Job Opportunity at FRA – Program Officer Food Governance

JOB DESCRIPTION AND PERSON SPECIFICATION

Job Title: Program Officer Food Governance

Reports to: Head of Programs

Direct Reportees: Program Assistants

Contract Details: Fixed Contract

Job Purpose:

Everybody eats; it is the key to our survival, but food also has the potential to compromise health. The global food system is challenged by issues of drought, climate change, trade, malnutrition, and exploited workers. Population growth and the forces of marketization have further compromised the ability of the food system to deliver safe, nutritious and sustainable food to the world’s population. FRA in its strategic plan 2019 – 2023 plans to explore how law, policy, and regulation address food system challenges or contribute to them at local, national, regional, and global levels. This includes issues such as food security, food safety, food sustainability,  equity  and  social  justice  in  national  and  global food  systems,  and  nutrition: under/malnutrition, obesity, and non-communicable disease.

The  principal  objective  of  the  Program  Officer  Food  Governance  role  is  to  provide strategic leadership and growth of the Food Governance Program, coordinate  the planning (strategic and Operational) , implementation and monitoring of all activities of FRA’s Food governance and food Justice Programme in assigned jurisdiction. S/he will manage and lead a team of Program Assistants, Interns  and  Volunteers  to  ensure  efficient  and  effective  implementation  of  Food  Justice Activities in line with project plans, budgets and timelines. The role involves strengthening capacity of member organisations and other like-minded CSOs working on Food Justice related components through on job training and also involves addressing barriers to Food and Nutrition Security.

Responsibility 1: To coordinate planning and implementation of Food Justice activities of FRA and Member Organisations working on Food Justice within the agreed plans, budgets, time frame and donor guidelines. By;

• Taking lead on the overall implementation of all FRA activities under Food Governance assigned to you.
• Leading analysis of the connection between food practices with health, economic activities, the relationship with natural resources, with culture, with ethics and social justice, with the quality of life and the social relations between communities to inform processes leading to strengthening food system in Uganda
• Mobilise and promote participation of social actors to strengthen the campaign of linking food to sustainable development.
• Representing FRA in coordination meetings and Technical Working Groups around food justice as required
• Strengthening the coordination and collaboration between FRA Secretariat, Member

Organization’s and community structures to promote food justice.

• Promoting effective integration of programme activities at national and regional level placing programme beneficiaries at the heart of FRA programme
• Strengthen construction of integrated food strategic at local level to promote different stakeholders involved in the work on food justice in Uganda

Responsibility 2: Coordinate capacity building of State and Non State Actors to promote food justice in Uganda. By

• Developing and coordinating development of tools for training CSOs and government staff to understand food justice and its importance to sustainable development linking to SDG 2 (Zero Hunger)
• Supporting and  Training  CSO  and  government  officials  on  food  justice,  leading  the knowledge generation and sharing to increase the profile of the work around food justice in Uganda
• Providing regular technical support to organisations working on components of food justice at all levels (community, district, regional, national and global).
• Conducting research on how law, policy, and regulation address food system challenges or contribute to them at local, national, regional, and global levels. Share the finding to influence processes working towards addressing challenges facing the food system domestically and globally
• Ensuring issues of food security, Food Sovereignty,  safety, food sustainability, equity and social justice in national and global food systems, and nutrition: under/malnutrition, obesity, and non-communicable disease are kept on table of appropriate fora domestically and regionally contributing to global effort

Responsibility 3: To ensure the highest standards of Monitoring & Evaluation of food justice activities to facilitate effective programme delivery and reporting on expected results. By;

• Working with the Head of Programs to formulate technically accurate monthly plans and activity budgets for project activities according to annual plans of each project.
• Participating in the development and review of M&E plans for each project and other activities within the overall Food Justice program
• Ensuring all your projects have up-to-date tools for recording all the required data throughout a campaign cycle, according to the project M&E indicators and field teams including staff of member organisations are using the to
• Ensuring the  data  base  for  beneficiaries  in  your  assigned  target  areas  is  updated regularly with technical support from the MEAL Offic
• Ensuring data at end of each campaign cycle is analyzed, used in the monthly report and stored on the server for use whenever required.
• Documenting case  studies,  best  practices  and  lessons  learnt  in  project  activities  to promote internal learning and for inclusion into donor report
• Supporting compilation of monthly activity reports in a timely manner and presenting to the Project Manager for review and compilation of Sector monthly report.
• Support in tracking and documentation of meteorological information from established weather station facilities in and around operation areas.

Responsibility 4: Staff Management

• Supervise staff  that  directly  report  to  you  and  provide  ongoing  leadership  to  the management of staff    being managed by the staff you manage, especially community based extension work
• Set performance objectives for your direct reports, and ensure those supervised by your direct  reports   have   performance   objectives   as   w   Routinely   monitor   their performance and evaluate them at the end of the performance period.
• Strengthen and build skills of the staff through on-job mentoring and coaching and feedback mechanisms to improve their performance
• Recommend disciplinary actions for staff who are not performing in consultation with your Project Manager.
• Address and mitigate staff complains and  conflicts in coordination with the Project Manager.

Responsibility 5: To support programme development processes in FRA. By;

• Participating in programme  development  activities  like  contextual  analysis  review, baseline studies, Post distribution monitoring, End lines and any related studies in cross cutting issues like Gender when called upon.
• Respecting,  upholding,   and   actively   supporting   the   broader   FRA   organisational development initiatives and that of member organisations g. Equality, Disaster Risk Reduction, Resilience Building, Advocacy, Program Participants Protection and Capacity building.
• Support actual programme development like writing some sections of a proposal and doing budget as part of your personal career development.

Responsibility 6: Working as a team member in FRA

• Establish  and   develop   effective   working   relationship   with   entire   FRA   staff, Volunteers, Interns, Member organisation staff, Government staff to ensure team work and integration.
• Participating in team decision making process including but not limited to, planning and review meetings, staff meetings and
• Adhering to all FRA organisational policies
• Undertaking any other activities assigned by the Executive Director

Person Specifications:

• University degree qualification in Law, Agriculture or Rural Development
• Must possess excellent organizational, representation, negotiation skills and diplomacy.
• Excellent computer skills, including Excel, Word, with related technical functions
• Fluency in written and spoken English
• Excellent communication skills, including drafting documents
• A team player with good interpersonal, team building and representational skills
• Willingness to undertake additional responsibilities and initiative is critical
• A valid driving license preferably with skills of driving Manual operated cars

Experience

Required

• Minimum 3 years’ experience practical work experience as a Program Officer preferably within the NGO/UN/Government system
• Experience in working with Policy advocacy CSOs as a Project Officer
• Experience in managing large and diverse teams

Desired: Experience with FRA or any other NGO similar works

Skills and Competencies

1. Demonstrated self motivation and integrity
2. Leadership skills
3. Communicating and teamwork
4. Result oriented
5. Planning and Decision making
6. Creativity and Innovation
7. Influence, Advocacy and Networking
8. Change management
9. Electronic communication

Statement of Safe Guarding

According to Food Rights Alliance organisational value of accountability, it is our policy to safeguard all individuals involved in Food Rights Alliance work against risks of exploitation and abuse. Food Rights Alliance will not tolerate exploitative or abusive behaviors by anyone associated with the implementation of Food Rights Alliance work.

How to Apply

Send your CV and motivation letter to fra@fra.ug with the title “Application for Program Officer Food Governance” by 3rd March 2020