About US:
The Government of the Republic of Uganda has received a loan and a grant from the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) to finance the Project for Restoration of Livelihoods in the Northern Region (PRELNOR), and intends to apply some of the proceeds to recruit staff to implement the project. PRELNOR will cover the districts of Adjumani, Agago, Amuru, Gulu, Lamwo, Kitgum, Nwoya and Pader.

About PRELNOR Project:
The overall goal of the PRELNOR is: Increased income, food security and reduced vulnerability of poor rural households in the project area. This will be through increased sustainable production, productivity and climate resilience of smallholder farmers with increased and profitable access to domestic and export markets.

Job Summary: The Agronomist / Extension Specialist (AES) will provide project leadership and technical guidance in support of crop/livestock agriculture production and extension activities under the Livelihoods component and ensure that climate smart technologies and approaches are promoted and adopted by the smallholder farmers. These activities will complement the natural resource management (NRM) and climate adaptation activities in PRELNOR led by the environment and climate change specialist to maintain and improve the project quality, and document lessons learnt in the area of agriculture, with a focus on crop and livestock management, water for productive uses, agro-enterprise development and building household and community resilience. The agronomist/agricultural extension specialist works in liaison with the program management unit based specialists to ensure that interventions to enhance crop production and productivity are implemented and monitored. The incumbent will render support in institution building and develop strong working relationships with the National Agricultural Research Organisation (NARO) through the ZARDIs in identification and application of appropriate technologies.

Key Duties and Responsibilities:
1. Project Implementation:
Provide overall strategic assistance on agronomic, farming system, seed system and demonstration practices to achieve the intended food security objectives
Work closely with ZARDI and climate change / environment specialist, evaluate new varieties and climate resilient agricultural practices
Actively promote crop diversification options that lead to higher nutrition and food security for food insecure households
Work in close consultation with district farmers associations to implement and supervise agreed activities in selected communities and enhance their capacity in effective extension service delivery
Support the environment and climate change specialist to develop agro-meteorological products and decision support systems for use by the relevant departments of MAAIF, extension services and the private sector/business partners
Develop the MoU and manage the contract for the pilot small-holder mechanisation adaption and demonstration activity to be implemented in one village in each of the eight districts based on experiences of the smallholder mechanization programme – Farm Mechanization and Conservation Agriculture for Sustainable Intensification across Eastern Africa programme.
Work with the agribusiness / partnerships management specialist to introduce an appropriate set of post-harvest management technologies and conduct action research on its socio-cultural acceptability and cost effectiveness.
2. Capacity Strengthening:
Offer support and direction to the project implementers (local governments, district farmer associations and other agencies) on effective agricultural and agribusiness extension services including farmer groups, FFS and other participatory approaches for technology delivery to smallholder farmers.
Identify training needs for extension technical master trainers and farmer group facilitators and implement a capacity building plan based on these needs.
Steer and organize training of trainer activities and training of the community based facilitators (CBF) in required extension methodologies and technical innovations.
Manage the preparation of farmer user-friendly extension and technical literature to disseminate appropriate information and ensure it is relevant and appropriately written to suit farmers with limited education.
3. Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning:
Work closely with the PMU Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning specialist, provide guidance to PRELNOR and partners in the design and/or enhancement of participatory M&E tools and protocols to strengthen data collection, analysis and reporting.
Render support in the design and implementation of baseline, mid-term and final evaluations and ensure follow-up of findings/recommendations to improve program quality

Qualifications, Skills and Experience:
The incumbent should preferably hold a Master’s degree in agricultural sciences with particular emphasis on extension, agronomy and/or soil science from a recognised University / Institution.
A minimum of five to ten years of working experience with participatory extension approaches especially in farmer field school (FFS) and participatory approaches in technology transfer in the Ugandan context.
Highly innovative, energetic individual with demonstrated contributions to the field of agriculture and committed to seeing measurable impacts at farm level.
Demonstrated capacity to take on a leadership position with strong managerial skills and capacity to manage people and interact with a wide range of private sector partners and public sector representatives, as well as managers and implementers of large-scale rural / community / SME development programmes.
Competency in field data collection, monitoring, analysis and reporting.
Prior working experience in de-centralized government entities and systems.
Possess excellent communication skills – including fluency in English.

How to Apply:
All suitably qualified and interested candidates should send their applications accompanied with detailed curriculum vitae, copies of academic certificates, transcripts and testimonials including names and addresses of three referees to: Ag. Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Local Government, Worker’s House, 3rd Floor, P.O. Box 7037 Kampala. Uganda

Deadline: 14th August, 2015