Job Title:   Markets and Natural Resource Officer

Organisation: Mercy Corps

Duty Station:  Uganda

About Mercy Corps: 

Mercy Corps is an International NGO that exists to alleviate poverty and oppression by helping people build secure, productive and just communities. Mercy Corps has been fully registered in Uganda as an operational NGO. Currently Mercy Corps has an office in Kampala and is implementing Food Security programs which comprise of Water and Sanitation, Livelihood and Agriculture and Conflict Mitigation Management Program in North and North Eastern Uganda. We implement programs in the northern districts of Pader, Kitgum, Agago, Lamwo, Kaabong, Abim and Kotido with funding from USAID, USDA, Walmart Foundation, SDC, DFID as well as other private donations.

Job Summary: The Markets and Natural Resource officer will work under direct supervision with the NRM Team Leader. The NRM officer  will mobilize the PROGRESS processes for engaging communities, governments and private sector actors in collective action plans that support household and community access to and management natural, physical environment and the socio-ecological systems supported by it. This can include access to land and water resources for both human consumption and livestock rangeland and watering, plus innovative methods for land restoration, watershed and water resource management, energy conservation and alternative energy solutions, and climate-smart agriculture.

Key Duties and Responsibilities:

• Engage with remote communities to establish priorities for community-led natural resources management, and implementation of developing Identify pilot opportunities for community NRM plan implementation and monitoring.
•  Identify opportunity areas and share them with the NRM team leader for alternative methods of climate-smart agriculture.
• Work in liaison with Mercy Corps technical staff, Consortium members such as University of Nairobi and local partners to establish locally appropriate pilots.
• Work closely with private sector and line ministries to address environmentally harmful methods of extracting local natural resources
• Ensure timely support in policy formulation around sustainable methods, alternative energy mechanisms, and water management and conservation.
• Actively coordinate with counterpart agencies and organizations involved in conservation, climate change adaptation for information community NRM plans
• Identify community NRM needs and priorities, especially around land access and rangeland management for Karamoja and water resources for production as well as livestock watering.

Qualifications, Skills and Experience:

•  The ideal candidate should preferably a degree in a related field of expertise (i.e. Natural Resource Management
• A minimum of three to four years of technical and practical work experience in one of the required fields
• Pastoral livestock management, animal husbandry, water resources, irrigation, agro-economy, rural development, conservation agriculture, environmental policy, etc).
•  Basic knowledge of various natural resource disciplines, including air quality, water quality, geomorphic and hydrologic processes, fire and vegetation management, fish and wildlife management, aquatic and terrestrial ecology, conservation biology and restoration ecology.
•  Working knowledge and experience in either livestock and rangeland management, irrigation, water harvesting and water saving methods in arid lands,
•  Past experience and proven track record in rural development and participatory.
•  Be a good team player, with good communication and diplomatic skills.
• Proven ability to work independently as part of a regional team and with international professionals.
•  Excellent analytical and information management skills.
• Excellent organizational skills and ability to work under stress and in austere contexts of remote locations.
•  Flexible and creative in planning and problem solving.
•  Keen attention to detail, ability to follow procedures and meet deadlines and work independently and cooperatively with team members.

How to Apply for the job:

All suitably qualified and interested candidates should send their applications including a cover letter clearly stating your salary requirements, CV (with 3 referees), and copies of academic qualifications/certificates to the Human Resource Manager via E-mail to: mcuganda@ug.mercycorps.org will also be accepted. 

NB: Only short-listed candidates will be contacted by Mercy Corps. Female Candidates are encouraged to apply.

Deadline: 6^th March, 2015

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