Program Director - Green Agrifood Systems Programme (GRASP)
2025-04-16T07:12:30+00:00
The Agricultural Business Initiative (aBi)
https://www.greatugandajobs.com/jsjobsdata/data/employer/comp_3166/logo/The%20Agricultural%20Business%20Initiative%20(ABI).png
https://abi.co.ug/
FULL_TIME
Kampala
Kampala
00256
Uganda
Agriculture, Food, and Natural Resources
Management
2025-04-18T17:00:00+00:00
Uganda
8
Organization: aBi Development
Location: Uganda
Program Duration: 2024–2028
Application Deadline: Open until filled
About aBi Development
aBi Development is dedicated to transforming Ugandan agriculture into a competitive and sustainable agribusiness sector that enhances livelihoods and protects the environment. We are seeking a dynamic and experienced Program Director to lead our US$30 million, five-year Green Agrifood Systems Programme (GRASP), funded by the Royal Danish Embassy and the European Union.
Role Summary
The Program Director (GRASP) will lead a transformative initiative to develop Uganda’s green agri-food systems, focusing on increasing climate resilience for smallholder farmers and agribusinesses, fostering agribusiness growth, creating jobs and markets, and promoting the adoption of climate-smart solutions. Reporting to the Chief Executive Officer, the Director will provide strategic leadership, manage the GRASP Programme Team, and ensure alignment with aBi’s mission, donor requirements, and sustainability goals. The role involves originating and delivering investment deals with agribusinesses, financial institutions, and development partners, while integrating climate change adaptation into project processes and representing aBi to key stakeholders, including the Royal Danish Embassy, the EU, and government officials.
Key Responsibilities
Strategic Leadership & Program Oversight
- Provide high-level strategic vision, leadership, and technical direction for all GRASP activities to achieve program objectives, including strengthened farmer resilience, business growth, and adoption of green practices.
- Promote private sector-based programs emphasizing socially responsible and sustainable investment in agriculture.
- Develop strategies to improve production practices, market access, and build resilient agribusinesses.
- Ensure alignment with aBi Development’s strategic objectives, sustainability goals, and donor requirements (Royal Danish Embassy and EU).
Partnership Development & Management
- Build and maintain collaborative partnerships with anchor firms, implementing partners, government agencies, and other stakeholders to maximize program impact.
- Conduct stakeholder analysis to identify influential groups and analyze supply, demand, and enabling environment dynamics.
- Facilitate co-design of strategies with partners, formalize partnerships through due diligence and contracts, and liaise with Grants Management specialists to set up project plans and grants.
Program Delivery, Monitoring, and Adaptation
- Collaborate with the Development Impact team to ensure robust data collection, analysis, and continuous program improvement.
- Initiate strategies to raise awareness of program successes and support partners in adapting approaches to achieve desired results.
- Mainstream sustainability and climate change adaptation into all project implementation aspects to deliver transformative outcomes.
Financial Resource Management, Risk Mitigation, and Compliance
- Oversee program operations, ensuring compliance with HR, procurement, grants, finance, and administration policies.
- Develop strategies to mobilize additional financial resources through diverse funding sources and innovative financing mechanisms.
- Proactively identify and mitigate financial and operational risks, maintaining accurate records and timely reporting to stakeholders.
- Ensure full compliance with aBi Development’s policies, donor requirements, and relevant regulations.
Leadership & Team Empowerment
- Communicate a clear and inspiring vision to the GRASP team, emphasizing their role in achieving organizational goals.
- Resource the team with expertise and tools through recruitment, staff management, and consultancy procurement.
- Plan and organize team activities to achieve strategic goals cost-effectively, providing clarity on expectations and fostering accountability.
- Mentor and coach team members, cultivate talent, and address performance gaps to maintain high standards.
Additional Duties
- Perform other duties as requested by the Chief Executive Officer.
Requirements
Qualifications
- Master’s degree in Agriculture Economics, MBA, or related field.
- Post Graduate Diploma in Project Management.
- Bachelor’s degree in Agribusiness Management if the master’s is not in Agriculture Economics, Agriculture, Development Studies, or Agribusiness Management.
Experience
- Minimum of 10 years of progressively responsible experience leading and delivering large-scale, complex projects within budget and timeline, preferably in the development sector, with at least 5 years at Programme Director or Deputy Programme Director level in developing countries.
- Proven experience in developing and implementing communication and advocacy strategies to influence policy and behavior change, with a track record of successful campaigning in sustainable and scalable rural investments (SSRI).
- Experience managing complex contracts and agreements, with familiarity with DANIDA, EU, and USAID operating procedures, regulations, and reporting requirements.
- Experience working in the Ugandan agricultural sector and/or with smallholder farmers and agribusinesses.
- Proven ability to oversee and lead market systems analysis, including stakeholder analysis, and design interventions that drive systemic change in agricultural ecosystems.
