Program Officer (06)

Job Title: Program Officer (06)
Location: 03 Kabarole and 03 Hoima with travel within districts of implementation
Reports to: Program Technical Specialists

Application Deadline: 8th March 2026

Program Background

The Agrifood System Transformation for Youth Employment (ASTYE) Uganda program

ASTYE is a 5-year transformative initiative designed to enable dignified and fulfilling work opportunities primarily for financially disadvantaged young women, refugees, and vulnerable groups by addressing structural barriers in Uganda's Agrifood system. Aligned with Uganda’s Vision 2040, the National Development Plan and Government of Uganda Agriculture Value Chain Development Strategy, the program will contribute to national efforts toward poverty alleviation, economic growth, as well food and nutrition security. Additionally, ASTYE is part of the Mastercard Foundation’s Young Africa Works strategy in Uganda, which aims to empower 4.3 million young Ugandans, particularly young women, by addressing structural barriers to employment and providing them with the skills and resources to succeed.

Specifically, GOAL will implement component one to reach 500,000 financially disadvantaged young people, with 456,000 transiting into work and 336,000 securing dignified and fulfilling work. As the program is young women-centric, 80% of the total outreach target will be young women within Uganda's agrifood ecosystem. Furthermore, 5% of the total youth in work target will be refugees, and another 5% will be people with disabilities.

Job summary

Reporting to the ASTYE Technical Specialist, the Program Officer will be responsible for coordination, supervision and implementation of all the program activities in assigned districts in accordance with the programme description and budget provisions as detailed in the sector workplans. He/she will support the ASTYE Technical Specialist in ensuring the successful coordination and implementation of project activities within districts of operation following project guidelines and approaches in all programme interventions, with the aim of achieving project objectives.

To be successful in this role, you will need:

Essential

• A Bachelor’s Degree in Agriculture, Agricultural Sciences, Agri-business Management, Agricultural Economics, Agricultural Engineering, Agricultural Extension & Education, Agriculture & Rural Innovation
• Minimum of 3 years practical experience working with Private Sector Actors.
• Possess strong partnership management skills and knowledge of partnership processes.
• Knowledge and experience in business financing for SMEs.

Desirable

• Experience in working with both very small and medium-sized companies in a development setting.
• Strong communication and negotiating skills.
• Experience with market facilitation, supporting systemic change and promoting supporting services indirectly.
• Knowledge of the agricultural sectors is highly desirable.

The key responsibilities of the role will be:

Planning, Developing, and Implementing Market Development Activities

• In coordination with ASTYE Technical Specialists and local partners, plan, implement, and monitor market system development activities within the assigned districts.
• Support private sector actors to design, test, and deliver a wide range of appropriate services that increase youth employment and self-employment within the agricultural market system.
• Assist in developing capacity building materials for business, technical and financial capacities as well as participating in capacity building sessions.
• Support to execute related field activities to ensure that the programme results are achieved to the highest standards and project deliverables are completed as planned.
• Support mobilization and engagement of targeted youth to fully participate in the programme for sustainability.
• Support partner to identify small business activities for seed support through basic improvements or inputs.
• Identify value-addition opportunities that strengthen economic opportunities, for young women and rural youth, in the livestock and agriculture sectors.
• Support Private Sector Actors (PSAs), civil society organisations (CSOs) and community-based organisations (CBOs) within assigned districts to ensure all approved program activities are implemented in line with approved milestone-based agreements and timelines.

Collaboration/Networking

• Establish and maintain good coordination and working relationships with sub-county, district leadership and local government departments, representing GOAL in district coordination meetings, and soliciting their participation in all activities where appropriate and as directed by the line manager.
• Ensure close coordination and sharing of information with relevant stakeholders such as local government departments, NGO’s and local authorities, as appropriate and advised by the line manager.
• Participate in the planning of learning and review meetings that bring private and public sector entities together to collectively review and discuss technology developments and innovation.

Documentation, Monitoring, Evaluation and Reporting

• Work closely with the district monitoring and evaluation team to capture the required data for measuring output and impact of the programme.
• Ensure the accurate and timely flow of information from the field, including entry into the program PSA tracker and Comcare database, and support the preparation of communication materials.
• Prepare and submit timely weekly, monthly, and quarterly reports that will be indicative of program progress during implementation.
• Maintain proper filing systems regarding market development activities of the program.

Representation and Coordination

• Liaise with local government officials, local NGOs and civil society organizations, and other notables to ensure support or and acceptance of ASTYE interventions.

General Terms and Conditions

We strongly encourage you to apply even if you do not meet every single requirement listed.  At GOAL we welcome people of all abilities and want to ensure that our hiring and interview process meets the needs of all applicants. If you require a reasonable accommodation to make your application or interview experience a great one, please just contact our Recruitment Team at recruitment@ug.goal.ie

GOAL Commitment to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion:
GOAL is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to building an inclusive environment for all employees. We foster an inclusive culture where all voices are heard and valued. We know that the more inclusive we are, the better our work will be.

All employees share in the responsibility for fulfilling GOAL’s commitment to equal employment opportunity and equal treatment. GOAL does not discriminate against any employee on the basis of sex, race, colour, ethnic background, tribe, birth, creed or religion or social or economic standing, political opinion, disability.

Code of Conduct and Accountability within GOAL

GOAL is an equal opportunities employer and has values and behaviours framework which defines our code of conduct. Any candidate offered a job with GOAL will be expected to adhere to the following key areas of accountability.

• Comply with GOAL’s policies and procedures with respect to safeguarding, Code of Conduct, health and safety, data protection and confidentiality, do no harm principles and unacceptable behaviour protocols.
• Report any concerns about the welfare of a child or vulnerable adult or any wrongdoings within our programming area.
• Report any concerns about inappropriate behaviour of a GOAL staff or partner.

Safeguarding

Children and vulnerable adults a must be safeguarded to the maximum extent from deliberate or inadvertent actions and failings that place them at risk of abuse, sexual exploitation, injury, and any other harm. One of the ways that GOAL shows this on-going commitment to safeguarding is to include rigorous background and reference checks in the selection process for all candidates.

GOAL 

Established in 1977, GOAL is an international humanitarian agency and works with the most vulnerable communities to help them respond to and overcome humanitarian crises, and to assist those facing poverty and exclusion achieve greater resilience and well-being. GOAL envisions a world beyond humanitarian crises where poverty no longer exists, where vulnerable communities exposed to shocks and stresses are resilient, where barriers to well-being are removed and where everyone has equal rights and opportunities. 

General Description of the Country Programme 

First operational in Uganda in 1979, the current GOAL Uganda country programme focuses on Health, (including WASH, Health Accountability and Nutrition); and a market-based systems approach to improving agricultural livelihoods and WASH. GOAL Uganda mainstreams gender, child protection, social behavior changes and resilience strategies across all programming. GOAL uses a mixture of direct implementation and partnerships with national and international civil society organizations, local government, the private sector and communities to give effect to our mission.  

GOAL Uganda has a skilled team of over 110 personnel and has a head office in Kampala and field offices in 7 locations across Northern, Southwestern and Eastern regions of Uganda.  GOAL Uganda’s donors include the Mastercard Foundation, charity: water, Irish Aid, The Kingdom of Netherland Embassy in Uganda (EKN) and other private donors.  

Interested applicants who meet the requirements should apply through the link with at least 3 professional referees (current or former Line Manager) from the last three employers and daytime contact number by 8th March 2026.