Project Officer – Livelihoods, Value Addition, Digital & Financial Inclusion job at Finnish Refugee Council (FRC)

Background information about the job or company (e.g., role context, company overview)

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;

Responsibilities or duties

The Project Officer supports the day-to-day implementation of project activities (agri-enterprise development, post-harvest handling, VSLA digitalization and financial inclusion services) at the field level. S/he coordinates field plans, supervises community-based team members, ensures activities are delivered on schedule, and maintains strong communication between teams, community structures and the project team. The role is practical, field-driven and operational.

Key Tasks and Responsibilities:

Activity Planning and Field Coordination – 30%

• Support the development of project workplans and activity schedules. Lead the development of weekly and monthly field activity plans.
• Coordinate field logistics, community mobilisation, and preparation for trainings and events.
• Coordinate and sequence interventions across value addition, digitalisation, enterprise development, and financial inclusion components.

Technical Oversight – 20%

• Provide basic advice on digital and financial inclusion, value addition and VSLA management.
• Ensure quality and consistency of after farm value addition activities, digital and financial inclusion and training approaches.

Staff Supervision and Field Support – 15%

• Directly supervise and mentor 2-4 staff and provide day-to-day support.
• Ensure team members understand their schedules, deliverables, and reporting timelines.
• Organise routine team meetings to review progress and troubleshoot issues.

Community and Stakeholder Engagement – 15%

• Participate in meetings with settlement authorities, district officials and community leaders.
• Assist in coordination with district, OPM, UNHCR, WFP, private sector, other actors.
• Coordinate community mobilisation together with assistants and local leaders.
• Support the development of market linkages, financial service provider collaborations.

Monitoring, Reporting and Data Management – 10%

• Ensure accurate, timely data collection: training records, databases, activity outputs.
• Work with MEAL staff to conduct assessments and periodic monitoring.

Administration, Compliance and Safeguarding – 10%

• Manage small activity budgets / field advances, accountabilities and procurement requests.
• Coordinate materials, transport and training supplies needed by the field team.
• Ensure that field staff follow safeguarding, PSEA and data protection procedures.
• Report any concerns related to community safety, fraud, or misconduct.

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

Education and Qualifications:

• Primary: Bachelor’s degree in Agribusiness, Agriculture, Rural Development, Business Administration, Economics or related field.
• Combined with a short course in 1-2 of the following: Post Harvest value addition, Business training, Financial Inclusion, Small and Medium Scale Enterprise dev., VSLA digitalization.

Experience needed

Experience:

• Minimum 2-year hands-on-experience in livelihood sector and leading a small field team.
• Understanding of agricultural value chains and development, post-harvest management, small enterprise development and digitalization of VSLAs.

Essential Skills and Attributes:

• Practical problem-solving and initiative skills.
• Ability to work independently under minimal supervision.
• Commitment to gender equality, inclusion, safeguarding.
• Knowledge of Kiswahili, Runyakitara, French or Arabic is an advantage.

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

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

Level Junior, field level. Reporting to Project Manager / FRC and Team Leader / HFU

Location 1 position at FRC Field Office, Nakivale Refugee Settlement, Isingiro District

1 position at FRC Field Office, Kyangwali Refugee Settlement, Kikuube District

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.

• Support the development of project workplans and activity schedules. Lead the development of weekly and monthly field activity plans.
• Coordinate field logistics, community mobilisation, and preparation for trainings and events.
• Coordinate and sequence interventions across value addition, digitalisation, enterprise development, and financial inclusion components.
• Provide basic advice on digital and financial inclusion, value addition and VSLA management.
• Ensure quality and consistency of after farm value addition activities, digital and financial inclusion and training approaches.
• Directly supervise and mentor 2-4 staff and provide day-to-day support.
• Ensure team members understand their schedules, deliverables, and reporting timelines.
• Organise routine team meetings to review progress and troubleshoot issues.
• Participate in meetings with settlement authorities, district officials and community leaders.
• Assist in coordination with district, OPM, UNHCR, WFP, private sector, other actors.
• Coordinate community mobilisation together with assistants and local leaders.
• Support the development of market linkages, financial service provider collaborations.
• Ensure accurate, timely data collection: training records, databases, activity outputs.
• Work with MEAL staff to conduct assessments and periodic monitoring.
• Manage small activity budgets / field advances, accountabilities and procurement requests.
• Coordinate materials, transport and training supplies needed by the field team.
• Ensure that field staff follow safeguarding, PSEA and data protection procedures.
• Report any concerns related to community safety, fraud, or misconduct.

• Practical problem-solving and initiative skills.
• Ability to work independently under minimal supervision.
• Commitment to gender equality, inclusion, safeguarding.
• Knowledge of Kiswahili, Runyakitara, French or Arabic is an advantage.

• Bachelor’s degree in Agribusiness, Agriculture, Rural Development, Business Administration, Economics or related field.
• Combined with a short course in 1-2 of the following: Post Harvest value addition, Business training, Financial Inclusion, Small and Medium Scale Enterprise dev., VSLA digitalization.