Technical Skills & Knowledge
- Strong understanding of climate change adaptation strategies and their application to sustainable agriculture in Uganda.
- Expertise in monitoring and evaluation, data analysis, and data-driven decision-making.
- Proven ability to develop and implement comprehensive strategic and operational plans and budgets.
- Proficiency in project management, data analysis, and communication software and tools.
- Strong understanding of risk management frameworks and proactive risk mitigation.
- Excellent written and spoken English.
Strategic Leadership & Program Oversight Provide high-level strategic vision, leadership, and technical direction for all GRASP activities to achieve program objectives, including strengthened farmer resilience, business growth, and adoption of green practices. Promote private sector-based programs emphasizing socially responsible and sustainable investment in agriculture. Develop strategies to improve production practices, market access, and build resilient agribusinesses. Ensure alignment with aBi Development’s strategic objectives, sustainability goals, and donor requirements (Royal Danish Embassy and EU). Partnership Development & Management Build and maintain collaborative partnerships with anchor firms, implementing partners, government agencies, and other stakeholders to maximize program impact. Conduct stakeholder analysis to identify influential groups and analyze supply, demand, and enabling environment dynamics. Facilitate co-design of strategies with partners, formalize partnerships through due diligence and contracts, and liaise with Grants Management specialists to set up project plans and grants. Program Delivery, Monitoring, and Adaptation Collaborate with the Development Impact team to ensure robust data collection, analysis, and continuous program improvement. Initiate strategies to raise awareness of program successes and support partners in adapting approaches to achieve desired results. Mainstream sustainability and climate change adaptation into all project implementation aspects to deliver transformative outcomes. Financial Resource Management, Risk Mitigation, and Compliance Oversee program operations, ensuring compliance with HR, procurement, grants, finance, and administration policies. Develop strategies to mobilize additional financial resources through diverse funding sources and innovative financing mechanisms. Proactively identify and mitigate financial and operational risks, maintaining accurate records and timely reporting to stakeholders. Ensure full compliance with aBi Development’s policies, donor requirements, and relevant regulations. Leadership & Team Empowerment Communicate a clear and inspiring vision to the GRASP team, emphasizing their role in achieving organizational goals. Resource the team with expertise and tools through recruitment, staff management, and consultancy procurement. Plan and organize team activities to achieve strategic goals cost-effectively, providing clarity on expectations and fostering accountability. Mentor and coach team members, cultivate talent, and address performance gaps to maintain high standards. Additional Duties Perform other duties as requested by the Chief Executive Officer.
Strong understanding of climate change adaptation strategies and their application to sustainable agriculture in Uganda. Expertise in monitoring and evaluation, data analysis, and data-driven decision-making. Proven ability to develop and implement comprehensive strategic and operational plans and budgets. Proficiency in project management, data analysis, and communication software and tools. Strong understanding of risk management frameworks and proactive risk mitigation. Excellent written and spoken English.
Master’s degree in Agriculture Economics, MBA, or related field. Post Graduate Diploma in Project Management. Bachelor’s degree in Agribusiness Management if the master’s is not in Agriculture Economics, Agriculture, Development Studies, or Agribusiness Management. Experience Minimum of 10 years of progressively responsible experience leading and delivering large-scale, complex projects within budget and timeline, preferably in the development sector, with at least 5 years at Programme Director or Deputy Programme Director level in developing countries. Proven experience in developing and implementing communication and advocacy strategies to influence policy and behavior change, with a track record of successful campaigning in sustainable and scalable rural investments (SSRI). Experience managing complex contracts and agreements, with familiarity with DANIDA, EU, and USAID operating procedures, regulations, and reporting requirements. Experience working in the Ugandan agricultural sector and/or with smallholder farmers and agribusinesses. Proven ability to oversee and lead market systems analysis, including stakeholder analysis, and design interventions that drive systemic change in agricultural ecosystems.
JOB-67ff585e17e27
Vacancy title:
Program Director - Green Agrifood Systems Programme (GRASP)
[Type: FULL_TIME, Industry: Agriculture, Food, and Natural Resources, Category: Management]
Jobs at:
The Agricultural Business Initiative (aBi)
Deadline of this Job:
Friday, April 18 2025
Duty Station:
Kampala | Kampala | Uganda
Summary
Date Posted: Wednesday, April 16 2025, Base Salary: Not Disclosed
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Learn more about The Agricultural Business Initiative (aBi)
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JOB DETAILS:
Organization: aBi Development
Location: Uganda
Program Duration: 2024–2028
Application Deadline: Open until filled
About aBi Development
aBi Development is dedicated to transforming Ugandan agriculture into a competitive and sustainable agribusiness sector that enhances livelihoods and protects the environment. We are seeking a dynamic and experienced Program Director to lead our US$30 million, five-year Green Agrifood Systems Programme (GRASP), funded by the Royal Danish Embassy and the European Union.
