Livelihoods & Agriculture Specialist

Responsibilities:

• Work closely with implementing partners throughout the project cycle and provide practical advice that strengthens delivery and results.
• Assess partners’ technical capacity and provide coaching, training and practical support to strengthen livelihoods systems, agriculture practices, enterprise development and programme quality.
• Facilitate trainings, mentoring and learning sessions for partner staff, farmers, producer groups, cooperatives and community stakeholders.

• Lead the design and improvement of livelihoods and agriculture initiatives, including needs assessments, market analysis, contextual analysis, stakeholder consultations, theories of change, logical frameworks, indicators, implementation strategies and budgets.
• Provide guidance on smallholder agriculture, crop and livestock production, soil fertility, water management, climate-smart agriculture, post-harvest handling, value addition and rural enterprise development.
• Ensure programmes are practical, sustainable, responsive to community needs and aligned with national priorities, market realities and Suyana’s integrated development approach.
• Work closely with Suyana’s Health, Education and other technical specialists to ensure livelihoods and agriculture activities contribute to household resilience, nutrition, education and health.
• Maintain regular exchange with Suyana’s Livelihoods & Agriculture Specialist in Rwanda to promote practical collaboration, shared learning and coherence across the Uganda and Rwanda livelihoods and agriculture portfolios.
• Contribute to concept notes, proposals, donor reports, fundraising initiatives and learning products.

• Support business development, entrepreneurship and practical financial planning for community-based livelihood initiatives.
• Strengthen producer groups, cooperatives and rural enterprises so that they can function effectively and sustainably.
• Support partners to improve market access, value chains and linkages between farmers, suppliers, service providers and buyers.
• Promote profitable livelihood opportunities that help households move beyond subsistence production towards greater economic resilience.

• Work with the MEL Officer to ensure livelihoods and agriculture programmes have relevant indicators, monitoring tools and learning processes.
• Use programme data, market information, assessments and feedback to improve programme quality, income outcomes and decision-making.
• Review monitoring reports and evaluations, identifying lessons, risks and options for adaptation.

• Build and maintain constructive relationships with government agencies, agricultural extension services, cooperatives, producer groups, private sector partners, development partners and relevant networks.
• Represent Suyana in technical meetings, coordination forums and learning events, and support partners to strengthen their own stakeholder engagement.
• Monitor agriculture, livelihoods and rural development priorities and identify opportunities for collaboration, partnership and future programme development.

• Promote a strong safeguarding culture across all livelihoods and agriculture activities.
• Support partners to apply safeguarding standards and ensure activities prioritise the safety, dignity and wellbeing of children, young people and other participants.

Profile and Qualifications

• Takes initiative and looks for practical solutions.
• Hands-on attitude and willingness to work closely with partners, farmers, producer groups and communities.
• Works well in a team and builds positive, trusting relationships.
• Demonstrates empathy, respect and cultural sensitivity.
• Communicates clearly and listens actively.
• Shows integrity, accountability and professionalism.
• Collaborative while able to work independently.
• Thinks critically, solves problems effectively and adapts to changing priorities.
• Organised and committed to learning, innovation, continuous improvement, inclusion and safeguarding.

• Bachelor’s degree in Agriculture, Agronomy, Animal Science, Agricultural Economics, Agribusiness, Rural Development or a related field.
• Minimum of 7 years of progressively responsible experience in livelihoods, agriculture or economic development programming.
• Strong knowledge of smallholder agriculture, livestock production, climate-smart agriculture, soil and water management, post-harvest handling, value addition, enterprise development, value chains and market systems.
• Experience in programme design, implementation, technical advisory support and quality assurance.
• Experience supporting producer groups, cooperatives, rural enterprises or market-oriented livelihood initiatives.
• Experience with project cycle management, monitoring and evaluation, and using evidence to improve programme quality and impact.
• Excellent facilitation, mentoring and communication skills.
• Strong written and spoken English. Knowledge of a Ugandan local language is highly desirable.
• Strong computer skills, including Microsoft Office and relevant livelihoods or agriculture data and reporting tools.

• Master’s degree in Agriculture, Rural Development, Agribusiness or a related field.
• Experience supporting local partner organisations and strengthening their technical systems.
• Experience with integrated, multi-sectoral development programmes, preferably in holistic community development contexts.
• Familiarity with Uganda’s agriculture and livelihoods context, including extension structures, producer groups, cooperatives, rural markets, value chains and relevant rural development policies.