Assistant Project Officer

Job Details

• Location: Uganda
• Duty Station: Kampala
• Employment Type: Contract (one-year renewable, with three months' probation)
• Industry: Nonprofit / NGO
• Salary: Not Disclosed
• Application Deadline: 2026-08-16
• Reporting To: Project Officer

The Assistant Project Officer (APO) is responsible for sensitizing, recruiting, contracting, and developing the capacity of smallholder farmers for the Lake Victoria Agroforestry Carbon Project in Uganda. The APO works in accordance with TREES' Forest Garden Approach to ensure quality and effective project implementation. In Uganda, TREES is transforming landscapes and livelihoods across the Lake Victoria Watershed in the Eastern Region, collaborating with more than 7,000 farmers to implement the Forest Garden Approach.

Key Duties and Responsibilities

• Undertake scouting and documentation of potential project areas for expansion, mobilize and recruit farmers for the Lake Victoria Watershed Agroforestry Carbon Project.
• Support stakeholder and farmer dialogue and consultative meetings with project farmers and organize farmers into groups.
• Provide relevant training and skills development to farmers on the Forest Garden Approach agroforestry model and as per TREES' training framework.
• Provide Forest Garden extension services, field visits, and coordinate the establishment of Forest Gardens.
• Undertake monthly data collection, participate in regular Field Area Measurements and Monitoring & Evaluation (M&E) activities to collect project data.
• Update and maintain farmer records through TREES Taroworks data collection app.
• Support and organize monthly Lead Farmer meetings and advise farmers on the best Forest Garden farming practices.
• Sensitize farmers on farmer carbon contract requirements, administer farmer contracts, monitor and report on farmer carbon contract administration.
• Collaborate with the Project Officers to inform project reports and plans for all participating Farmer Groups that account for all Project activities, material acquisition and distribution, training events, monitoring & evaluation.
• Ensure timely data collection and report submission, including the Monthly Reporting Form (MRF) to the Project Officer on all project activities.
• Assist with the development and/or translation of locally appropriate training materials.
• Provide information and accomplish additional tasks in a timely manner as requested by the Project Officer, Program Manager, or the Director of Field Programs.

Qualifications, Skills and Requirements

• Bachelor's Degree or Diploma in a relevant field (e.g., Agriculture, Agroforestry, Environmental Science, Agribusiness, Forestry, or related disciplines).
• Minimum one (1) year experience in agroforestry, climate-smart, and sustainable agriculture (preferred). Background in participatory training and facilitation.
• Proficiency in smartphone-based applications for accurate and efficient field data collection.
• Valid motorcycle license with off-road and on-road riding experience with a proven safe riding history.
• Fluency in English (spoken and written), proficiency in local languages (preferred - Luganda, Lusoga, and Lumasaba).
• Strong alignment with organizational values and a positive culture.
• Enthusiastic advocate for TREES' mission; passionate about improving livelihoods through agroforestry.
• Enjoys working directly with farmers and technicians, conducting site visits, troubleshooting issues on the ground, and demonstrating technical skills.
• Comfortable spending significant time in rural settings and prioritizes farmer needs and support.
• Experience in adult education, participatory training methods, and community engagement; able to break down complex concepts into practical, actionable steps.
• Experience collecting, verifying, and managing data for Monitoring, Evaluation & Learning (MEL).
• Clear and professional communicator in both verbal and written formats; experience in report writing.
• Consistent in delivering results even in dynamic environments.