Project Coordinator Private Company

O-Farms aims to accelerate circular enterprises to design out food waste in East Africa, and build a supportive ecosystem for many more to follow. In April 2024, we entered a second phase of the program, which has been financed by IKEA Foundation since the program’s inauguration in 2021. O-Farms phase 2 is a 5-year program that is led by Bopinc and co-implemented with our Advocacy and Access to Finance partners. The program’s workstreams include:
• Accelerator & Fund: Grow SMEs to improve the viability and impact of their circular business activities
Incubator: Nurture small and starting SMEs to realise their circular business goals
• ESO training and marketplace: Bolster in-country entrepreneurial support capacity optimised for circular SMEs
Advocacy and learning: Exchange project learnings and influence policies for circular SMEs to thrive

Responsibilities
• You will coordinate the implementation of the program’s workstreams in Uganda, in support of the Workstream leads and Program Manager that you will be reporting to. Specifically, you will:
• Promote the Accelerator and Fund among Ugandan agri-SMEs and startups, and help review and select applicants.
Tailor our business support curriculum to the needs of Ugandan entrepreneurs and organize and moderate peer-learning events.
• Recruit and train ESOs and individual business coaches to offer specialized advisory services to circular agribusiness entrepreneurs, using the program’s curriculum.
• Support on-site due diligence to facilitate the disbursement of up to 300k EUR in loans (for SMEs) and up to 70k EUR in grant funding (for startups).
• Support our Advocacy partner during their engagements with policy makers and institutions in Uganda.
• Capture and document your lessons-learned as input for the program’s learning publications.
• Be the primary point of contact for our partner in Uganda and external national stakeholders involved in the program.
• Promote the program among relevant stakeholders in Uganda and identify new opportunities for partnerships with private and public sector organizations to amplify the program’s impact.
• Represent the project at project-related events and external events.
• Support the Program Manager with reporting on activities implemented in Uganda to the donor.
• Identify project risks specific to implementation of the program’s activities in Uganda and co-create with the Program Manager risk mitigation strategies.

Qualifications
• Bachelor or Master’s degree or equivalent in business administration, innovation management, economics or other relevant fields.
• At least 7 years relevant and first-hand experience with business advisory support for startups and SMEs in the agricultural sector.
• Passionate about building a circular economy that benefits low-income producers and consumers, through inclusive innovation and entrepreneurship.
• Specific knowledge and experience with one or more of these business support areas: Product Development, Marketing/sales & Distribution, and Access to Finance (both debt and grants).
• Demonstrated track record successfully coordinating the implementation of project activities, preferably for international NGOs and donors.
• Self-starter with ability to plan and implement multiple project activities at once.
• Excellent ability to work with diverse stakeholders and facilitate partnerships, including project partners, private sector, development and government partners.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English.
• Experience with developing and delivering visually appealing presentations, and moderating events with 20+ people.
• Ability and willingness to travel to Kenya at least twice a year.

Core Competencies
Planning
• Able to achieve results in a quality, timely, and cost-effective way.Sees priorities, plans the efficient use of resources, formulates alternatives and monitors progress against objectives. Anticipates crucial stages in projects. Responds effectively to unforeseen events.

Teamwork
• Actively participates in teams and supports team members. Awareof the needs of others and responds flexibly. Prioritises team goalsover individual goals.

Leading self and others
• Acts as a positive role model contributing to the team spirit. Collaborates and supports the development of others. Acts as a positive leadership role model, motivates, directs and inspires others to succeed, utilizing appropriate leadership styles.

Effective communication
• Expresses complex data, ideas and facts in a clear, concise and open manner, both in oral and in written form. Actively listens and proactively shares knowledge. Uses appropriate language, design and methods depending on the audience and the purpose of communication

Agility
• Open to change and flexible in a fast-paced environment. Effectively adapts its own approach to suit changing circumstances or requirements. Reflects on experiences and modifies own behavior. Performance is consistent, even under pressure.