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Kiryandongo District, Uganda
Full-time
About the Organisation
Action Against Hunger-Uganda is a vital branch of the global humanitarian organization, Action Against Hunger, dedicated to fighting hunger and malnutrition in Uganda. The organization has a strong presence in the country, implementing comprehensive programs aimed at addressing the root causes of hunger and improving the nutritional status of vulnerable populations.
Action Against Hunger-Uganda focuses on a multi-sectoral approach that integrates nutrition, food security, water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH), and health interventions. These programs are designed to provide immediate relief to those in need while also promoting long-term sustainable development. The organization’s nutrition programs include therapeutic feeding centers and community-based initiatives that provide life-saving treatment to children suffering from severe acute malnutrition.
In the realm of food security, Action Against Hunger-Uganda works to enhance agricultural productivity and resilience among local communities. The organization provides training and resources to smallholder farmers, helping them adopt improved farming practices and diversify their livelihoods. This support aims to increase food production, improve household incomes, and reduce vulnerability to food shortages.
Water, sanitation, and hygiene are critical components of Action Against Hunger-Uganda's efforts to prevent malnutrition and improve overall health. The organization implements projects that ensure access to clean water, build sanitation facilities, and promote hygiene education. These initiatives help to reduce the incidence of waterborne diseases and create healthier living environments for communities.
Health interventions by Action Against Hunger-Uganda focus on strengthening local health systems and increasing access to essential healthcare services. The organization collaborates with local health authorities to train healthcare workers, improve healthcare infrastructure, and ensure the availability of essential medicines and supplies. These efforts contribute to better health outcomes and support the overall well-being of the population.
Job Title
Programs Officer job at Action Against Hunger
Job Description
Under the supervision of the Field Coordinator/Regional Program Coordinator, the Project Officer is responsible for the daily technical planning, implementation, supervision, monitoring, and reporting of food security and Livelihoods activities, and for ensuring proper coordination with stake holders.
Engagement:
• FSL Extension Workers: Supervisees
• Field Coordinator (FC)/Regional Program Coordinator (RPC): Direct line manager
• FSLR Coordinator: Technical Supervisor
• OLUM Groups
• Block farming groups
• Farmers associations
• Youth groups
• VSLA groups
Duties and Responsibilities
Essential Job Duties
1.Provide technical support to the implementation of FSL interventions (50%)
Technically support planning and implementation of FSL interventions i.e. agricultural livelihoods, business and skills development, financial inclusion and environmental protection.
Actively promote value chain development of selected enterprises through provision of productive assets, technical trainings, value addition and market linkages.
Ensure the coherence & linkage of the different program activities ranging from health seeking, nutrition support, FSL support, business development & linkage.
Ensure active participation of the various categories of beneficiaries in project interventions.
Implement all the planned field based activities in respective areas of project implementation in planned time and coherent manner.
Support the FC/RPC to identify key stakeholders involved in the value chain and conduct discussions with them to identify area of supports to develop linkages and collaborative way of working.
Coordinate relevant stakeholders and service providers to deliver trainings to project beneficiaries such as financial literacy trainings, agriculture loans, inputs, quality control and management, etc.
Conduct market studies and advise on best implementation strategies that would ensure that targeted farmers and farmer groups have profitable agribusiness ventures.
Develop a sustainable marketing structure, including an umbrella commodity marketing associations to enhance market access
Support teams prepare weekly and monthly individual work plans and submit to the team with clear deliverables and targets.
Build the capacity of FSL Extension Workers to effectively implement FSL activities (30%)
Conduct detailed induction and orientation of new staff under your supervision ensuring that all relevant documents and tools of work are shared with new staff.
Identify training needs and build capacity of FSL Extension workers in all key technical program aspects (OLUM, Block farming, Agroforestry, Farmer field schools, Soil & water conservation, business skills development, enterprise development, VSLA Methodology.
Provide capacity development training and support to the key stakeholders & project staff to effectively mobilize and deliver agri-business development services to beneficiaries (social mobilizing, identification of interest groups, business planning, and strengthening market linkages).
Develop training manuals per thematic area, and Participate in the training of beneficiaries, staff & stakeholders per the project requirements.
Train the groups on business planning and develop bankable business plans for all farmer groups and individual replicators as well as recommend relevant improvements in the agri-business enterprises that would enable the groups realize better returns on their investments.
