Purpose of the position

The Project Officer – DRIVE with support from the Project Manager, and working alongside other Project Officers, is responsible for day-to-day planning and implementation of the ZOA activities under the DRIVE project, in Terego and Madi Okollo districts, West Nile. The PO will mobilize and train farmers in the Participatory Integrated Plan (PIP) approach, support and supervise the scale up of PIP to other farmers through farmer-to-farmer training, and support farmers’ linkages to viable markets.

The Project Officer will also work closely alongside other ZOA livelihoods project teams, to ensure coordinated and integrated support to project participants.

**Contracting for this position is dependent on signing of the final funding agreement with the donor. The project is expected to start 1st August 2024**

Project specific details:

The DRIVE project’s overall objective is to achieve a resilient local food system in West Nile region by enhancing productivity and production by smallholder farmers including women and youth, using climate smart agroecological practices and sustainable land/water management practices and increasing the participation of smallholder farmers including women and youth in profitable local and regional markets. DRIVE will use the Participatory Integrated Plan (PIP) approach to support farmer and household behavior change.

The project runs for 36 months. The project is implemented in Terego and Madi Okollo Districts. There is one local implementing partner and one technical partner.

Responsibilities

Project planning and implementation

• Implement project activities to achieve optimal project outputs and outcomes in line with ZOA/donor procedures and targets.
• Ensure project activities and outputs are consistent with project proposal, log frames and in line with quality standards and country policies.
• Facilitate and participate in capacity building events / trainings on PIP methodology, technical trainings, facilitation skills, ICT based extension programmes and other relevant trainings.
• Supports the step-by-step creation and implementation of PIPs by farmers and their families, in the community and beyond.
• Supervises and oversees high quality experimental plots or Integrated Plot Plans (IPPs) that serve as learning sites and demonstration plots for PIP farmers and the whole village.
• Facilitate documentation and learning among PIP farmers from experimental plots.
• Facilitate the formation of farmers groups, institutional capacity building and market linkages.
• Regularly provide technical backstopping (via phone and in person) to run the PIP (plots) and facilitate market linkages.
• Any other duty as assigned by the supervisor in line with the project.

Reporting and Knowledge Management, MEAL

• Provide inputs to implementation plans and activity/monthly reports.
• Identify, document lessons learned and best practices.
• Prepare and submit well written success stories.
• Contribute to project reports or implementation plans as required by supervisor.
• Collect monitoring data according to ZOA’s systems and activities in the project.

Representation and coordination

• Actively participate in the required and relevant technical working groups and coordination meetings conducted at sub county and parish level.
• Work closely with local government actors at Sub County and village level
• Work closely with PALM Corps staff (the partner) to implement the project

Procurement and finance

• Initiate timely purchase requisition of project goods/services.
• Ensure expenses are in line with approved budget.
• Provide appropriate codes for expenses

Accountability

• Sensitize all stakeholders (beneficiaries, service providers, partners, government and other) on feedback and complaint mechanisms implemented by ZOA Uganda.
• Upon receipt of a complaint or feedback, ensure that it is correctly documented following correct reporting procedures.
• Work closely with MEAL team to ensure regular analysis of feedback and complaints registered to inform the program of changes in operational trends and context to help in improving the intervention and adaptive management.

Requirements

Knowledge & Experience:

• Degree in agricultural science or related fields.
• Specialized training as a ToT in Participatory Integrated Plan (PIP) or Farmer Field School (FFS) methodology is a plus.
• At least 2 years’ successful experience in a similar position implementing related projects.
• Working experience in a humanitarian setting is an added advantage.
• Understanding of the local context, culture, and language(s).
• Excellent spoken and written command of English.

Skills:

• Good facilitation skills, e.g. working with illiterate farmers
• Good communication and accurate writing skills.
• Innovative, creative and enthusiastic.
• Good computer skills: Ms Excel and Ms Word.
• Self-motivator, able to work with limited supervision.
• Ability to drive a motorcycle with valid driving/riding license class “A’’. This will be checked with a practical test during the interview process
• Language skills in relevant local languages of the regions where implementation will take place is a plus.

Attitude/behaviour:

• High level of personal integrity.
• Flexibility and adaptability.
• Interpersonal and cross-cultural sensitivity.
• Able to work under pressures and meet deadlines.
• Able to work in a sometimes fluid and innovative environment.
• Commitment to ZOA’s mission, vision and values (see https://www.zoa-international.com/corporate-identity)

Salary and other terms of employment

The PO will be based at the ZOA office in Rhino Camp refugee settlement (Yoroo Base Camp) with regular travel to communities to work with PIs or other farmers.

The PO will need to ride a motorcycle daily in rural conditions/on unmade roads.

The role is 1.0 FTE (40 hrs/ week). Working hours are outlined in the ZOA Uganda Employee Handbook. Some flexibility on working hours may be required, e.g. for travel at weekends, or during reporting times.

The role is recruited at Grade 3a in the ZOA Uganda 2024 salary scale. This scale starts at UGX 1,800,000 gross / month and salary will be awarded based on experience and qualifications.