Agricultural Market
Systems Specialist (4 Positions).
GOAL is currently seeking to hire four (4) experienced,
qualified and business minded Agricultural
Market Systems Specialists to join our Uganda Young Africa Works Markets
for Youth Programme team. Locations available will be in Lira, Kasese, Hoima
and Moroto. This is an exciting
opportunity for you to join an extremely dynamic International NGO and to apply
your skills in implementing a youth inclusive programme. If you have worked
directly with agribusinesses/MSMEs, are familiar with and have experience in market
systems development and private sector engagement approaches, and have worked
with programs promoting youth and other vulnerable groups (women, refugees and
persons with disabilities) participation in livelihoods and market systems
context within Uganda and internationally, then this role is perfect for you!
Qualifications, Skills and Experience:
To be successful in this role, you will need to be:
·
A degree holder preferably graduate level,
ideally in business management, development studies, applied economics or
Agriculture or other related field and/or professional qualification
·
At least four (4) years’ experience working at
the cutting edge of enterprise development, business development and/or market
development. Familiarity with agribusiness sector is a must.
·
Proven experience working with MSMEs at a local
level;
·
Familiarity with/ understanding of the M4P
approach to market systems development would also be a strong advantage
·
Training and mentoring skills and ability to
train and provide technical support to staff and private sector partners
·
Highly analytical and systematic thinker
·
Initiative and proactivity in problem
identification and proposing solutions
·
Self-motivated, highly organized, positive
attitude, resilient, willing to learn new skills and to be continually adaptive
within a dynamic and often self-directed working environment
·
Ability to work under pressure to tight
deadlines, focus on and prioritise day-to-day tasks at hand while also working
towards longer-term objectives with an understanding that the workload will
change continuously
·
Strong communication and interpersonal skills,
ability to work in a team, and a commitment to capacity building
·
Excellent attention to detail and ability to
complete tasks in a timely manner.
·
Willingness to spend more time in the field and
work closely with program target groups.
Key Duties and Responsibilities: The key
responsibilities of the role will be:
Support Implementation of Strategy and Programme
·
With support from the DPD Business Partnerships,
Portfolio Coordinators, MERL and MDOs will coordinate field level diagnostic
market research activities such as identifying stakeholders and partners,
profiling potential partners arranging meeting and interviews.
·
Support formulation of strategies to develop
markets in the selected value chains and
seek opportunities to work as per the sector strategy. Participate in
development of intervention strategies and implementation procedures in a
participatory manner with key stakeholders.
·
With Guidance from Portfolio Coordinators work
closely with the Market Systems Officers to organize co-design workshops, and
meetings with PSA partners to co-create market systems development
interventions with private sector partners in targeted value chains that can
create opportunities for youth at scale
·
Work closely with monitoring evaluation learning
and communication team in setting baseline indexes of targeted businesses and
track progress against set business capacity performance parameters.
·
Support MDOs to follow up implementation and
verification of market development interventions (such as last mile smart input
distribution systems, contract farming, output aggregation models etc) to
improve the way markets function and champion integration of rural young women
and men farmers in market systems, whilst ensuring synergy and maximizing
programme impact.
·
Work with the Portfolio Coordinators, Market
Systems Officers and partner technical staff to ensure that the interventions
are implemented on the ground are in line with the programme results frame, and
is in compliance with the market systems approach, to ensure programme targets
are met.
·
In coordination with the district implementation
teams and portfolio Coordinators, conduct monitoring activities on market
systems interventions, review the adequacy of programme execution according to
approved plans, targets and standards.
·
Establish dialogue and partnerships among local
business services providers, lead firms, producer and trade associations and
other relevant market actors to facilitate development of business
relationships and increase access to critical good and services to rural young
women and men, and to strengthen market linkages among them.
·
Participate in the development of the programme
work plans and budgets
Contribute to Program Quality Control, Learning and adaptive management
·
At field level work closely with partner staff
to ensure technical quality of implementation.
·
Work closely with GOAL Monitoring, Evaluation
and Learning team to ensure accurate and timely reporting
·
Participate and facilitate localized monthly,
quarterly and bi-annual partner coordination/learning and reflection sessions
to leverage program learning and enrich intervention strategies across the
programme area
·
Utilize evidence and data from MERL team to
guide reflection, learning and adaptation/ youth engagement strategies to
attain efficiency and effectiveness within the agricultural market system
Reporting and Coordination
·
Support and follow up MDOs, report on
implementation progress and lessons, preparing regular impact stories, case
studies and other project documentation and communication that contribute to a
learning organization.
·
Provide input during the compilation of internal
and donor reports (monthly, quarterly and annual), presentations and
publications.
·
Network, coordinate, and cooperate with key
agricultural market systems actors at regional and district level ensuring
buy-in for interventions to maximize impact and affect system level change.
