Job Title: Agricultural Market Systems Officer (MSO) – GOAL Uganda Jobs 2021
Organization: GOAL
Job Location: Uganda
GOAL Profile:
GOAL is currently seeking to hire an experienced, qualified, and business minded Agricultural Market Systems Officer (MSO) to join our existing team in Agago under the anticipated Uganda Youth Engine (UYE) project. If you have worked directly with agribusinesses/MSMEs, are familiar with and have experience in market systems development and private sector engagement approaches and have worked with programs promoting youth and other vulnerable groups (women, refugees and persons with disabilities) participation in livelihoods and market systems context within Uganda and internationally, then this role is perfect for you!
About the Project
This 2-year project targets 10,000 rural young women and men to increase their engagement in income-generating activities within the cassava, sunflower, and soya value chains in Northern Uganda. At least 70% of the youth targeted will be young women. As a result of the project young entrepreneurs will have the information, skills and coping mechanisms needed, will have networks in, and access to agro-input and output markets to engage actively and sustainably and will have access to and are using formal and digital financial services to invest in and grow their businesses in the agricultural market system. Our consortium of partners has been specifically put together to support the improved business climate for these value chains in Northern Uganda, addressing market system (framework condition) weaknesses in value-chain financing, access to inputs and improved technologies, efficient aggregation and off-taking of product, improved quality of product, goods and services, and increased digitalization of business products and services.
Job Profile:
Reporting to the Livelihoods Food and Nutrition Security Coordinator on a day-to-day basis, the position holder is to implement all aspects of the market systems development component. She/he will be required to apply a wide variety of market development tools and approaches to catalyze innovative services and facilitate linkages between market actors in the assigned programme areas. The Market Systems Officer will work in collaboration with the LFNSC and ACDP who will determine technical strategy for the youths to receive targeted business development support, as well as being linked to the private sector partners to increase access along the value chain framework conditions. The MSO is expected to be the focal person for all coordination, partnership and related activities with local level private sector services providers, and related stakeholders.
Roles and Responsibilities:
Planning, developing and implementing market development activities
- In coordination with the LLH FNS Coordinator, and local partners, plan, implement and monitor market system development activities. This will include developing partnerships with private sector actors to design, test, and deliver a wide range of appropriate services that increase youth employment and self-employment within the agricultural market system.
- Work with Local business mentors to support youth who will be undergoing an extended training and mentoring (through the graduation model) to be linked to private sector actors (PSAs) to develop sustaining relations for access to production inputs and markets, supporting the youths to join their agent networks, providing targeted training for selected agents to strengthen the link between the participants and the private sector partners.
- Work with Local Business Mentors to support the youth who graduate from the extended training and mentoring program to select a value chain to engage in, access relevant inputs, and venture into their agribusinesses, as well as linking to digital service providers to create digital profiles for each youth enterprise, and to formal financial institutions to digitalize the business savings groups and support individual participants to open formal bank accounts.
- Assist all partners to develop capacity building materials for business, technical and financial capacities.
- Participate in capacity building sessions undertaken by both the Local Business Mentors and the private sector actors through their local agents.
- Help execute related field activities to ensure that the programme results are achieved to the highest standard, and that project deliverables are completed as planned.
- Mobilize targeted youth to fully participate in the programme for sustainability.
- Work with the local business mentors delivering the graduation model to Identify small business activities for seed support through basic improvements or inputs, for youth after the 3-month intensive training and mentoring.
- Identify value-addition opportunities that strengthen economic opportunities, especially for young women and rural youth, in the agriculture sectors as identified by local and national government as well as independent market studies and needs assessments.
Collaboration/Networking
- Establish and maintain good coordination and working relationships with sub-county and district leaders and local government departments, representing GOAL in coordination meetings, and soliciting their participation in all activities where appropriate and as directed by the line manager.
- Ensure close coordination and sharing of information with relevant stakeholders such as local government departments, NGOs, and local authorities, as appropriate and advised by the line manager.
- Participate in the planning of learning and review meetings that bring private and public sector entities together to collectively review and discuss technology developments and innovation and to examine private sector approaches to household and community challenges that can be incubated through public sector incentives.
- Conduct himself/herself both professionally and personally in such a manner as to bring credit to GOAL Uganda and to not jeopardize its humanitarian mission.
Documentation, Monitoring, Evaluation and Reporting
- Work closely with the monitoring and evaluation staff to capture the required data for measuring output and impact of the project; and to ensure accurate and timely flow of information from the field for entry in the database and for preparation of communication materials.
- Prepare and submit timely weekly, monthly, and quarterly reports that will be indicative of program progress during implementation. Respond to queries when necessary.
- Maintain proper filling system regarding market development activities of the program.
Accountability and safeguarding
- All team members are expected to support all efforts towards accountability and safeguarding, specifically to direct programme participants, engaging them as equal partners in the design, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of our field activities.
General
- Prepare weekly workplans and submit to the Project Manager
- Record and respond to feedback from communities, following GOAL CBRM process and protocol.
- Provide relevant agricultural information as required in the development of new proposals
- Ensure compliance with the HR manual and GOAL policies and procedures, maintaining standards of integrity and working to the GOAL Code of Conduct
Minimum Qualifications
Essential:
- A bachelor’s degree in business, agricultural sciences or related field
- Background in business, with a minimum of 3 years practical experience in the private sector
- Knowledge of the agricultural sectors
- Experience with market facilitation, supporting systemic change and promoting supporting services indirectly
- Knowledge and experience in business financing for SME’s
- Practical experience in working with both very small, small and medium sized companies in a development setting
- Strong writing, communication, organization, prioritization and negotiating skills
- Excellent (English) verbal and written communication skills with proven financial management skills
- Strong computer literacy with a full knowledge of office applications
- Must be able to ride a motorbike and possess a valid driving/rider permit.
Desirable:
- Highly motivated who can lead SME’s from both the front and behind (depending on the situation)
- Willingness to spend more time in the field and work closely with program target groups
- Experience in and ability to work in rural settings
How To Apply for GOAL Uganda Jobs 2021
All Interested applicants who meet the requirements should submit their applications by email with 3 reference contacts who must be Current or former line managers, a copy of the riding permit and daytime contact number to; recruitment@ug.goal.ie indicating the title ‘Market Systems Officer’ in the subject line. PLEASE DO NOT ATTACH CERTIFICATES.
Deadline: 18th August 2021
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