In liaison with the FC/RPC ,organize and supervise all project capacity development activities i.e. trainings for facilitators, Lead mothers/demo site leaders/household care group members.
Ensure that staff under your supervision are effectively prepared and supported to deliver their tasks and perform to expectation.
Assessments, monitoring and reporting (15%)
Participate in beneficiary profiling, beneficiary registration, and base line-end line assessments in FSL activities through technical review and guidance on data collection tools.
Participate in all project review assessments, surveys and studies and ensure these are conducted as per protocol.
Document and compile reports on project activities including Monthly, Quarterly and annual donor reports, internal reports (Project Activity Reports (APRs) and activity reports (meetings, and any other activity).
Support the establishment of a database for all project activities to regularly monitor and evaluate their activities.
Take leadership in reporting on project progress, success stories and lessons learned during project implementation.
Conduct trend of food security and nutrition analyses of the refugee and host community and give recommendations on how Action Against Hunger can better position itself.
Coordination and representation (5 %)
Participate in appropriate multi-district activities related to FSL for example; field days, workshops, seminars, agricultural shows, and field monitoring visits.
Ensure that stakeholders are sensitized on program accountability and have information on beneficiary feedback mechanism.
Work closely with relevant district departments (Production, Animal production, Operation Wealth Creation & Natural resources) and NARO to share relevant information.
Participate in internal and external meetings as per the FC/RPC guidance
Coordinate with other sections of Action Against Hunger and all other stakeholders in the response.
Attend donor meetings and field visits as required.
Deliver diligently in any other duties as assigned from time to time
Supervisory Responsibilities
Provide technical supervision to EFSL Extension Workers
SERVICES
COMMERCIAL
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INDUSTRIAL
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RESIDENTIAL
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COMMERCIAL
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INDUSTRIAL
SERVICES
RESIDENTIAL
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COMMERCIAL
SERVICES
COMMERCIAL
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COMMERCIAL
SERVICES
COMMERCIAL
SERVICES
INDUSTRIAL
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RESIDENTIAL
Qualifications and Competencies
Required Qualifications
Bachelor degree (honors) in Agricultural sciences, business economics or any other relevant field with at least 4 years’ continuous experience implementing food security and livelihoods related activities.
Required Skills & Experience
Previous work with a busy multi-sectoral setting in a refugee setting is an asset
Knowledge and practical experience in value chain development.
Knowledge and practical experience in public private partnerships.
Previous work experience with farmer organizations.
Capacity building of organizations and individuals
Participatory training methodologies
Network of private sector contacts
Strong presentation skills with mastery of Power point, Excel, MS word
Strong communication skills (written and oral) in English
Ability to exercise sound judgment and make decisions independently
Team player, extremely flexible with the ability to cope with stressful situations
Excellent reporting skills with good oral and written communication skills
Knowledge of the local language is an added advantage
Culturally sensitive
Ability to ride a motorcycle and possession of a valid riding permit
Others/Extra Details
Physical Demands
While performing the duties of this job, the employee is required to sit for long periods and to concentrate on work, including typing, and turn out heavy volumes of work accurately, within short time frames under stressful situations in the context of a moderately noisy office with interruptions.
To travel to the field, the employee must attest to a level of physical fitness capable of enduring physically difficult, highly stressful situations which may include the necessity to walk long distances, to eat a limited diet and/or to reside in potentially uncomfortable housing or tents.
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
Working Conditions, Travel and Environment
The duties of the job require regular job attendance at least five days per week. Must be available to work outside normal office hours or on the weekends as required by contact with the missions, mission security, or other obligations.
Must be able to travel as required for standard domestic and international business travel as well as to the missions if appropriate. While visiting the field, the employee may be exposed to precarious settings under high security risks and/or very basic living conditions and outside weather conditions, as well is to infectious diseases.
Gender Equality Commitments & Zero Tolerance to Abuse
Foster an environment that reinforces values of people of all genders equal access to information. Provide a work environment where people of all genders must be evaluated and promoted based on their skills and performance.
Promote a safe, secure, and respectful environment for all stakeholders, particularly for children, beneficiaries, and members of staff.
Help to prevent any type of abuse including workplace harassment and sexual abuse and exploitation.
Respect beneficiaries’ women, men, children (boys and girls) regardless of gender, sex orientation, disability, religion, race, color, ancestry, national origin, age, or marital status.
Value and respect all cultures.
How to Apply
APPLICATION FOR THIS POSITION MUST BE DONE ONLINE:
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