Position Description
Location Yumbe, Uganda
Position Status Full-time
Salary Level level 8
Current Team Member Vacant
About Mercy Corps
Mercy Corps is a leading global organization powered by the belief that a better world is possible.
In disaster, in hardship, in more than 40 countries around the world, we partner to put bold solutions
into action — helping people triumph over adversity and build stronger communities from within.
Now, and for the future.
Program Summary
Present in Uganda since 2006, Mercy Corps Uganda’s aim is to catalyze change through the Ugandan private sector, civil society, and government to create resilient, economically inclusive, healthy, and secure communities.
Serving on the frontlines of the hardest hit communities by climate change, as in Northern Uganda, Mercy Corps, Energy 4 Impact (E4I), Simusolar, and Tulima Solar are witnessing first-hand the detrimental impacts of the unfolding climate crisis and the multifaceted ways that this is impacting smallholder farmers. The Danida-funded Powering the Uptake of climate change Mitigating Pumps (Pump Up), Uganda project seeks to enable farmers in Northern Uganda (Yumbe and Gulu areas), including women, youth, and refugee farming communities to build resilient livelihoods and to adapt to the negative impacts of climate change. We aim to do this by supporting viable investments in climate resilient technologies such as solar water pumps (SWPs) coupled with best practices in climate smart agriculture (CSA) and integrated water resource management.
The project will be implemented by a consortium led by Mercy Corps, as the administrative partner; Energy 4 Impact, Mercy Corps’ energy access platform, which will provide business model and technology advisory services; and Tulimasolar and Simusolar as commercial partners. The Pump-Up project will improve capacities of the commercial partner to adapt and localise their product in Yumbe and Gulu areas by improving their PAYGO consumer financing offer and developing cost-effective and inclusive go-to-market and sales strategies. The project will support the commercial partner’s goal to increase its reach and market traction in Northern Uganda (currently at 38% of total sales) by adding an additional 430 SWPs over 3 years by: 1) diversifying value chains and market segments to reach SHFs, women, youth, and refugee communities, 2) adopting engagement terms and exploring financial products suitable for women and youth, 3) holding demonstration events that increase awareness and adoption. Altogether, these efforts will help to establish an enduring foundation to reduce vulnerability to climate change for SHFs by facilitating inclusive access and uptake of SWPs coupled with the promotion of best practices in CSA and integrated water resource management.
The project aims to reach 2,220 people with opportunities for increased income and/or improved livelihoods (555 female and 888 youth); create 50 decent jobs (15 female and 30 youth); and support 500 SHFs including women and youth to engage in off-season production.
Pump Up will run from 01 July 2023 to 30 June 2026 for a total duration of three years. The position will be based in Yumbe, covering Yumbe and Gulu areas.
General Position Summary
The Agronomy MSD Advisor position requires an ideal candidate to have theoretical knowledge of agricultural practices and market systems development with a mix of practical field skills, quantitative abilities, appreciation of interdisciplinary work, and a core commitment to achieving science-led agricultural and market development.
The position holder will offer technical support and assistance to pro-poor economic initiatives, developing innovative business models to strengthen serve and product delivery within the West Nile region.
Essential Job Responsibilities
strategy and Vision
- Develop the strategy and subsequently implement innovative actions for Climate Smart Agricultural practices and market systems development along selected value chains for the solar water pumps clients in Yumbe and Gulu
- Actively advance Pump Up market linkages to actors at local regional and national levels, seeking avenues for partnership, collaboration, and coordination of activities.
- Closely work with the Program Manager, Energy Advisor and Gender Equality and social inclusion advisor to strengthen inclusive go-to-market strategies and agribusiness development model.s
- Work with the manager in refining the project strategy and provide technical guidance to team members and partners within the West Nile region.
- Lead research and monitoring of market systems analysis, business cases and intervention plans in the selected sectors to improve impact, particularly for the scale up of agronomy value chains and financial inclusion.
Program Development
- Identify and analyze systematic constrains and opportunities within and between the value chains and design appropriate market driven interventions to address the gaps and barriers in market systems, using the market systems development approach.
- Participate in designing and conducting market awareness, raising campaigns and undertake market assessments and research that will inform the scale up strategy in West Nile
- Use an adaptive management approach to continuously reflect on the market systems development progress and integration with overall consortiums, ensuring active learning and course correction where strategies and coordination are falling short.
