Job Title: Agricultural Mechanisation & Technical Specialist
Location: Kabarole District (with extensive field travel)
Reports to: Portfolio Coordinator Agricultural Food Systems

Application Deadline: 8th March 2026

Programme Background

The Agrifood System Transformation for Youth Employment (ASTYE) Uganda program

ASTYE is a 5-year transformative initiative designed to enable dignified and fulfilling work opportunities primarily for financially disadvantaged young women, refugees, and vulnerable groups by addressing structural barriers in Uganda’s Agrifood system. Aligned with Uganda’s Vision 2040, the National Development Plan and Government of Uganda Agriculture Value Chain Development Strategy, the program will contribute to national efforts toward poverty alleviation, economic growth, as well food and nutrition security. Additionally, ASTYE is part of the Mastercard Foundation’s Young Africa Works strategy in Uganda, which aims to empower 4.3 million young Ugandans, particularly young women, by addressing structural barriers to employment and providing them with the skills and resources to succeed.

Specifically, GOAL will implement component one to reach 500,000 financially disadvantaged young people, with 456,000 transiting into work and 336,000 securing dignified and fulfilling work. As the program is young women-centric, 80% of the total outreach target will be young women within Uganda’s agrifood ecosystem. Furthermore, 5% of the total youth in work target will be refugees, and another 5% will be people with disabilities.

Job summary

The Agricultural Mechanisation and Technical Specialist will lead the promotion, deployment, and capacity building around labor-saving, gender-responsive agricultural technologies, mechanization services, irrigation systems, post-harvest equipment, and digital advisory tools to enhance productivity, climate resilience, and decent work opportunities for young women under the ASTYE Programme.

To be successful in this role, you will need:

Essential

• Post Graduate Diploma in Agriculture & Rural innovations, Agri-business, Agricultural Extension & Rural Innovation.
• At least 5 years’ experience in Agricultural mechanization, irrigation systems, PHH technologies, or rural service delivery.
• Knowledge of climate-smart technologies and digital agriculture tools.

Desirable

• Experience working with women-focused and youth employment programs is a strong advantage.
• Practical experience in training farmers and service providers on equipment use and maintenance.
• Strong coordination and field facilitation skills.

The key responsibilities of the role will be:

Promotion of Labor-Saving and Gender-Responsive Technologies

• Support identification, due diligence, and partnership development with on-farm and off-farm technology and equipment suppliers.
• Co-design inclusive business models with private sector partners to expand access to labor-saving technologies for young women.
• Coordinate establishment of on-farm and community-level demonstrations for mechanization and equipment.
• Support distribution of subsidized labor-saving technologies to vulnerable young women.

Capacity Building and Technical Training

• Work with private sector actors to train young women, Private Service Providers (PSPs), and village agents on technology utilization, routine maintenance, and basic repairs.
• Support the Private Sector Actors (PSAs) on development of training materials on mechanization, equipment safety, and agrochemical handling.

Irrigation, Climate Resilience, and Water Management

• Support design and implementation of micro-irrigation subsidy schemes for young women farmers.
• Coordinate partnerships with irrigation suppliers and support uptake of efficient irrigation technologies.
• Train young women groups on water use efficiency and climate-resilient production systems.

Post-Harvest Handling and Storage Technologies

• Support partnerships with post-harvest handling (PHH) and storage solution providers.
• Coordinate training and demonstrations on hermetic storage, drying technologies, and on-farm storage solutions.
• Support last-mile distribution of post-harvest handling (PHH) technologies through agent networks.

Digital and ICT-Enabled Advisory Services

• Work with the onboarded PSA on technology to support integration of tools for weather information, market prices, and advisory services.
• Coordinate training of young women and agents on interpretation and use of weather and early warning information.
• Support strengthening of community-based early warning systems in collaboration with public and private actors.

Technical Oversight and Quality Assurance

• Provide technical backstopping to PSA partners, youth agents, and service providers.
• Conduct regular monitoring visits to ensure quality installation, use, and maintenance of technologies.
• Support documentation of technical performance, lessons learned, and innovations.

