regions of operation as authorized by his/her supervisor
• Identify and nurture strategic partnerships with other organizations and institutions as well as local governments to advance the growth of producer organizations.

Ethics and Integrity

All Technoserve staff are expected to behave ethically and demonstrate highest integrity in their professional and personal life. Technoserve has zero tolerance to any form of fraud, corruption, abuse, harassment, or exploitation. Any breach of our policies or misconduct will lead to disciplinary action or may lead to termination

Accountability to Clients

Ensure that producer organizations and market vendors associations are actively engaged as equal partners in the design, monitoring and evaluation of their business plans and encourage them to share feedback through the promoted channels

Accountability

• Reports Directly To: Market Development Facility Lead.
• Works Directly With: Senior Value Chains Advisor, Grants team, Business Advisors.

Basic Qualifications:

• The ideal candidate, should hold an degree in Business Management, Agribusiness, Agricultural Economics, horticulture or Economics with major focus on
• A minimum of 3 years’ experience in agribusiness, horticulture production or marketing, or agri-enterprise development especially in a rural communities.
• Direct experience working in the private sector involved in providing business development services or financing to producer organizations is added advantage
• Demonstrable experience in supporting the growth and development of producer organizations into business entities is desired.
• Knowledge of tools and processes for measuring and monitoring farmer organization's growth.
• Experience of management of micro-grants or cash disbursement interventions is an added advantage.
• Demonstrable quantitative skills, including familiarity with mobile data collection and data analysis
• Proven skills in team work, holding community consultations and organizational development

Preferred Qualifications:

• Knowledge of government of Uganda policy on farmer organizations development is desirable.
• Working knowledge of Uganda’s rural agribusiness landscape and business environment, particularly in the context of horticulture is particularly important.
• Demonstrated ability to interact effectively with a wide range of partners; private sector, banks, government and civil society and influence them to support producer organization development.
• Excellent English language skills (written and verbal) for reporting, communication and representation