Programme Manager – Seas of Change

Position description

SNV is a global development partner, deeply rooted in the countries where we operate. We are driven by a vision of a better world: A world where across every society all people live with dignity and have equitable opportunities to thrive sustainably. To make this vision a reality, we need transformations in vital agri-food, energy, and water systems. SNV contributes by strengthening capacities and catalysing partnerships in these sectors. We help strengthen institutions and effective governance, reduce gender inequalities and barriers to social inclusion, and enable adaptation and mitigation to the climate and biodiversity crises.

Building on 60 years of experience we support our partners with our technical and process expertise and methodological rigour. We do this in more than 20 countries in Africa and Asia with a team of approximately 1,600 colleagues. By being adaptable and tailoring our approaches to these different contexts, we can contribute to impact at scale, resulting in more equitable lives for all.

To delve deeper into SNV’s initiatives, explore our website at snv.org. There, you’ll find comprehensive information about our projects, impact, and ongoing efforts to drive sustainable development worldwide.

Job Description

Overview of the assignment
Stagnating poverty, unpredictable shocks, due to climate change, ecological degradation, rising social inequalities, declining food security and challenges in achieving the required just energy transition will continue to be an issue in the coming decades, negatively impacting incomes, livelihoods, and productivity. Energy is a critical element of any agri-food system; it is largely driven by fossil fuels and the large, centralised machinery it powers is often inefficient and inappropriate to the needs of small food producers. Despite the intricate linkages between the two sectors, solutions are largely siloed, short-term in nature, and lessons are not shared. The result is further inefficiencies and outcomes that can even prove to be counter-productive in the broader ecosystem.

It is imperative to re-think the linkages between agri-food and energy systems to alleviate the pressures on socio-economic conditions and natural resources that perpetuate poverty. Traditional, extractive, energy-intensive, centralised models around the supply, consumption, and disposal of food and energy need to be challenged. SNV believes an approach is required that can bridge the gap between these sectors, break silos and shape solutions that work with and for the targeted ecosystem actors.

The Seas of Change Uganda programme is envisioned as a 10-year programme in two implementation phases that will work at the nexus of the regenerative agriculture (RA) and productive use of renewable energy (PURE) areas. The programme will apply an innovative hybrid implementation model where it leverages existing initiatives and expertise within the ecosystem and connects actors to facilitate processes and encourage synergies. The programme is therefore not a traditional development programme that focuses purely on on-the-ground implementation by SNV and a select consortium of partners. Instead, the programme will seek to identify and work with partners already operating within the RA and/or PURE space and empower them to work within the nexus space. SNV’s role is therefore better described as one that convenes (bringing actors together), catalyses (catalyses multi-sector and multi-actor partnerships for action-oriented collaboration), capacitates (strengthening local organisations in the RA-PURE ecosystem), and co-creates (with partners based on their aspirations).

The Seas of Change Uganda programme falls under the Strategic Partnership umbrella programme. The Strategic Partnership programme will provide strategic steering and support to the RA-PURE nexus portfolio (in and beyond SNV), with dedicated programmes towards advancing the RA-PURE nexus in Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda and Uganda. The Strategic Partnership programme team will work with in-country programme teams to build a movement around the RA-PURE nexus, helping to connect (cross-country) programmes and initiatives to exchange knowledge and learnings, build on existing networks, and drive investment initiatives at a global level.

Overview of the Position
The Seas of Change Uganda Programme Manager is a strategic thinker and highly skilled in shaping and managing collaborative processes to address complex issues. This position leads the Seas of Change Uganda programme in a manner that builds collaboration and drives action towards advancing the RA-PURE nexus agenda. The Seas of Change Programme Manager will embrace and stimulate systems thinking in the programme team and partners, strengthening their and system actors’ capacities, and working with and through partners to achieve the programme’s broader strategic objectives.

To ensure that the Programme Manager has the time and headspace to work towards the programme’s larger strategic and systems transformation objectives, they will be supported by an Associate Operations Manager who will be responsible for overseeing the programme’s operations and administration work.

