IFDC is recruiting a Project Manager to an anticipated Highland Farming Systems Project, 2022 – 2026, through its inception, implementation, and closeout phases. The anticipated project will work with approximately in 100,000 smallholder farmers (including women and youth) in the highlands regions of the Uganda becoming committed to farming in an economically remunerative, nutrition-sensitive, and ecologically sustainable manner. Activities will engender the development of an economically viable and self-sustaining commercially oriented farming system, one that will endure after the expiration of donor support.
The project will focus on interventions in potato, bean, vegetables, and sorghum, all annual crops. The project will improve the production, income, and consumption of nutritious foods among smallholder farmer households through a facilitative, integrated, climate-smart, gendered, and inclusive approach to food production, food diets, and food markets. This is anticipated to be achieved through interconnecting project components that are designed to create systemic change, ensuring project sustainability and exit after four years:
• Component 1: Sustainable access to agricultural inputs and advisory services of farming systems
• Component 2: Sustainable nutrition and dietary diversity at the household level
• Component 3: Sustainable, affordable smallholder access to markets
• Component 4: Learning and partnership capacity development through project learning, social inclusion, and women’s empowerment.

This position will be located in one of three proposed field offices for the project, with frequent travel to all project sites. This position is open to Ugandan national applicants only

Functions and Responsibilities of the Project Manager
• Provide input and guidance to project staff in the areas of agribusiness, farming systems, agronomy, livelihoods, access to inputs, nutrition, gender and capacity building.
• Provide input and guidance to staff on private sector engagement
• Coordinate the activities of the project implementation consortium
• Prepare work plans and annual budgets for the project according to the dates indicated in the grant agreement between the Embassy of the Kingdom of Netherlands Uganda (EKN) and IFDC
• Monitor with the technical staff all activities directly implemented by IFDC
• Monitor progress, narrative and progress reporting of subcontracted partner organizations
• Develop narrative and financial progress reports for the donor, according to the dates indicated in the grant agreement between the EKN and IFDC
• In conjunction with relevant staff and stakeholders oversee the management of the project’s co-investment fund, ensuring compliance with established protocols and best practices

Operational
• Ensure the daily management of the project, including financial management and management of project staff
• Coordinate the recruitment of project staff and coordinate/supervise their daily activities
• Working with communication staff support development of external communication of the project
• Organize trainings in response to identified training needs as planned in the project
• Maintain day-to-day relationships with the donor, Government of Uganda, District Local Governments in relation to project activities
• Develop progress reports for the Ministry of Agriculture and partner organizations as required
• Any other activities as assigned by the IFDC Uganda Country Representative or IFDC Regional Director East and Southern Africa or his/her designee
• Identify and channel new business opportunities to the IFDC Uganda Country Representative, to the Regional Director, East and Southern Africa and IFDC Program Development Unit.

Reporting relationships
• The Project Manager reports to the Regional Director, East and Southern Africa or his/her designee on all aspects related to the project and new business development in Uganda.
• For all country issues and coordination with other IFDC programs in Uganda, the Project Manager reports to the IFDC Country Representative in Uganda.

Requirements
• At least 5 years of experience successfully leading the management of complex, results based, international rural agricultural development programs (implementation, logistics, budget, staffing) funded by the Netherlands Government or other international donors.
• Master’s degree in agriculture or related field required.
• Demonstrated ability in the concepts, principles, methods and techniques of agribusiness development, farming systems development, agronomy, livelihoods, access to inputs, nutrition, gender, capacity building, extension services and the technical activities mentioned above
• Demonstrated skills in effectively collaborating with host governments, regional institutions, donors, other EKN and development partner projects, local organizations, private companies and other partners.
• Ability to successfully manage and develop staff as demonstrated by past experience.
• Ability to manage partners, sub-contracts and grant programs with all required reporting requirements
• Ability to perform internal control functions to manage day-to-day operations of the project
• Ability to communicate effectively in writing and orally in small audience and large audience settings.
• Fluency in written and spoken English is required
• Ability to travel in Uganda and in East and Southern Africa.
• This position will be located in one of three proposed field offices for the project, with frequent travel to all project sites.
• This position is open to Ugandan national applicants only