Program Background

The Agrifood System Transformation for Youth Employment (ASTYE) Uganda program

ASTYE is a 5-year transformative initiative designed to enable dignified and fulfilling work opportunities primarily for financially disadvantaged young women, refugees, and vulnerable groups by addressing structural barriers in Uganda's Agrifood system. Aligned with Uganda’s Vision 2040, the National Development Plan and Government of Uganda Agriculture Value Chain Development Strategy, the program will contribute to national efforts toward poverty alleviation, economic growth, as well food and nutrition security. Additionally, ASTYE is part of the Mastercard Foundation’s Young Africa Works strategy in Uganda, which aims to empower 4.3 million young Ugandans, particularly young women, by addressing structural barriers to employment and providing them with the skills and resources to succeed.

Specifically, GOAL will implement component one to reach 500,000 financially disadvantaged young people, with 400,000 transiting into work and 320,000 securing dignified and fulfilling work. As the program is young women-centric, 80% of the total outreach target will be young women within Uganda's agrifood ecosystem. Furthermore, 3% of the total youth in work target will be refugees, and another 3% will be people with disabilities.

Job summary

Reporting to the ASTYE Technical Specialist, the Program Officer will be responsible for coordination, supervision and implementation of all the program activities in assigned districts in accordance with the programme description and budget provisions as detailed in the sector workplans. He/she will support the ASTYE Technical Specialist in ensuring the successful coordination and implementation of project activities within districts of operation following project guidelines and approaches in all programme interventions, with the aim of achieving project objectives.

To be successful in this role, you will need:

Essential

• A Bachelor’s Degree in Agriculture, Agricultural Sciences, Agri-business Management, Agricultural Economics, Agricultural Engineering, Agricultural Extension & Education, Agriculture & Rural Innovation
• Minimum of 3 years practical experience working with Private Sector Actors.
• Possess strong partnership management skills and knowledge of partnership processes.
• Knowledge and experience in business financing for SMEs.

Desirable

• Experience in working with both very small and medium-sized companies in a development setting.
• Strong communication and negotiating skills.
• Experience with market facilitation, supporting systemic change and promoting supporting services indirectly.
• Knowledge of the agricultural sectors is highly desirable.

The key responsibilities of the role will be:

Planning, Developing, and Implementing Market Development Activities

• In coordination with ASTYE Technical Specialists and local partners, plan, implement, and monitor market system development activities within the assigned districts.
• Support private sector actors to design, test, and deliver a wide range of appropriate services that increase youth employment and self-employment within the agricultural market system.
• Assist in developing capacity building materials for business, technical and financial capacities as well as participating in capacity building sessions.
• Support to execute related field activities to ensure that the programme results are achieved to the highest standards and project deliverables are completed as planned.
• Support mobilization and engagement of targeted youth to fully participate in the programme for sustainability.
• Support partner to identify small business activities for seed support through basic improvements or inputs.
• Identify value-addition opportunities that strengthen economic opportunities, for young women and rural youth, in the livestock and agriculture sectors.
• Support Private Sector Actors (PSAs), civil society organisations (CSOs) and community-based organisations (CBOs) within assigned districts to ensure all approved program activities are implemented in line with approved milestone-based agreements and timelines.

Collaboration/Networking

• Establish and maintain good coordination and working relationships with sub-county, district leadership and local government departments, representing GOAL in district coordination meetings, and soliciting their participation in all activities where appropriate and as directed by the line manager.
• Ensure close coordination and sharing of information with relevant stakeholders such as local government departments, NGO’s and local authorities, as appropriate and advised by the line manager.
• Participate in the planning of learning and review meetings that bring private and public sector entities together to collectively review and discuss technology developments and innovation.

Documentation, Monitoring, Evaluation and Reporting

• Work closely with the district monitoring and evaluation team to capture the required data for measuring output and impact of the programme.
• Ensure the accurate and timely flow of information from the field, including entry into the program PSA tracker and Comcare database, and support the preparation of communication materials.
• Prepare and submit timely weekly, monthly, and quarterly reports that will be indicative of program progress during implementation.
• Maintain proper filing systems regarding market development activities of the program.

Representation and Coordination

• Liaise with local government officials, local NGOs and civil society organizations, and other notables to ensure support or and acceptance of ASTYE interventions.

• In coordination with ASTYE Technical Specialists and local partners, plan, implement, and monitor market system development activities within the assigned districts.
• Support private sector actors to design, test, and deliver a wide range of appropriate services that increase youth employment and self-employment within the agricultural market system.
• Assist in developing capacity building materials for business, technical and financial capacities as well as participating in capacity building sessions.
• Support to execute related field activities to ensure that the programme results are achieved to the highest standards and project deliverables are completed as planned.
• Support mobilization and engagement of targeted youth to fully participate in the programme for sustainability.
• Support partner to identify small business activities for seed support through basic improvements or inputs.
• Identify value-addition opportunities that strengthen economic opportunities, for young women and rural youth, in the livestock and agriculture sectors.
• Support Private Sector Actors (PSAs), civil society organisations (CSOs) and community-based organisations (CBOs) within assigned districts to ensure all approved program activities are implemented in line with approved milestone-based agreements and timelines.
• Establish and maintain good coordination and working relationships with sub-county, district leadership and local government departments, representing GOAL in district coordination meetings, and soliciting their participation in all activities where appropriate and as directed by the line manager.
• Ensure close coordination and sharing of information with relevant stakeholders such as local government departments, NGO’s and local authorities, as appropriate and advised by the line manager.
• Participate in the planning of learning and review meetings that bring private and public sector entities together to collectively review and discuss technology developments and innovation.
• Work closely with the district monitoring and evaluation team to capture the required data for measuring output and impact of the programme.
• Ensure the accurate and timely flow of information from the field, including entry into the program PSA tracker and Comcare database, and support the preparation of communication materials.
• Prepare and submit timely weekly, monthly, and quarterly reports that will be indicative of program progress during implementation.
• Maintain proper filing systems regarding market development activities of the program.
• Liaise with local government officials, local NGOs and civil society organizations, and other notables to ensure support or and acceptance of ASTYE interventions.

• Strong partnership management skills and knowledge of partnership processes.
• Knowledge and experience in business financing for SMEs.
• Strong communication and negotiating skills.
• Experience with market facilitation, supporting systemic change and promoting supporting services indirectly.
• Knowledge of the agricultural sectors is highly desirable.

• A Bachelor’s Degree in Agriculture, Agricultural Sciences, Agri-business Management, Agricultural Economics, Agricultural Engineering, Agricultural Extension & Education, Agriculture & Rural Innovation
• Minimum of 3 years practical experience working with Private Sector Actors.
• Possess strong partnership management skills and knowledge of partnership processes.
• Knowledge and experience in business financing for SMEs.
• Experience in working with both very small and medium-sized companies in a development setting.
• Strong communication and negotiating skills.
• Experience with market facilitation, supporting systemic change and promoting supporting services indirectly.
• Knowledge of the agricultural sectors is highly desirable.