Summary
Date Posted: Monday, October 23 2023, Base Salary: Not Disclosed

JOB DETAILS:
The Government of Uganda has received funding from the World Bank towards financing a six (6) year Uganda Climate Smart Agricultural Transformation Project (UCSATP). The Project is implemented by the Ministry of Agriculture Animal Industry and Fisheries (MAAIF).

The overall Project Development Objective is to ‘Increase productivity, market access and resilience of selected value chains in the project area (69 districts) and to respond promptly and effectively to an eligible crisis or emergency’. The project consists of five components: (a) Strengthening Climate Smart Agricultural Research, Seed, and Agro-Climatic Information Systems; (b) Promoting Adoption of Climate Smart Agriculture Technologies and Practices; (c) Market Development and Linkages to Selected Value Chains; (d) Contingency Emergency Response Component; and (e) Project Management, Coordination, and Implementation. The project is seeking to recruit qualified and suitable persons for the following key positions to support the project implementation.

TERMS OF REFERENCE FOR Senior Grants Officer
1. Objectives of the Assignment.
The objective of this assignment is to provide leadership in the management, management compliance and implementation of matching grants activities in the project. The Senior Grants Officer will also be responsible for monitoring the grant process including relevant technical reviews of the proposals from sub-grantees, carrying out rigorous pre-award assessment and communicating with sub grantees board members for contracting.

2. Key Roles and Responsibilities Grants Management
a. Oversee the development of a grants manual to guide the management and implementation of the matching grants to farmer organizations
b. In liaison with the Senior Monitoring and Evaluation Officer, coordinate the development and utilization of the Grants Management Information System and institutional framework for the management of the matching grants.
c. Oversee the awareness creation/ sensitization sessions on Matching Grant and guide on various aspects of training/capacity building
d. Develop a mechanism for supervision, monitoring and evaluation of matching grants scheme by Farmer Organizationss and the implementing teams
e. Develop clear approaches and strategies that enable women’s and youth’s participation in activities, developed under this Technical Assistance(TA)
f. Develop a training curriculum for district local governments in various areas and capacities needed by FOs to effectively participate and manage matching grants.
g. Develop informational materials for equipping potential and actual grantees on all matters concerning Matching Grants eligibility criteria and operational procedures among others.
h. Review proposals submitted by FOs and ensure that all are well documented and filed, including preparation of all necessary documentation to enable submission to the MAAIF Project technical team;
i. In close collaboration with the component Manager, prepare quarterly progress reports on the financial and physical implemented
j. Support the close-out process of the project matching grants beneficiaries with the UCSATP implementing partners.

Management Compliance
a. Develop mechanisms for making payments and monitoring/reporting financial performance, in accordance with requirements and guidelines and those established in the agreements with sub-grantees.
b. Administer the grants according to criteria and guidelines set forth by the MAAIF in relation to contractual agreements and the UCSATP Grants Management Manual and guidelines.
c. Review financial reports and records submitted by sub-grantees in order to help them improve or maintain acceptable standards that enable them to generate reliable information and reports that are compliant with donor requirements.

Support to Grantees
a. Develop financial capacity assessment tools for local partners and grantees ·
b. Build the technical support strategies and plans according to the needs identified after the financial assessment of grantees.
c. Conduct training workshops, one on one technical support and mentoring for local partners’ staff in grants management and other finance areas as necessary.
d. Undertake regular monitoring in liaison with the Senior Monitoring and Evaluation Officer to matching grants beneficiaries to track work progress, provide guidance and support, and ensure consistent quality of work is performed in grants management; conducting performance plans and reviews; implementing and assuring adherence to Project policies, guidelines and values.
e. Providing administrative and logistical support to the technical review process ·
f. In conjunction with partners and other staff support grantees to adhere to organizational policies and procedures, and other recommendations for financial and programmatic accountability.
g. Follow up on financial capacity building plans and monitor the grantees that have received training to ensure that they are applying the knowledge acquired appropriately.
h. Work with and support finance and programmatic personnel during the budgeting process.
i. Maintain all the files, generate and share out all grantee information that will facilitate decision making and donor reporting. ·
j. Work with partners and staff to develop monitoring plans/schedules and through periodic visits, follow-up
k. Support in development of strategies for operationalization and sustainability of the Matching grants facilities.
Narrative reporting and external communications
a. Coordinate the preparation of high quality narrative reports to stakeholders in a timely fashion.
b. Ensure that all compliance requirements are met.
c. Serve as the main focal point for communications to private and institutional partners who contract UCSATP’s grant management services.
d. Maintain communications with external partners, building relationships with strategic UCSATP partners.

