Duty Station: The Eastern Africa Grain Council (EAGC) invites applications to fill four (4) field officer positions to be based in the Eastern Region (1), Western Region (1), Central Region (1) and Northern Region (1) of Uganda.

Reporting to: Country Program Manager – Uganda

Supervises: Temporary Casual Employees

The Eastern Africa Grain Council (EAGC) is a membership-based organization registered in Kenya with country offices in Rwanda, Uganda, Tanzania, Burundi, Ethiopia, South Sudan, Malawi, DR. Congo, and Zambia. Our members are key stakeholders and players in the grain value chain including cereal growers, millers and processors drawn from within the Eastern Africa Region and beyond. Our core mandate is to develop and promote orderly structured marketing systems and provide market information for grains to reduce transaction costs and eliminate barriers to regional trade.

We seek to fill the advertised positions with individuals whose main responsibilities will be to support the Uganda Country Programs in structured trading systems and Market Information system and any program activities implemented by the Council in Uganda.

Reporting to the Country Programs Manager Uganda, the successful candidates will be responsible for the following duties amongst others:

Key Duties/ Responsibilities

1. Structured Trading Systems

• Identify and support potential farmers/ farmer groups to improve grain production, quality of produce and trade practices.
• Mobilize and strengthen farmer operated grain business hubs (G-Hubs) to access and use technology to improve grain production, quality, and trade.
• Identify and oversee the establishment of G-Hubs and certified warehouses and thereafter, link them to each other.
• Continuously educate farmers and traders in the assigned region about G-Soko trade facilitation service.
• Establish market linkages & identify buyers for the commodity held in the warehouses.
• Mobilize farmers to deliver the set volume targets for grains (i.e., both cereals and pulses) to certified warehouses.
• With guidance from Program Officers and the Country Programs Manager, conduct or support sample collection and testing for trade facilitation purposes under G-Soko.
• With guidance from Program Officers and the Country Programs Manager, support SMEs to access customized financial products to facilitate grain trade.
• Manage EAGC activities such as Agribusiness Expos.
• Drive fundraising efforts with potential partners in the assigned region to complement EAGC efforts in implementing field related STS interventions.

2. Market Information Systems, Communications & Membership

• Lead and support membership recruitment and retention efforts within the assigned region.
• Collect and relay any relevant market information to EAGC, namely for the Regional Agricultural Trade Intelligence Network (RATIN), G-Soko Grain Trading System, the Climate Information for Grains (Ci4G) platform and the Regional Food Balance Sheet (RFBS) purposes including crop updates, price information, grain supply and demand, grain sources and underlying market fundamentals.
• Maintain an up-to-date record of all farmers, farmer groups, aggregation centers, warehouses and stakeholders.
• In consultation with Country Programs Manager, identify and engage both public and private sector partners for collaboration in implementation of EAGC activities.

3. Grain Business Institute

• Support the marketing and promotion of the Grain Business Institute (GBI) fee-based services through the execution of planned training and consultancy activities and delivery of set targets.
• Sensitize and create awareness about solutions related to structured grain trade to farmers, traders and other stakeholders through training, field days, workshops, fairs and any other forums.
• Conduct and/or support training on including proper post-harvest handling, grain quality standards, trade contract and structured grain trading processes.
• Conduct SMEs Business Development Services including mentorship and coaching

4. Trade Policy & Advocacy

• Support administration of surveys among members and other stakeholders aimed at identifying the policy gaps that need to be addressed for the effectiveness of structured grain trading in the region. Identify and communicate policy-related challenges encountered through implementation of EAGC activities and engagements with Members, Partners, Stakeholders and Project Beneficiaries.
• Develop policy position papers as and when needed in consultation with the Country Programs Manager and Regional Trade Policy Manager
• Attend policy-related forums including local administration (County, Province, District etc) stakeholder engagement forums as required and build relationships with key actors in the policy arena.
• Any other duty as may be assigned from time to time.

5. Monitoring, Evaluation, Learning & Reporting

• Prepare field activity reports on a weekly, monthly, quarterly, semi-annual and annual basis.
• With guidance from Country Programs Manager and Monitoring & Evaluation Manager, support data collection from Members, Partners, Stakeholders and Project Beneficiaries as may be required.
• Contribute to monitoring, evaluation and learning efforts by keeping track of results achieved as a result of EAGC commercial and project activities.

6. Decision Making and Authority Levels

• Schedule structured trading systems, market information, capacity building and policy advocacy activities within the assigned region(s)
• Identification of potential farmers/ farmer groups and markets for aggregated commodities.
• Training of farmers/farmer groups on post-harvest techniques.

Academic and professional Qualifications and experience required

• Bachelor’s degree preferably in agricultural economics, agribusiness or related agricultural field.
• Two (2) years relevant working experience.
• Experience working with farmers or in an agribusiness environment will be an added advantage.
• Excellent communication, interpersonal, relationship building & management skills.
• A problem solver, team player, a can-do attitude and independent thinker.
• An ability and willingness to learn and adopt new skills and ways of working.
• Capacity to manage several tasks simultaneously. Be flexible and willing to assume a range of unanticipated assignments.
• Demonstrated knowledge in use of Ms Office suite.
• Having a valid motorcycle riding licenses and a minimum of two years riding experience will be an added advantage.

If your background and competence match the above specifications, please send your application with the subject line,” Field Officer – (Indicating the Region You are applying For)” demonstrating how your qualifications & experience meet our requirements. It should include an updated C.V., your current remuneration package, valid email address, daytime contact number, and full contact details of 3 referees including daytime telephone number to: hr@eagc.org by COB 7^th February 2024.  Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. EAGC is an equal-opportunity employer.