Value Chain Development Specialist
| Location | Kampala, Uganda |
| Date Posted | June 17, 2026 |
| Category | Management |
| Job Type | Full-time |
| Currency | UGX |
Description
About this job
Q-Sourcing Limited trading as Q-Sourcing Servtec is a manpower management solutions firm operating in the East African Region in the countries of Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda, and South Sudan.
On behalf of our client RIPPLE EFFECT in the NGO sector, we are looking for 3 ( three) competent, skilled, and experienced Value Chain Development Specialists.
| Job title | Value Chain Development Specialist | ||
| Department/Team | Programmes – Youth Economic Empowerment through Livestock Development (YEELD) Project | ||
| Job Family | PDD-Programme Delivery, Partnerships & Development | Job Code | PDD 052 |
| Reporting to | Project Manager – Ankole Sub Region | ||
| No. of direct reports | N/A | ||
| Location | Mbararara (1 Vacancy), Mbale (1 Vacancy), Soroti (1 Vacancy) | ||
| Travel Frequency | Frequent | ||
| Employer (s) | Ripple Effect Uganda, MUCOBADI, GENEX | ||
About the Project
The Youth Economic Empowerment through Livestock Development (YEELD) Program is a five-year initiative aimed at improving the socio-economic well-being and resilience of financially disadvantaged young people aged 18–35 years in the Teso, Bukedi, and Ankole sub-regions of Uganda through livestock value chains. The program seeks to create 250,000 work opportunities, including for 200,000 (80%) young women, 5% persons with disabilities (PWDs), and 3% refugees and displaced persons (RDPs). YEELD is being implemented across 20 districts in the three sub-regions through a consortium coordinated by Ripple Effect, dfcu Foundation, and Multi Community Based Development Initiative (MUCOBADI), and Action For Development (ACFODE) as a Gender and Social Inclusion partner, in partnership with the Mastercard Foundation.
Role Purpose
The Value Chain Development Specialist will lead the design, development and strengthening of inclusive profitable, and sustainable livestock value chain businesses, and service systems under the YEELD programme with a focus on groups, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), and farmer organizations. The primary responsibilities include analyzing the livestock and other value chains, developing market linkages, and implementing strategies to upgrade and improve value chain processes. The focus is on improving the availability, quality, and accessibility of critical services including inputs, veterinary care, extension, aggregation, and market infrastructure to enable sustainable productivity and employment outcomes for young people, especially women, refugees, and persons with disabilities.
The Specialist will drive systemic, market-based interventions that strengthen ecosystem actors and service delivery models, ensuring long-term sustainability and alignment with the Mastercard Foundation’s Young Africa Works strategy and Uganda’s national livestock development priorities.
The Specialist will coordinate closely with consortium partners, Project Manager and other technical and thematic leads and other stakeholders to ensure effective Agribusiness information sharing and collaboration across all activities. He/she will also build capacity among Agri-hubs/cooperatives and MSMEs on sustainable farming systems and production models to enhance production, processing, and marketing efforts. This includes promoting market access through collective marketing, encouraging investment among youth and women small-scale producers, and providing these groups with support, information, and confidence needed to access finances to invest in their farms, businesses and communities.
The Value Chain Development Specialist will oversee all YEELD value chain activities within the sub-region. A key part of the role involves conducting value chain analytics and studies for selected commodities and products to identify primary inefficiencies, constraints, and opportunities for women and youth engagement and value addition. Furthermore, the role involves working with the Business Development specialist to facilitate collective marketing and building sustainable linkages between farmer producers and markets through developing viable business cases for youth and MSMEs, fostering sustainable business partnerships, and promoting job creation. The Specialist will engage with various value chain actors including government institutions, implementing partners, agro-processors, farmer organizations, and farmers to ensure a comprehensive approach to strengthening the agricultural value chain.
