National Project Coordinator

Organizational Setting

The FAO Representation in Uganda provides technical assistance to the Government of Uganda in the agriculture, forestry, fisheries and related sectors. The National Project Coordinator will lead the planning, implementation and monitoring of GCP/UGA/043/LDF project entitled “Integrating climate resilience into agricultural and pastoral production in Uganda, through a Farmer/Agro-pastoralist Field School Approach” funded by the Global Environment Facility. This project aims to build climate resilience into the agricultural sector, as an effective means of reducing vulnerability and disseminating community-level adaptation measures

Reporting Lines

Under the overall supervision of the FAO Representative in Uganda and in close collaboration with the Deputy FAO Representative, the Lead Technical Officer (based at FAO Head Quarters), the Commissioner Agriculture Infrastructure, Mechanization and Water for Agricultural production in Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries (MAAIF), National Project Coordinator reports directly to the Team Leader – Climate Change Program.

Technical Focus

The National Project Coordinator will be responsible for the operational planning, management and monitoring of all project’s activities, as indicated in the project document. He/ She will provide technical, logistics and managerial support and ensure a good implementation of the activities in line with the project result framework, work plan and approved budget

Tasks and responsibilities

The National Project Coordinator will be responsible for the following\:

Manage Project Coordination Unit

• Organize and lead the inception workshop and prepare inception report;
• Prepare annual and quarterly work plans and prepare Terms of Reference for all inputs;
• Lead process to mobilize Project Coordination Unit (PCU) staff, project consultants and sub-contracts;
• Lead process to finalize ‘letters of agreement’ with implementation partners;
• Ensure all PCU staff and all consultants fully understand their role and their tasks, and support them in their work;
• Oversee day-to-day implementation of the project in line with the work plans;
• Organize regular planning and communication events, starting with inception mission and inception workshop;
• Oversee preparation and implementation of Monitory & Evaluation framework;
• Oversee creation of a participatory monitoring system for the Project’s work;
• Ensure real-time monitoring of project progress and the alerting of MAAIF, Budget Holder and Lead Technical Officer of potential problems that could result in delays in implementation;
• Help identify consultant candidates and work with the Budget Holder to ensure their timely recruitment;
• Ensure the project’s effective and efficient work with stakeholders in the pilot areas;
• Help organize and supervise consultant inputs;
• Oversee preparation and implementation of project communication and knowledge management frameworks;
• Prepare progress reports and all monitoring reports. This includes the six-monthly progress reports and contributions to the annual Project Implementation Review (PIR); and
• Prepare and organize the Project Steering Committee meetings.

• Liaise with government agencies;
• Regularly advocate on behalf of the project to partners;
• Coordinate project interventions with other ongoing activities, especially those of co-financers and other Global Environment Facility projects;
• Regularly promote the project and its outputs and findings on a national, and where appropriate, regional stage; and
• Coordinate activities with co-financing donors and other projects related to Farmer Field Schools.

• Support development of project strategic approach;
• Ensure quality of project activities and project outputs;
• Support development and preparation of training materials;
• Oversee creation of the Project’s approach to managing and sharing knowledge, and to identifying and disseminating lessons learned;
• Communicate, advocate and engage in policy dialogue; and
• Take a lead in the organization and technical implementation of several activities.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

• Higher degree related to agriculture and natural resources management;
• At least ten years’ experience in the Uganda agriculture and climate change adaptation sector;
• At least five years’ experience working with local communities in Uganda;
• Working knowledge of English
• National of Uganda

• Results Focus
• Teamwork
• Communication
• Building Effective Relationships
• Knowledge Sharing and Continuous Improvement

• Extent of knowledge and experience on gender issues
• Extent of knowledge and experiences in working with various stakeholders in Uganda including UN, Government, International Development Organizations, Donors, NGOs, private sector, academics, and others
• Writing and communication skills
• Ability to manage a high workload, meet tight deadlines and multi-task under pressure
• Solid experience in project management and in particular results-based management;
• Demonstrated previous experience working with the field school approach to extension or with similar approaches;
• Previous experience in working with local communities
• Previous experience working with international partners on related issues;
• Demonstrated expertise in agro-ecology, conservation agriculture;
• Demonstrated commitment to participatory natural resource management techniques

• Extent and relevance of experience and knowledge on climate change adaptation in Uganda
• Extent and relevance of experience and Knowledge on agriculture
• Extent and relevance of experience on natural resources management
• Extent and relevance of experience and knowledge on monitoring and evaluating climate change projects