• Job Description

  Req#: ASSOC004174

  Everyone deserves the opportunity to build a better future. This simple idea has been at the heart of TechnoServe’s work around the world for over 50 years. TechnoServe is a pioneer in leveraging the power of business and markets to create sustainable pathways out of poverty.

  The low-income communities in which we work are full of enterprising people. Their small-scale farms and businesses are the keys to economic development. But they face many challenges: low literacy, lack of access to jobs and markets, unpredictable political dynamics and, increasingly, the effects of climate change. For many women and young people, the challenges are even more daunting. Working with TechnoServe staff, people around the world are lifting themselves out of poverty. The results are amazing...when incomes increase and living conditions for families get better, they are able to access health care and education previously out of reach. Communities and even whole countries are better off.

  Title: Associate Agronomy Advisor

  Program: HortiMAP (DUTCH004N-ADMIN)

  Reports to: HortiMAP Business Advisor

  Location: Kween/Kapchorwa

  Grade: 5

  Job Summary

  This position is part of the Horticultural Value Chain Development Team which ensures delivery of high quality, customized trainings to MDF clients, specifically farmers, producer organizations, retailers and vendors.

  The Agronomy Associate Advisor will work closely with Business Counselors, Input suppliers, District Local Government departments, local stakeholders, and partners, as well as respective country management. S/he will be responsible for delivering customized training to Producer Organization (POs), Entrepreneurial Farmers (EF) and selected SMEs, and monitoring trainings delivered by Partners by use of monitoring guide

  Program Overview

  Through the four-year HortiMAP program funded by the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, Techno serve and partners BID Capital and PUM will transform the horticulture industry in Uganda. The program combines catalytic funding through a Market Development Facility and Technical Assistance fund to leverage private sector and local resources and expertise to strengthen SMEs and local supply chains, while delivering training to farmers and retailers to realize their potential. These interventions are expected to increase incomes for more than 31,000 horticulture farmers, create 8000 jobs, and improve access to healthy, safe food for 270,000 consumers.

  Primary Functions and Responsibilities

  • Reinforcing existing interventions with farmer groups to ensure adoption and increase project impact
  • Link producer organizations to business development service providers to build capacity in core areas such governance, member services, and inclusive leadership of women and youth.
  • Deliver TechnoServe’s bespoke technical trainings in areas of Agronomy, Post-harvest handling, soil fertility and management, Integrated pest and disease management trainings to Entrepreneurial Farmers and Producer Organizations.
  • Deliver Techno Serve’s bespoke Entrepreneurship training especially Modules on Farming as Business (FaaB) and personal Effectiveness to PO, farmers and Entrepreneurial Framers
  • Incorporate Gender and youth aspects in delivery of the trainings and pick out key Gender modules to deliver for example -Gender/together we can fly – targeting spouse/house approach.
  • Support Partners in delivering Trainings in Good Agricultural Practice, Post-Harvest Handling, Climate Smart Agriculture, Organic Agriculture and Integrated Pest and Disease Management to Producer Organizations and Entrepreneurial farmers
  • Facilitate linkages among the core value chain actors, from input supply through production to Market vendors
  • Promote and scale up identified and proven technologies among the value chain actors in areas of increasing productivity, reducing Post-harvest losses, lowering cost of production and minimizing chemical use.
  • Collect baseline figures and measure impact in order to monitor progress (M&E)
  • Planning of activities to ensure that the objectives of the program are met within the set times and resources and that impact is maximized
  • Periodic reporting of the situation on the ground to provide both data and anecdotal evidence of impact
  • Oversee quality of training delivered by Partners and provide backstopping through coaching
  • Working together with Business Counselors, identify Business Development Service providers such as Micro-Finance Institutions and link them with the market actors – Entrepreneurial farmers, Producer Organization, Vendors and micro-retailers
  • Represent Technoserve in the districts of operation and Collaborate with district production departments to execute the roles agreed on the MoU.in consultation with Technoserve’s Country Management
  • Building strong partnerships and professional working relations with key stakeholders in the districts of operation, such as District Local government, lower local government, other projects in the area, etc.
  • Any other duties assigned to you by your supervisor

  Required Qualifications, Skills and Experience

  • A Bachelor’s degree in Agricultural Science with bias to crop production or Minimum of 2 years’ field experience with extension service, Farmer Institutional development, youth development or entrepreneurship in Uganda
  • Knowledge of the horticulture in specific and agriculture sector in the different districts locations
  • Strong private sector experience, facilitation skills and Participatory Approach in Extension
  • Knowledge of Climate Smart Agriculture (CSA), Gender and Youth Engagement in agriculture
  • Relevant skills of Monitoring and Evaluation tools and practices, such use of digital platform for data capturing and reporting
  • Good computer skills (Excel and MS word)
  • Excellent interpersonal, oral and written communication skills
  • Proficiency in the local language(s) or one of the local languages spoken in the district
  • Ability to ride Motorcycle with valid riding permit, or willingness to learn and acquire permit in one-month period
  • Career Pathways

  The positions that may be a next career opportunity for employees in this job title include Agronomy Advisor.

  We encourage all qualified individuals who share TechnoServe's vision of improving the lives of others through proven business solutions to apply.

  With our commitment to diversity, we are proud to be an equal opportunity employer and affirmative action employer and do not discriminate on the basis of gender, race, color, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, HIV/AIDS status, protected veteran status, disability and all other protected classes.

  We are also proud of our commitment to protecting staff, partners, and beneficiaries from abuse and exploitation and thoroughly vet all final candidates through rigorous background and reference checks.

  If you have a disability that affects your ability to use our online system to apply for a position at TechnoServe please contact the Human Resources at recruitment@tns.org or call +1 202 785 4515.

  Qualifications

  Education

  Preferred

  Bachelors

  Experience

  Required

• About the company

  TechnoServe is an international nonprofit that promotes business solutions to poverty in the developing world by linking people to information, capital and markets.

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