JOB DESCRIPTION

ACTION AGAINST HUNGER – USA

Position: AGRONOMIST
Report to: PROGRAM MANAGER
Level: AAH51
Location: Action Against Hunger USA, Kyangwali and Nakivale Uganda
Last updated: JANUARY 2020
Length of Contract:

Action Against Hunger-USA is part of the Action Against Hunger International network, which provides
humanitarian relief in over 40 countries worldwide in the sectors of nutrition, health, water/sanitation,
and food security. Action Against Hunger-USA, an independent NGO, currently manages operations in
9 countries: Kenya, South Sudan, Nigeria, Pakistan, Cambodia, Tanzania, Uganda, Haiti and Somalia.
Action Against Hunger-USA has over $92 million in programs, and approximately 2000 staff based in
in the various country offices and the three Head Quarter Locations of New York City, Washington D.C,
Nairobi. Additional growth is anticipated.

I. Summary of position
 The Agronomist will be responsible for supporting community activities at the field level,
which include identification and sensitization of OLUM beneficiaries, establishment of OLUM
groups in liaison with the Community Based Facilitators. Other key deliverables include
supporting capacity-building of OLUM Agents.

The Agronomist role’s purpose, engagement and delivery is:

Purpose:

 Provide technical support in the training and sensitization of targeted beneficiaries on the
Optimized Land Use Model (OLUM) as required by the supervisor, compile reports, learning
documents and key studies that inform key project indicators as required by the Grant.

Engagement:
 Assistant Program Manager: Direct line management
 Field Coordinator: Collaboration and exchange of information on relations with Government
Institutions at district level, operational and security issues
 Other Program Managers: Exchange of information and coordination (integrated approach)
 Technical Coordinators (FSLR/WASH plus NUT): hierarchical relationship – technical support –
exchange of information.
 Beneficiaries: Information sharing, Sensitization
 Local governmental and non-governmental partners: exchange of information, coordination,
training, supervision, influence on choice of technical options
 OPM, UNHCR: updates and collaboration of implementation, information sharing.
 Local representatives of international aid organizations: exchange of information
 Donor representatives: hosting field visits, exchange of information

Delivery:

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Objective 1: Technical Support

 Technically support the MAE Project in key technical aspects related to agronomy,
production and productivity i.e. To promote Optimized Land Use Model (OLUM) as an
approach in crop production and management for refugee households, Agro-ecology
involving Soil & water conservation, small scale Irrigation and water harvesting when
applicable.
 Actively promote concepts of agro ecology and climate smart agriculture.
 Ensure that community based demonstration gardens are set up and maintained
appropriately by the target community while ensuring their nutrition sensitivity.
 Identify and train the OLUM agents to cascade OLUM approach to all targeted beneficiaries
ensuring 100% replication among all participating households.
 Conduct regular visit to the OLUM agents and their groups to monitor proper adoption of
the OLUM and assess work of the Community Based Facilitators.
 Ensure active participation of the various stakeholders and beneficiaries in the project
activities.
 Implement all the planned field based activities in respective areas of project
implementation in planned time and coherent manner.
 Prepare weekly and monthly individual work plans and submit to the supervisors.
 Coordinate and develop synergies with the nutrition activities (sensitization sessions) to
ensure integration of nutrition and Food security activities.

Objective 2: Capacity Building

 Contribute to improve the existing OLUM training manual and posters as per thematic area,
and Participate in the training of beneficiaries as per the project requirements.
 Identify training needs and build capacity of the Community based facilitators in all key
technical programme aspects (OLUM, Agro-ecology, Soil & water conservation, Irrigation
management, Water Harvesting)
 In liaison with the APM organise and supervise all project capacity development activities i.e.
trainings for Community Based Facilitators, OLUM agents and household members.

Objective 3: Assessment and reporting

 Participate in beneficiary profiling, beneficiary registration, and base line-end line
assessments in FSL activities through technical review and guidance on data collection tools.
 Document and compile reports on project activities including Monthly & Quarterly donor
reports, internal reports (Project Activity Reports (APRs) and activity reports (meetings, and
any other activity).
 Support the establishment of a database for all project activities to regularly monitor and
evaluate their activities.
 Oversee reporting on project progress, success stories and lessons learned during project
implementation.
 Conduct trend of food security and nutrition analyses of the refugee influx and host
community and give recommendations on how Action Against Hunger can better position
itself.

