Summary
Date Posted: 7th January 2019 , Base Salary: Not Disclosed , Employment Type: Full-Time , Currency: Ush

JOB DETAILS:
Wageningen UR Uganda is an organization supporting societal learning and innovation processes at macro, meso and micro level in Uganda involving different stakeholder groups working together on development issues. Wageningen UR Uganda is recruiting staff for the ISSD Plus project funded by the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, Kampala. The programme aims to strengthen the development of a vibrant, pluralistic and market-oriented seed sector that is able to address key challenges that hamper the seed sector development such as seed quality assurance and availability of foundation seed. ISSD Plus project has 4 components: a) addressing bottlenecks in early generation seed; b) enhancing the Quality Declared Seed system and support Local Seed Businesses; c) promotion of uptake of quality seed and d) promotion of advanced vegetable variety/seed use The project is implemented in collaboration with the National Agricultural Research Organisation (NARO) for public varieties and food crops and private sector for vegetable seed. Field offices will be located at selected Zonal Agricultural Research and Development Institute (ZARDI) and will host the seed and agribusiness experts. We are looking for an enthusiastic Local Seed Business (LSB) Coordinator with both technical and supervisory skills to guide the technical support to small-scale farmer groups to produce high quality seed for sale to farmers within their communities.
Purpose of the position:
The purpose of the LSB Co-ordinator position is to coordinate and supervise the technical support to be provided by the zonal seed experts to farmer groups to produce high quality seed. The focus is on developing technical capacities of the farmers in best seed production practices including quality control. The LSB Co-ordinator will also coordinate and ensure the linkage and access to external seed quality assurance services (MAAIF and DAOs) and roll-out of the Quality Declared Seed (QDS) system. The LSB Co-ordinator will work directly with the zonal seed experts and in close collaboration with the agribusiness coordinator, Seed Systems and Policy Manager and experts, ZARDI staff, MAAIF/NSCS, District Local Government, (District Agricultural Officers), USTA and other stakeholders. The LSB Co-ordinator will be the liaison person for other organisations and farmer groups that want to be part of the QDS system. Additionally, the LSB coordinator will facilitate innovation, broker knowledge and inspire new forms of collaboration between farmers, public sector, businesses, NGOs and the scientific community. The LSB Co-ordinator will report to the Deputy Chief of Party.
Main duties and responsibilities:
Technical Backstopping and Collaboration
• Provide technical backstopping to a team of zonal seed experts stationed at ZARDIs in all technical aspects related to seed technology as well as the knowledge transfer skills.
• Develop guidelines for each crop on quality seed production
• Coordinate the pre-booking and time access to foundation seed and new varieties by all LSBs and LSB associations in collaboration with the Seed Systems and Policy (SSP) Manager. Maintain detailed records for quantities booked and accessed
• Coordinate and supervise the technical backstopping to LSBs, Out-scaling partners and LSB Trainers on agronomic practices of quality seed production and processing
• Oversee the collaboration between the seed experts and ZARDI staff in supporting farmer groups towards producing quality seed.
• Coordinate and supervise the timely compilation of planting returns, and requisitioning of inspections, sampling and QDS Labels.
• Oversee and ensure the provision of technical support to the Zonal LSB association (together with the agribusiness coordinator).
• Technical backstopping on the upgrading of the existing LSBs to significantly advance their production and productivity.
• Coordinate the technical backstopping of DAOs in LSB field inspections in collaboration with NSCS. Supervision:
• Provide technical and administrative supervision to the all the seed experts on the execution of their LSB support activities including sanctioning their activity plans (TORs), annual and quarterly work-plans, and all individual activity schedules and budgets and coordinating timely zonal reporting.
• Innovation:
• Provide oversight and leadership in the development of crop inspection guidelines and visual aids for farmers in collaboration with the SSP Manager.
• Provide leadership in designing and testing yield improvements technologies, including variety selection, Soil fertility management, and reducing post-harvest handling losses and increase storage viability
• Handle any other tasks that may be assigned senior ISSD management. Reporting:
• Facilitate the translation of intervention strategies into action plans with concrete activities, targets and timeframes
• Together with Agribusiness Co-ordinator, compile and submit timely quarterly and annual reports on Local Seed Business development. Competences and knowledge:
• A Master’s Degree in crop sciences preferable with an orientation towards seed science.
• At least five years’ work experience in the seed sector in Uganda.
• At least 3 years’ experience in working with farmer groups
• Demonstrated ability and three years’ experience in supervision of field based subordinate staff.
• Demonstrated ability in stakeholder management (across different levels) and working with small-scale farmers.
• Affinity with capacity development and institutional change processes;
• A strong interest in linking theory with policy and practice;
• Excellent English language skills; relevant local language skills will be an added benefi t;
• Willingness to travel widely within the country.
• Ugandan nationality

Job application procedure
For more information about ISSD and the position contact the Chief of Party on info@issduganda.org or through the website: www.issduganda.org . Shortlisting will take place continuously until the position is filled. Deadline for applications is until the position is filled or latest 18th January 2019. Interested candidates can send their application letters and CV (max. 6 pages) to; hr@issduganda.org  Please DO NOT attach certificates or academic qualification.