The Programme Manager responsibilities are therefore divided along two categories:

1. Partnership management and the application of a systems transformation lens, namely:

• Leading the development and maintenance of strong partnerships and collaborations with ecosystem actors within the RA-PURE nexus;
• Proactively lead and adapt the programme to make use of trends and opportunities, and work around challenges in the context as it develops;
• Steering the team and partners, including the donor, to apply key transformative approaches and principles of the programme;
• Maintaining close ties with the SoC Strategic Partnership team to ensure programme objectives and activities are aligned.

1. Programme management responsibilities regarding overall management of the programme, including:

• Technical oversight and guidance of programme activities;
• ​​​​​​​Supervising the efficient management of financial resources;
• Review and approval of programme budgets and monitoring expenditures;
• Supervision of field operations, administration, logistics and procurement;
• Supervision of the programme’s monitoring and evaluation;
• Ensuring quality control and timeliness of all deliverables as required by the donor;
• Ensuring full compliance with all donor and other fiduciary regulations;
• Oversee programme reporting process in line with donor requirements;
• Oversee the performance management of all programme staff working exclusively on his/her programme.

Key Responsibilities

1. Strategic oversight:
   a. Programme Strategy: Coordinate technical advice from partner and programme experts and provide strategic direction and guidance to the programme and its partners at regional, national and sub-national level;
   b. Innovation, nexus thinking and systems transformation lens: Foster an environment in which innovation, empowering others, and working politically and holistically are highly valued;
   c. Networking and Relation Management: build and maintain relationships with programme stakeholders, including ministries, local government authorities, private sector, civil society and partners;
   d. Knowledge development: fostering an environment of critical reflection and learning, leading to knowledge development, documentation of learnings and active exchange on what does (not) work. This happens in close collaboration with the Strategic Partnership Knowledge & Learning Advisor, partners, and the donor;
   e. Monitoring and Evaluation: ensure high quality M&E data is being used within the programme to steer programme strategies, stimulate the application of innovative M&E approaches that enable the programme to gain insights into relevant trends, opportunities and challenges in the context, as well as understand how the programme is contributing to (potential) changes in system dynamics; work closely with the senior MEL Lead and the MEL officer, as well as the Strategic Partnership MEL Advisor; account and report to SNV, donor, and clients on programme performance via the Strategic Partnership Programme.
2. Operational oversight:
   a. Human and Financial Resources: Provide steering to the Associate Operations Manager to ensure efficient management of human and financial resources; ensure effective coordination of programme activities with programme teams;
   b. Operational Support: With the Associate Operations Manager, provide operational guidance and support to programme activities, including developing work plans, budgets, and a competency table within financial responsibilities and mandates.

Qualifications

• Master’s degree in a relevant field;
• Minimum of eight (8) years of progressively responsible work experience1 in managing and implementing multi-faceted, donor-funded development programmes (i.e., experience that demonstrates growth and/or advancement in complexity, difficulty, or level of responsibility;
• Relevant work experience, background and domain understanding of renewable energy and/or agricultural value chains;
• Experience in connecting conceptual approaches and narratives with on the ground realities;
• Visionary and able to strategically inspire and energise programme teams;
• Demonstratable experience in ability to take risks, fail forward, and think on one’s feet (agile management) while maintaining an eye on the bigger picture;
• Places strong value on critical reflection and learning, and the role that data plays in adaptive management;
• Excellent social, networking and facilitation skills, ability to engage with the private sector, civil society and governments;
• Experience working in East Africa, preferably in Uganda. A deep understanding of the local context, cultural nuances, and development challenges would be a plus;
• Excellent communication in English (written and oral), reporting and presentation skills;
• Willingness to travel to all programme locations in Uganda.

Additional Information

• Duty station: Kampala, Uganda
• Travel: In-country and international travel required, estimated at 40% of time annually
• Expected start date: January 2025
• Contract duration: 2 years with the possibility of extension
• Eligibility: Position is open to both national and foreign candidates

Application instructions

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