Summary
Date Posted: Monday, January 15 2024, Base Salary: Not Disclosed

JOB DETAILS:
Reporting Lines
The Value Chain Specialist will report to the Project Coordinator (AMS Project) and work in close collaboration with the Director of Programme-ACORD Uganda.

Technical Focus
The Value Chain Specialist will; conduct of mapping and analysis of the three value chain in the project sites, capacity enhancement, develop activity design and training modules, provide technical assistance, value chain development advice and implementation support to small and medium-sized enterprises (SME’s), clusters, and producers organisations in the development of market linkages in the agriculture sector so that these become profitable, bankable, and self-sustaining in the long run.

The key tasks and responsibilities of the role include:
In consultation with the key stakeholders, support the conduct of mapping and analysis with WFP and TTC, together with the Project Coordinator and technical specialists (farming systems, training and development) of the three value chains in the selected sites (Napak, Nakapiripirit and Nabilatuk). Specifically, the incumbent will carry out the following activities:
• Planning and monitoring of project interventions and knowledge management:
• Support identification of project pocket areas, sub-counties, cooperatives, farmers, extension officers and information extension providers;
• Assist the completion of the baseline survey, mid term evaluation and final evaluations;
• Advise on organizing planned activities for marketing and value chain development of selected produce (maize, sorghum, soy bean and sunflower) in consultation with stakeholders (i.e. WFP, MAAIF, NARO, Local Governments, operators of collection centres, cooperatives, farmers, and agrovets);
• Plan and conduct gross-margin analysis and other relevant socio-economic studies;
• Develop data collection tools and techniques for monitoring of project related interventions including marketing volume and value of commodities at collection centres and cooperatives;
• Develop relevant training and extension materials, manuals, articles and guidelines related to agricultural marketing; cooperative/collection centre management and value chain upgrading;
• Develop, in consultation with project team, the value chain grant guideline and support on its operationalization; and
• Document best practices and lessons learnt of the project and support to replicate it.

Strengthening capacity of project partners and beneficiaries:
• Conduct the capacity and need assessment of the identified cooperatives and market committees;
• Prepare and implement plan of action on physical and institutional support provisions to cooperatives, collection centres and satellite markets to achieve the project targets;
• Support the provision of post-harvest handling and marketing of (maize, sorghum, soy bean and sunflower) to operators of collection centres and satellite markets;
• Contribute to build the capacity of staffs of local government and cooperatives on themes relevant to the position;
• Support the cooperatives and market centres to prepare business plans, operational plans, and other relevant policy documents, and their smooth implementations;
• Plan and manage the implementation of learning programmes (trainings, workshops, exposure visits) on collection centre management, marketing, and value chain development;
• Research the marketing and market information system at collection centres and satellite markets and identify opportunities to strengthen the system;
• In collaboration with relevant government and private institutions, support provision of necessary ICT services and equipment to cooperative/collection centre members and farmers;
• Identify potential market actors and business development service providers, and connect with producer’s organization for assured market and services; and
• Support the cooperatives and market committees to develop value chain grant and its effective implementation.

Stakeholders engagement and partners coordination:
• Support local government to prepare acts, standards, guidelines and procedures for agricultural cooperatives and marketing services;
• In collaboration with relevant government and private institutions, support provision of ICT services and equipment to collection centre members and farmers if necessary;
• Identify opportunities for campaigns, services, and distribution channels that will lead to enhanced market linkage of (maize, sorghum, soy bean and sunflower);
• Coordinate and liaise with different Universities/Institutions for collaboration in research and internship placements;
• Coordinate and collaborate with MDAs and other development partners for better market linkage and value chain development initiatives;
• Attend events and conferences on marketing, value chain development, cooperatives, collection centre management, and post-harvest management and provide feedback and information;
• Explore and collaborate with commodity associations, entrepreneurs’ associations, cooperatives/associations on possible areas of interventions; and
• Represent, with consent from ACORD-Uganda, the project at different meetings and events at different levels, where necessary.

