Title: Project Manager – Livelihoods
Reports To: Programme Manager
Job Duration: 1-year (12 months)
Location: Mbale, Uganda, East Africa
- About the Mount Elgon Tree Growing Enterprise
The Mount Elgon Tree Growing Enterprise (METGE) is a Non-Government Organization (NGO) established in 2017 with its headquarters in Mbale city, eastern Uganda. Our Mission is to enable individuals and communities to see the benefits of growing and mitigating the effects of climate change providing sustainable supplies of fuel, shelter, and food, and alleviating poverty for today and future generations.
METGE is dedicated to mitigating and adapting to climate change, and alleviating poverty through planting trees. Our work is concentrated in the Mount Elgon region of eastern Uganda currently covering the Districts of Mbale, Namisindwa, Manafwa, Sironko, Bunambuli, Bududa, and Bukedea. METGE is working through implementing partners and its role is to coordinate programme implementation.
METGE is implementing the Tree Planting Programme (TPP) generously funded by the Size of Wales charity and the Welsh Government from the UK to combat climate change and to enhance the well-being of rural communities in Eastern Uganda. The Mbale TPP commenced in 2010 and at present METGE has raised and distributed over 23 million tree seedlings to individual farmers, communities, and institutions in the seven Districts we operate in. METGE is on course to achieve the 25million target of tree seedlings distributed free of charge to smallholder farmers by 2025. It aspires to plant 50 million tree seedlings by 2030.
Over the period 2020/21, METGE has made significant investments and witnessed growth both in its capacity to produce tree seedlings and the requisite infrastructure to establish and maintain nurseries. Part of the capacity investment has been integrating food security, land management, and resilience to climate change into tree planting and restoration programs. METGE therefore is at an exciting phase in its evolution and expectations are high to deliver at pace.
- Summary
The Project Manager will provide technical lead on; enhancing sustainable livelihoods and climate change adaption projects, increasing technical and advisory services on ecosystem restoration and livelihood systems, and supporting partnerships. This will include working with delivery partners and the METGE team to ensure annual performance targets are met, delivered within budget, and in line with the strategic plan of Mount Elgon Tree Growing Enterprise (METGE) for the period 2022-2025.
- Core Competencies
PROFESSIONALISM: Knowledge of different aspects of stakeholder engagement. Ability to address a range of issues in the context of policy developments, public attitudes, and local conditions. Ability to conceptualize, design, and implement stakeholder engagement strategies. Ability to rapidly analyze and interpret data in support of decision-making and convey resulting information to management. Shows pride in work and achievements. Is conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines, and achieving results. Takes responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives and ensuring the equal participation of women and men in all areas of work.
COMMUNICATION: Speaks and writes clearly and effectively. Listens to others, correctly interprets messages from others, and responds appropriately. Demonstrates openness in sharing information and keeping people informed.
TEAMWORK: Works collaboratively with colleagues to achieve organizational goals. Solicits input by genuinely valuing others’ ideas and expertise; is willing to learn from others. Shares credit for team accomplishments and accepts joint responsibility for team shortcomings.
- Key Duties and Responsibilities:
- Manage the community-led business planning to support the diversification of communities’ portfolio of income and earning activities.
- Establish the business-planning and income-generating activities training center.
- Set up a community revolving fund (CRF) to strengthen the current village savings and loans approach (VSLA) practiced in the communities.
- Lead the landscape integration of sustainable land use and management (SLUM) practices in the community and ecosystem restoration program through stakeholder engagement and building a robust extension system.
- Lead the setting up of a carbon credit scheme as an incentive to smallholder farmers to plant, nurture, and conserve trees.
- Promote the community-led adoption of energy-efficient technologies to reduce dependency on tree resources.
- Facilitate mainstreaming of gender and social inclusion into programme/project interventions and implementation.
- Support the implementation of the safeguarding policy at METGE, Implementing Partners and all levels of the programme/project.
- Consolidate the existing knowledge and promote growing of indigenous medicinal, and high value trees for improved livelihoods.
- Document lessons learned and best practices from project interventions and share knowledge and information through existing platforms.
- Manage relevant project staff and delivery partners to set monthly and quarterly targets and conduct regular monitoring and review meetings to ensure compliance.
- Initiate the preparation of quality and timely monthly and quarterly progress reports and workplans.
- Manage the project scope by ensuring that changes are properly documented, and stakeholders are consulted.
- Offer technical support supervision to relevant project staff and implementing partners through periodic trainings, coaching and spot visits to field sites.
- Weekly, compile and share key findings from the field reports made by project staff.
- Ensure project compliance with internal policies and external requirements.
- Participate in the development of fundraising proposals to support the replication and sustenance of programme interventions.
- Develop training manuals and other materials to aid community awareness and participate in writing publications.
- Any other duties as may be assigned by your supervisor.
- Qualification, skills, and experience
- Bachelor’s Degree (preferably Master’s) in Agroecology, Agricultural development, Agroforestry, socio-economic, climatology/meteorology, water resources management, development studies, disaster management, environmental sciences and /or related fields. A post graduate training in project planning is an added advantage.
- Wealth of project management experience, with a minimum of (5) years spent in a project management role within a reputable Organisation.
- A minimum of five (5) years of experience in implementing projects related to climate change, village saving and loans association (VSLA) approaches, sustainable land management practices and other nature-based interventions.
- A broad understanding of participatory approaches to community extension with reputable Organizations.
- Knowledge of Gender Inclusion and Safeguarding.
- Substantial skills and field experience of project monitoring and evaluation
- Experience in budget monitoring and management: exceptional analytical skills, high degree of proficiency in MS Office (especially excel) and superb attention to details.
- Demonstrate ability to coach and train others in the project implementation, and relevant technical work.
- Ability to manage time effectively, work under pressure and meet deadlines.
- Experience in working with implementing donor projects.
- Ability to build strong relationships with a range of stakeholders.
- Able to drive and ride with a valid license.
- Salary
A competitive salary package will be offered to the successful candidates.
- Application process
Send a letter of application stating why you believe you have the necessary skills and experience for the position applied to info@metge.ug.
Attach a detailed curriculum vitae and communication details of three (3) referees, one must be your current or most recent employer as one file (max size 5MB).
The deadline to receive applications is Friday 7th February 2024 at 17:00 hrs.
Note: Copies of degree and other certificates are not required at this stage