Project Manager – Rooted in Diversity (RiD)

• Deadline: Expired

Job Title: Project Manager Rooted in Diversity (RiD): Partnership for food security and Livelihoods project

Participatory Ecological Land Use Management (PELUM) Uganda is seeking to fill the position of Project Manager Rooted in Diversity (RiD): Partnership for food security and Livelihoods project at the Country Secretariat Office in Kampala – Uganda.

As part of a strong Regional Network of over 220 civil Society organizations spread out in 12 countries in East, Central and Southern Africa PELUM Uganda works to improve the livelihoods of small holder farmers and the sustainability of farming communities by fostering ecological land use management. Since 1995, PELUM Uganda has been sharing skills and knowledge about ecological Land use practices and techniques working with a broad network of likeminded organizations; undertaking research and demonstration projects and advocating for policies that better support small holder farmers with a vision of empowering communities in Uganda to sustainably utilize their natural resources.

About the RiD Project.

RiD is a 5-year project formed by a consortium of farmer associations, Civil Society Organisations and Agricultural Research Organizations across 3 Country Implementing partners of Uganda, Malawi and Niger with funding from the Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation (NORAD), Department of Climate Change and Environment; Section for food.

The project is intended to enhance local knowledge, skills and capacities of small-scale food producers to improve food production and consumption in highly variable and poorly predictable agroecologies premised on the understanding that agrobiodiversity is the best way to promote food and nutrition security and adapt to the unpredictable weather conditions. The project will also work towards positively impacting systemic change towards appreciation of the roles of small-scale food producers and their organisations in combating food insecurity in the context of climate change by challenging power structures and relationships that underlie policies and practices around seed and food systems through sharing proven methodologies, previous experiences and linkages, documentation of learning processes and successful approaches for policy advice towards agrobiodiversity, seed and farmer’s rights.

The project focus and impact areas include; Local biodiversity management intended to build research agendas and capacities on participatory plant breeding while improving food storage and stimulating demand for marketing, Local value chains of agrobiodiverse products through dissemination of high quality seed of locally adapted varieties and support local value chains for agrobiodiverse products for stronger market linkages and access for farmer organisations; Innovative Farmer-researcher partnerships to build new ways of farmer-researcher collaboration for increased seed and food systems research and Collaborative environment for policy change to influence policy reforms through evidence based advocacy.

The project will be implemented in arid and semi-arid zones across Niger (Maradi, Dosso and Tillaberi regions), Malawi (Dowa and Nkhotakota districts) and Uganda (Pader, Gulu, Serere, Katakwi, Lamwo and Amuria districts) due the similar agroecosystems and crops, vulnerability to climate shocks largely increased by reliance on subsistence agriculture.

Suitable Candidates who possess the credentials below are therefore encouraged to apply.

Job Title: Project Manager Rooted in Diversity (RiD): Partnership for food security and Livelihoods project

Reports to:  The Head of Programmes – PELUM Uganda

Responsible for: Project management Unit staff (Monitoring, Evaluation & Learning (MEAL) Officer, Gender Officer, support to the project Finance and Compliance officer and others.)

Other key relationships:

• Support: Project Thematic working groups (TWGs), Country implementing Teams (CITs), Regional Project Advisory Group (RPAG), Project partners, Government Ministries, Departments & Agencies (MDAs), Project beneficiaries and other stakeholders, All Programme Managers, Officers & Colleagues within PELUM

• External relations: Members, Civil Society/ Private Sector, Development Partners and Government

Job Purpose

To coordinate and manage the daily operations of the RiD project, facilitate information flow between the different project stakeholders to ensure successful project implementation.

The Job holder will lead a project team and work collaboratively with other consortium implementing teams, partners and allies. The Project Manager will be based in Kampala- Uganda at the PELUM Uganda Secretariat. The job holder will also be expected to travel to other project implementing countries from time to time.

Job Summary

The Job holder will manage the RiD project by providing technical guidance. S/he will be responsible for ensuring efficient and effective implementation of all the related project activities. This position belongs to the RiD Project Management Unit.

Main Tasks and Responsibilities

• Project Coordination and implementation
• Coordinate with the project Country Implementing Teams (CITs) to implement and monitor project deliverables as per agreed
• Coordinate the development of workplans, setting targets for implementation and spearhead project plan reviews and
• Provide leadership for the effective and efficient management of the project in line with the NORAD project agreement and
• Coordinate project documentation and review reports and budgets to track progress and project quality and set strategies for effective implementation in line with the donor requirements to inform decision

2.0   Stakeholder management & Engagement

• Ensure that joint planning, budgeting, and reporting are conducted timely and to
• Nurture and maintain a robust, honest, and transparent relationship with project partners
• Develop and maintain collaborative and strategic relationships with civil society partners, governments, and other
• Ensure consistent and effective information flow between the Steering Group, Project Management Unit, Implementing partner organisations and
• Coordinate and organize partner meetings, Steering Group meetings and Technical Working Group engagements, ensuring that agreed actions are
• Develop and maintain positive relationships with a wide range of stakeholders, including civil society organisations, government bodies and officials, and international

3.0  Project Monitoring, Learning and Communication

• Ensure an overall monitoring and evaluation plan is in place for the project and
• Establish adequate systems to gather evidence and learnings and partners understanding of project impact and barriers to delivery to inform course
• Work with the M&E Advisors and Consortium members on the analysis of data, reporting, learning, and
• Review monitoring and evaluation reports, partner narrative reports, and other internal and external resources to inform project
• Ensure that project objectives on gender equality, climate change, partnerships and localization are upheld and contribute to learning and
• Ensure quality and consistency by setting and adhering to appropriate standards for project implementation in compliance with the consortium and NORAD quality
• Monitor project risks and take relevant mitigation and corrective measures in consultation with Country Implementation Teams (CITs) and Steering

