Post-Harvest and Value Addition Assistant job at Finnish Refugee Council (FRC)

Finnish Refugee Council (FRC) is an INGO promoting self-reliance and resilience among forcibly displaced and vulnerable host communities via improved livelihoods and food security, protection and peaceful co-existence and human rights. FRC has been operating in Uganda since 1997 as an operational partner to UNHCR and OPM, and since 2020 as implementing partner to WFP.

FRC is seeking for suitably qualified Ugandans to fill the following positions in a project called “General Food Assistance, Nutrition, Digital and Financial Inclusion, Resilience and Self-Reliance in refugee settlements and refugee hosting districts”; a consortium led by Hunger Fighters Uganda, with FRC and Medical Teams International (MTI) as partners;

Position

Post-Harvest and Value Addition Assistant, 4 positions

Contract

January 2026 to 31.12. 2026 with possibility of one year extension

Level

Junior field level, reporting to Livelihood and Resilience Officer

Location

2 positions at FRC Field Office, Nakivale Refugee Settlement, Isingiro District

2 positions at FRC Field Office, Kyangwali Refugee Settlement, Kikuube District

Job Purpose:

The Post-Harvest and Value Addition Assistant is responsible for mobilizing groups, delivering practical skills development in value addition and post-harvest handling, promoting entrepreneurship, strengthening financial inclusion, and facilitating market and financial linkages.

Responsibilities or duties

Technical assessments and support – 40%

• Conduct assessments to identify income opportunities for adding value to farming products.
• Identify group needs in post-harvest handling, equipment uses, value addition, market readiness.
• Support linkages between groups and market actors, private sector, business services.
• Facilitate implementation of off-farm livelihood activities and support groups to adopt improved value-addition practices and appropriate technologies.
• Support groups to improve on product quality, visibility and competitiveness.
• Work closely with Digital and Financial Inclusion Assistants to connect groups to digital savings platforms and financial inclusion services.

Capacity building and Skills Training – 30%

• Organise and deliver trainings on value addition, post-harvest handling practices, basic business skills, financial literacy, off-farm enterprise development, income-generation.
• Conduct hands-on demonstrations and follow-up coaching sessions to strengthen IGAs.

Partnerships and Coordination – 15%

• Collaborate with local leaders and district to promote economic empowerment.
• Strengthen community awareness and acceptance of off-farm enterprise activities.
• Support mapping of service providers, buyers, suppliers and training institutions.

Monitoring, Reporting and Data Management – 15%

• Track group progress and document performance and challenges.
• Maintain up-to-date beneficiary records, training attendance and monitoring tools.
• Submit monthly progress reports, case studies, lessons learned and success stories.
• Ensure reporting aligns with project indicators and donor requirements.

Qualifications or requirements (e.g., education, skills)

Education and Qualifications:

• Primary: Bachelor’s degree in Agribusiness, Business Administration, Entrepreneurship, Economics or related field.
• Combined with complementary diploma or short course in 1-2 of the following: Business training, Small and Medium Scale Enterprise development, Vocational Skills, VSLA.

Experience needed

Experience:

• Minimum 2-year hands-on-experience in value-addition practices and small-scale processing, community-based livelihood projects, financial inclusion work.
• Understanding of local markets, micro-enterprise dynamics and youth & women economic empowerment and practical understanding of small business development.
• Experience in community mobilization, working with refugees or vulnerable populations.
• Experience on M & E fundamentals.

Essential Skills and Attributes:

• Ability to work independently in field conditions.
• Strong analytical, coaching and mentoring skills.
• Willingness to proactively assess project progress and take lead in solving issues.
• Commitment to gender equality, inclusion and protection principles.
• Strong teamwork and stakeholder engagement skills.
• Knowledge of Kiswahili, Runyakitara, French or Arabic is an advantage.

Any other provided details (e.g., benefits, work environment, team info, or additional notes)

Please note that FRC does not charge a fee at any stage of its recruitment process.

FRC is committed to observing all local, national, and international laws that protect children, vulnerable adults, and basic human rights of all.

FRC is committed to a policy of “zero tolerance for sexual exploitation, abuse, and harassment (SEAH)” and expects anyone who works for FRC to uphold protection and safeguarding as a priority.

• Conduct assessments to identify income opportunities for adding value to farming products.
• Identify group needs in post-harvest handling, equipment uses, value addition, market readiness.
• Support linkages between groups and market actors, private sector, business services.
• Facilitate implementation of off-farm livelihood activities and support groups to adopt improved value-addition practices and appropriate technologies.
• Support groups to improve on product quality, visibility and competitiveness.
• Work closely with Digital and Financial Inclusion Assistants to connect groups to digital savings platforms and financial inclusion services.
• Organise and deliver trainings on value addition, post-harvest handling practices, basic business skills, financial literacy, off-farm enterprise development, income-generation.
• Conduct hands-on demonstrations and follow-up coaching sessions to strengthen IGAs.
• Collaborate with local leaders and district to promote economic empowerment.
• Strengthen community awareness and acceptance of off-farm enterprise activities.
• Support mapping of service providers, buyers, suppliers and training institutions.
• Track group progress and document performance and challenges.
• Maintain up-to-date beneficiary records, training attendance and monitoring tools.
• Submit monthly progress reports, case studies, lessons learned and success stories.
• Ensure reporting aligns with project indicators and donor requirements.

• Ability to work independently in field conditions.
• Strong analytical, coaching and mentoring skills.
• Willingness to proactively assess project progress and take lead in solving issues.
• Commitment to gender equality, inclusion and protection principles.
• Strong teamwork and stakeholder engagement skills.
• Knowledge of Kiswahili, Runyakitara, French or Arabic is an advantage.

• Bachelor’s degree in Agribusiness, Business Administration, Entrepreneurship, Economics or related field.
• Combined with complementary diploma or short course in 1-2 of the following: Business training, Small and Medium Scale Enterprise development, Vocational Skills, VSLA.