Project management support:
• Provide support to establish functional partnership with partner sub-counties and cooperatives/market committees;
• Contribute to develop annual work plans of the project and cooperatives;
• Provide information and data in time for the development of reports as required by the donor agency and the implementing partner;
• Support local government and cooperatives for collecting data and information and prepare technical report;
• Provide technical support to project team and specialists on areas of cooperatives, markets, value chain and project management related issues;
• Coordination with NARO and other relevant research/development organization and explore available new technologies for extension and marketing support;
• Contribute on periodic progress reports, monitoring reports, fact sheets and case studies to meet the in-house and donor reporting requirements;
• Contribute enhanced visibility of project, implementing partners on different forms and formats at different levels, where applicable; and
• Perform other tasks as required.

Gender and social inclusion in project interventions:
• Ensure gender and social inclusion component in any type of project interventions; and
• Manage data disaggregated by sex, age, and ethnicity from the records of project interventions.

Candidates will be Assessed Against the Following
Minimum Required Skills and Experience
Education:
• Master’s degree in Agriculture (Agricultural Economics, Rural Development, Agribusiness or other related fields) management or equivalent.

Experience:
• At least 5 years of working experience in the field of agriculture value chain, market linkage, marketing, and collection centre management;
• Sound understanding of agricultural policies and agriculture research, development, and extension systems of Government of Uganda;
• Demonstrated capacity on design and implementation of agricultural value chain development;
• Ability to manage and supervise a team of multidisciplinary professionals; and
• Good understanding of WFP rules and procedures (an experience of completing UN assignments would be an asset).
• Good motorcycle riding skills and valid riding permit

Competencies
Corporate Competencies:
• Demonstrates integrity by modelling the ACORD’s values and ethical standards;
• Serves and promotes the vision, mission, and strategic goals of the ACORD Uganda/WFP;
• Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability;
• Good inter-personal skills;
• Clear and upfront communication skills;
• Treats all people fairly without favouritism;
• Display cultural and gender sensitivity and adaptability;
• Collaborates effectively in a team environment;
• Organized and good with following-up on pending issues; meets deadlines;
• Promote learning and knowledge management/sharing;
• Focused on delivering results by taking calculated-risks and problem-solving approach;
• Fair and transparent decision making; regularly shares information with team members; and
• Actively works towards continuing personal learning and development. Functional

Competencies:
• Promotes sharing of knowledge and experience, and actively works towards continued learning and development on personal level as well as for supervisees;
• Good practical knowledge of inter-disciplinary development issues;
• Ability to go beyond established procedures and models, propose new approaches which expand the range of projects;
• Demonstrates strong numerical and analytical skills;
• Has experience working with Monitoring and Evaluation tools;
• Experience in developing business plans for financial institutions including energy enterprises;
• Experience in coordination, technical assistance and advisory support top government and private institutions;
• Experienced in delivering training and other needed capacity/ institutional building support to a wide range of stakeholders including financial institutions;
• Demonstrates excellent organizational and administrative skills;
• Analyzes and selects materials for strengthening strategic alliances with partners and stakeholders;
• Understands and applies fundamental concepts and principles of a professional discipline or technical specialty relating to the position;
• Possesses basic knowledge of organizational policies and procedures relating to the position and applies them consistently in work tasks;
• Demonstrates good knowledge of information technology and applies it in work assignments;
• Effectively networks with partners seizing opportunities to build strategic alliances relevant to ACORD’s mandate and strategic agenda;
• Assesses project performance to identify success factors and incorporates best practices into project work;
• Monitors specific stages of projects/programme implementation; and
• Researches linkages across programme activities to identify critical points of integration.

Language Requirement:
• Fluency in spoken and written English. Other:
• Good knowledge of computer applications such as word, excel, power point and statistical applications.


Work Hours: 8

Experience in Months: 60

Level of Education: Bachelor Degree

Job application procedure

Interested candidates should submit their application letters and CVs bearing three references with, full residential and contact details (telephone and e-mail) as well as photocopies of academic documents and national identity card to the following email:
hr@acorduganda.org 

Applications should be addressed to; The Country Director, ACORD Uganda
P.O Box 280 Kampala-Uganda
Plot 1272, Block 15 Nsambya, Ggaba Road by 5:00pm on [16th January, 2024].

Only short-listed candidates will be contacted. If you do not hear from us within a week of the closing date, please assume that you have not been successful on this occasion.


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