Project Manager _ Uganda

ABOUT SOLIDARIDAD EAST AND CENTRAL AFRICA

Solidaridad is an international solution-oriented civil society organization with over 50 years of experience in developing solutions to make communities more resilient and create more sustainable supply chains. We work throughout the entire value chain to make sustainability the norm. Our innovative solutions support the transition to an inclusive economy that provides sustainable livelihoods with fair and profitable business opportunities. This includes decent working conditions, a fair living wage, and production in balance with nature so that all people can thrive now and for generations to come. Headquartered in Nairobi, Kenya, Solidaridad East, and Central Africa has country offices and programmes in Ethiopia, Tanzania, and Uganda, and outreaches in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Burundi, Rwanda, and Cameroon.

Title: Project Manager

Duration: 1-year contract (extension based on performance)

Reporting line: Country Manager – Uganda

Position level: Middle level

Location: Kampala, Uganda

Objective

The Project Manager is responsible for the successful implementation and overall growth of the Dreamfund Project in Uganda and Kenya.S/he will be responsible for overseeing project planning ,coordination and effective collaboration with implementing partners to ensure the project’s operational results are achieved. The Project Manager coordinates people and processes to ensure that

Solidaridad projects are delivered on time and produce the desired results. S/he will also actively participate in business development activities.

About Dreamfund Project-From Climate Victims to Climate Heroes

Solidaridad ECA is implementing a five year National PostCode Lottery-funded program that will serve 50,000 small scale farmers in Uganda and Kenya.Solidaridad leads a consortium that includes key local, regional and global implementing partners.

The Dream fund Project is a partnership between Solidaridad and Rabobank to transform thousands of smallholder farmers from climate victims to climate heroes. The project will do this by enabling 50,000 farmers in Uganda and Kenya to invest in carbon farming and get paid for it on the international carbon market. The expected impacts include better quality of life and increased resilience for smallholder farmers as well as increased sequestration of carbon in trees and soil.

Position in the organization

The Project Manager reports to the Head of Programmes at regional level and Country Manager at country level. Where applicable, the Project Manager will report to the Senior Project Manager. The Project Manager works closely with the innovation advisers, Project Officers, Project Associates and Quality Function team

Result areas

Project Planning

1. Prepare project specific work plans, target setting, detailed technical and financial implementation plans,quarterly and annual technical reports schedules based on project agreements and contractual obligations.
2. Develop a detailed annual technical and financial action plan Assist the partners to develop a plan in line with the required project objectives.
3. Support the team by providing longer-term vision, strategic direction and appropriate planning aligning with Solidaridad’s regional ambitions and the global network strategic objectives.

Project Implementation

1. Day to day management of all resources assigned to the project.
2. Review and monitor the annual planning reports to ensure that these are realistic, both in terms of budget and overall project plan.
3. Regularly review and track the project progress against milestones and take corrective action where required, raising issues with the concerned personnel as needed.

Project Management

1. Promote and maintain effective partnerships with the partners and beneficiaries.
2. Guide and lead the project team to achieve specific goals, objectives and KPIs of the project.
3. Ensure that work is appropriately delegated and project team members are empowered to carry out tasks independently where appropriate to their skills and capacity.
4. Provide regular analysis of progress and ensure monitoring of project results with suggestions for adjustments as needed.
5. Ensure strict adherence to Solidaridad’s ethics, policy and pro-actively encourage transparency and openness in all activities.
6. Ensure procurement and contracts are prepared and issued to Solidaridad’s standards and procedures/ in-country legal frameworks / partner’s requirements and are managed effectively.
7. Facilitate/ initiate procurement processes and contracting needed to carry out the planned activities
8. Support the collection and accurate reporting of impact data related to the project as guided by the Planning, Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (PMEL) Manager.
9. Collaborate with the technical advisory teams (gender, digital, Investment, Climate & NRM) in the development and contextualization of approaches and tools to the implementation of the project,

Networking with Government and non-Government Organizations, and Private Sectors

1. Build and maintain productive working relationships with Local Government authorities and line departments, soliciting their participation in different activities where appropriate;
2. Actively contribute towards the learning agenda and upscaling of good practices
3. Represent Solidaridad in technical working groups, at conferences, events, and regional initiatives dealing with project’s result areas
4. Contribute to the development and dissemination of success stories, how-to guides, tools, resources and practices useful to Dream fund’s project work.
5. Contribute to public communication, strong and positive Solidaridad brand visibility and recognition, working closely with the Head of Programmes, Country (Projects) Manager and Regional Communications Officer.

Project Monitoring and Reporting

1. Keenly monitor the quality of interventions through regular field visits and technical assistance to staff and partners on site;
2. Prepare progress reports (annual, monthly and/or quarterly) based on a structured monitoring and evaluation (M&E) framework, including a review on financial reports and provide necessary feedback.
3. Ensure quality monitoring data collection from the field and timely reporting.

Staff Management

1. Supervise, mentor and coach project team members directly as part of your leadership function.
2. Assist with recruitment and coordination of project staff (as and when required).
3. Continuously undertake performance management evaluations of assigned project team members.
4. Support staff development – develop plans for capacity-building of project team members to enable them to be more self-standing in the future.
5. Support effective communications and joint working within the team and with other teams across the organisation.

Other Ad-hoc Tasks

1. Identify and discuss with the Regional Business Development (BD) Manager any potential future funding opportunities which present themselves in-country / location and provide advice on their suitability and potential alignment with the Solidaridad strategic direction.
2. Be cognisant of the wider implications of the project, working effectively with other Solidaridad functions in-country and sometimes at regional level (such as, the quality function team, the innovation theme advisers) as appropriate.

Knowledge and experience

• Relevant academic level education, Master or higher – in relevant field (e.g. Agriculture, Public Policy, Development Studies, Environmental Science,Natural Resources Management, Project Management, Strategic Management etc.)
• At least five (5) years’ experience in managing climate smart agriculture and forest ecology community projects funded by international agencies or development partners.
• At least three (3) years’ experience in a management position with international organizations.
• An understanding of the policy environment, issues and stakeholders in the agriculture and/or agribusiness sector in East and Central Africa.
• Experience of leading and managing small teams.
• Experience setting up new projects and programmes.
• Track record of delivering project goals within deadlines and budgets across public and private sectors and with NGOs.
• Demonstrable track record of effectively building and sustaining key external and internal relationships at community, utility and governmental levels to realize project goals.
• Ability to manage others on a team and manage time effectively on multiple projects.

Specific job requirements

• Project management skills including strategy, planning, setting objectives and planning to meet those objectives, implementation, monitoring and evaluation, budgeting, financial management and sustainability.
• Ability to work independently and lead a diverse multi-disciplinary team.
• Ability to communicate and work with a diverse range of people including private landowners and land managers, private contractors, government agencies, general public, news media, and partner resource professionals.
• Excellent critical, creative thinking and analytical skills.
• Ability to define new projects, establish overall scope and budget, be able to influence at senior management level, take a strategic outlook and to manage change where necessary empowering project staff and others to strengthen their capacity and capability through mentoring and coaching.
• Excellent planning, organisational and time management skills, able to work well under pressure both proactively and reactively and prioritize a challenging workload. Familiarity with grant proposal and contract creation and interpretation
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Supporting the motivation and development of project teams, including performance management and appraisals.
• Collaborative approach to partnership working in a cross-cultural context.
• Able to carry out regular in-country, regional or international visits (as and when required).