Uganda: NU-TEC Project Officer 01 Vacancy Based in Kampala with travel to field locations (Open to Ugandan Nationals Only)

PROGRAM/DEPARTMENT SUMMARY:

Mercy Corps has been operating in Uganda since 2006 and works to catalyse change-makers within the Ugandan private sector, civil society and government to create economically dynamic, healthy and secure communities. Our work focuses on: building resilience; enabling economic growth; widening opportunities to attain better health and nutrition; and improving governance and conflict management. We implement in Acholi, West Nile and Karamoja as well as eastern Uganda with funding from UK Government (DFID), US Government, Sida, SDC, ECHO, and private donations.

Mercy Corps is looking for a qualified candidate to fill the position of Project Officer for the DFID-funded, 4-year programme: NU-TEC Financial Services (NU-TEC FS). The impact goal is to strengthen the climate-smart agribusiness sector in northern Uganda. While the ultimate beneficiaries will be smallholder farmer communities across the north of the country, the immediate beneficiaries of this programme will be private sector agribusinesses – who will have access to increase quality and quantity of financial services.

Reporting to the NU-TEC FS Team Leader, the Project Officer will take day-to-day responsibility for a range of critical functions. Key amongst these will be working collaboratively with a leading commercial bank, which is Mercy Corps’ central partner in the programme. This position offers an exciting opportunity to work in a dynamic area at the crossroads of traditional NGO development interventions and traditional commercially-focused financial service provision.

GENERAL POSITION SUMMARY:

The Project Officer will be responsible for supporting the Team Leader in ensuring key deliverables under the Contact are defined, tracked and completed. Vital delivery tasks include: engagement and relationship-building with the commercial bank and with the (agri-)businesses it will lend to; support to the design and delivery of market assessments; generation of loan portfolio reports and narrative reports; collation of invoices; and the identification of, engagement with and support to external consultants. The Project Officer will also be responsible for adherence to Mercy Corps policies, in particular PM@MC, and will contribute to learning initiatives.

The Project Officer is expected to have a high-level understanding of shared value partnerships (seeing where access to financing can unlock the potential of cash-constrained businesses) as well as experience managing and developing such partnerships. S/he should understand the barriers commonly present in the agribusiness value chain.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:

Programme Implementation

1. Supporting the Team Leader in day-to-day implementation of the programme

2. Help in the identification, engagement and support to external Consultants brought in for specific tasks

3. Support Executing Market Assessments

4. Maintenance of the programme Risk Register

5. Ensure adherence to PM@MC Minimum Standards

6. Make regular on-site field visits to provide technical backstopping and/or design suggestions to actual or potential borrowers.

7. Support other team members to better understand private sector partnerships and financial services and how they can be integrated into the programme.

8. Lead on tracking workplan and progress towards achieving deliverables

Consortium Management

1. Working closely with commercial bank, in support of the programme objectives, building a strong and collaborative working relationship

Communication and Reporting

1. Input to the preparation of reports demonstrating progress, successes and challenges – both internal and donor-demanded

2. Lead on the preparation of case studies to reflect progress, successes and challenges.

Programme Administration

1. Lead on the collation of monthly invoices (fees and expenses) and payment by results invoices (for deliverables)

2. Lead on the logistics for regular and ad hoc meetings – both internal and external

3. Ensure proper logistics, administration, human resources and transport needs of the program are conducted within Mercy Corps policy and with the maximum benefit to the programme.

Organizational Learning:

As part of our commitment to organizational learning and in support of our understanding that learning organizations are more effective, efficient and relevant to the communities they serve - we expect all team members to commit 5% of their time to learning activities that benefit Mercy Corps as well as themselves.

Accountability to Beneficiaries: Mercy Corps team members are expected to support all efforts towards accountability, specifically to our beneficiaries and to international standards guiding international relief and development work, while actively engaging beneficiary communities as equal partners in the design, monitoring and evaluation of our field projects.

KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:

• Degree in finance, agribusiness, development, economic development, business management or a closely related field is required.

• S/he must have at least five years of experience designing, implementing and managing similar initiatives (private sector partnership, financial services strengthening, market systems development).

• Experience in leveraging private sector partnerships is a must.

• Strong interpersonal, writing and oral presentation skills in English are also required.

• Experience in building and maintaining strong/productive relations with implementing and strategic partner agencies is required.

• Demonstrated attention to detail, ability to follow procedures, meet deadlines and work independently and cooperatively with team members.

• Strong problem-solving and demonstration of initiative.

• Strong computer literacy with a full knowledge of office applications.

• A dynamic, “outside-the-box” attitude is required, with proven ability to think and act creatively in challenging environments.

• Multi-tasking, organizational, prioritization skills are necessary.

• Exposure to the Agricultural Sector

SUCCESS FACTORS

The successful candidate will have the following characteristics:

• A strong team player, with good communication and diplomatic skills.

• Proven ability to work independently and as part of a team.

• Excellent analytical and information management skills.

• Good organizational skills and ability to work under stress and in austere contexts of remote locations.

• Flexible and creative in planning and problem solving.

• Attention to detail, ability to follow procedures and meet deadlines and work independently and cooperatively with team members.

• Proven excellence maintaining professional internal and external relationships. **

Applications: Submit your online application to the Senior HR and Legal Manager by clicking on the following link https://www.fuzu.com/campaigns/nu-tec-project-officer-mercycorps . Clearly state your salary requirements on the cover letter, attach your CV (with 3 referees), and copies of academic qualifications/certificates. Deadline for Submission: Close of business on Friday, 02^nd May, 2018. Only short-listed candidates will be contacted by Mercy Corps. Mercy Corps is an equal opportunity employer; qualified female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply