Skilling Field Officer (7 Positions)

The Agency For Accelerated Regional Development (AFARD) in collaboration with six partners (African Agribusiness Incubation Network (AAIN), Omia Agribusiness, Agromax, Tropical Institute of Development Innovations (TRIDI), Uganda Rural Development and Training Institute (URDT) and Gudie Leisure Farm (GLF) and partnership with the Mastercard Foundation will implement a 5-year program, “Sustainable Inclusive Youth Employment Pathways (SIYEP)” in West Nile, Karamoja, Acholi, and Central and Western Uganda as part of the Young Africa Works Strategy to address unemployment
challenges faced by young women in Uganda. The program will directly reach 258,000 young women (7% refugees and 5% young women with disabilities (YWWDs)) and transition 90% into work, and 70% into dignified and fulling work. This will be achieved through institutional strengthening, market relevant training, skilling, incubation, and access to capital and markets.
The program will work directly with Technical, Vocational, Education and Training (TVETs), Local Artisans, and incubation centers and in collaboration with local and central government entities such as Ministry of Education and Sports (MoES), Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development (MoGLSD), National Council of Higher Education (NCHE), Uganda Business and Technical, Examinations Board (UBTEB), Directorate of Industrial Training (DIT), Uganda National Bureau of Standards (UNBS), Uganda Registration Services Bureau (URBS), Uganda Revenue Authority (URA), NGOs, CBOs, and existing Young Africa Works partners.

JOB TITLE: Skilling Field Officer (7 vacancy)
Reporting: Program Manager

Duty Station Nebbi, Pakwach, Zombo
Employment terms: Full time; Fixed Term: 5- years renewable annually based on satisfactory performance and availability of funds.
Job Summary
Responsible for community-level mobilization, and supporting vulnerable young women develop and nurture the life goals, skills, and connections they need to build sustainable businesses for dignified and fulfilling work opportunities.
Roles & Responsibilities
• Conduct stakeholder meetings to secure program buy-in and agree on project geographical reach.
• Participate in livelihood and market assessment including enterprise viability and barrier analysis to inform market-relevant skilling for young women.
• Mobilize and enroll young women into the program and facilitate the formation of YSLAs and support every YSLA to register with their local governments.
• Train YSLAs on the VSLA Plus methodology (i.e., VSLA, entrepreneurship, and financial literacy).
• Support all targeted young women to develop personal/family development plans.
• Facilitate YSLA members to select enterprise/trade/skills based on market assessment findings and life goals to guide training and skills development.
• Facilitate YSLA members identify peer trainers and skill them (with DIT certification) in their selected trades.
• Equip and support trained peer trainers to cascade technical skills training to their YSLA members.
• Place young women in non-agribusiness related trades on apprenticeship training with reputable artisans or private sector in their local areas while ensuring provision for care givers (babysitters, support for YPWD).
• Receive, distribute and account for basic start-up inputs provided to ensure that the young women transition into the world of work by starting their planned businesses where they will be self-employed.
• Train YSLA members in soft/life skills
• Conduct dialogue meetings bringing together young women, community leaders and relevant government departments to address issues that affect young women’s enterprise growth.
• Ensures gender and safeguarding and disability inclusion are mainstreamed in the program activities.
Management
• Develop monthly operational work plans
• Monitor the implementation of business plans and achievements of personal/family goals.
• Prepare reports on program activities, including success stories, challenges, and lessons learned.
• Participate and contribute to the PMEL framework of the project
• Participate in partner coordination meetings at subcounty level and lobby for local government support
• Maintain strong relationships with young people, parents, community leaders, and relevant stakeholders.
• Any other duty as may be assigned by the supervisor from time to time.
Person specifications:
• Bachelor’s degree in Agriculture, Agribusiness, Business Administration, Vocational Education, Entrepreneurship.
• At least 3 year’s experience in livelihoods and youth entrepreneurship related fields.
• Knowledge of farmer/producer groups, VSLA, and IGA-SPM is a MUST.
• Fluency in Alur or Jonam local language is a MUST.
• A valid motorcycle-riding permit is a MUST.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to engage and build relationships with diverse stakeholders, including youth, community leaders, and employers.
• Basic computer skill i.e., MS Office
• Ability to work independently with minimum supervision
• Familiarity with participatory and youth-centered methodologies.
• Knowledge of start and grow your business approaches.
• Knowledge of gender-sensitive approaches and inclusive programming.
• Ability to work collaboratively with diverse teams and partners

Signed Application and a 2-pager motivation letter plus relevant academic & experience credentials, CV with names and daytime contacts of three referees,
and your daytime phone contact numbers in 1-file PDF format should be addressed to “The Human Resources Office” and e-mailed to procurement@afard.net latest on May 23, 2025 at 5:00PM. In the subject area of your email, indicate the position you are applying for.
Polite Notice.
• Qualified females and refugees are highly encouraged to apply.
• Only complete applications will be accepted and considered for review.
• Only those who are ready to start immediately will be shortlisted.
• Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.
• Successful applicants will be required to start immediately after appropriate screening checks including criminal records, child and sexual abuse, exploitation and/or harassment. By applying, job applicants consent to these screening checks