Chief Program Officer at aBi Development

Location: Kampala, Uganda

Application Deadline: 6th October 2025

Key Requirement: Master’s degree in Agribusiness, Economics, or related field with 10-15 years of experience in agribusiness development.

About aBi Development

aBi Development Ltd focuses on increasing agricultural production & value addition by extending matching grants & Business Development Services (BDS) to agribusinesses, farmer organisations & intermediaries to enhance planning & management, production & business infrastructure, as well as upstream & downstream market linkages of producers & agribusinesses.

Job Summary

The Chief Program Officer (CPO) provides strategic leadership for aBiD’s programme portfolio, ensuring the design and execution of high-impact, market-driven interventions that support inclusive and sustainable agribusiness growth in Uganda. As a member of the Executive Team, the CPO plays a key role in shaping strategy, mobilizing resources, and fostering strategic partnerships to enhance aBiD’s role as a leader in sustainable agribusiness development. By embedding innovation and adaptive learning into programme design, the CPO ensures that aBiD remains at the forefront of market-led solutions that improve competitiveness, inclusivity, and climate resilience in the sector.

The CPO enhances organizational effectiveness by ensuring a well-balanced portfolio that aligns with aBiD’s strategic priorities, attracts investment, and delivers measurable impact. The role provides leadership to ensure strong execution, financial oversight, and risk management while building an agile, high-performing team. Through thought leadership and external engagement, the CPO strengthens aBiD’s influence, positioning the organization as a key driver of agribusiness growth in Uganda.

Key Duties and Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership and Portfolio Development

Act as a recognized thought leader in agribusiness and market systems development, shaping overall program portfolio, industry narratives, influencing policy, and driving inclusive, climate-resilient transformation in Uganda’s agricultural sector. Promote sustainability and green growth in alignment with national priorities and global development goals.

Action Steps

• Lead the team in keeping abreast of developments in agribusiness and market systems development; liaise with the CEO and Head of RMRD to develop structured research and learning agenda.
• Ensure comprehensive analysis is carried out (e.g. sectors, value chains, stakeholders, impact); develop a profound understanding of the ecosystems that aBiD is seeking to develop, including supply, demand, and the enabling environment.
• Deploy technical specialists, expert consultants, and other internal colleagues to conduct deep investigations of opportunities; lead programme teams to develop theories of change, logical results chains, and learning frameworks.
• Support the CEO in managing the development of strategic plans, annual business plans, and investment pipelines; proactively support the Board Investment Committee.
• Oversee the integration and management of blended and innovative finance, and impact investment initiatives across the portfolio, ensuring initiatives deliver measurable and sustainable impacts that catalyze sustainable agribusinesses and resilient food systems.
• Sustainability and Ecosystems Transformation: working with the Sustainability Specialist oversee the portfolio to ensure integration of ESG factors across the portfolio, monitoring and reporting on key climate aspects and sustainability KPIs, ethical and socially responsible conduct, and adoption of good governance among private sector partners.
• Ensure rigorous Monitoring, Evaluation and Reporting frameworks are in place.

Program & Portfolio Oversight

As a member of the Executive Team, contribute to aBiD’s overarching strategy and lead the development of a dynamic, high-impact programme portfolio that catalyzes sustainable agribusiness growth and investment in Uganda

Action Steps

• Constitute technical teams and lead them to build on the insights gained from research and learning to develop investment concepts; encourage the teams to develop innovative yet evidence-based interventions with new tools and approaches being trialed regularly.
• Work together with the Management and Board Investment Committees to approve a balanced portfolio of projects that will deliver against aBiD’s strategy; support the team in submitting proposals that meet investment committee quality standards.
• Work with Portfolio Managers to develop partner selection criteria and procedures, including strategies for attracting and selecting partners with the greatest potential for adding value to the sector and driving achievement of aBiD’s goals.
• Lead initiatives to assure programme quality; oversee the documentation and dissemination of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), tools, trainings, and other knowledge resources
• Oversee the development of detailed implementation plans, budgets, and cash¬flow forecasts to achieve fund utilization targets, ensure project success, and address capacity gaps of partners.

Qualifications, Skills and Experience

• Master’s degree in Agribusiness, Economics, Development Finance, Business Administration, or a related field.
• Additional professional qualifications in investment, market systems development, or project management are an advantage.
• At least 10-15 years of progressive experience in agribusiness development, market systems, or impact investment, with a strong track record in portfolio leadership.
• Proven experience in designing and managing large-scale, high-impact Programmes in economic development or financial inclusion.
• Significant experience in mobilizing and managing funding from development partners, impact investors, and blended finance structures.
• Strong background in leading multi-stakeholder engagements, influencing policy, and building strategic partnerships at national and international levels.
• Demonstrated success in organizational leadership, team development, and performance management within complex programme environments.

How to Apply

To apply, please send your resume and cover letter to exechire@truenorthafrica.com with subject line Chief Program Officer before 6th October 2025.

All applications shall be acknowledged as received but only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

All applicants should share their CV’s and Cover Letters in PDF or MS Word STRICTLY

Contact & Deadline

Deadline: 6th October 2025

For any inquiries on this career opportunity and the application process please e-mail ashaba@truenorthafrica.com

Brown Alex Friday, 3 October 2025 Agriculture Jobs