About US:

The Development Initiative for Northern Uganda (DINU) is a Government of Uganda Programme supported by the European Union (EU) and supervised by Office of the Prime Minister. Together with a consortium of partners, the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) has received a grant to implement an action called “Building resilience to enhance food and nutrition security, incomes and health in Northern Uganda”. This will be implemented in seven districts: Amolatar, Apac, Dokolo, Otuke and Kwania in Lango subregion and Kapelebyong and Amuria in Teso subregion.

Under the Market Access and Value Addition Unit of the IITA-led action, Rikolto International and Kilimo Trust, both consortium partners, are responsible for activities of the Increased Market Accessibility Component, including facilitating the strengthening of farmer organizations/cooperatives, facilitating access to Business Development Services (BDS), such as finance for aggregation of farmer production, access to insurance, as well as digital solutions that aid smooth operations, payments and linkages to buyers and suppliers.

Job Summary:

The Agribusiness Officer will enhance the inclusion of smallholder farmers in durable and fair-trading relationships with private companies in national, regional and export markets.

Key Duties and Responsibilities:

• Plan, implement, monitor and adjust innovations in inclusive business models
• Plan, coordinate, implement and monitor actions leading to set objectives
• Develop, strengthen and support business development linkages between FBOs and private companies
• Strengthen the entrepreneurial attitude, skills, digital solutions and capacities of FBOs
• Provide strategic and technical guidance to FBOs ensuring their inclusion in value chains
• Design, test, and validate change/innovations in the linked business models
• Monitor and document the change/innovations processes in the business models, the changes in behavior of the FBOs and companies involved, and the results of these towards improved small-holder livelihoods, and draw lessons
• Support the periodic documentation and translation the outcomes
• Coordinate/implement the actions of/with the various partners in the achievement of the set objectives of the DINU action
• Build up a close relationship with private companies interested in sustainable sourcing from smallholder farmers
• Network with other organizations that have a stake in the DINU action
• Analyze and document the changing national context in relation to the business environment, the value chain, the market
• Provide information, analysis, lessons learned to allow program management to readjust interventions for the DINU action
• Collaborate and work closely with DINU action M&E specialist and ABOs to collect and synthesize all program data and report accordingly
• Develop and review plans, budgets and monitors expenditure of the DINU action in area of jurisdiction

Key Results

• Innovative interventions that contribute to the desired planned DINU action
• Strong business linkages between FBOs and private companies
• Strong entrepreneurial attitude, skills and capacities of FBOs
• High quality analysis of trends and opportunities in relation to the business environment
• Strong network and coordination with partners and key stakeholders
• Significant and sustainable benefits for farmers working in the DINU action
• Effective learning processes which lead to improvements in DINU action
• Meticulous documentation and translation of the outcomes of the DINU action

Qualifications, Skills and Experience:

• The applicant must hold a Bachelor’s Degree in Agriculture, Agribusiness, Economics, Business or Cooperative development
• Two to three years of experience in grains or high value crops value chain development, working with a variety of stakeholders
• Strategic thinker who is able to see problems from different angles
• Results orientated
• Communicates clearly in a variety of settings and styles and has good networking skills
• In-depth understanding of value chains development approaches
• Good understanding of food safety standards, certifications and quality management systems
• In-depth understanding and development of sustainable non-financial (BDS development) and financial services including market information systems
• Vast experience working with FBOs and facilitation of collective action
• Proven track record of developing FBO or SME business models and business plans
• Good understanding of sustainability /environment
• Understands national and regional market dynamics of high value crops and grains
• Good computer operation Word, Excel, PowerPoint
• Good proficiency in English (speaking and writing)

All candidates should Email their applications / cover letters and Curriculum Vita addressed to the Regional Director of Rikolto in East Africa and submitted to [email protected] with the subject “Officer DINU-Ug”.

NB: Female candidates are encouraged to apply.

Deadline: 24^th April 2020 by 5:00pm