Documentation, Monitoring and Reporting

• Develop and implement simple tools for tracking technology distribution, utilization, and performance.
• Maintain accurate records of participants, partners, demonstrations, and training activities.
• Conduct regular field monitoring visits and prepare clear monitoring reports.
• Document success stories, case studies, lessons learned, and innovations.
• Contribute to monthly, quarterly, and annual technical reports.
• Support data collection for program performance indicators and impact measurement.
• Ensure compliance with donor and organizational reporting requirements.

Sector Strategy Development and Technical Planning

• Contribute to development and periodic review of the agricultural mechanization and technology strategy for the ASTYE Programme.
• Identify emerging sector trends, innovations, and market opportunities in mechanization, irrigation, PHH, and digital agriculture.
• Provide technical input into annual work plans, budgets, and operational plans.
• Support development of partnerships and engagement strategies with private sector, government, and financial institutions.
• Advise management on policy and regulatory issues affecting agricultural mechanization and youth employment.

 Supervision and Team Leadership

• Provide technical guidance and day-to-day supervision to Program Officers and field staff.
• Support Program Officers in planning, implementation, and reporting of activities.
  Conduct regular performance check-ins and mentorship sessions.
• Review field reports and provide feedback to ensure quality and accuracy.
• Build capacity of team members on mechanization, irrigation, PHH technologies, and monitoring systems.
• Promote teamwork, accountability, and adherence to program standards and timelines.

General Terms and Conditions

At GOAL we welcome people of all abilities and want to ensure that our hiring and interview process meets the needs of all applicants. If you require a reasonable accommodation to make your application or interview experience a great one, please just contact our Recruitment Team at recruitment@ug.goal.ie

GOAL Commitment to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion:
GOAL is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to building an inclusive environment for all employees. We foster an inclusive culture where all voices are heard and valued. We know that the more inclusive we are, the better our work will be.

All employees share in the responsibility for fulfilling GOAL’s commitment to equal employment opportunity and equal treatment. GOAL does not discriminate against any employee on the basis of sex, race, colour, ethnic background, tribe, birth, creed or religion or social or economic standing, political opinion, disability.

Code of Conduct and Accountability within GOAL

GOAL is an equal opportunities employer and has values and behaviours framework which defines our code of conduct. Any candidate offered a job with GOAL will be expected to adhere to the following key areas of accountability.

• Comply with GOAL’s policies and procedures with respect to safeguarding, Code of Conduct, health and safety, data protection and confidentiality, do no harm principles and unacceptable behaviour protocols.
• Report any concerns about the welfare of a child or vulnerable adult or any wrongdoings within our programming area.
• Report any concerns about inappropriate behaviour of a GOAL staff or partner.

Safeguarding

Children and vulnerable adults a must be safeguarded to the maximum extent from deliberate or inadvertent actions and failings that place them at risk of abuse, sexual exploitation, injury, and any other harm. One of the ways that GOAL shows this on-going commitment to safeguarding is to include rigorous background and reference checks in the selection process for all candidates.

GOAL 

Established in 1977, GOAL is an international humanitarian agency and works with the most vulnerable communities to help them respond to and overcome humanitarian crises, and to assist those facing poverty and exclusion achieve greater resilience and well-being. GOAL envisions a world beyond humanitarian crises where poverty no longer exists, where vulnerable communities exposed to shocks and stresses are resilient, where barriers to well-being are removed and where everyone has equal rights and opportunities.

General Description of the Country Programme 

First operational in Uganda in 1979, the current GOAL Uganda country programme focuses on Health, (including WASH, Health Accountability and Nutrition); and a market-based systems approach to improving agricultural livelihoods and WASH. GOAL Uganda mainstreams gender, child protection, social behavior changes and resilience strategies across all programming. GOAL uses a mixture of direct implementation and partnerships with national and international civil society organizations, local government, the private sector and communities to give effect to our mission.

GOAL Uganda has a skilled team of over 110 personnel and has a head office in Kampala and field offices in 7 locations across Northern, Southwestern and Eastern regions of Uganda.  GOAL Uganda’s donors include the Mastercard Foundation, charity: water, Irish Aid, The Kingdom of Netherland Embassy in Uganda (EKN) and other private donors.

Interested applicants who meet the requirements should apply through the link with at least 3 reference contacts (current or former Line Manager) from the last three employers and daytime contact number by 8th March 2026.