Project Officer, Livelihoods (Temporary cover)

Position: Project Officer, Livelihoods (Temporary Cover) 

Reports to: Project Manager, DRIVE

Job location:  Rhino Camp

Starting date: September 2026

Vacancy closing date: 24th August 2026

Duration position: 3 months contract

Working hours: Fulltime (40 hours per week) 

About ZOA

We are here for people who have lost everything due to armed conflict or natural disaster.

ZOA, as an international NGO, supports people who have lost everything due to armed conflict or natural disaster. Together, we can come to their aid in emergencies and remain faithful to communities as they recover – providing new opportunities for them to help themselves again. The work of ZOA is coordinated from the Netherlands. We are active in multiple countries in Africa, South America, the Middle East Region, and Asia. We work with approximately 900 employees worldwide and with (local) partners. We invite you to join our team of committed colleagues.

Our work in Uganda

In Uganda, ZOA has offices in Kampala, West Nile (Arua), Acholi (Gulu), and Karamoja (Amudat). ZOA Uganda works both in relief and recovery on the themes of food security & livelihoods, education, and conflict management with a special focus on land Rights.

About the DRIVE Project

The DRIVE project’s overall objective is to achieve a resilient local food system in West Nile region by enhancing productivity and production by smallholder farmers including women and youth, using climate smart agroecological practices and sustainable land/water management practices and increasing the participation of smallholder farmers including women and youth in profitable local and regional markets. The project runs for 36 months. There is one local implementing partner and one technical partner on the project.

ZOA Uganda is looking for a Project Officer to be based in Rhino Camp Office.

Your challenge

The Project officer - DRIVE with support from the Project Manager, and working alongside other Project Officers, is responsible for day to day planning and implementation of the ZOA activities under the DRIVE project, in  Terego and Madi Okollo districts, West Nile. The Project Assistant will mobilize and train farmers in the Participatory Integrated Plan (PIP) approach, support and supervise the scale up of PIP to other farmers through farmer to farmer training, and support farmers’ linkages to viable markets.

The Project Officer will also work closely alongside other ZOA livelihoods project teams, to ensure coordinated and integrated support to project participants.

Your main tasks and responsibilities

Project planning and implementation

• Implement project activities in relation to the project document to achieve optimal project outputs and outcomes in line with ZOA/donor procedures and targets;   
• Facilitate and participate in capacity building events / trainings on PIP methodology, technical trainings, facilitation skills, ICT based extension programmes and other relevant trainings;
• Supports the step by step creation and implementation of PIPs by farmers and their families, in the community and beyond;
• Supervises and oversees high quality experimental plots or Integrated Plot Plans (IPPs) that serve as learning sites and demonstration plots for PIP farmers and the whole village;
• Facilitate documentation and learning among PIP farmers from experimental plots;
• Facilitate the formation of farmers groups, institutional capacity building and market linkages;
• Regularly provide technical backstopping (via phone and in person) to run the PIP (plots) and facilitate market linkages;
• Any other duty as assigned by the supervisor in line with the project.

Reporting and Knowledge Management, MEAL

• Provide inputs to implementation plans and activity/monthly reports;
• Identify, document lessons learned and best practices;
• Prepare and submit well written success stories;
• Contribute to project reports or implementation plans as required by supervisor;
• Collect monitoring data according to ZOA’s systems and activities in the project

Reporting and Knowledge Management, MEAL

• Provide inputs to implementation plans and activity/monthly reports;
• Identify, document lessons learned and best practices;
• Prepare and submit well written success stories;
• Contribute to project reports or implementation plans as required by supervisor;
• Collect monitoring data according to ZOA’s systems and activities in the project;

Representation and coordination

• Actively participate in the required and relevant technical working groups and coordination meetings conducted at sub county and parish level;
• Work closely with local government actors at Sub County and village level
• Work closely with PALM Corps staff (the partner) to implement the project

Accountability

• Sensitize all stakeholders (beneficiaries, service providers, partners, government and other) on feedback and complaint mechanisms implemented by ZOA Uganda;
• Upon receipt of a complaint or feedback, ensure that it is correctly documented following correct reporting procedures;
• Work closely with MEAL team to ensure regular analysis of feedback and complaints registered to inform the program of changes in operational trends and context to help in improving the intervention and adaptive management.

Your profile

Identity

• The candidate is expected to fully support the vision, mission and Christian values 0f ZOA (see https://www.zoa-international.com/corporate-identity)

Knowledge & Experience:

• Degree in Agricultural Sciences or related fields; 
• Specialized training as a ToT in Participatory Integrated Plan (PIP) Or Farmers Field School (FFS) methodology is a plus.
• Must have 2 years successful experience in implementing the PIP approach in a humanitarian setting.
• Working experience in a humanitarian setting is an added advantage;
• group;
• Understanding of the local context, culture, and language(s);
• Excellent spoken and written command of English.

Skills:

• Good facilitation skills, e.g. working with illiterate farmers
• Good communication and accurate writing skills;
• Innovative, creative and enthusiastic;
• Good computer skills: Ms Excel and Ms Word;
• Self-motivator, able to work with limited supervision;
• Ability to drive a motorcycle with valid driving/riding license class “A’’. This will be checked with a practical test during the interview process
• Language skills in relevant local languages of the regions where implementation will take place is a plus.

Attitude:

• High level of personal integrity
• Flexibility and adaptability
• Interpersonal and cross-cultural sensitivity
• Able to work under pressure and meet deadlines
• Motivated to work independently / self-managing
• Commitment to ZOA’s mission, vision and values (see https://www.zoa-international.com/corporate-identity/)

Special conditions/circumstances

The Project officer will be based at the ZOA office in Rhino Camp refugee settlement (Yoroo Base Camp) with regular travel to communities Terego and Madi Okollo to work with PIs or other farmers.

The Project Officer will need to ride a motorcycle daily in rural conditions/on unmade roads.

The role is 1.0 FTE (40 hrs/ week). Working hours are outlined in the ZOA Uganda Employee Handbook. Some flexibility on working hours may be required, e.g. for travel at weekends, or during reporting times.

The role is recruited at Grade 3 in the ZOA Uganda salary scale.

Our offer

• ZOA offers a challenging role in a dynamic context, and you will be part of an inspiring and motivated team.
• We offer good benefits and remuneration which suits the NGO sector.

Do you need more information?

For more information about ZOA, please visit our website www.zoa-international.com.

Interested and ready to apply?

All interested and qualified candidates please apply directly via the link, at the latest by 24th August 2026

CV’s of no more than 5 pages in length are appreciated. Please provide at least 3 references related to your previous employment listed in the application. References of previous positions held should not be older than five years.

Only selected candidates will be contacted and invited to participate in the process of Interviews. 

ZOA operates with an equal opportunities policy and is committed to diversity in the workplace.
Qualified women and men, people of all nationalities, and cultural backgrounds, and candidates with disabilities, women, Refugees are encouraged to apply.

Please note that, as part of its recruitment process, ZOA carries out background and reference checks (Including COTER - Counter Terrorism Check) for all candidates. As ZOA participates in the Inter-Agency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme, all reference checks include a written questionnaire, the ‘Statement of Conduct’, which will be sent to past employers regarding misconduct (such as sexual exploitation, abuse or harassment).

Please note that ZOA does not solicit for funds during any recruitment process. To report any unethical conduct, please use; report.uganda@zoa.ngo or report@zoa.ngo or Call: 080-020-0121 Tollfree.