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Key Responsibilities
Technical Leadership | § Identify agribusiness and value chain enterprises with the potential to increase youth employment and income across domestic, regional, and international markets. § Champion innovative and sustainable agricultural practices and production models that improve efficiency, resilience, employment and income generation. § Collaborate with the project leadership team to integrate strategic value chain interventions, workplans and budgets with a focus on youth engagement and inclusion of women, refugees, and Persons with Disabilities. § Identify and assess Private Sector Actors (PSAs), conducting due diligence and developing business cases to integrate them into YEELD value chains. This includes evaluating their capacity through site visits, and interactions with company personnel and clients, to support youth skills development and employment opportunities. § Support the front-line teams to ensure Good Agricultural and Livestock management practices, are integrated within value chains in collaborations with PSAs and district production departments. § Manage PSA contracts, ensuring deliverables are met in accordance with contractual terms. § Develop and roll out multiple and sustainable value chain production models while integrating other pathways including access to finance to accelerate youth transition into employment. § Identify and map out any YEELD related value chain risks likely to impact project interventions and delivery. Devise mitigations to address them. |
Project Management and compliance | § Prepare and submit regular (monthly, quarterly & annual) progress reports on value chain activities to the Project Manager § Stay abreast of developments in youth employment, agribusiness, and agricultural value chain policies and best practices. § Initiate and develop project tools and guidelines, including PSA assessment criteria and report templates, due diligence templates, and private benefit analysis tools. § Advise procurement committees on the acquisition of value chain-related goods and services. § Provide technical guidance to cluster coordinators for effective PSA monitoring and reporting. |
Value Chain Analysis and Systems Strengthening
| § Conduct comprehensive studies and reviews of livestock value chains to identify Opportunities (viable, profitable, and sustainable options) to engage youth and promote value addition and identify systemic constraints. § Design and implement interventions to strengthen input supply systems, animal health services, extension models, and aggregation structures. § Promote efficient, market-driven service delivery mechanisms that improve productivity and resilience. § Support development of inclusive service models targeting youth, women, refugees, and marginalized groups. § Analyze how environmental sustainability can enhance value chain profitability and competitiveness, supporting youth employment and the creation of bankable Agri-enterprises. § Collect and analyze data to inform investment in innovative agribusiness enterprises that can be financed to drive youth employment and livelihood improvement. § Produce analytical and knowledge resources (e.g., guidelines, case studies, technical notes) that demonstrate the business case for value chains in the context of job creation. |
Private Sector Engagement & Market Systems Development | § Build and maintain partnerships with private sector actors including input suppliers, processors, service providers, and aggregators. § Facilitate the strengthening of market systems to ensure sustainable access to services and markets. § Identify and support scalable business models that enhance competitiveness within livestock value chains. § Develop and implement strategies to create an MSME ecosystem that supports sustainable youth-led agribusinesses. § Identify new market opportunities and lead the development of viable business models that secure long-term private sector engagement for youth. § Facilitate consortium workshops and provide consistent updates, market intelligence, and stakeholder linkages to support hub operations |
Financial Inclusion & Services Integration
| § Collaborate with financial institutions to design and promote livestock-friendly financial products (credit, insurance, savings). § Strengthen linkages between value chain actors and financial service providers. § Promote integrated service delivery models that combine technical, financial, and market support. |
Capacity Building & Technical Support
| § Provide technical guidance to consortium partners and service providers on value chain development approaches. § Strengthen capacities of local actors (e.g., vets, agro-input dealers, extension agents) to deliver quality services. § Support training on livestock productivity, service delivery models, and business sustainability. |
Coordination & Partnership Management
| § Work closely with consortium partners to ensure coordinated implementation across sub-regions. § Foster collaboration and alignment with consortium partners, local authorities, Agro-processors, farmer/youth groups, and other stakeholders. § Participate in joint planning and co-creation processes for programme activities. § Engage with government agencies and sector platforms to ensure alignment with national strategies. |
Monitoring, Evaluation, Adaptation & Learning | § Conduct quarterly field assessments, to monitor implementation, document best practices, and support learning across the consortium. § Work with the MEL team to establish measurable KPIs that track project impact and sustainability. Keep track of data relating to all aspects of production and marketing. § Define quality standards for value chain development with value chain actors. § Organize regular consortium leadership meetings, feedback sessions, raising issues and proposing corrective measures as needed. § Support adaptive management through evidence-based decision-making. § Prepare timely technical reports and updates. |
Innovation & Systems Transformation | § Identify, pilot, and scale innovative approaches to strengthen livestock service delivery systems. § Promote digital and climate-smart solutions within livestock value chains. |
Other duties
| § Ensure compliance with Ripple Effect policies and all relevant legislation. § Act at all times according to Ripple Effect’s values and in support of its Africa Forward Together approach. § To undertake other duties of a similar nature as reasonably required by the line manager. |
Key Result Areas
| § Strengthened and sustainable livestock service delivery systems. § Improved access to quality inputs, services, and markets for youth. § Increased productivity and competitiveness in livestock value chains. § Scalable and inclusive service models benefiting women, refugees, and PWDs. § Strong private sector participation in livestock ecosystem development |
Safeguarding
At Ripple Effect, we are committed to creating a safe and rewarding environment for all of our people, including staff, participants, partners, volunteers, children, and vulnerable adults. It is a shared responsibility to ensure that everyone is treated properly and protected from harm, exploitation, and abuse. To fulfil this commitment, we have established a robust Safeguarding Policy that everyone working with us is expected to follow, along with a confidential whistle-blowing procedure that allows individuals to raise any concerns they may have.
Requirements
Person specification
Qualifications
- A Master’s Degree in Animal Science, Veterinary Science Agribusiness, Agriculture Economics, or any other related field.
- Project Management certifications is a MUST. PMP certification, Project DPro certification, or Prince2 certification is desirable