Livelihoods Technical Lead, Uganda ICAN in Kampala, Uganda
Opportunity
USAID’s Integrated Community Agriculture and Nutrition Activity (ICAN) is USAID/Uganda’s flagship resilience project, awarded in July 2018. The Activity goal is to enhance the resilience of vulnerable households in the eight districts of Kanungu, Kisoro, Rukungiri (Kigezi sub-region), Gulu, Lamwo, Nwoya (Acholi sub-region); Kaabong and Kotido (Karamoja sub-region).
The project’s overall objective is to sustainably enhance the resilience of vulnerable households in its area of operation by maximizing economic opportunities for vulnerable households, stabilizing their access to and consumption of diverse and nutritious diets, and increasing social capital by reinforcing relationships among formal governance systems and communities.
The Livelihoods Technical Lead is responsible for providing technical guidance on the USAID ICAN Activity while assisting other employees, especially the regional teams, to provide on-site support and overcome any livelihoods and economic empowerment technical challenges. In addition, the Livelihoods Technical Lead shall provide technical oversight and guide strategic implementation of livelihoods and economic empowerment activities to ensure Activity milestones are achieved in all sub-regions.

Key Roles and Responsibilities:
Program Quality assurance
• Provide inputs to ensure appropriate inclusion of livelihoods perspectives in all planned activities, decisions, and policies.
• Design, review and adapt livelihoods program strategies, activities, and plans, ensuring they are in line with all project objectives and results for the benefit of the target populations.
• Make SMART recommendations on improving the effectiveness, efficiency, and implementation of activities.
Recognize opportunities for improvement, communicate them persuasively to management and partners for adoption.
• Provide specialist guidance and support in the respective area of specialization, e.g. training manual content development, design of innovative intervention models and engagements with partners.
• Participate in the development of and/or review of program quality assurance standards and methods/approaches of technical oversight in livelihoods and related relevant areas of expertise, including agriculture, food security and private sector engagement, among others.
• Consider a broad range of options and apply sound judgement to develop solutions within the respective area of speciality. This shall involve influencing the direction in the area of specialization at a senior level.
• Assist other team members of the ICAN in resolving complex livelihoods technical problems; investigate the root cause of problems, and recommend SMART correction actions.
• Participate in reviews of deliverables/achievements in livelihood activities; carry out formal and informal checks on the quality of implementation and documentation.

Networking and representation
• In consultation with the DCOP, establish and maintain strong working relationships with other USAID implementing partners.
• Identify and manage effective relationships with private sector/public partners within the livelihoods technical speciality.
• Represent and seek opportunities for the Activity in established networks relevant to technical speciality livelihoods.
• Facilitate coordination with Government of Uganda line ministries and entities, USG and other stakeholders to explore opportunities for leverage and synergies that catalyze the Activity key performance indicators.

Monitoring, Evaluation, Documentation and Learning
• In collaboration with the Project Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) Team, lead the design and implementation mechanisms for monitoring and evaluating project progress towards enhancing livelihoods.
Take the lead in soliciting for MEL data relevant to the sub purpose area, lessons learned, and lead evidence-based programmatic discussions in the sub purpose to improve achievements in all regions of ICAN work.
• Monitor the external context and emerging needs regarding the sub purpose area to introduce programmatic changes if necessary.
• In consultation with the DCOP and Field Director, provide thought leadership in developing annual work plans, quarterly reports and monthly sector updates for the livelihoods sub purpose.
• Take leadership in leading learning/capacity-building opportunities for the regional teams based on gaps realized from day-to-day implementation. This shall, among others, include the provision of on-job mentorship and coaching.
• In consultation with the DCOP and the communications specialist, document lessons learnt and contribute to materials for publicity/sharing with other stakeholders.

Preferred Skills & Experience
• Master’s degree in Agriculture, Business Management, Agricultural Economics, or other relevant fields.
• 8-10 years of experience with 5 years of experience in Program Management in the respective area of expertise
Demonstrated job experience supporting local implementing partners and rural communities to enhance capacities in their respective areas of expertise.
• Excellent track record of achieving results on related development activities
• Demonstrated high-level technical, analytical, interpersonal skills and ability to meet tight deadlines with logical analyses and clear presentation.
• Proficiency in MS Outlook, MS Word and other Microsoft Office programs as well as common internet applications
• Fluency in written and spoken English required
• Ability to travel to remote rural locations in Uganda
• Ability to travel up to 50% of work time

Minimum Qualifications
Bachelor’s Degree + Twelve years of relevant experience, or Master’s Degree + Ten years of relevant experience, or PhD+ Eight years of relevant experience
Abt Associates is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity employer committed to fostering a diverse workforce. Abt Associates provides market-competitive salaries and comprehensive employee benefits. Local candidates strongly encouraged to apply.