Country: Uganda
Closing date: 15 Apr 2018
Reporting to: Team Leader – CASA Programme
Staff responsible for: Small core team of experts, and a wider pool of short-term consultants
Key Relationships: Farm Africa Uganda team, Global CASA team, implementing partners and other key stakeholders.
Location: Kampala, Uganda (with frequent national travel, and possible international travel)
Duration: Up to five years (programme duration), although applicants specifically interested in leading the inception phase (six months) will also be considered.
The UK’s Department for International Development (DFID) has announced a call for suppliers to implement their forthcoming Commercial Agriculture for Smallholders and Agribusinesses Programme (CASA) which is scheduled to start in late-2018. This programme seeks to drive changes in the ways in which investors view and invest in agribusinesses that work with smallholder supply chains.
Farm Africa will be applying as lead implementer for Uganda as part of global consortium seeking to deliver Component A of the CASA programme. Programme activities in Uganda will focus on the sesame and bean value chains, and will include:
- Supporting SME agribusinesses to prepare for and access early stage investment
- Supporting interventions focused on bringing smallholder farmers into commercial markets
- Improving regulations, laws or practices which benefit smallholders and SME agribusinesses in the sesame and bean value chains.
The Country Lead for CASA Uganda will have overall responsibility for programme planning and implementation in Uganda.
Key programme activities are expected to include:
Inception phase (6 months):
- Validation and definition of the detailed scope for interventions with farmer groups, SME agribusinesses and stakeholders in the sesame and bean value chains
- Production of a gendered value-chain mapping of proposed interventions in each value chain
- Identification of research key topics for the first year of the annual learning programme
- Development of the log frame and results framework
- Establishment of strong relationships with other contractors within the CASA programme, in particular with the contractor for Component B, the Smallholder Development Facility
- Establishment of strong relationships with other relevant donor programmes
- Identification of target audiences for advocacy and learning outputs of CASA, and effective communications tools for these different audiences
- A detailed work plan and budget for the first 12 months and outline work plan and budget for the remaining programme period
- Establishment of programme management tools
- Production of a visibility statement and delivery chain maps
- Production of the inception report
Implementation Phase (54 months):
- Provision of technical assistance (through consortium members) and ongoing support, coaching and guidance to smallholders and smallholder organisations, SME agribusinesses and organisations involved in regulatory environment reform for the sesame and beans value chains in Uganda
- Ongoing identification of new opportunities for technical assistance within the sesame and bean value chains – and delivery of this technical assistance
- Ongoing identification of and engagement with other organisations and stakeholders that could support the delivery of the wider objectives of the CASA programme
- Impact monitoring, including the delivery of verification studies
- Generating case studies and learning that can be used to advocate for investment in smallholder related agriculture by investors, governments and donors
The successful candidate will be able to demonstrate the following skills, knowledge and experience:
- Significant project management experience – 10 years+
- Experience of developing strategies and managing complex programmes with multiple partners and external stakeholders.
- An in-depth practical understanding of the key challenges facing the smallholder agriculture and agribusiness sectors in sub-Saharan Africa gained through relevant work experience
- An in-depth understanding of, and practical experience of delivering programmes using market-based approaches to development
- Experience in implementing gender transformative programming
- Evidenced ability to build strong relationships with stakeholders based on trust, collaboration, demonstrated commitment and impact, deploying a wide range of influencing techniques as required
In addition, experience of supporting the development of agricultural value chains in Uganda and/or extensive knowledge of the beans and/or sesame value chains would be advantageous. As would a post-graduate qualification in a relevant field.
About the Organization
Farm Africa reduces poverty in eastern Africa by helping farmers grow more, sell more and sell for more.
We work in Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda tackling the three big challenges trapping people in rural Africa in poverty: ineffective agriculture, environmental destruction and lack of access to markets. We help farmers boost yields and gain access to markets, while protecting the environment for generations to come.
Farm Africa has over 170 staff operating across the east African countries of Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda.
How to apply:
Interested candidates are requested to email their CV, availability, and anticipated fee rate to: consulting@farmafrica.org with the following subject line: Country Lead - CASA
Please note: Funding for this role is contingent on Farm Africa being awarded the contract.
Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.