SNV is hiring a Project Advisor - School Feeding Program, Arua (Contingent to funding)

SNV is a mission-driven global development partner, rooted in the contexts and societies where we work. Inspired by the transformational principles and objectives set out by the SDGs, we are committed to building resilient agri-food systems that deliver food security and adequate nutrition; to increasing the reliability and availability of water and sanitation at an acceptable quantity and quality; and to improving access to affordable and sustainable energy for all. In doing so, we aim to strengthen institutions, markets and effective governance within and across the agri-food, energy, and water sectors, reducing gender inequalities and barriers to social inclusion, and enabling adaptation and mitigation to the climate and biodiversity crises. We are one team of over 1,600 people, the vast majority of whom come from the contexts where we work, in more than 20 countries in Africa and Asia. In Uganda SNV operates through a decentralised approach with a country office in Kampala and regional offices in Fort Portal, Rukungiri, Jinja and Lira. SNV implements donor-funded activities across more than 100 districts in Uganda, ensuring broad and diverse impact. Our ability to deliver results rests on our robust foundation of experience, knowledge, evidence and learning; our commitment to strengthening capacities and catalysing partnerships; and the relationships and trust of those we work alongside. Our core values of people-centeredness and respect, equity and equality, and diversity and inclusion, are fundamental to who we are, and what we do. This is reflected in our vision and mission, and strategy, which sets out our aspirations and commitments as our compass towards 2030. For more information on our operations in Uganda and SNV visit our website: www.snv.org Project information SNV in partnership with World Food program (WFP) is currently in the process of developing a multi-year school feeding program in selected districts of Uganda to act as a pilot for a national school feeding program in line with the draft National school feeding policy. WFP supports the Government of Uganda in strengthening food systems and improving education and nutrition outcomes through technical assistance and implementation of school feeding programming. Under its Country Strategic Plan 2026-2030 WFP, in partnership with SNV will support the strengthening and operationalisation of the National School Feeding Policy Framework, promote sustainable financing solutions for school feeding and build capacities for the management of quality school feeding programming in schools and across all levels of government. WFP works with national stakeholders to foster connections between supply and demand of nutritious and sustainable foods and harness school feeding as a platform for local food systems transformation and healthy diets. The project will build on existing district and community momentum to support parent-led school feeding. It will generate learning on effective community and parental engagement models to inform the National School Feeding Policy. While the project will not provide meals directly, it will offer technical assistance, strengthen capacity, and support selected infrastructure to help the parent-led model deliver quality meals equitably. It will also strengthen district and school-level capacities and engage communities and parents to continue contributing to school meal delivery. The project will also work with the government to strengthen district, community and parental engagement in school feeding and helps build the systems, skills and capacities to deliver quality, safe, accountable and sustainable school feeding, aligned to Government policies and structures and with a clear transition pathway to national ownership. Job Purpose The Project Advisor - School Feeding Programme will be leading the implementation and providing technical support to district local governments and local service partners in the 2 project districts of Gulu and Koboko to ensure project success. Responsibilities The Project Advisor - School Feeding Programme will advise the PM on overall project planning, in particular the progress and planning of the Local Implementing Partner and monitor this partner. Liaison with District Local Government, other relevant projects in the district and participating schools. Technical support and hands-on support by training, development of manuals and demos. The Project Advisor - School Feeding Program will be leading the implementation of project activities working directly with schools, teachers and parent groups, Districts school feeding committees, Government, Academia and private sector actors involved in policy guidance, community mobilization and awareness, food production, processing and marketing, and action research for program quality implementation. The advisor should also understand that the school feeding program is implemented with various stakeholders from national, district and community level, therefore should be able to manage these partnerships and manage stakeholder expectations by communicating the project approach to all stakeholders. Facilitate annual and Quarterly work Plans. Facilitate implementation of the school feeding program, District and National school feeding committees, and local service partners workplans regarding community mobilization and outreach, joint support supervision and monitoring visits, verification of results surveys, annual national events and overall school feeding policy discussions at National level. Establish supporting school feeding structures. Establish and functional district school feeding committees in all districts where the program is implemented, school food committees as per the national school feeding and nutrition policy guidelines, village food marketing groups and ensuring that school feeding is part of the monitoring key indicators for the district education school inspection team. Collect data for studies. Collect data for baseline study, annual results verification exercise and support study design and data collection for action research. Study market spaces Prioritize identification of general market access bottlenecks and opportunities in for school feeding and matching grants for participating school including facilitating signing of negotiated trade agreements between schools and food suppliers and suppliers of project matching grants for schools. Project reporting Write project reports and provide mentorship and coaching to the local service partners to write good technical reports. Qualifications & Experience Master’s degree in public health, Nutrition, Agriculture, or a related field, with proven experience implementing school feeding programs. A minimum of 5 or more years’ experience in school feeding programs implementation and understanding of Uganda’s school feeding landscape and policy. Experience in working with District local governments and community mobilization approaches of not less than 5 years in related projects/programs. Demonstration of well-developed interpersonal skills, excellent communication skills, both verbal and written. Ability to work effectively with multiple partners including (local leaders, government parish, sub-county, village officials), other NGOs, value chain actors in the communities. Understanding of local community context and dynamics is preferred. Key Competencies Focus on quality: Setting high quality standards and striving for continuous improvement and quality assurance. Controlling progress: The ability to control the progress of employees’ processes, tasks, activities and of one’s own work and responsibilities. Problem analysis: The ability to detect problems, recognise important information and link various data to trace potential causes and look for relevant details. Integrity: Adherence to the standards, values and rules of conduct associated with one’s position and the culture in which one operates. Being incorruptible. Result orientation: The ability to take direct action to attain or exceed objectives.