Heifer International is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, status as a protected veteran, among other things, or status as a qualified individual with disability.
FUNCTION:
The East Africa Youth Inclusion Program (EAYIP) Cluster Coordinator, under the guidance of the EAYIP Social Capital and Cluster Manager, will provide leadership on hub business and technical guidance to the business operations of the agricultural value chain enterprises in the Cluster for the EAYIP. S/he will ensure increased production and productivity in the agribusinesses which are the key outcome of the project. Leading and working through a team of Cluster personnel and other consortium staff.S/he will provide technical guidance and support to producer organization boards, staff and farmers on Agricultural enterprise production and productivity issues.
ESSENTIAL CHARACTER TRAITS:
Energetic, positive, collaborative.
RESPONSIBILITIES & DELIVERABLES
Program Effectiveness (50%)
- Lead the Cluster team including consortium staff to develop practical strategies to increase income production and productivity within the respective cluster through the use of relevant input on poultry, horticulture, staple crops, animal health & husbandry, feed/nutrition, water management system, etc.
- Lead the development of a farm business model as a profitable sustainable and growth proposition to smallholder farmers, which could be used to replicate and advise interested farmers particularly youth to adopt dairy, poultry, horticulture, staple crops farming.
- Lead and support the Cluster team in designing a system and implement plans to support Producer organizations to set up robust business leadership extension systems and link producer organizations to input and service providers.
- Support the design and implementation of appropriate curricula to help the cluster office plan and implement training programs that relate to the poultry, horticulture, staple crops farming and dairy enterprise management.
- With the guidance of the Social Capital and Cluster Manager, design and lead systems to streamline gender and youth activities which promote production and productivity within the cluster.
- Lead the Cluster team in designing a program that can select and support the development of model farms and put in place strategies to upscale adoption of productivity enhancement technologies.
- Productivity analysis & market assessments in the Cluster EAYIP program conducted to determine the value chains for new youth hubs and complementary value chains for existing dairy hubs.
- Facilitate the formation of youth associations and preparation of articles of incorporation, bye-laws and facilitate registration of the Associations.
- Participate in the development and dissemination of hub development toolkits, hub business models by May 2018.
- The hub board members trained in leadership, group dynamics and good corporate governance.
- Work with the hubs to develop and implement the graduation strategy by May 2018.
- Coordinate support recruitment and training of community facilitators.
- Ensure that the Social Capital Development (SCD) structures are developed and well-functioning. This includes Community Facilitators, Community Agrovet Entrepreneurs, Community Entrepreneurs, Project Management Committees and Mentoring Teams.
- Organizational standards for SCD have been followed.
- Ensure that the groups are dynamic, vibrant with self-directed plans, and carrying out the Project Self Review and Planning (PSRP) on a quarterly basis.
- Model demonstration sites established by April 2018.
- Develop/Review systems, procedures, methods and formats to monitor production, quality, pricing, expenses and income associated with dairy production, poultry, horticulture, staple crops at farm level and at the producer organization level.
Management and Compliance (30%)
- Working closely with the Regional Monitoring, Learning and Evaluation (MLE) Manager; and MLE Officer create, execute and monitor action plans to support Cluster office value chains namely poultry, horticulture & livestock databases at youth farmer business associations with a view of the enterprises to use the data for improving management and profitability of the enterprises.
- Ensure compliance with contractual obligations and procedures of the donor.
- Submit timely reports to EAYIP Social Capital and Cluster Manager as required.
- Ensure periodic project reviews are conducted, with learnings documented and shared.
- May perform other job-related responsibilities as assigned.
- Review and coordinate the compilation of weekly, monthly, quarterly reports and ensure that a robust database is maintained at the Cluster level to track productivity and use of inputs and services.
Partnership and Engagement (15%)
- Coordinate cluster team and external partnerships to bring the best farm practice to the project.
- Provide leadership to the Cluster team in strategy development and creative initiatives to nurture and build linkages between producer organizations, local governments, private sector Business Development Services ( BDS) providers and other development players.
- Represent EAYIP in various local stakeholder meetings, workshops, conferences, and shared learning events.
- Develop and implement plans for multi-stakeholders’ engagement and learnings.
- Develop relationships with local partners working with youth in agribusiness to facilitate access to best farming practices and market linkages.
May perform other job-related duties as assigned. (5%)
- Any other job-related task assigned by the line manager
Minimum Requirements:
- Bachelor’s degree in Agriculture, Animal Science or other related fields, with five (5) years’ managerial experience in Agricultural production, Agricultural value chain management, agriculture development with at least three (3) years’ experience of how cooperatives work.
Preferred Requirements:
- Master’s degree in Agriculture, Animal Science or a related field, plus at least five (5) years’ experience in crop and/or Livestock production management with a background in Agricultural enterprise management.
- Experience in developing private-public partnerships especially at the country level working in a matrix reporting environment.
- Possess the experience and ability to articulate Agriculture as a financially viable business proposition at both the farm and producer organization
Most Critical Proficiencies:
- A clear understanding of the Agricultural value chain and Heifer’s Value-based model.
- Proven team leadership, project management, motivational and supervisory skills with the ability to train and work cooperatively with a diverse staff.
- Demonstrated knowledge of the latest developments in advancing good/best practices in Agricultural value chain development that reaches youth, and underprivileged.
- Demonstrated creativity, ability to think systematically, willingness and ability to incorporate innovative solutions and design catalytic activities within the production dairy value chain (e.g. the concept of business development services provision).
- Demonstrated experience in setting robust and sustainable extension systems for producer organizations. This requirement is in line with the need to have built-in exit strategies within the project as a measure of ensuring that there are self-sustaining businesses by project’s end.
- Having a business approach to dairy farmer with a passion for farmer development and being completely farmer centric.
- Demonstrated knowledge and experience in facilitating development of farm-level business plans and feasibility studies including the computation of the associated key financial ratios and benchmarks.
- Experience in implementing supply promotion/stimulation strategies in the context of dairy sub-sector and other agricultural sub- sectors.
- Computer literacy, including facility with Word, Excel, and other relevant Microsoft Office Suite applications, as well as any other databases.
- Proficient in communicating in English and local languages, oral and written.
Essential Job Functions and Physical Demands:
- Proven interpersonal and communication skills with the ability to relate to individuals and groups diplomatically and tactfully.
- Constant face-to-face, telephone and electronic communication with colleagues and the public.
- Sensitivity to the needs and priorities of disadvantaged populations particularly women and children.
- Excellent oral and written reporting skills with the ability to prepare and present documents in a well-designed and attractive format with superior attention to detail.
- Working in a multi-cultural setting and commitment to promoting teamwork, gender equality, and sensitivity to hunger and poverty issues.
- Ability to work under tight deadlines with minimum supervision.
- Ability to work under pressure in response to changing needs and ability to work well in a team.
- Ability to travel domestically and internationally, occasionally on short notice.
- Sound judgment, professionalism and a positive attitude with the ability to adapt to a rapidly changing environment and in sometimes difficult circumstances.
- Ability to work with sensitive information and maintain confidentiality.
More Information
- Job City Uganda
