Business Facilitator

About the Project

Heifer International, together with Mastercard Foundation, is delivering the SAYE project across 11 districts in Busoga sub-region and 3 districts in Buganda. The initiative is carried out by Heifer alongside CURAD, FSME, FSDU, and ASIGMA Group. Its focus is to remove market-system barriers that limit young people’s transition into work, while also strengthening the systems and structures that help them access meaningful and dignified employment.

The project is designed to reach 250,000 young people aged 16 to 35, with a target mix of 70% women, 30% men, and 3% persons with disabilities. Of those reached, 175,000 are expected to move into dignified work within agribusiness enterprises linked to poultry, horticulture, oilseeds, dairy, and beef value chains.

SAYE is intended to spur local economic growth through agribusiness by equipping youth with practical skills, knowledge, and support to launch and grow viable agribusiness ventures.

Role Summary

The Business Facilitator serves as the project’s primary field-level officer at district level, responsible for guiding everyday planning, execution, coordination, and tracking of SAYE activities. The position delivers hands-on agribusiness facilitation, including mobilization, training, coaching, and connecting participants to resources, markets, and finance. The role also works closely with community structures to involve young people in project activities and offers direct support to individuals and groups while linking them to commercial service providers.

Key Responsibilities

Community and youth mobilization; enterprise development; market linkage support; capacity building; stakeholder coordination; access to finance; and monitoring, learning, and reporting.

Community and Youth Mobilization

• Work with the frontline project team and community mobilisers to run awareness sessions that improve community understanding, participation, mindset shift, and inclusion of women and people with disabilities.
• Identify, mobilize, and register youth individuals or Self-Help Groups working in the targeted value chains.
• Help create and strengthen Self-Help Groups and agri-hubs, using suitable tools and delivering practical business-management training tailored to each group and hub.

Enterprise Development and Support

• Identify workable agribusiness opportunities for young people in both production and non-production areas.
• Support the creation and growth of profitable, sustainable youth-led agri-hubs.
• Assist youth groups in securing productive resources such as land, machinery services, and labour within their local setting.

Market Linkages and Value Chain Integration

• Help establish partnerships with buyers, input suppliers, financial institutions, government agencies, and development actors to strengthen profitable and lasting markets.
• Guide Self-Help Groups and agri-hubs to identify value-addition opportunities and build forward and backward linkages in the chain.

Capacity Building

• Support the training and coaching of frontline teams so project delivery fits the needs of youth and women, including low-literacy-friendly materials, flexible schedules, and strong interpersonal approaches.
• Train Self-Help Groups and agri-hubs on the Values Based Holistic Community Development approach, covering agribusiness, HPI cornerstones, financial literacy, entrepreneurship, climate-smart agriculture, and market access.
• Encourage the use of improved agricultural practices and technologies.

Stakeholder Coordination

• Serve as the district-level focal person for SAYE by building and sustaining strong coordination with district leaders, private-sector actors, and other stakeholders.
• Advance gender inclusion, social inclusion, and safeguarding among participants and stakeholders.
• Represent project leadership in community activities and partner engagements.

Access to Finance

• Support the creation and strengthening of Informal Saving and Lending Associations.
• Connect ISLAs with SACCOs and microfinance institutions to improve access to affordable finance for youth businesses and livelihoods.
• Assist youth in preparing fundable business plans and accessing start-up resources.

Monitoring, Learning, and Reporting

• Provide operational oversight for district frontline teams, including guidance, performance follow-up, and recommendations for renewals or terminations.
• Lead district-level planning, budgeting, and activity implementation while ensuring resources are used efficiently.
• Carry out regular supportive field visits within the district and cluster areas as required.

Requirements

• A bachelor’s degree or an equivalent qualification in Agriculture Economics, Business Administration, Rural Development, Food Security, Microfinance, Enterprise Development, or a closely related discipline.
• At least 3 years of field and technical experience in agribusiness development, preferably across economic growth or trade, value-chain competitiveness, investment promotion, or agricultural development.
• Prior experience working with youth and young women groups, along with knowledge of community-level microfinance and agribusiness development.
• Good understanding of the local environment in the target cluster districts, such as the Busoga sub-region.
• A valid motorcycle riding permit/license is required.

Additional Information

The application deadline is 14 July 2026 at 5:00 PM EAT.

The organization and its partners maintain a zero-tolerance approach to misconduct and place strong emphasis on safeguarding, duty of care, and the safety and well-being of young people involved in the program. Candidates must be aligned with these safeguarding expectations.