Job Purpose
The Participatory Integrated Planning (PIP) Specialist is a hands-on technical expert who will be available to provide implementation support and quality assure the Participatory Integrated Planning (PIP) approach at the grassroots level on a day to day basis for the INSPIRE programme. The post holder reports to and works closely with the PIP and Community Strengthening Coordinator which is based in Jinja and cross functionally with the other Portfolio Coordinators and consortium and technical partners; providing technical backstopping and supervision of the on-ground PIP Field Officers at District and subcounty/Village level. He/She will be responsive for active liaison with the other EKN funded projects who are implementing the PIP approach in their project implementation i.e. Common Ground, BRIGHT and INCLUDE projects as well as with the WENR experts who are leading and guiding the PIP approach and implementation. Pathway 1 is the foundation of community-led development, with SHF HHs and communities taking greater ownership of activities based on their self-identified needs, priorities and aspirations. It therefore contributes to all other Pathways and is fundamental to the overall success and sustainability of the project. The expected results of the INSPIRE programme for which this position will be technically contributing to are:
• Strong, dynamic and well-organized communities;
• Enhanced, diverse collaboration among local stakeholders to strengthen social networks.
Main Duties and Responsibilities
Project Planning and Implementation
• Participate in the assessments and identification of target communities and support implementation of the PIP approach.
• Identify and propose improvements in the PIP approach and scaling process with the technical support team of other projects using the PIP approach, funded by the same donor.
• Support and backstop the field teams to conduct awareness raising and capacity building within farmer households (HH) and communities on developing visions and action plans to increase household and community resilience using the Participatory Integrated Planning (PIP) approach.
• Support and quality assure the farmer groups training on locally relevant crop and land management practices for resilient farming and support them to establish and monitor Integrated Plot Plans (IPPs) where best practices are integrated to restore soil health.
• Supervise capacity building trainings conducted by the CSO partners and their staff on a diversity of social resilience topics to create changes in mindset and practice.
• Lead the team to conduct awareness raising workshops at community level with village leaders, support the establishment of Village Committees and foster collective action.
• Ensure Village Committees implement their Village Visions, based on related action plans and priorities set by communities including local value chain development
• Support the District and Subcounty teams to conduct community strengthening activities in target villages, based on the inventory of priorities that may include topics such as community structuring, leadership, conflict-reduction, and others
• Work with the teams to support environmental clubs to conduct PIP inspired environmental education in primary and secondary schools
Knowledge Development, Documentation and Reporting
• Regularly collect project data contributing to the monitoring of progress made at both output and outcome level
• Systematically document experiences and lessons learned across communities and report results to project team members as need arises
• Compile and prepare periodic reports highlighting progress with establishment of resilient farming systems based on project periodic plans.
People Management
• Lead, steer and coach regional teams/colleagues and associated PIP implementing organisations, and other external stakeholders on quality implementation of the PIP activities.
Representation Collaboration/Networking and Coordination
• Establish and maintain good coordination and working relationships with INSPIRE Partners and district leadership, local government departments, representing GOAL in district coordination meetings and soliciting their participation in all activities where appropriate and as directed by the line manager.
• Maintain close working relationship and ensure close coordination and sharing of information with relevant stakeholders such as local government departments, NGO’s and local authorities, as appropriate and advised by the line manager.
• Liaise with other international, local NGOs and civil society organizations, and other for cross learning and to avoid duplication of services as well as ensure support for and acceptance of INSPIRE.
• Conduct himself/herself both professionally and personally in such a manner as to bring credit to GOAL Uganda and to not jeopardize its humanitarian mission.
Other duties
• Represent INSPIRE/GOAL Uganda in a range of external fora and building strategic relationships and partnerships.
Essential Criteria:
• Postgraduate diploma in Project Planning & Management.
• Bachelor’s Degree in Agriculture Sciences or Rural Development.
• 5 years of experience in rural community development initiatives and bottom-up approaches, with proven experience concerning lowland farming challenges and practices in Lango and Busoga regions.
• Technical knowledge about crop and land management practices for resilient farming systems, with practical experiences implementing such practices in the targeted regions.
• Experience working in a rural environment, demonstrated capacity to support, advise and guide institutional networking processes with Local Governments and other stakeholders
• Experience in agricultural and environment sectors with relevant technical models such as PIP, INRM, catchment management, agribusiness, private sector engagement and local Value Chain Development, among others. Experience in working with household participatory approaches with local communities in related projects/programs will be an added advantage..
• Interpersonal skills and excellent communication skills
• Experience in community work and engagement in Agricultural, Economic Development, Livelihood and specific technical expertise in GESI approaches (preferably GALS approach), Farming Systems, Sustainable agriculture, land use and management or crop production is an added advantage.
• Ability to work effectively with and manage multiple partners including (local leaders, government parish, sub-county, village officials), other NGOs, value chain actors in the communities.
• Able and willing to travel widely.
• Fluency in local language of targeted regions.
Desirable Criteria
• Conceptual thinking: Having and gaining insight into situations, problems, and processes. Deconstructing problems and systematically investigating the various components. Having a complete picture of the context and overview of the whole problem.
• Coaching: Encouraging and guiding employees to make their performance more effective and to enhance their self-perception and problem-solving skills.
• Focus on quality: Setting high quality standards and striving for continuous improvement and quality assurance.
• Result orientation: The ability to take direct action to attain or exceed objectives.
• Persuasiveness: The ambition to win over other people for one’s views and ideas and to generate support.
• Flexibility: Readiness to travel to the different project locations.
• Initiative and proactivity: In problem identification and proposing solutions.
• Self-motivated, highly organized, positive attitude, resilient, willing to learn new skills and to be continually adaptive within a dynamic and often self-directed working environment.
Job application procedure
Interested and qualified, Click here to apply.
More Information
- Address Jinja, Uganda, East Africa
