Job Title: SILC Field Agents

Department: Programs – VINES

Report to: Field Officer

Job Locations: Nabyejjwe Parish – Lwankoni sub county (Masaka), Byasandeku -Kalungu West, Kalungu Town Council, Bukomansimbi, Buwunga Parish – Buwunga sub county (Masaka), Kangulumira Town Council – Kangulumira, Buikwe Town Council – Ngogwe, Kasana – Mukono, Nombe Parish, Nombe subcounty-Ntoroko District – Busiro Parish, Karugutu Subcounty-Ntoroko District

Vacancies: Ten (10)

About CRS

Catholic Relief Services is the official international humanitarian agency of the Catholic community in the United States. CRS works to save, protect, and transform lives in need in more than 100 countries, without regard to race, religion or nationality. CRS’ relief and development work is accomplished through programs of emergency response, HIV, health, agriculture, education, microfinance, and peacebuilding.

CRS has been working in Uganda since 1965 and has a vibrant portfolio of projects, serving over a million vulnerable Ugandans and refugees each year through the Country Program 2030 Strategy. CRS programs in Uganda currently support five strategic priority areas, including Health and Social Services Systems Strengthening, Resilient Food Systems, Emergency Preparedness and Management, Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation, and Local Leadership. CRS Uganda implements its programs through partnerships with local organizations, including international and local NGOs, Ugandan government departments and ministries, the Catholic Church, and community-based organizations for maximum impact and sustainability.

Background:

The Vines Project, implemented by CRS Uganda, is a five-year, $13 million Food for Progress project that will make Uganda the world’s next leading supplier of high-quality vanilla. Vines will leverage the expertise of CRS and its private and public partners to enhance the production of safe, pure vanilla and develop sustainable market links with US vanilla companies, directly transforming the lives of 16,200 farmers, 836 supply chain actors and create 15,820 new jobs to reach 32,856 vanilla stakeholders. The Vines strategy reflects best practices in sustainable development and market systems and will leave Uganda with a robust vanilla farming community resilient to the boom/bust nature of the market and a cadre of private sector agricultural expansionists to support more sophisticated production, processing, and marketing needs.

Job Summary

You will assist Implementation of the VINES program field activities by working directly with local leaders and community members in support of Catholic Relief Services’ (CRS) work to serve the poor and vulnerable. Your service and community interpersonal skills contribute to projects that benefit local communities that consistently applies best practices and continuously works towards improving its impact.

Job Responsibilities.

• The SILC Field Agent will support the mobilization of vanilla farmers under the Vines Program into SILC groups.
• The SILC Field agents will be responsible for the training and continuous monitoring of SILC Groups in the different sub counties within the districts of implementation.
• Recruit and train and supervise apprentices in the SILC methodology.
• Perform SILC and farmer financial readiness checks and impart basic financial literacy skills to SILC groups
• Assess and support in identification of SILC groups ready for linkages with banks for credit, agro-processors, input suppliers and produce buyers.
• Collect data from the SILC groups and as per project requirements and contribute to the preparation of reports.
• Support in translation, in case of trainings at the field level, that may be conducted by CRS or district technical staff that are not knowledgeable in the local language.
• Train and encourage SILC members them to adopt the GTA training into their ways of living.
• Provide feedback about the project interventions for the purposes of improving the future project interventions.

Education qualification

• Uganda Advanced Certificate of Education (UACE).
• Experience and skills in training farmer groups.

Knowledge and Abilities

• Basic arithmetic skills (including percentage calculations)
• Ability to read and understand the national language (used in guides and forms)
• Ability to communicate in local language(s) of assigned area
• Good community mobiliser and facilitator, with strong interpersonal and communication skill

Expectations/Attitude

• Willing to join an intensive training program with limited financial support
• Wanting to later work independently and earn part of their livelihood by charging for services
• Willing and able to work in nearby villages/communities
• Willing and able to work at times that are convenient for SILC groups
• Energetic and assertive, with a positive mind-set
• Exudes confidence
• Disciplined and determined
• Outward-looking—seeks out new opportunities and makes the most of them (including taking chances with unknown ventures)

Required Languages

• Fair verbal communication/writing skills in English
• Understanding of the local languages of the project area is a MUST.

Key Working Relationships:

• Internal: Field Officer and CRS Staff
• External: District and Sub County leadership

Agency-wide Competencies (for all CRS Staff)

Agency competencies clarify expected behaviours and attitudes for all staff. When demonstrated, they create an engaging workplace, help staff achieve their best, and help CRS achieve agency goals. These are rooted in the mission, values, and guiding principles of CRS and used by each staff member to fulfill his or her responsibilities and achieve the desired results.

• Personal Accountability – Consistently takes responsibility for one’s own actions.
• Acts with Integrity – Consistently models values aligned with CRS Guiding Principles and mission. Is considered honest.
• Builds and Maintains Trust – Shows consistency between words and actions.
• Collaborates with Others – Works effectively in intercultural and diverse teams.
• Open to Learn – Seeks out experiences that may change perspective or provide an opportunity to learn new things.

Agency Leadership Competencies:

• Lead Change – Continually looks for ways to improve the agency through a culture of agility, openness, and innovation.
• Develops and Recognizes Others – Builds the capacity of staff to reach their full potential and enhance team and agency performance.
• Strategic Mindset – Understands role in translating, communicating, and implementing agency strategy and team priorities.

Disclaimer: This job description is not an exhaustive list of the skill, effort, duties, and responsibilities associated with the position.

Our Catholic identity is at the heart of our mission and operations. Catholic Relief Services carries out the commitment of the Bishops of the United States to assist the poor and vulnerable overseas. We welcome as a part of our staff people of all faiths and secular traditions who share our values and our commitment to serving those in need. CRS’ processes and policies reflect our commitment to protecting children and vulnerable adults from abuse and exploitation.

CRS is an Equal Opportunity Employer