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Objective 4: Staff Management & Supervision

 Ensure that staff/persons under your supervision (Community based facilitators FSL) are
effectively engaged in their tasks and perform their duties accordant to Action Against
Hunger expectation.
 Ensure that staff under your supervision develop weekly and quarterly activity work plans
and adhere to them.
 Identify training needs of staff under your supervision and suggest an appropriate training
plan.

Objective 5: Coordination & Representation

 Participate in appropriate multi-district activities related to FSL for example; field days,
workshops, seminars, agricultural shows, and field monitoring visits.
 Ensure that stakeholders are sensitized on program accountability and have information on
beneficiary feedback mechanism.
 Work closely with relevant district departments (Production, Operation Wealth Creation &
Natural resources) and NARO to share relevant information.
 Participate in internal and external meetings as per the APM guidance and with support of
the Field Coordinator.
 As delegated by the APM, respond to complaints and questions related to Agricultural
Production and Productivity.
 Actively participate in events organized in the refugee and host community setting.
 Coordinate with other sections of Action Against Hunger and all other stakeholders in the
response.
 As delegated by the APM, attend interagency & sectoral coordination meetings at the
settlements and District level.
 Attend donor meetings and field visits as required.
 Preform other duties as assigned from time to time.

II. Supervisory Responsibilities

 Directly supervises the work of Community Based Facilitators-FSL.

III. Gender Equality Commitments

 Foster an environment that supports values of women and men, and equal access to
information.
 Provide a work environment where women and men must be evaluated and promoted
based on their skills and performance.
 Respect beneficiaries’ women, men, children (boys and girls) regardless of gender,
sex orientation, disability, religion. race, color, ancestry, national origin, age, or marital
status.
 Value and respect all cultures.

IV. Fiscal Responsibility

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 Work closely with the program Manager in updating the project BFU in relation to the activity
implementation plan on regular basis, ensuring that relevant documentation on FSL activities
is filed and archived.

V. Physical Demands
 While performing the duties of this job, the employee is required to sit for long periods
and to concentrate on work, including typing, and turn out heavy volumes of work
accurately, within short time frames under stressful situations in the context of a
moderately noisy office with many interruptions. Must be able to proofread own work
accurately so that only minor corrections are needed on an infrequent basis.
 The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an
employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable
accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the
essential functions.

VI. Working Conditions, Travel and Environment

The duties of the job require regular job attendance at least five days per week. Must be available to
work outside normal office hours or on the weekends as required.

Must be able to travel as required for standard domestic and international business purposes. While
performing the duties of this job in the field, the employee may be exposed to precarious settings
under high security risks and/or very basic living conditions and outside weather conditions, as well as
to infectious diseases.

VII. Required Qualifications and Professional Experience

 Bachelor degree (honors) in Agronomy, Agroforestry, or any other relevant field. A diploma
in Agricultural related studies with at least 3 years’ practical experience in a successful
Agronomy related project shall be considered
 At least 3 years’ continuous experience implementing Agronomy related activities.
 Previous work experience in a refugee setting is desirable.

VIII. Required Skills & Competencies

 You work with a busy multi-sectoral setting/programming is an asset.
 Strong communication skills (written and oral) English
 Ability to exercise sound judgment and make decisions independently
 Extremely flexible with the ability to cope with stressful situations
 Excellent reporting skills
 Good knowledge of the local Area, refugee problematic, local context, including being able
to speak Swahili and/or local languages used in Kikuube and Isingiro districts.

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All candidates should apply online at https://careers.actionagainsthunger.org/ Action Against Hunger-

USA provides all staff with an attractive salary & benefits package. We provide equal employment
opportunities (EEO) to all employees & qualified applicants for employment without regard to race,
color, religion, gender, ancestry, national origin, age, handicap, disability, marital status, or status as
a veteran. Action Against Hunger-USA complies with all applicable laws governing nondiscrimination
in employment.

Action Against Hunger-USA Finance Department Last update Jan/18