Job Description
The Agribusiness Initiative (aBi) Trust is an institution set up by the governments ot Uganda and Denmark to support agribusiness initiatives in the country. In particular it is to support the private sector to increase their contribution to the agricultural sector by increasing productivity and competitiveness leading to poverty reduction through economic growth, wealth, and employment creation. The vision of aBi Trust is of “competitive private sector led agriculture in Uganda” with the mission to “promote private sector driven agribusiness development to enhance wealth creation in the country”. The aBi Trust achieves its mission and vision through interrelated subcomponents. The sub components are: Value Chain Development leading to improved performance of value chain actors, including trade- related Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) and Quality Management Systems (QMS) leading to increased trade opportunities. Financial Services Development (FSD) leading to expansion of financial services by supporting agribusiness in order to increased availability and use of financial services. Cross-cutting Gender for Growth that fully integrates gender equality in each of the sub components and manages a fund piloting innovative gender equality approach in agriculture. aBi Trust therefore invites applications from suitable persons for the following positions;
SPS & QMS OFFICER (1)
The SPS and Quality Management Systems Officer will be responsible for issues relating to SPS and Quality Management Systems for agriculture and agro-processing. S/he will work to support both the SPS & QMS Advisor and the Chief Manager Value Chain Development (CMVC) and his/ her Team and partner institutions.
Key functions:
* The SPS and Quality Management Systems Officer will assist in all aspects of quality and SPS compliance in relation to agro-food trade and standards inclusive and not limited to:
* Providing technical assistance to SPS and QMS Advisor and all other intermediaries in priority value chains to address phytosanitary or food safety market requirements;
* Operationalise the implementation of quality and safety standards;
* Reviewing SPS/QMS development related Concepts and Proposals, conducting due diligence and prepare Project Summaries for short-listed proposals;
* Monitoring and strengthening the implementation of SPS issues within the Service Providers, particularly the private sector for the current generation of international agro-food standards;
* Enhancing the capacity of the private sector itself to comply with international production standards namely GLOBALG.A.P, GMP, GHP, GLP, environmental standards, carry out day to day project activities related to SPS and QMS within priority value chains; Supporting and monitoring the achievement of the small holder conformity to agro-food and environmental standards, especially working with farmers’ groups, SMEs in the areas of introducing SPS and QMS principles by ‘pilot’, capacity building S training, pre-certification, and traceability
* Monitoring the implementation of the post-harvest handling technologies identified in priority value chains (monitoring the procurement process of the identified equipment for value addition in each of the priority value chains);
* Supporting training and implementation of food safety management systems for various partners in the food processing sector including; food processing and exporting plants, organic farming, among others;
* Taking initiative on issues related to SPS and QMS and gathering the necessary literature and reports under SPS and QMS and liaise with on-going programmes;
* Developing work plans in accordance with goal and objectives of SPS & QMS set by the management.
* Conducting research on various stakeholders in the agriculture and food industry sector to generate information used in standards development;
* Maintaining of working relationships with aBi partners and development of new relationships, and networking with public sector institutions/programmes and development partners;
* Other assignments that may be assigned by the SPS/QMS Advisor, Chief Manager Value Chain Development.
Requirement:
Specific Qualifications
* The SPS and Quality Systems Officer should have relevant experience in the following specific technical areas: SPS/QMS/MRL/ GAP/PHH/GHP/GMP/HACCP;
* Solid experience in implementing SPS and QMS components of international projects in Africa; and,
* Experience with preparation and/ or implementation of development programmes funded by international donor organizations
Salary: - USD/month
How to Apply
APPLICATION Interested persons who meet the above criteria should submit their application clearly indicating the position applied for together with an updated CV and at least three (3) suitable referees and telephone contacts to the Managing Director, aBi Trust, Plot 37 Nakasero Towers, P. 0. Box 29851 Kampala; or email less than 2MB to: vcd@abitrust.com. Closing date for receiving applications is 20th February 2012.