Project Manager Agriculture and Market Support

Position Summary
The AMS Project Manager will lead the delivery of the Agricultural Market Support project and other complementary interventions in the West Nile region, Uganda. This will include overall coordination of the project: implementation of work plans, monitoring progress against targets and timelines, procurement of project supplies and services, capacity building and supervision of project staff, strategic engagement with relevant actors and reporting. The AMS Project Manager will also work in collaboration with other ForAfrika project teams (FSL, WASH, nutrition) in ensuring integration and synergy of the various streams of ForAfrika’s work in the region.

Key roles and responsibilities
1.Project implementation, monitoring and quality assurance
-Develop key project management tools and documentation (i.e. Detailed Implementation Plan, Cash-flow Forecast, Procurement Plan and Indicator Tracking table) and consistently update and monitor progress;
-Provide hands-on field support for the implementation of activities and monitor progress towards achieving project targets, making sure they are implemented in a timely and professional manner, according to objectives, goals and indicators, in line with donor requirements and based on beneficiary needs.

-Ensure that project implementation is guided by result management principles and have effective planning and implementation review processes in place. Ensure that local communities and/or relevant authorities have been consulted on all activities and that all necessary approvals have been granted prior to the execution of projects.
-Prepare deeply analytical monitoring, narrative and financial reports, including identifying current, or potential bottlenecks in project implementation.
-Contribute to knowledge-sharing, lessons learned and best practices documentation to build an understanding of programmatic results and impact in relation to desired outcomes.
2.Coordinate external engagement and build collaborative relationships
-Establish and maintain good working relations with external agencies and organizations, local partner organizations, UN agencies (particularly WFP and UNHCR) and district departments; facilitate exchange of information and experiences
-Attend relevant inter-agency, sector coordination, and representational meetings as required. The AMS Project Manager will specifically take lead in representing ForAfrika in the and Livelihoods & Environment Working Group and Refugees’ Response coordination mechanisms.
-Initiate and lead engagement and linkages with key market players with the view of enhancing access to production inputs, opportunities for innovations and markets for the project- supported producers.
-Work closely with local authorities and communities to ensure integrated planning and implementation that is complementary and collaborative.
-Seek guidance from Senior Management in handling feedback and challenging liaison matters with stakeholders and local authorities.
3.Support program expansion by contributing to planning and funding proposal development
-Develops strategies for improving climate-smart agriculture production and increasing opportunities for livelihood creation and expansion, including on and off-farm.
-Monitor the humanitarian environment to identify opportunities for further funding, and work with the Head of Programs to support the development of concept notes and proposals for additional funding.
4.Team Leadership
-Create and maintain a work environment that is based on ForAfrika Mission, Vision and Core Values, with mutual respect, where accountability is encouraged, alternative viewpoints are welcome, the team strives for excellence and is conducive to professional growth.
-Participate in recruiting and inducting team members, working to ensure that team structure and staffing reflect the project's vision for gender equality and ensuring that staff are prepared to succeed and familiar with agency systems, procedures, and protocols.
-Promote accountability, communicate expectations, and provide constructive feedback through regular individual interviews and performance reviews.

-Promote and instill a focus on capacity building, deepen understanding and ownership of individual roles, and strengthen performance management systems through the implementation of a comprehensive staff training plan.
5.Financial Management
-Ensure smooth, timely cash flow to the project by submitting cash requests to Finance Department promptly.
-Plan all procurement needs well in advance and initiate the procurement process in accordance with the ForAfrika policies.
-Ensure compliance to donor rules and regulations as well as ForAfrika internal policies and procedures and internal control systems.
-Regularly review the project monthly expenditure and take corrective action relating to underspends or overspending.
6.Accountability and safeguarding
-Model to a high level the ForAfrika’s policies and procedures, values and leadership standards.
-Ensure effective use and implementation of ForAfrika M&E minimum standards across project management.
-Regularly check on the complaints handling to ensure Community Feedback Mechanism guidelines are followed with respect to documentation, referrals, reporting pathways, and feedback loop.
-Responsible for preventing violations to Code of Conduct and Ethics, which may involve conflicts of interest, fraud, corruption, harassment or sexual exploitation and abuse.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
1. A master’s degree in a relevant academic area—e.g., Agriculture, Agribusiness, Agricultural Economics and Climate Change, Natural Resource Management and Marketing obtained from a recognized institution—plus five years of relevant field-based experience with increasing technical responsibility at middle-level management; or An undergraduate degree in a related field and eight years of relevant field-based work experience with increasing technical responsibility leading to middle-level managerial role.
2. A deep understanding of Value Chain Development and Food System, Sustainable Livelihoods Approaches, Climate Change and Natural Resource Management with a background knowledge on the operations Micro-Small-Medium Enterprises which work towards supporting smallholder farmers.
3. Extensive project management experience, with strong understanding of quality frameworks and monitoring, evaluation and learning systems, acquired through a minimum of three years of hands-on project management experience in complex and large program settings. Must demonstrate clear ability to operationalize and oversee the execution of work plans, matched with budget and timelines
4. Strong knowledge of donor requirements (procedures, reporting), a solid experience in writing, reviewing and editing narrative and financial reports, and excellent attention to detail. Familiarity with large institutional donors and UNHCR, WFP, and other UN agencies is of advantage.

5. Strong leadership skills demonstrated ability to collaborate and work across teams and roles. Ability to persuade and motivate people and teams. Experience in facilitating capacity building and participatory planning/reviews with teams.
6. Flexibility and ability to multi-task under pressure and work creatively and independently both in the field and in the office.
7. Commitment to a positive work environment in compliance with ForAfrika’s Core Values, Code
of Conduct, PSEA and other humanitarian accountability obligations.

Success factors:
The successful Project Manager will have strong consultative skills, and a high degree of comfort in discussing agricultural techniques and livelihood issues, often in complex scenarios. This person will develop trust easily with field teams, other ForAfrika leadership and external partners. This person should be an excellent written and verbal communicator able to represent ForAfrika at public events. This person should be extremely well organized and capable of tracking multiple competing priorities. The successful person will be skilled at reducing complexities to clear and understandable non-technical terms with a focus on practical next steps. The most successful ForAfrika staff members have a strong commitment to teamwork and accountability, thrive in evolving and changing environments.