- Establish and over the effective monitoring of market systems activities, developing monthly and quarterly reports and contributing to the requested indicator tracking.
- Ensure the market systems development activities are gender and youth sensitive with a focus on building resilience in vulnerable populations.
- Ensure coordination of consortium and external partners around the market systems development approach, contributing to advocacy with District, Regional and national partners.
- Contextualize research across multiple spatial and temporal scales while incorporating knowledge of contemporary and future drivers of change.
- Work closely with an interdisciplinary team of Agronomists to understand adoption processes, crop production technology targeting, and the enabling environment to support sustainable intensification at scale.
- Interaction with multiple stakeholders in the public – private sector and agribusiness that are involved in achieving agronomy outcomes.
- Contribute to resource mobilization through ideas development and relationship management.
- Communicate key messages to farmers, agricultural dealers, and extension staff.
- Develop technical content for training materials relevant to different stakeholders.
- Conduct technical support visits to Farmers, and agricultural dealer.
Team Management
- Develop the capacity of the team, ensure program team members have a clear and deep understanding of their roles and assist with career development.
- Assist team members with information, tools, and resources to improve performance & reach objectives.
- Promote accountability, communicate expectations, and provide constructive feedback informally and formally via regular one on ones and performance reviews.
- Create and sustain a work environment of mutual respect where team members strive to achieve excellence.
Finance & Compliance Management
- Ensure compliance with donor and Mercy Corps regulations related to all MSD programs.
Influence & Representation
- Identify, build, and manage collaborative partnerships with key private and public sector gate keepers.
- Comply with Mercy Corps approach at key government and advocacy platforms.
- Represent Mercy Corps at all relevant coordination meetings.
- Coordinate with other NGOs in Uganda to consolidate Mercy Corps’ strategic niche and comparative advantages, while identifying strategic partnerships.
Security
- Ensure compliance with security procedures and policies as determined by country leadership.
- Proactively ensure that team members operate in a secure environment and are aware of policies.
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 toward 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.
Supervisory Responsibility
None
Accountability
Reports Directly To: Program Manager
Works Directly With: GESI Advisor, Energy Advisor, Regional and HQ technical support units, HR, Finance and operation departments.
Knowledge and Experience
- A master’s degree or equivalent in agrnomoy, economics or another relevant field.
- A bachelor’s or equivalent in Agriculture majoring in Crop Science, Soil science, Agriculture extension, Agriculture Economics, Agriculture management, Rural innovations systems or related fields,
- Over seven years of in management experience in large and complex programs.
- Experience managing humanitarian relief and/or transitional programs in areas affected by conflict and insecurity.
- Prior experience with funding from USG, DFID, and other leading donors.
- Highly developed interpersonal and communication skills required, including influencing, negotiation and coaching.
- Strong management skills with good understanding of managing international, cross-cultural teams.
- Experience managing programs in relevant technical area(s) including food security, market systems development, gender, livelihoods, and financial services.
- Strong analytic skills and ability to develop solutions to complex issues required.
- Demonstrated attention to detail, ability to follow procedures, meet deadlines and work independently and cooperatively with team members.
- Fluent written and oral communication in English required.
- Knowledge of major donor requirements and compliance
- Strong understanding of conflict sensitive program mainstreaming, and gender or protection mainstreaming would be an
- Previous experience working Africa is
Success Factors
The success of the Agronomy MSD Advisor will be measured on the degree on which he/she can promote pro-poor private sector growth in west Nile using a light touch approach designed to encourage sustainability and reduce dependency of both the business partners and community beneficiaries.
The extent to which the Agronomy MSD Advisor will be able to effectively integrate with other sectors in order to maximize impact.
Living Conditions / Environmental Conditions
The position is based in Yumbe and it requires travels to other field location in West Nile and Kampala.
Mercy Corps team members represent the agency both during and outside work hours when deployed in a field posting or on short-term assignments. Team members are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner and respect local laws, customs and Mercy Corps’ policies, procedures, always and in all in-country venues.
Fostering a diverse and open workplace is an important part of Mercy Corps’ vision. Mercy Corps is an Equal Opportunity Employer regardless of background. We are committed to creating an inclusive environment.
To Apply: Interested applicants must submit their Cover Letter & CV saved in 1 document as PDF of no more than 5 pages by 2nd June 2023.
Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.
Mercy Corps does not charge any fees at any stage of the recruitment process.
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