Direct Supervision and Performance Management of Market Systems
Officers
·
Provide managerial and supervisory support to
Market Systems Officers in line with GOAL policy – timesheets, objective
setting, performance reviews
·
Liaise closely with Portfolio Coordinators,
other Market Systems specialists and with MERL staff to ensure work quality
oversight and team integration.
·
Participate in refresher and specialised
trainings as needed with staff and partners.
·
Build field team capacity in the areas of
agribusiness, business mentorship and coaching.
Other duties
·
Represent GOAL Uganda in a range of external
fora and building strategic relationships and partnerships.
·
Respect local laws, customs and adhere to GOAL
systems procedures for personnel, communications, finance, logistics, health
and safety.
·
Conduct himself/herself both professionally and
personally in such a manner as to bring credit to GOAL and to not jeopardize
its humanitarian mission.
·
Carry out any other tasks as required, to ensure
the overall success of the programme.
General terms and
conditions
Code of Conduct and Accountability within GOAL
GOAL is an equal opportunities employer and has values and
behaviours framework which defines our code of conduct. Any candidate offered a
job with GOAL will be expected to adhere to the following key areas of
accountability:
·
Comply with GOAL’s policies and procedures with
respect to safeguarding, Code of Conduct, health and safety, data protection
and confidentiality, do no harm principles and unacceptable behaviour
protocols.
·
Report any concerns about the welfare of a child
or vulnerable adult or any wrongdoings within our programming area.
·
Report any concerns about inappropriate
behaviour of a GOAL staff or partner.
Safeguarding
Children and vulnerable adults a must be safeguarded to the
maximum extent from deliberate or inadvertent actions and failings that place
them at risk of abuse, sexual exploitation, injury and any other harm. One of
the ways that GOAL shows this on-going commitment to safeguarding is to include
rigorous background and reference checks in the selection process for all
candidates.
About GOAL
Established in 1977, GOAL is an international humanitarian
agency, with a global team of 2,400 personnel, dedicated to alleviating the
needs of the most vulnerable communities. Currently operating in 13 of the
world’s most vulnerable countries, GOAL delivers a wide range of humanitarian
and development programmes, ranging from humanitarian relief in disaster
situations, to focusing on nutrition, food security, and building greater
resilience and sustainable livelihoods.
General description
of the country programme:
First operational in Uganda in 1979, the current GOAL Uganda
country programme focuses on Health (including WASH, Health Accountability and
Nutrition programming); and a market based systems approach to improving
agricultural livelihoods and WASH. GOAL Uganda mainstreams gender, child
protection, social behaviour change and resilience strategies across all
programming. GOAL works on a district focused approach and uses a mixture of direct
implementation and partnerships with national and international civil society
organizations, local government, the private sector and communities to give
effect to our mission.
GOAL Uganda has a skilled team of approximately 100
personnel and manages an annual operating budget of approximately €8.7 million
(2018). GOAL is currently operational in the North, South, East and West of
Uganda with six established offices in Kampala, Lira, Bugiri, Abim, Kaabong and
Agago Districts. GOAL Uganda country programme is funded by a number of donors
who include Mastercard, charity: water, Irish Aid and some small foundations.
Young Africa Works:
Market for Youth
GOAL has been awarded a 5 years funding programme by the
Mastercard Foundation. The program is called Young Africa Works Uganda -
Markets for Youth. The overall objective of Young Africa Works in Uganda:
Markets for Youth will be: Facilitating market systems change that enables
300,000 rural young women and men to access in dignified and fulfilling work in
Uganda. To achieve this overall objective, the proposed intervention will focus
on the following four outcomes, outlined below. Outcome 1 - rural young women
and men, and their enterprises, have access to and are using informal and
formal financial services and products; Outcome 2 - rural young women and men
have received skills training, market intelligence and have participated in
learning opportunities to upgrade practice and management in on and off farm
enterprises; Outcome 3 - rural young women and men, and their enterprises, have
access to and are participating in on and off farm activities in the
agricultural market system; Outcome 4 -
rural young women and men have collectively and collaboratively worked
together to increase their purchasing and influencing power in the agricultural
market system. The programme employs the Making Markets Work Better for the
Poor (M4P) approach to market development
Our package includes a competitive salary, health insurance
cover for up to 3 dependents, comprehensive 24-hour personal accident cover,
terminal benefits equivalent to one month for each completed year of service
and our working hours provide for a half day on Fridays. GOAL promotes a learning and development environment
with training & study opportunities aligned to our staff development policy.
How to Apply:
Interested applicants who meet the requirements should
submit their applications by email with at least 3 reference contacts (current
or former Line Manager) from the last three employers and daytime contact
number to;
The Human Resource Manager, GOAL: recruitment@ug.goal.ie indicating the title “Agricultural Market
Systems Specialist” in the subject line.
PLEASE DO NOT ATTACH CERTIFICATES.
Deadline: 9th
September 2020