3.0   Human Resource Management

• Participate in the recruitment of relevant project
• Support establishment of relevant Human Resource support systems for efficient project
• Review and evaluate project staff performance in line with established guidelines and policies and as per donor requirements and
• Supervise Project
• Ensure that relevant technical expertise and capacity strengthening support is available to project staff and

4.0  Project Financial Management

• Provide oversight and accountability for financial decisions and activities of the
• Work with budget holders and finance staff of the Country Implementing Teams and ensure that all activities and expenditures are conducted within budget
• Monitor project expenditure, prepare budget revisions and forecasts, review financial data and ensure timely financial reporting to the donor, in line with the project agreement
• Ensure that project narrative reports are completed and submitted timely alongside the financial
• Work closely with the Head of Programmes to provide advice, assistance and training on financial matters to programme team to enable them better manage the financial aspects of the

5.0  Representation, Networking and Partnerships

• Participate in the organisation’s other key institutional events such as the country working group, related events and fora.
• Establish and maintain strategic partnerships relevant for the
• Regular communication and information sharing with strategic partners in liaison with the Country

6.0   Other Key Responsibilities

• Lead in the identification of project risks and proactively work with partners to mitigate risk factors against partnership and project delivery
• Coordinate the meetings of the project steering Group and ensure that action points agreed during the meetings are followed Act as the secretary of the Steering Group.
• Uphold project and partnership principles in the project, problem solving and where needed providing the space to escalate conflicts to the Steering Group
• Adhere to the set policies and procedures and effectively communicate them to project teams to ensure that they are

In addition to individual respective tasks, all PELUM employees are expected:

• To adhere to our organizational values and to actively promote their application amongst
• To undertake tasks in a creative, self-driven and innovative
• Participate in key events and represent the organization in relevant fora
• Ensure that all activities are implemented in a gender sensitive
• Adhere to PELUM’s policies, procedures, and performance expectations in all
• To identify and implement additional tasks/ ideas of benefit to the organization (whether directly linked to one’s job or not).
• Any other duty as may be assigned by the

The attainment of the above will be reflected in the employee’s appraisal, as well as the achievement of outputs, as described in above key responsibilities.

Person Specifications

1. Qualifications

• Master’s degree in project management, Natural Resources Management, Development Studies or other relevant field, or training from recognized institutions.
• Knowledge/Training in Agroecology is

b.   Skills & Experience

• Demonstrable experience in managing complex, regional projects at a scale preferably EU
• Minimum seven years of progressive professional work experience in different capacities with local and international NGOs and representing partnerships towards
• Proven experience of programming in natural resource management, climate resilient agriculture, and/or youth and women’s rights programming at a community, national and international levels.
• Sound experience and progressive management of consortium and project
• Experience in providing mentoring and support to a range of actors,
• Understanding of financial management procedures, budget monitoring, and donor
• Sound knowledge of civil society dynamics and their role in addressing food security systems, gender and climate change
• Demonstrable experience in working with partners in sustainable ways that reflect power-sharing, accompaniment and mutual
• Familiarity with or experience in working on Agroecological approaches and

c.   Key competencies

• Excellent written and oral communication
• Excellent communication and interpersonal
• Demonstrable report writing, presentation, and facilitation skills in
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills in complex project
• Ability to link project work to policy and advocacy processes at various
• Ability to think critically, strategically, and innovatively to improve project
• Ability to drive for solutions and to suggest ways to achieve better
• Ability to take intelligent risks to drive thought leadership, individual and/or organizational
• Commitment to adaptive programming and working in partnership based on mutual values and

d.   Personal qualities

• Ability to think and operate strategically and Flexible, self-starter, team player and with attention to detail.
• Continuous improvement mindset. Excellent analytical, critical reasoning and problem-solving skills. Open to change and ability to work in a transitional and complex organizational structure
• Keen sense of ethics, integrity, and commitment to PELUM’s Ability to multitask. Ability to work under pressure, plan personal workload effectively and delegate.
• Ability to communicate in French language will be an added

Management skills

Strong experience in leading and managing projects. Ability to develop and maintain relationships with various internal and external stakeholders. Team player with positive attitude, flexible mind, and good coaching and motivational skills. Ability to inspire confidence and create trust. Managerial and supervisory skills.

Communication and Interpersonal skills

Ability to understand new issues quickly and make wise decisions. Strong coaching skills and ability to provide effective feedback. Comfortable working in multi-cultural settings. Strong Writing skills. Effective interpersonal skills to work with colleagues, stakeholders, and donors. Proven negotiation skills.

Applications Procedure:

If you believe you have the requisite qualifications for the position, please tender in your application cover letter highlighting your suitability for the position, CV, Copies of relevant certificates, testimonials, National ID and contacts of 3 referees addressed to:

The Country Coordinator PELUM Uganda,

Plot 37/37A Martyrs Way Ntinda

P.O Box, 35804, Kampala.

Applications should also be sent via email to [email protected] and copied to [email protected] . The Deadline for submission is 8^th July 2024 at 05:00pm EAT.

Please Note:     Only short-listed applicants will be contacted.

PELUM Uganda is an equal opportunities employer, all qualified candidates are encouraged to apply irrespective of gender, race, religious affiliation, ethnic background or physical abilities.