Chief of Party for Agricultural Governance Results Improvement project (A-GRIP), Fort Portal (Uganda)

About Cordaid

Cordaid believes in a world without poverty and exclusion. We strive for just and sustainable societies where every person counts. We stand for knowledge and talent sharing between North and South, between farmers and businesses, between activists and policymakers. Where poverty, conflict and exclusion divide societies, we connect people and communities. We stand for professionalism, expertise and solidarity across borders. We aim at maximizing our social impact and contributing to systemic change. We operate where natural disasters strike, where conflicts tear up communities and where lack of opportunities and service delivery keep families in extreme poverty.

Cordaid is an internationally operating value-based emergency relief and development organisation, working in and on fragility.

Cordaid is based in the Netherlands and has branches in 14 countries in Africa and Asia with decades of in-country expertise. We are a founding member of Caritas Internationalis, ACT Alliance, and CIDSE.

For the Cordaid Country office in Uganda, Cordaid is looking for a Chief of Party for the Agricultural Governance Results Improvement Project (A-GRIP)

1. Introduction

Cordaid has been active in Uganda for over 25 years. Uganda possesses significant agricultural potential, benefiting from favourable conditions such as low temperature variability, fertile soils, and two rainy seasons across much of the country, enabling multiple crop harvests per year. However, Uganda’s farming system also suffers from governance gaps whereas good governance is highly considered as an effective mechanism to ensure achieving food security and improved farming systems for small holder farmers.

In Uganda and in 15 other sub-Saharan African countries Cordaid has experience in system strengthening through Result Based Financing (RBF) approach. In Uganda Cordaid has started the inception phase of the RBF project Agricultural Governance Results Improvement Project (A-GRIP) with focus on land tenure and food security governance in 16 districts across 5 regions (Kigezi, Rwenzori, Busoga, Elgon and Lango). A-GRIP is a first of its kind project, introducing for the first time in the history of RBF the RBF methodology to the land and agricultural sector, working dedicatedly with district local government. The project covers a span of 5 years, 5 regions with 16 districts selected for project implementation. The project has an overall budget of Euro 28 million.

Cordaid is looking for an experienced Chief of Party with a strong management and leadership capacity, ample experience working with local government directly, and a profound knowledge of the technical aspects of the job with emphasis on experience in the agricultural and food security sectors. The position is based on the terms and conditions for Expatriate employment within Cordaid. The position is based in Fort Portal, Rwenzori region.

2. Justification and context

The A-GRIP project works with 16 district local governments in 5 regions in Uganda and aims at secured land tenure security and inclusive development of farming systems through the strengthening of public service delivery by local governments and their subcounty structures, in the areas of production (agriculture) and environmental and natural resource management.

The project has four (inter-related) outcome areas:

1. Increased formal and equitable land ownership under customary law, especially for the most vulnerable populations.
2. Increased sustainable agricultural smallholder farmers production by enhanced take-up of effective, quality and equitable agricultural food production and natural resources management services.
3. Strengthened regulation and enabling policies for better agricultural and food security sector performance to match smallholder farmers’ and communities’ needs.
4. General good governance and management at district level in support of improved performance by the Department of Production and Marketing (DPM), Environment and Natural Resources (ENR) and Chief Administrative Office (CAO).

This position will be based in the regional project office in Fort Portal, with frequent travel to all project sites.

This position is open to international applicants, based in or outside of Uganda, who have the pre-requisite experience and skills.

3. Functions and Responsibilities of the Chief of Party

Project management

• Provide leadership to project staff in the areas of land tenure security, extension services, policy and regulations with focus on local by-laws and ordinances, small holder farming systems, and land restoration.
• Oversee the activities of the RBF project supported districts including monitoring progress and reporting by the district local government.
• Lead the process of preparing work plans and annual budgets for the project in line with the grant agreement between the Embassy of the Kingdom of Netherlands Uganda (EKN) and Cordaid.
• Supervise all activities directly implemented by Cordaid.
• Develop narrative and financial progress reports for the donor in line with the grant agreement between the EKN and Cordaid.
• In conjunction with relevant staff and stakeholders oversee the management of the project’s grant subsidy, ensuring compliance with established protocols and best practices.
• Work in close liaison and ensure effective communication with Programme Manager Agrifood Systems Strengthening, project partners and other stakeholders.