Role Summary
The Program Director (GRASP) will lead a transformative initiative to develop Uganda’s green agri-food systems, focusing on increasing climate resilience for smallholder farmers and agribusinesses, fostering agribusiness growth, creating jobs and markets, and promoting the adoption of climate-smart solutions. Reporting to the Chief Executive Officer, the Director will provide strategic leadership, manage the GRASP Programme Team, and ensure alignment with aBi’s mission, donor requirements, and sustainability goals. The role involves originating and delivering investment deals with agribusinesses, financial institutions, and development partners, while integrating climate change adaptation into project processes and representing aBi to key stakeholders, including the Royal Danish Embassy, the EU, and government officials.
Key Responsibilities
Strategic Leadership & Program Oversight
- Provide high-level strategic vision, leadership, and technical direction for all GRASP activities to achieve program objectives, including strengthened farmer resilience, business growth, and adoption of green practices.
- Promote private sector-based programs emphasizing socially responsible and sustainable investment in agriculture.
- Develop strategies to improve production practices, market access, and build resilient agribusinesses.
- Ensure alignment with aBi Development’s strategic objectives, sustainability goals, and donor requirements (Royal Danish Embassy and EU).
Partnership Development & Management
- Build and maintain collaborative partnerships with anchor firms, implementing partners, government agencies, and other stakeholders to maximize program impact.
- Conduct stakeholder analysis to identify influential groups and analyze supply, demand, and enabling environment dynamics.
- Facilitate co-design of strategies with partners, formalize partnerships through due diligence and contracts, and liaise with Grants Management specialists to set up project plans and grants.
Program Delivery, Monitoring, and Adaptation
- Collaborate with the Development Impact team to ensure robust data collection, analysis, and continuous program improvement.
- Initiate strategies to raise awareness of program successes and support partners in adapting approaches to achieve desired results.
- Mainstream sustainability and climate change adaptation into all project implementation aspects to deliver transformative outcomes.
Financial Resource Management, Risk Mitigation, and Compliance
- Oversee program operations, ensuring compliance with HR, procurement, grants, finance, and administration policies.
- Develop strategies to mobilize additional financial resources through diverse funding sources and innovative financing mechanisms.
- Proactively identify and mitigate financial and operational risks, maintaining accurate records and timely reporting to stakeholders.
- Ensure full compliance with aBi Development’s policies, donor requirements, and relevant regulations.
Leadership & Team Empowerment
- Communicate a clear and inspiring vision to the GRASP team, emphasizing their role in achieving organizational goals.
- Resource the team with expertise and tools through recruitment, staff management, and consultancy procurement.
- Plan and organize team activities to achieve strategic goals cost-effectively, providing clarity on expectations and fostering accountability.
- Mentor and coach team members, cultivate talent, and address performance gaps to maintain high standards.
Additional Duties
- Perform other duties as requested by the Chief Executive Officer.
Requirements
Qualifications
- Master’s degree in Agriculture Economics, MBA, or related field.
- Post Graduate Diploma in Project Management.
- Bachelor’s degree in Agribusiness Management if the master’s is not in Agriculture Economics, Agriculture, Development Studies, or Agribusiness Management.
Experience
- Minimum of 10 years of progressively responsible experience leading and delivering large-scale, complex projects within budget and timeline, preferably in the development sector, with at least 5 years at Programme Director or Deputy Programme Director level in developing countries.
- Proven experience in developing and implementing communication and advocacy strategies to influence policy and behavior change, with a track record of successful campaigning in sustainable and scalable rural investments (SSRI).
- Experience managing complex contracts and agreements, with familiarity with DANIDA, EU, and USAID operating procedures, regulations, and reporting requirements.
- Experience working in the Ugandan agricultural sector and/or with smallholder farmers and agribusinesses.
- Proven ability to oversee and lead market systems analysis, including stakeholder analysis, and design interventions that drive systemic change in agricultural ecosystems.
Technical Skills & Knowledge
- Strong understanding of climate change adaptation strategies and their application to sustainable agriculture in Uganda.
- Expertise in monitoring and evaluation, data analysis, and data-driven decision-making.
- Proven ability to develop and implement comprehensive strategic and operational plans and budgets.
- Proficiency in project management, data analysis, and communication software and tools.
- Strong understanding of risk management frameworks and proactive risk mitigation.
- Excellent written and spoken English.
Work Hours: 8
Experience in Months: 120
Level of Education: bachelor degree
Job application procedure
Interested in applying for this job? Click here to submit your application now.
- Please send your applications indicating the Position Title in the email subject line. The deadline for submissions is Friday, 18th April 2025 at 5:00 pm. Please note that only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. Canvassing will lead to disqualification. Hardcopy applications will not be accepted.
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