Agribusiness and Market Systems Officer

Job Posting Organization:
The Danish Refugee Council (DRC) is a humanitarian organization that was established in 195

• Its mission is to help refugees and displaced people by providing them with the necessary support to rebuild their lives. DRC operates in multiple countries around the world, focusing on providing assistance in conflict-affected areas. The organization employs thousands of staff members globally, working in various sectors including protection, livelihoods, and education. DRC is committed to upholding the highest standards of ethical conduct and safeguarding against exploitation and abuse.

Job Overview:
The Agribusiness and Market Systems Officer position is a critical role within the Danish Refugee Council, aimed at enhancing market access and improving the livelihoods of beneficiaries in Uganda's refugee settlements. This position is conditional upon securing funding for the project and focuses on implementing market development strategies, strengthening enterprises, and enhancing value chain activities under the Uganda Climate Smart Agricultural Transformation Project. The officer will work closely with various stakeholders, including district structures, private sector actors, and farmer groups, to deliver market-oriented training and facilitate connections between farmers and buyers, financial institutions, and value addition opportunities. The overarching goal is to increase income and employment opportunities for beneficiaries, particularly in the agricultural sector.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The Agribusiness and Market Systems Officer will have a diverse set of responsibilities, including:

• Supporting capacity building initiatives for farmer groups on essential skills such as harvesting, post-harvest handling, value addition, marketing, and business development services.
• Organizing annual youth skilling and apprenticeship programs to enhance employability in areas like service provision, value addition, logistics, and agri-transport operations.
• Facilitating the formation and strengthening of farmer groups and cooperatives, ensuring they have functional governance structures and are prepared for market engagement.
• Linking farmer groups to financial institutions to help them access credit and savings opportunities, as well as support for Village Savings and Loan Associations.
• Facilitating aggregation, bulk marketing, and collective bargaining to enhance market competitiveness.
• Identifying private sector actors, including off-takers, agro-processors, and input suppliers, and supporting the development of market linkages and memoranda of understanding.
• Supporting the establishment and operation of aggregation points or marketing hubs within the settlements.
• Promoting value addition microenterprises and assisting youth and farmer entrepreneurs in developing viable agribusiness ventures.
• Facilitating business-to-business networking and partnerships between farmers, aggregators, and private companies. 1
• Coordinating training on enterprise planning, financial literacy, cooperative development, and market-oriented production. 1
• Supporting access to climate-smart and energy-saving technologies, such as solar drying units and improved cookstoves, where relevant to market functions. 1
• Collecting and maintaining accurate data on market linkages, enterprise skills development, youth participation, and private sector partnerships. 1
• Providing timely inputs for monthly, quarterly, and annual reports, including documentation of market linkages and enterprise development achievements.

Required Qualifications:
To be considered for the Agribusiness and Market Systems Officer position, candidates must meet the following qualifications:

• A bachelor's degree in Agribusiness, Agricultural Economics, Business, Economics, Rural Development, or a related field.
• Proven experience working with farmer groups, cooperatives, and private sector actors in Uganda.
• Strong knowledge of market development approaches, financial inclusion, business development services, and collective marketing strategies.
• Experience in linking smallholder farmers to off-takers, agro-processors, and financial institutions.
• Practical experience in supporting youth entrepreneurship, apprenticeship programs, and enterprise incubation initiatives.
• Ability to work effectively with Village Savings and Loan Associations and implement financial literacy programming.
• Experience in collecting market-related data and supporting monitoring and reporting requirements.
• Fluency in written and spoken English is mandatory.

Educational Background:
Candidates applying for the Agribusiness and Market Systems Officer role must possess a bachelor's degree in a relevant field such as Agribusiness, Agricultural Economics, Business, Economics, or Rural Development. This educational background is essential to ensure that the candidate has the necessary theoretical knowledge and practical skills to effectively support agribusiness development and market systems strengthening in the context of refugee settlements.

Experience:
The position requires a minimum of 5 years of relevant experience in agribusiness development, market systems strengthening, value chain management, or rural enterprise development. This level of experience is crucial for the candidate to effectively navigate the complexities of the agricultural market landscape and to implement successful strategies that enhance the livelihoods of beneficiaries in the refugee settlements.

Languages:
Fluency in written and spoken English is mandatory for this position. Additionally, familiarity with local languages spoken in refugee settlements is considered an asset, as it can facilitate better communication and engagement with the local communities and beneficiaries.

Additional Notes:
The Agribusiness and Market Systems Officer position is based in the refugee settlements in Uganda, with the specific district depending on the assignment. The salary and conditions of employment will be in accordance with the Danish Refugee Council’s Terms of Employment for national employees. Applicants are required to upload a cover letter and an updated CV (no longer than four pages) in English, as applications sent via email will not be considered. The closing date for applications is set for 09th January 202

• It is important to note that DRC does not solicit money for any part of its recruitment process, and all recruitment is merit-based, adhering to globally accepted HR best practices.