Role overview
What you'll be stepping into
Cordaid is a value-based international development and emergency relief organisation, based in the Netherlands with operations in over 14 countries including Uganda. We work in and on fragility and support communities in their efforts to improve health care, education, food security, and justice. Cordaid believes in a world without poverty and exclusion. We strive for just and sustainable societies where every person counts. We stand for knowledge and talent sharing between North and South, between farmers and businesses, between activists and policymakers. Where poverty, conflict and exclusion divide societies, we connect people and communities. We stand for professionalism, expertise and solidarity across borders. We aim at maximizing our social impact and contributing to systemic change. We operate where natural disasters strike, where conflicts tear up communities and where lack of opportunities and service delivery keep families in extreme poverty.
Africans & Diaspora
For the - Agricultural Governance Results Improvement Project A-GRIP, with its main office in Fort portal Cordaid is looking for a Deputy Chief of Party (DCOP).
About Result Based Financing (RBF)
Cordaid has been active in Uganda for over 25 years. In Uganda and in 15 other sub-Saharan African countries Cordaid has experience in system strengthening through the Result Based Financing (RBF) approach. In Uganda we are implementing an RBF project, Agricultural Governance Results Improvement Project (A-GRIP) since November 2023.The project has a lifespan of 5 years and a multimillion Euro budget.
Purpose of Position:
The Deputy Chief of Party is responsible for leading the day-to-day management, coordination and operational delivery of A-GRIP. The DCOP ensures that approved strategies, workplans, budgets, technical priorities and performance targets are translated into coherent implementation across districts, technical components, partners and operational functions.
The DCOP works under the strategic direction of the Chief of Party (CoP). The CoP retains overall accountability for strategic leadership, donor and government representation, external positioning and programme results, while the DCOP serves as the principal internal delivery lead responsible for execution, coordination, follow-up and performance management across the programme.
Management
The DCOP plays a central role in ensuring that A-GRIP’s systems-strengthening mandate is delivered in practice and that programme implementation remains aligned with the wider EKN-funded ecosystem, including coordination with partner projects that are more directly farmer-facing.
Key Duties & Responsibilities
Day-to-Day Programme Management and Operational Delivery
Lead the day-to-day management and coordination of A-GRIP implementation across all programme components with a strong focus on the land tenure component, districts and operational functions.
Translate strategic direction from the CoP into practical implementation plans, clear team priorities, realistic timelines and accountable delivery processes.
Coordinate the execution of approved annual and periodic workplans, ensuring activities are delivered on time, within scope and in line with agreed budgets and donor commitments.
Ensure that technical, operational, financial and MEL/data functions work together effectively to support integrated programme delivery.
Monitor implementation progress across districts and components, identify bottlenecks early, and ensure timely follow-up with responsible team members.
Ensure that programme delivery strengthens public systems and services in ways that support A-GRIP’s enabling-environment role for smallholder farmers within the wider EKN portfolio.
Oversee operational coordination with district local governments, sub-county structures, implementing partners and field teams to ensure timely and coherent delivery.
Ensure that district-level engagement is well planned, coordinated and aligned with programme objectives, workplans and technical standards.
Support technical teams in strengthening working relationships with district structures, including DPM, ENR and CAO functions, while escalating strategic or politically sensitive issues to the CoP.
Ensure that implementation arrangements with partners and local government counterparts are clear, practical and performance-oriented.
Monitor partner and field-level delivery, ensuring that challenges are identified, documented and addressed in a timely manner.
Risk Management, Compliance and Resource Use
Support the CoP in ensuring that programme implementation complies with donor requirements, grant agreements, Cordaid policies and applicable procedures.
Work with finance and operations teams to ensure that activity planning, procurement, logistics and budget utilisation are aligned and support timely implementation.
Identify operational, delivery, coordination and compliance risks, and ensure appropriate mitigation actions are agreed and followed up.
Escalate strategic, reputational, donor-related or high-risk issues to the CoP in a timely manner.
Promote transparent, accountable and efficient use of programme resources across teams, partners and field operations.
Team Management and Capacity Strengthening
Provide day-to-day management, coaching and coordination support to assigned staff and functional teams.
Strengthen planning, delivery and accountability practices across the programme team.
Support performance management processes by clarifying expectations, reviewing progress and identifying capacity development needs.
Foster a collaborative, respectful and results-oriented team culture, ensuring that staff understand how their work contributes to A-GRIP outcomes.
Support knowledge transfer and capability development to strengthen programme sustainability and continuity.
Integrity
Showcases integrity standards as outlined in Cordaid's integrity policies. Fulfils integrity responsibilities as outlined in Cordaid's Integrity Framework and Standard Operating Procedures.
Actively contributes to a safe environment within their scope of influence by encouraging dialogue, trust, as well as understanding and adherence to Cordaid's integrity standards and procedures.
How to apply