Green Business Specialist I – Restore Africa Project

Country/Location: Uganda/Kampala

About Catholic Relief Services: Catholic Relief Services is the official international humanitarian agency of the Catholic community in the United States. CRS works to save, protect, and transform lives in need in more than 100 countries, without regard to race, religion or nationality. CRS’ relief and development work is accomplished through programs of emergency response, HIV, health, agriculture, education, microfinance, and peacebuilding. CRS has worked in Uganda since 1965, initially providing emergency assistance to Sudanese refugees living in the north. Over the years, CRS has expanded its programming to also address development needs in western, central, and eastern Uganda. CRS' projects in Uganda currently include agriculture, health, microfinance, peacebuilding, and youth. CRS Uganda implements its programs through partnerships with local organizations, including the Catholic Church, other faith-based organizations and community entities for maximum impact and sustainability. CRS Uganda employs around 190 staff and has its main office in Kampala, with sub-offices in Moroto, Yumbe, and Hoima.

About the project: The Global Evergreening Alliance (GEA), of which CRS is a member, has secured a 5 year, $ 160m investment for Restore Africa Program which covers 6 Eastern and Southern Africa Countries. In Uganda, the program will be implemented by CRS (as the lead implementing organization), CARE, World Vision, ICRAF, ECOTRUST and Uganda Landcare Network with a goal of restoring 560,000ha of degraded landscapes in the West Afromontane, Mt. Elgon and part of Karamoja. The program will pursue a small holder farmer led approach to restoration supporting profitable agroforestry systems that support profitability and productivity of farms.

Job Summary: The specialist will lead all aspects related to green business and enterprise development in the Restore Africa Program. S/he will provide technical support to the consortium in identification, selection, and development of profitable green enterprises. S/he will support the team in understanding all aspects of one or multiple value chain(s), including existing supply and demand structures/linkages, enabling environment (regulations, financial support, innovations, inputs etc.) and underlying costs/economies. S/he will conduct market analysis of selected agroforestry products with a goal of making markets work for the poor. Identify pro-poor opportunities for growth where barriers exist and if unlocked will help promote the flow of knowledge and resources along value chains to small enterprises and farmers. Experience in business development strategies, networking, identifying, and capitalizing on business opportunities will be an asset.

Job Roles and Responsibilities:

Lead the implementation of technical, coordinating, monitoring, and reporting of green business activities throughout the project cycle - start-up, implementation, and close-out - in line with CRS program quality principles and standards, donor requirements, and good practices.
Lead ToT trainings, coaching, monitoring, and coordination in all project activities related to green business development.
Lead the strengthening of partnerships relevant to green enterprise development, value chains, applying appropriate partnership concepts, tools, and approaches.
Identify and examine constraints and opportunities within the selected value chains • Identify the underlying policy, institutional, and infrastructural issues that affect the competitiveness and exclusion of selected value chains
Identify institutions and organizations working on selected value chains that can contribute to pro-poor value chain development.
Identify alliance staff capacity needs, technical assistance needs of partner organizations and contribute to capacity strengthening and required interventions to support quality program implementation.
Assist with preparation of market trends analysis reports and disseminate results.