About US:
Mercy Corps is an international non-profit organization which implements high-quality, analytical development work in very difficult places. We have been operating in Uganda since 2006 and currently implement development programs in the Acholi and Karamoja sub-regions of Uganda with funding from USAID, EC, SDC, and USDA. We were recently awarded a market-development focused 5-year USAID/Food for Peace-funded program working in the northern half of Karamoja.
About USAID GHG Program:
The project, called the Northern Karamoja Growth, Health and Governance (GHG) program, aims to support the immediate needs of program beneficiaries while promoting long-term development by spurring systemic improvements in key economic sectors of northern Karamoja.
Job Summary: The Agronomist will work to improve the economic future and quality of life of the GHG program beneficiaries. The ability of the Agronomist to drive the implementation of effective agricultural extension services and the adoption of improved agronomic practices will be the position’s first and primary success factors. The second will be the degree to which that person promotes and captures learning with her/his team, institutionalizing activity reviews, identifying and evaluating preconceptions and promoting a culture of inquisition. The third success factor will be the degree to which that person successfully incorporates gender into program activities, not just by meeting gender beneficiary targets, but also be innovatively considering the specific needs of women farmers and their constraints to farming (time, land, money, etc.). The Agronomist manages the implementation of several agriculture-related project activities, such as agricultural extension services and training, seed multiplication, demonstration plot establishment and management, liaising with key stakeholders including National Agricultural Research Organizations (NARO) or ZARDI, local government production department, agro-input dealers, and other GHG program staff. In addition, work involves considerable monitoring and assessing agricultural conditions and results.
Key Duties and Responsibilities:
1. Program:
· In charge of developing messages, structures and systems to continually improve GHG’s Agricultural Extension Services to improve the productivity of poor farmers and help them turn that productivity into improved food security and livelihoods. Focus is on crop production, vegetable gardening and post-harvest handling.
· Directly supervise and provide leadership to GHG’s Agricultural Extension Workers (estimated between 12 and 22) to ensure effective use of resources and successful targeting of services to the Districts’ most vulnerable farmers.
· Act as the primary liaison and coordinator between GHG and NabuZARDI to tap NabuZardi’s experience, knowledge and materials for the benefit of Northern Karamoja farmers.
· Identify technologies, practices, tools, equipment, varieties and partners that have the greatest potential to improve the agricultural productivity of Northern Karamoja and food security of the area’s most vulnerable, and engage/introduce them into GHG.
· Manage the implementation of quality demonstration plots, seed multiplication plots, and possibly nurseries that may be supported by GHG.
· Work closely with other GHG teams and partners, including but not limited to: Livestock, Financial Access, Urban Development, Maternal and Child Health, KAPDA, AWOTID.
· Incorporate gender into program activities, not just by meeting gender beneficiary targets, but also be innovatively considering the specific needs of women farmers and their constraints to farming (time, land, money, etc.)
· Participate in the development of work plans, program reviews, assessments, monitoring activities, learning and evaluations.
· Provide data in support of team submission of timely weekly, monthly, and quarterly reports that will be indicative of program progress during implementation.
· Assist with overall implementation of agriculture activities; develop future follow-on activity and anything additional as required.
2. Monitoring and Evaluation:
· Create a dynamic program environment that promotes inquiry;
· Take primary responsibility for sector-focused data gathering;
· Establish procedures and guidelines to monitor and evaluate the progress and impact of economic development support work including setting and measuring benchmarks along results chains;
· Keenly analyze project implementation strategies to identify constraints to program success and provide timely recommendations;
· Work in close collaboration with Monitoring, Evaluation, Learning and Information Officers (MALIO) to ensure accurate and timely flow of information from the field into database and for preparation of communication reports
3. Other:
· Conduct himself/herself both professionally and personally in such a manner as to bring credit to Mercy Corps and to not jeopardize its humanitarian mission;
· Perform any other duties as assigned.
Qualifications, Skills and Experience:
· The ideal candidate for the USAID Project vacancy should hold a B.Sc. in agronomy or related field.
· At least five years’ management experience with extension services, agricultural productivity programming, farmer training and mobilization, activities with women, and similar relevant activities.
· The applicant must be a proven leader who can effectively manage other staff and work within a team, work independently, and take initiative.
· The successful candidate will also have excellent English language verbal and written communication skills; proficiency in Ng’akarimojong or Leb Thur is also preferable.
· Candidate must be willing and able to extensively travel throughout the program area (Northern Karamoja)
· Hold a valid motorbike riding license
How to Apply:
All suitably qualified and interested Ugandan candidates should send their applications including a cover letter clearly stating the salary requirements, updated CV (with three professional referees), and copies of academic qualifications/certificates to the HR/Admin Manager, Kampala Head Office on 4th Floor Embassy Plaza, Plot 1188-1190 Ggaba Road. The E-mail applications with cover letter should be sent to: mcjobs@ug.mercycorps.org
Deadline: 17th July 2015