Operational

• Ensure the daily management of the project, including financial management and management of project staff.
• Coordinate the recruitment of project staff and coordinate/supervise their daily activities.
• Collaborate with the relevant departments at the Country Office for proper backstopping.
• Promote visibility and best practices of the project in collaboration with country office communication coordinator.
• Plan and implement relevant training in response to identified training gaps.
• Maintainrelationships with the donor, Government of Uganda, District Local Governments in relation to project activities.
• Develop progress reports for the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries, Ministry of Local Government, and Ministry of Land, Housing and Urban Development as required.
• Ensure all programming, financial and administrative matters related to the project comply with donor and Cordaid policies and procedures and are transparently, expediently and effectively managed in line with established processes, rules and regulations.
• Monitor external context and carry out adjustments to project plans, where necessary in consultation with the donor, Country Director, Programme Manager Agrifood Systems Strengthening, and project partners.
• Conduct periodic reviews of staff performance in keeping with Cordaid’s performance management system and mentor staff to ensure high levels of motivation, commitment, capacity, and teamwork.
• Ensure all Cordaid safety and security guidelines are followed and that all safety or security incidents are recorded and reported.
• Ensure efficient use and management of project resources.
• Any other activities as assigned by the Cordaid Uganda Country Director and Regional Director East and Southern Africa.

Representation and networking

• Represent A-GRIP and Cordaid at both District and sometimes at National level. The team leader will also ensure active participation in all the Land Tenure and Food Systems related District coordination working groups/platforms.
• Attend to any other duties other duty as assigned by the supervisor from time to time based on the identified needs and urgency and note that this Job Description is not exhaustive.

4. Reporting relationships

The Chief of Party reports to the Country Director Uganda/Regional Director East and Southern Africa on all aspects related to the project.

The Chief of Party will manage staff capacity of a team of 18 with 10 direct reports as listed herein:

• RBF Senior Expert
• Land Expert
• Project Finance Manager
• Data Analyst
• Lead Verifiers (5)
• Admin Assistant

5. Qualifications

Required Skills

• A minimum of 10 years of working experience in land tenure security, farming systems, and local government performance enhancement is a must. Additional experience in Result Based Financing is an added advantage.
• Demonstrated ability in the concepts, principles, methods and techniques of policy and regulation development, decentralisation and policy implementation, land tenure security, small holder farming systems, and land restoration.
• Working experience with the promotion of inclusivity of vulnerable groups, in the broad sense of the word.
• Demonstrated skills in effectively collaborating with host (local) governments, regional institutions, donors, other EKN and development partner projects, local organisations, private companies and other partners.
• Ability to successfully manage and develop staff as demonstrated by past experience.
• Ability to manage partners, sub-contracts and grant programs with all required reporting requirements.
• Ability to perform internal control functions to manage day-to-day operations of the project.
• Ability to communicate effectively in writing and orally in small audience and large audience settings.
• Ability to travel in Uganda and in East and Southern Africa.

Required Experience

• Experience managing large complex projects (> Euro 10mln +) preferably funded by the Netherlands Government or other international donors.
• Master’s degree with a minimum of 10 years’ experience in agriculture, lands management, local governance, international development.
• Experience in working and coordinating with international and national partners, government and donor agencies.
• Excellent project planning, organisational, interpersonal and communication skills.
• Fluency in written and spoken English is required.

6. Contract information

The contract period is for 12 months starting as soon as possible, with the intention to extend for a longer period. We offer a Cordaid contract with a competitive salary and benefit package which includes comprehensive insurance cover, social security, pension contribution, holiday allowance, 13th month and hardship allowance. This is a full-time position (40 hours/week) and family posting.