Finance
a. Maintain overall budget authority for the grants programmes - allocate budget to staff members and coordinate spend between categories.
b. Work with finance department to ensure accurate reports are produced in a timely manner.
c. Maintain an overview of grants management and monitoring, and ensure that appropriate controls and decisions are made regarding responsible release of funds to grantees.
d. Conduct pre-award audits of possible grantees, in addition to audits during implementation and at close-out, as needed and identified in the Matching Grants
Operational Manual and in coordination with the Finance team
e. Monitor financial management of grant funds to ensure consistency with agreed technical plan and actual implementation, and monitor the projected expenditures against their actual incurrence
f. Monitor grantees to ensure they implement and administer grants according to grant agreement and other regulations

Perform other Duties
Perform any other duties that may be assigned by his/her Superiors from time to time in furtherance of the above responsibilities.

4. Qualifications, Experience and Competences
a) Qualifications
Candidates should meet the following:
A Master’s Degree in Agriculture, Agribusiness, Agricultural and Rural Innovations, Agricultural Economics, Entrepreneurship, Business Administration, Micro-Finance, Commerce, and bachelor’s degree in the same fields from a recognized university. Additional professional qualifications Project Planning and Management, Monitoring and Evaluation, Law will be an added advantage. b) Experience
• At least 6 years’ experience in Grant’s design and administration, management, and oversight
• Previous working experience as a grant’s manager or in similar capacity
• Experience of working with externally funded projects and Government agencies for a period of at least 3 years.

c) Required Skills
• Proven expertise and experience reviewing and preparing budgets, reviewing financial reports, preparing for, and monitoring audits of grantees, and file management
• Demonstrated ability to work in a fast-paced environment and deliver results on tight deadlines
• Demonstrated leadership, integrity, and versatility

e) Job Knowledge
• Demonstrable knowledge of current Climate Change issues.
• Good understanding of project/grant management cycle, including grant design, selection, contract, implementation, monitoring and evaluation

f) Other Competencies:
The ideal candidate for this role should possess the following:
• Exceptional budgeting, accounting, and monitoring skills
• Methodical and strategic thinking
• Good communication skills
• Project management skills

5. Reporting
The Senior Grants Officer will report to the National Project Coordinator with the supervision of the Deputy Project Coordinator.

6. Contract Duration
The Senior Grant Management Officer shall be appointed for a period of three (3) years’ subject to probation period of six months, and renewable subject to satisfactory performance


Work Hours: 8

Experience in Months: 72

Level of Education: Postgraduate Degree

Job application procedure
Sealed Expression of Interest (application letters, curriculum vitae and copies of the academic documents and testimonials) should be submitted to the Ministry’s Registry not later than 5:00 pm, Tuesday, 24th October 2023. Please indicate the position being applied for on top of the envelope.

Address:
The Permanent Secretary Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry, and Fisheries
Plot 16-18, Lugard Avenue,
P.O. Box 102, Entebbe - UGANDA.
Email address: ps@agriculture.go.ug 
Telephone: 0414 320 004/ 323 990 Fax: 0414- 321 255

Note: Only shortlisted Candidates will be contacted


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