Community Development Assistant – MENU Project 268 views0 applications

Back ground

World Vision Uganda is a Christian relief, development and advocacy non-government organization dedicated to working with children, families and communities to overcome poverty and injustice. We currently work in over 82 districts in Uganda implementing projects in health & nutrition, water, sanitation & hygiene (WASH), livelihoods & community resilience, education and child protection. World Vision (WV) is committed to the protection of children and adult beneficiaries from exploitation and abuse and will not employ people whose background is not suitable for working with the beneficiaries above. All employment is conditioned upon the successful completion of all applicable background checks, including criminal record checks where possible.

Due to expansion in scope of our programmes, we are now seeking for qualified and passionate individuals willing to share in our vision and join our team in the position below.

Position: Community Development Assistant – MENU Project.

Report to: Project Manager

Location: Lira District

Purpose of the position:

To implement field level project activities in line with targets and donor standards in a manner that contributes to sustained and improved child wellbeing. Specifically, the Marketing CDA will be responsible for marketing of bio fortified crops among the beneficiary households with in specified locations.

Key Outputs/Responsibilities.

Project planning and implementation

• Actively participate in project start up workshops, annual and semi-annual planning and review processes sharing marketing and business support progress and new plans.
• Facilitate and monitor the implementation of planned activities and community level engagements.
• Mobilize and register target beneficiaries, re-organize them into farmer associations to receive various support including capacity building, and planting.
• Ensure that Project marketing activities are integrated into the District development plan
• Supervise and monitor ongoing marketing activities under the MENU project
• Coordinate MENU marketing activities being implemented in the various districts by commercial farmers, partners and technical resource persons.
• Initiate and participate in Resilience and Livelihood district Advocacy initiatives
• Liaise with the regional Resilience and Livelihood technical officer for quality implementation of the project.
• Contribute to effective team management and supervision of farmer groups.

Capacity building and training

• Conduct farmer training in post-harvest handling and other related aspects in the value chain for biofortified crops.
• Facilitate farmer trainings through result and method demonstrations at selected community sites
• Identify and train women and youths entrepreneurs into value addition and product development on biofortified crops
• Interface and train traders in the best practices intended to increase sales including; post-harvest management, record keeping
• Conduct business to business meeting between smallholder farmers and traders
• Through trainings, Create awareness and emphasize the nutritional benefits of biofortified crops especially orange sweet potatoes and iron rich beans
• Provide mentoring and coaching to commercial farmers, traders, groups to build local capacity for understanding and connecting with community linkages.
• Conduct periodic (quarterly and bi-annual) stakeholder reviews, sharing experiences and learning from each other and scaling up the best practices

Partnership, networking and advocacy

• Identify local level partners including Market link farmers (MLFs), schools, traders, transporters, processors and facilitate them in the implementation of activities.
• Build strategic linkages, relations, collaborations and networks with partners and other stakeholders in implementation at the District level.
• Mobilize and facilitate the engagements of marketing related stakeholders during planning and development meetings, workshops and other fora.
• Facilitate stakeholders and partners in supervision and monitoring of programmatic activities.
• Identify and mentor marketing groups to upscale biofortified crops production and aggregation.
• Influence and facilitate the uptake of biofortified crops by schools, health centers, prisons, and other institutions
• Mobilize various stakeholders and engage in dialogues for improved marketing and utilization of biofortification
• Organize and execute annual events such as farmer field days, trade fairs, World Food Day celebrations, with exhibitions.
• Support local leaders, technical teams and other stakeholders to participate in awareness campaigns including radio and other media shows, street walks etc.

Act as

• Point of contact on crop production and marketing in the area of operation for the project
• Create and estimate demand for biofortified crop in areas of operation and beyond
• Identify and present market development opportunities through networks and relationships with other institutions and organizations and NGOs working.
• Work closely with District initiatives through the District production Office on constraints of targeted crops and opportunities for marketing biofortification

Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning

• Facilitate formation and coordination of community structures including commercial farmers, market link farmers to help in project monitoring
• Collect data and conduct data analysis on the impact of farming methods among participating farmers.
• Jointly conduct planning and review, monitoring visits with sub-county stakeholders, district commercial office, commercial farmers, for learning and awareness raising annually
• Monitor Distribution of project inputs and seed loan recovery timely from commercial farmers
• Collect relevant and accurate data monthly, quarterly for feeding into main database
• Support the collection and documentation of impact and success stories.
• Participate in data tools development, review and testing for accuracy and reliability
• Participate in capacity building events organized by donor in fields to include Seeds systems, Nutrition, Marketing and Product development, Advocacy as and when called on
• Share monitoring outcomes with sub-county stakeholders during periodic reflections
• Compile and share quality monthly, quarterly and semi-annual reports with supervisor, supported by photos and progress stories

Innovation and documentation

• Establish community technology dissemination strategies including sweet potato vine multiplication and conservation and multiplication of iron beans
• Establish demonstration plots at sub-county, health centres, schools for comparison of practices and learning practically
• Innovatively carry out market promotion events, establish point of sales and document trends
• Capture and share quarterly pictorial and or video documentaries and bulletins for posting on WV and HarvestPlus links
• Stagger production to ensure continuity and consistent supply of biofortified crops
• Annually post a transformation story on biofortification working group or Community of Practice (CoP)
• Contribute ideas to articles and publications in media especially during commemoration of key events including World Food Day, and various regional trade fairs

Qualifications: Education/Knowledge/Technical Skills and Experience

• Minimum of a Diploma in agriculture, agribusiness, development studies or any other related field. Or experience of more than 6 years in progressive crop production and marketing
• Understanding of the sweet potato and iron beans production system in Uganda
• Strong interpersonal skills and ability to create linkages between smallholder farmers and traders/ markets
• Strong experience in documentation and evidence based/impact reporting
• Ability to work in a team to achieve excellence in execution, committed, accountable and passionate about the work we do.
• Willingness to work and live in rural setting with lots of movements
• Commitment to World Vision mission and partnership values and sensitivity to its various expressions across cultures and denominations.
• Track record demonstrating high integrity, reliable and dependable

• Able to ride a Motor Cycle with a valid rider’s permit-class A