1. About Kilimo Trust

Kilimo Trust (KT) is a not-for-profit organization working on agriculture for development across the East Africa community, in Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda. KT is a go-to implementing partner for inclusive and sustainable market-led agricultural value chain development in the region.

Kilimo Trust is implementing a project titled RE-GAIN Eastern Farmers (REEF) with support from AGRA. The REEF project aims to improve food security and promote sustainable agriculture in Eastern Uganda by increasing the adoption of food loss reduction solutions and climate-smart practices among smallholder farmers through awareness, financing, market linkages, and business support. We therefore seek Village Based Agent (VBAs) who will support training Farmers, Agricultural Traders and Processors on Post Harvest Handling (PHH) and impacts of Climate change on PHH loss.

2. The Assignment:

To enhance Food Loss Reduction Solutions in the bean and maize value chains in Eastern Uganda, specifically in the Sebei and Bugisu regions. This initiative will aim to equip farmers, Agricultural Traders and Processors with the skills and knowledge necessary to improve their post-harvest management thereby boosting the quantity and quality of produce, reducing losses, and contributing to an increase in the volume traded

Distribution of Vacancies per District

3. Scope of Work

The Village Based Agents (VBAs) are required to:

a) Mobilize smallholder farmers within their catchment areas into training groups, with deliberate outreach to ensure participation of women and youth.

b) Train Farmers (including youth and women), Agricultural Traders and Processors on Post Harvest Handling, improved crop management practices (good agronomic practices, timely harvesting) and impacts of Climate change on PHH loss for beans and maize and storage techniques to minimize food losses. Additionally provide translation services as needed to ensure clear understanding among local participants.

c) Profile farmers who participated in the training using Kobo Collect data tool provided.

d) Track participants attendance, including gender-disaggregated data, FL-RS adoption data.

e) Submit training reports to the field supervisor for consolidation and M&E tracking.

4. Qualifications:

a) Holder of a Certificate or Diploma in Agriculture, Agribusiness or related fields, with at least three (3) years of practical experience in agricultural extension services.

b) Proven experience in conducting farmer training, especially in Food Loss Reduction Solutions

c) Knowledge of Food Loss Reduction Solutions for Maize and Beans

d) Experience in community mobilization and engagement, particularly with smallholder farmers, Agricultural Traders and Processors

e) Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to explain technical concepts in simple, local language.

f) Fluent in at least one of the local languages, Lumasaba or Kupsabiny.

g) The candidate must be a resident of the target district and should clearly indicate their intended place of operation in the application.

h) Strong report writing skills.

5. Duration of the Assignment

The assignment will be for a period of one (1) month.

• Mobilize smallholder farmers within their catchment areas into training groups, with deliberate outreach to ensure participation of women and youth.
• Train Farmers (including youth and women), Agricultural Traders and Processors on Post Harvest Handling, improved crop management practices (good agronomic practices, timely harvesting) and impacts of Climate change on PHH loss for beans and maize and storage techniques to minimize food losses. Additionally provide translation services as needed to ensure clear understanding among local participants.
• Profile farmers who participated in the training using Kobo Collect data tool provided.
• Track participants attendance, including gender-disaggregated data, FL-RS adoption data.
• Submit training reports to the field supervisor for consolidation and M&E tracking.

• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
• Ability to explain technical concepts in simple, local language
• Fluent in at least one of the local languages, Lumasaba or Kupsabiny
• Strong report writing skills

• Holder of a Certificate or Diploma in Agriculture, Agribusiness or related fields
• Proven experience in conducting farmer training, especially in Food Loss Reduction Solutions
• Knowledge of Food Loss Reduction Solutions for Maize and Beans
• Experience in community mobilization and engagement, particularly with smallholder farmers, Agricultural Traders and Processors
• The candidate must be a resident of the target district