JOB SUMMARY

The Agribusiness Specialist- Agricultural Production and Market Access Specialist is responsible for direct implementation of the “Scaling Up Farmer Field and Business Schools in Coffee communities (SUFFBS) project”, a 2-year project funded by The Starbucks Foundation and implemented by CARE International in Uganda with local implementing partners. The SUFFBS-C project is implemented in Kyenjojo and Rubirizi districts in southwestern Uganda and ends in September 2025. The main goal of the project is advancing gender transformative economic empowerment for 4000 women farmers and their households within coffee growing communities in Rwenzori Subregion.

The Agribusiness Specialist will specifically lead implementing partners in planning and direct implementation of key project activities and ensure deliverables are achieved as per project documents. The Specialist is also responsible for the day today engagement of partner staff, the grants team, district level authorities and locally based district partners and INGOs to ensure specific focus to the project core areas of implementation. The Specialist will also provide guidance and oversight to implementing partners and ensure compliance with specific donor rules and regulations, management of assets assigned to the initiatives, monitoring, evaluation, and reporting. This position will report to the project manager. The Specialist will also keep in contact and coordinate with key strategic partners and as well ensure information sharing and collaboration with the partners. S/he will engage targeted communities in more sustainable ways of farming as a business, Market access through collective marketing, promote investment into women small-scale producers and give them access to the resources, support, information, and confidence they need to invest in their farms, businesses, families, and communities.

SPECIFIC RESPONSIBILITIES

Responsibility 1: Technical Leadership of implementation (40% of the time)

1.1.   Ensure the development of detailed annual, quarterly, and monthly implementation plans and related budgets while ensuring synergies among the project team members.

1.2.   Ensure timely implementation of planned activities and within available resources and immediately report any problems or deviations from plans.

1.3.   Responsible for technical implementation of the core areas of the project i.e., Farmer Field Business school FFBS model, agricultural production, market access/business management, Multistakeholder platforms, private sector, nutrition; gender equality.

1.4.   Responsible for the development of a capacity-strengthening plan to adopt a gender transformative programmatic approach that emphasizes gender equity and diversity.

1.5.   Ensure implementation of collective marketing and market access for the targeted communities, linking up with the private sector.

1.6.   Responsible for monitoring overall project implementation and proposing adaptations in a timely manner.

1.7.   Ensure logistics for all training, capacity building, research, and other events have been prepared and organized in line with CARE’s & donors’ internal procedures.

1.8.   Responsible for the preparation of procurement plans for all goods and services related to the project, according to approved budgets and activity plans and in line with both CARE and the donors’ procurement rules and policies.

1.9.   Proactive management of partner staff performance through day-to-day guidance and coaching.

Job Responsibility 2: Lead field-based Monitoring, Evaluation, and Accountability of the project (20%)

2.1   Ensure the project achieves results based on the availability of an effective monitoring and evaluation system.

2.2   Responsible for guiding partners on key project indicators monthly data collection as required and ensuring the data addresses, sex and age disaggregation as well as gender transformation of the core project deliverables.

2.3   Ensure the project has a database to allow keeping track of project participants in each component, without double counting across components.

2.4   Ensure participation in CARE and partner staff training and development monitoring and evaluation systems.

2.5   Ensure active participation in regular project reviews with key partners and ensure these reviews inform project implementation and are used to improve project quality.

2.6   Responsible for participating in write up of project progress reports documenting project outputs and impact results as well as project briefs, human interest stories, and papers that can be used for advocacy or information purposes.

Responsibility 3: Partnership Management & Capacity building (20%)

Key Tasks:

3.1   Oversee partners’ capacity development plans and ensure ongoing capacity building at institutional, organizational, and technical levels, including attention to Gender Equity and

Diversity: ensure scope of work, work plans, and budgets are reviewed and revised from time to time to address any emerging issues.

3.2   Ensure partner deliverables are met timely and with the required quality; In cases where partners also work with CARE’s long-term development program team, this may involve coordinating with colleagues in other parts of CARE Uganda.

3.3   Responsible for ongoing review and assessment of partners’ performance and provision of support as needed through development, implementation, and monitoring of partners’ capacity development plans and close tracking of progress against scopes of work, work plans, and budgets.

3.4   Ensure partners’ reports both financial and narrative, are generated and submitted timely and

analyzed and that feedback is shared.

