Summary
Date Posted: Monday, October 24, 2022 , Base Salary: Not Disclosed

JOB DETAILS:
The Government of Uganda (GoU) has received a loan from the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) and the OPEC Fund for International Development (OFID) towards financing a ten-year National Oil Seeds Project (NOSP).
The Project is being implemented by the Ministry of Agriculture Animal Industry and Fisheries (MAAIF) as the Lead Project Agency, in partnership with the Ministry of Local Government(MoLG) other agencies, the private sector and farmer Organizations. The Project will be implemented in six area-based hubs: West Nile, Gulu, Lira, Karamoja, East and Mid-Western Uganda.
The project goal of the NOSP is: 'inclusive rural transformation through sustainable development of the oilseeds sector, while the Programme Development Objective is to 'to accelerate commercialization in key oilseeds value chains and thereby improve the livelihoods and resilience of the smallholders engaged in oilseed production and marketing
According to the Financing Agreement with IFAD, MAAIF is expected to set up a Project Coordination Unit (PCU) for the day-to-day management and implementation of the NOSP.
Applications are therefore, invited from suitably qualified and experienced Ugandans to apply for the following positions existing in the National Oil Seeds Project Coordination Unit

Post: Rural Finance Specialist (Re-Advertised)
Reports to: Project Manager
Duty Station: Lira
Contract Duration: Two-year contract renewable based on satisfactory performance against agreed targets and deliverables

Scope of Work
The Rural Finance Specialist (RFS) is responsible for the Rural Financial Services activities of NOSP. The scope of works includes technical assistance for product innovation for VSLA linkage banking for agriculture, value chain financing and loan risk management for financial institutions, technical assistance to SACCOS and other co-operatives, and working with insurance companies for piloting and scaling-up crop insurance and facilitate bundled crop insurance products access to the project target groups. The RFS needs to work closely with the formal financial institutions, insurance companies and the Agriculture Insurance Consortium at the national, regional and hub level as well as with Tier 4 financial institutions from the project area particularly focussing on the linking of VSLAS with the formal financial institutions, insurance companies and other service providers in the oil seed crop value chain.
The RFM Specialist works closely with all the Project staff, service providers and related institutions, and reports directly to the Project Manager.

Main tasks and Responsibilities;
• To take overall responsibility and leadership on the planning, implementation and monitoring of the Rural Financial Services activities of NOSP. This involves the preparation and monitoring of Annual Work Plans and Budgets (AWPB) progress reports and analytical reports
• Manage the rural finance activities in accordance with the approved annual work plans, coordinate and ensure complementarities with Oil Seed Value Chain Development activities
• Participate in multi-stakeholder platforms and address issues related to credit and agriculture crop insurance
• Develop TORs and selection criteria for contracting national technical assistance consultants, ensuring quality of their work and providing advisory support as required
• Carry out due diligence of interested financing institutions, prepare the ToRs for technical assistance and develop partnership with the Bank of Uganda, Agricultural Credit Facility, financing banks and project to facilitate affordable credit for target groups.
• Develop MOUs with the Agriculture Insurance Consortium
• (AIC), individual insurance companies, financing institutions, other significant players in the oil seed value chain and the project to facilitate crop insurance services.
• Ensure an assessment of seasonal credit requirement plans for the VSLA members and agri-businesses and facilitate and monitor flow of credit for financing production;
• Participate in evaluation committees for selection of co financing applicants for mechanization and post-harvest cleaning equipment and ensure financial services for co financing
• Maintain close coordination with implementation partners (banking and financial institutions, insurance companies, private service providers, NGOs and other stakeholders) and ensure satisfactory results:
• In close coordination with hub-level agriculture finance consultants, ensure that all policy and operational issues are sorted out in a timely manner for flow of financial services
• Plan, supervise and monitor the trainings on financial literacy trainings for effective results
• Assume a lead responsibility for the organisation of rural finance-related trainings, study tours, conferences and workshops
• Provide support and guidance for the gathering of data and information needed to undertake an effective monitoring and evaluation of all the rural finance activities
• Oversee the design and establishment of channels for regular information dissemination, sharing, and networking among stakeholders including VC members.

Minimum Academic Qualifications:
• Applicants should be Ugandans holding an Honours Bachelor's Degree in Economics; or Business Administration; or Agri businessor in any field related to Agri finance plus a minimum of a post graduate Diploma in any of the above fields from a recognised University/ Institution.
• A certificate in insurance would be of added advantage.

Working Experience:
• Applicants should have a minimum of seven(07) years relevant working experience in banking out of which at least three (3) years in agri-banking and small farmer and agribusiness credit
• Experience on implementation of internationally financed projects will be of added advantage;
• Good knowledge of the different national banking and financial institutions, insurance companies, concerned with agriculture finance and insurance strong ability and readiness to communicate, and work with them;

Competence
• Strong communication skills, especially written communications, group facilitation skills;
• Gender sensitivity in working with both men and women understanding and addressing their needs;
• Team player with ability to work with different stakeholders and programme team
• Creative and pragmatic approach to problem solving: well organised and well oriented to details.

Work Hours: 8

Experience in Months: 36 12:00:00 AM Bachelor Degree

Job application procedure
All candidates should send their written applications with copies of identification documents, academic credentials, testimonials and detailed Curriculum Vitae (CV), indicating contact details of (03) referees addressed to
The Permanent Secretary,
Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries,
P.O. Box 102 Entebbe,
Uganda or hand delivered to the Ministry Registry located at Plot No. 14 Lugard Road, Entebbe
NB: Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted
Submission deadline: Friday 4th November 2022

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