Project Manager – Farmer Groups Job Opportunity – Agricultural Business Initiative (aBi)

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Job Title:        Project Manager – Farmer Groups
Organisation: Agricultural
Business Initiative (aBi)
Duty Station: Kampala,
Uganda
Reports to: Head of
Portfolio Development
Job Ref No: PM001
About US:
The Agricultural Business Initiative (aBi), a group of registered companies
namely aBi Trust and aBi Finance Ltd, is a multi-stakeholder entity co-founded
in July 2010 by the Governments of Uganda and Denmark through DANIDA and the
Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development respectively, with the
objective to promote “Private sector agribusiness development to enhance wealth
creation.” The development objective of the aBi Trust is building a
self-sustaining export-led economy in which the benefits are shared by all
Ugandans, and its immediate objective is to strengthen the competitiveness of
Uganda’s agricultural and agro-processing sector. It does this through Value
Chain Development (VCD) of six value chains (Coffee, Cereals, Pulses,
Horticulture, Dairy and Oil Seeds) and Financial Services Development (FSD).
Job Summary: The Project
Manager – Farmer Groups is mainly responsible for relationship management and
for ensuring that projects deliver against the goals and targets laid out in
the results management framework.
Key Duties and
Responsibilities: 
As requested by the Program Manager to work participatively with
implementing partners in order to develop a comprehensive portfolio of
influential projects:
·        
The incumbent will take the initiative to
develop strong relationships with implementing partners; acting as the point
person for aBi’s activities with Agribusiness partners
·        
Support partners in the development of ideas for
projects and completing the relevant paperwork In accordance with aBi’s Funding
Manual, manage the entirety of the funding process for each project; includes
convening the due diligence team with relevant technical experts and
Evaluations, Performance & Results team members included.
·        
Budget expenditure and ensure cost effective
utilisation of resources
·        
Work closely with BDS Providers to ensure that
applicants and grantees are fully empowered to implement their projects
·        
Plan the detail of aBi’s capacity building
interventions.
Formulate and implement strategies and plans that will build the
capacity of Farmer Groups to have a sustainable impact on the profitability of
the sector:
·        
Take an overview of the results of gap analyses
across all Farmer Group organisations; developing a deep understanding of the
issues effecting them.
·        
Proactively propose strategies and plans that
will enable aBi to have a positive impact on Farmer Groups; implement plans
once they are approved by the Head of Portfolio Development.
Manage the implementation of projects, ensuring that the desired
results and  final impact are achieved on
time and to standard:
·        
Proactively build relationships with each
implementing partner (IP), ensuring their satisfaction with each stage of the
project.
·        
Work closely with M&E to ensure a
comprehensive results management framework is in place and implemented for each
project.
·        
Work closely with implementing partners to
assist them in implementing their projects according to the project plan;
drawing in relevant aBi staff and consultants to provide assistance if required
·        
Ensuring that grants are provided in a timely
fashion and that the implementing partner is meeting accountability
requirements.
·        
Ensuring that the technical capacity building
components of the project are being delivered on time and to standard
Participate in rolling out the partner-facing aspects of the
communications plan:
·        
Act as a spokesperson for aBi in the convening
role by participating in, or initiating forums
·        
Take personal responsibility for influencing,
advocacy and communication according to personal interest and priorities; so
that aBi is recognised as a respected partner.
·        
Ensure that the Project teams deliver any
components of the communications strategy and plan that are allocated to them.
·        
Actively participate in the development of
communications materials as requested by the Communications Manager.
Lead the matrix managed Project teams, in a manner that empowers them
to deliver aBi’s goals and objectives:
·        
Work closely with the Head of Portfolio
Development to constitute a team of competent staff and consultants to deliver
against the work plan and goals for each project
·        
Ensure that each team member is provided with
clarity concerning the goals of each project and expectations for their
personal role in achieving results, standards and behaviour.
·        
Plan and organise the work of the team so as to
accomplish project goals and targets in the most cost effective manner
possible.
·        
Support and build the capacity of team members
to enable them to give of their best e.g. by encouraging and praising good
performance, coaching, training, assisting staff to prevent or resolve
problems, providing resources, tools and equipment.
·        
Regularly monitor and review performance and, in
particular, hold team members accountable for achieving results and meeting
standards; taking decisive action in the case of poor performance
Qualifications, Skills and
Experience: 
·        
The applicant should preferably hold a Master’s
degree in Agriculture Economics, or 
Development Economics or Social 
Science
·        
Bachelors 
Agriculture Economics or 
Development Economics or  Social
Science
·        
Post Graduate Diploma – Project Management
·        
A minimum of seven years of post-graduate
experience  working within Agribusiness
sector
·        
Knowledge of working operations of advocacy
frameworks and lobbying structures
·        
Strong oral and written communication skills
·        
Proven experience in proposal writing
·        
Demonstrable abilities and skills in providing
advisor services
·        
Demonstrable skills and abilities in grant
systems development, management and implementation
·        
Proven experience in developing sustainable
strategic relationships including networking
·        
Knowledge and understanding of agribusiness
management
How to Apply:
All suitably qualified and interested candidates should apply online by
clicking on link below and following the instructions.
Deadline: 11th November 2016

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