3.5   Ensure all partners’ agreements and general operations are in line with CARE’s sub-agreement policy.

3.6   Ensure partners have in-depth knowledge of the project’s objectives and strategies and all key CARE policies including the anti-fraud and PSEA policies.

3.7   Ensure that partners are involved in all critical moments and events of the projects and that all key information is shared with them in a transparent manner and in real-time.

Responsibility 4: Quality assurance and development of gender, youth, and conflict-sensitive interventions (10%)

Key Tasks:

4.1.   Responsible from time to time, contribute when required to the Livelihood resource mobilization (through proposal writing)

4.2.   Ensure the day-to-day implementation of the project addresses the following.

4.2.1.  Reduce the risk of exploitation and abuse, including of GBV by offering dignified livelihood-enhancing opportunities to vulnerable groups, with a focus on women and girls.

4.2.2.  Are at least environmentally friendly and if possible, even have a positive impact on the environment.

4.2.3.  Do not exacerbate the risk of conflict between groups or between refugees and host communities.

4.2.4.  Focus on youth and take the specific needs and potential of women, girls, men, and boys into account.

4.2.5.  Lead to Women and Girls Economic Empowerment and Resilience.

4.2.6.  Promote innovations including the use of cash, the use of ICT and mobile technology, and pilot new ideas.

4.2.7.  Build on CARE Uganda’s strengths in the financial inclusion sector, in Women’s Economic

Empowerment and on relationships with existing partners (banks, private sector, etc.).

4.3.   Ensure coordination with other key stakeholders that are focused on the core thematic aspects of the project i.e., FFBs, market access, value chain, agriculture. Production, gender equity.

Responsibility #5: Promote Gender Equity and Diversity and Safeguarding Practices (5%)

5.1.   Practice a behavior consistent with CARE’s core values, and promotion of gender equity and

diversity goals.

5.2.    Plays a leadership role in identifying and implementing initiatives that enhance CARE’s.

commitment to gender and diversity.

5.3.  Ensure that CARE Safeguarding policies and procedures are adhered to by all and the staff that S/he supervisors both directly and indirectly.

5.4.  Ensure that staff and related personnel under your jurisdiction are familiar with the following organizational policies and procedures and can identify when needed how these may have been breached, The CI Safeguarding policy, Protection from Sexual Harassment, Exploitation and Abuse and Child Abuse, The anti-discrimination and harassment policy, The code of conduct and the organization's Values.

Responsibility #6 any other duties (5%) Relationships and Collaboration:

Upon delegation, the Agribusiness Specialist will represent CARE in internal and external collaborative meetings within Livelihoods, Humanitarian Response, and implementing partners. In addition, collaboration will be required with governmental (OPM, Local district governments) and non-governmental counterparts (other INGOs) and Private Sector stakeholders.

Work conditions:

The position is based in Fort Portal City. A significant amount of time is expected to be spent in the field operational areas of Kyenjojo and Rubirizi districts, liaising with partners, local government, and other stakeholders within the area of operations. It is essential that the position holder maintains a close effective presence in the field to ensure field implementation supervision guidance and leadership on field activities.

Minimum Qualification and Experience:

The Agribusiness Specialist will have a suitable combination of experience and relevant training in the following technical and programmatic requirements for the post.

·        Bachelor’s degree in agriculture, Agricultural Economics, Rural Development, or related field. 

Po·        Relevant Post Graduate diploma is a ‘MUST.’

·        At least 6 years of practical experience in agricultural-related programming.

·        At least three years of experience in the core fields of the project i.e., Agricultural production, Famer Field Business school model, financial inclusion (VSLAs and bank linkages), market engagement and value chain approaches.

·        Ability to manage partners and ensure high performance and achievement of key deliverables.

·        Excellent verbal and written communication skills in English.

·        Computer literate (email, word processing, spreadsheets,)

·        Personally committed to gender equality and women and girls’ empowerment with the ability to lead to organizational change processes that aim at making organizations more gender aware, gender committed and gender competent.

·        Both a team player as well as able to work independently with minimum supervision.

CORE COMPETENCIES

•                 Excellence: Sets high standards of performance for self and/or others; successfully completes assignments; sets standards of excellence rather than having standards imposed; ensures interactions and transactions are ethical and convey integrity.

•                 Integrity: Maintains social, ethical, and organizational norms; firmly adheres to codes of conduct and ethical principles inherent to CARE.