Land Use & Farming Systems Specialist

The Sustaining Gains & Continuing Services for Smallholder Farmers (SGCF) Project is designed as a 12-month consolidation initiative that brings together selected results, relationships and delivery structures established under CG and BRIGHT into one focused project implemented by GOAL Uganda in partnership with Agriterra. The project will ensure continuity of support to smallholder farmers, FOs, cooperatives and other local actors across the 14 districts of Elgon, Rwenzori and Kigezi, while working closely with district local governments, private sector partners, financial service providers and implementing partners up to August 2027. The project will build on good practices, networks, community and household / farmer-led planning processes developed by CG and BRIGHT. The SGCF Project will focus on preserving gains already made, sustaining critical services, consolidating relationships with farmers and institutions, and generating practical learning for the next EKN programme design. 

The Land Use & Farming Systems Specialist will lead technical delivery of Pathway 2: Land Use, Farming Systems and Local Government Engagement under the SGCF Project. The role will focus on consolidating sustainable land use, improved farming systems, technical training, Learning Groups and restoration activities established under Common Ground and BRIGHT. The Specialist will work closely with GOAL project teams, implementing partners, government technical officers, Learning Groups, restoration site groups and district local governments to ensure that Pathway 2 activities are technically sound, practical and feasible within the 12-month consolidation period. The role will support technical trainings, restoration site follow-up, district reflection workshops, joint monitoring, and documentation of lessons to inform future programming.

• Lead technical planning, coordination and oversight of Pathway 2 activities, ensuring alignment with the SGCF workplan, results framework, targets and consolidation purpose.
• Use priorities identified through PIP/CAP reviews, Community Visions and PIP harvesting workshops to guide technical training topics on sustainable land use, farming systems, crop management and soil and water conservation.
• Review and adapt existing training materials on sustainable land use, crop management and farming systems to ensure they are relevant to local highland contexts and community priorities.
• Provide technical guidance to implementing partners, field teams and government technical officers on farmer trainings, Learning Groups, restoration activities and follow-up with communities.
• Support technical training and mentorship for farmers, Learning Groups and PIP actors on practical crop and land management practices that improve farm performance and resilience.
• Coordinate implementation and monitoring of selected restoration activities, ensuring that site-level actions build on existing restoration priorities and are feasible within the project period.
• Support district reflection workshops and joint monitoring visits with district local governments to review progress, identify bottlenecks, document lessons and agree corrective actions.
• Maintain effective working relationships with district local governments, government technical officers, implementing partners and other relevant stakeholders involved in land use, farming systems and natural resource management.
• Work with the MEAL team to track Pathway 2 outputs and emerging outcomes, including technical trainings conducted, Learning Groups supported, restoration sites maintained and farmers adopting integrated farming practices.
• Ensure safeguarding, gender equality and social inclusion are integrated into technical trainings, Learning Groups, restoration activities and local government engagement.
• Document lessons learnt, good practices, implementation challenges and technical recommendations from Pathway 2 activities.
• Prepare timely technical inputs for monthly, quarterly and donor reports, including progress against targets, risks, lessons and recommended follow-up actions.

• A Post graduate diploma in agricultural and rural innovation, environmental and impact assessment or related field with a bachelor’s degree in Agriculture, Agronomy, Natural Resource Management, Soil and Water Conservation, Environmental Science, Agricultural Extension
• At least 5 years of relevant experience in sustainable agriculture, farming systems, soil and water conservation, agricultural extension, natural resource management or climate-resilient agriculture.
• Practical knowledge of smallholder farming systems in Uganda’s highland contexts, including land degradation, soil erosion, crop management, restoration and climate-related production risks.
• Experience designing, adapting or delivering farmer training materials and practical learning approaches for smallholder farmers.
• Experience working with district local governments, government technical officers, implementing partners, farmer groups, Learning Groups and community structures.
• Strong understanding of participatory approaches, including PIP, community action planning or similar farmer-led planning processes.
• Strong facilitation, coaching, mentoring, coordination and technical advisory skills.
• Ability to translate community priorities into practical technical support that can be delivered within a short project timeframe.
• Good documentation, reporting and learning skills, including ability to capture field lessons and technical recommendations.
• Demonstrated ability to integrate safeguarding, gender equality and social inclusion into farmer-facing technical activities.
• Excellent written and spoken English; knowledge of relevant local languages in the project regions is an added advantage.
• Willingness and ability to travel frequently to rural and highland communities across the project regions.

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 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.

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.

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. 

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.