Atifu Kilaga
Development Expert
Kampala
Summary
Experienced development professional with a robust background in partnerships development, team management, program and budget management, and economic development projects. Adept at working in diverse environments, including urban, peri-urban, and conflict zones, with a proven track record of nurturing and growing organizations. Proficient in Making Markets Work for the Poor (M4P), Local Economic Development (LED), and Value Chain Analysis methodologies. A very analytical person, data driven, appreciates the idea of collaboration and the superpower of business ecosystems. Agile and uncompromised matured christian who strives to end poverty. Passionate about working with people and continuously learning from others.
Overview
14
14
years of professional experience
Work History
Uganda Partnerships Manager
Partners Worldwide
12.2014 - Current
- Working closely with the PW Uganda board in identifying key country focus areas and formulating those in a country strategy
- I am also the key driver in implementing the said strategy by providing regular reporting, monitoring and evaluation of the plans to the board and the supervisor
- Support the Africa Region Director in developing overarching strategies for Uganda partnerships and provide administrative and project support for these strategies in addition to supporting grant research and reporting, as appropriate
- Also involved in on-boarding new local partners
- Intuitively review and submit monthly financial reports to East Africa Region office in addition to program narratives, and Quarterly metrics reports
- Highly involved in coordinating and planning national and regional networking forums.
Urban Development Manager
Mercy Corps Uganda
02.2014 - 11.2014
- Used market systems approach to innovatively develop and implement systemic solutions
- Activities rotate around strategy development and the daily implementation and monitoring of long-term development programming through support to key businesses, local government and civil society partners working in urban and peri-urban areas across Northern Karamoja
- Implemented projects in the direction of water access, energy and other ecofriendly technologies, sanitation, construction and urban governance.
Economic Development Manager
Mercy Corps Uganda
08.2013 - 01.2014
- Primary focus was to design, implement and support facilitation projects that make beneficial products and services accessible to households within the geographic focus of the program
- The projects worked almost exclusively through private sector actors, seeking to crowd in provision rather than displace or replicate private actors with donor-funded services
- Facilitation projects included, but not limited to, increasing tillage services, developing Agroinput agents and aggregator networks, commercializing access to fuel efficient stoves, increasing availability of solar products and improved accessibility to low-cost water self-supply technologies
- Also supported the team to conduct assessments, develop access to financial services and Micro business advisory services particularly targeting communities within the Acholi and Karamoja Regions.
Economic Development Team Leader
Mercy Corps Uganda
03.2012 - 07.2013
- Designed and analyzed all aspects of the existing and upcoming projects, supervised economic developments officers, supported and actively got involved in the designing of the monitoring and assessment tools, conducted rigorous market analysis and performed market projection modeling to inform the development of a compelling business case that were used to guide suppliers’ engagement in Agro inputs, Renewable Energy and Low Cost Water Technologies
- Mapped/ profiled private business actors in markets of the project’s interest, built and managed Public Private Partnerships in addition to identifying funding opportunities and writing funding proposals
- Also managed financial aspect, communicated with external stakeholders (national and international), designed training materials, project implementation strategies and deeply got involved with private business actors to develop tailored models (product development, distribution models)
- All the projects under my mandate were intended to promote economic development through crowding in service providers of basic goods and services in addition to stimulating a private sector local led economy
- Used the following approaches to analyze and execute the projects: Making Markets Work better For the Poor (M4P), Local Economic Developed Strategy (LED), Value Chain Analysis and Participatory Action for Competitive Advantage approaches.
Assistant Program Manager-Food Security and Livelihoods
ACF Uganda
01.2011 - 03.2012
- Directly worked closely with GBV partner (CRESO) to oversee the implementation activities of the partner
- Ensured that team leaders (3) and field assistants (12) were properly trained and prepared for all relevant aspects of the program implementation, updated the training materials ACF developed during LEARN 1 & 2, Developed additional materials to train the participants in general business skills, agronomic practices, livestock management, value addition, marketing and other identified skills
- Helped in rolling out VSLA methodologies to 68 women groups
- In collaboration with the team leaders and field officers, facilitated household action plan process and gender sensitization seminars
- Together with the M&E Officer, compiled monitoring data from team leaders and field assistants and summarized it according to established formats
- Also prepared detailed work plans and monitored their implementations, made recommendations for improving the on the projects according to the outcome of the analyzed data
- Conducted performance appraisals of team leaders and field assistants, identified household production challenges and potential solutions appropriate to program, always liaised with FSL program manager to ensure that program indicators, monitoring formats, data bases, data analysis, and reporting are maintained and harmonized.
Economic Development Officer
Mercy Corps Uganda
01.2010 - 01.2011
- Designed, evaluated, implemented and assessed programs concerning economic development in Kotido, Abim, Kaabong, Moroto, Nakapiripirit and Pader districts
- Worked in liaison with the, Donors, Planning units, Monitoring and Evaluation Departments, district officials, local community and other stake holders who were influential
- Used Local Economic Development (LED) strategy which made us have sustainable interventions in addition to Value Chain Approach
- Worked alongside peace projects which paved away for economic development
- Achievements: Championed the Loan Guarantee Scheme where 20 farmers were helped to acquire loans from Stanbic Bank
- Assisted farmers to acquire tractors on loan
- Worked on a Tractor hire service scheme
- Offered technical and management support to construction of over 10 micro dams using cash for work basis
- Designed and regularly revised the business skills training manual
- This was used to train Community Animal Health Workers (CAHWs) in the region and all Agro processors, bee keepers and input stockiest.
Loans Officer
STEP Uganda
01.2009
- Dealing with customers, setting strategies and achieving them
- Educating customers about financial products, preparing reports and looking for market opportunities
- Assisting prospective clients in applying for loans and determining the type and amount of loan that is most suitable for their needs
- Assessing the creditworthiness of loan applicants, judging their suitability as borrowers and the precise terms (interest rate, repayment schedule) on which credit may be granted to them
- Seeking out clients, rather than passively waiting for applicants to approach the financial company for credit
- Also dealt in selling of second-hand electrical appliances and determining the prices of these commodities and ensuring they are sold within the targeted period.
Education
MSc. Agricultural Economics (thesis Stage) -
Makerere University
Certified in PMD Pro1 &2 Project Management for Development Professionals – Level 1&2) - undefined
APM Group Limited
Bachelor of Science in Agriculture (Economics option) - undefined
Makerere University
Uganda Advanced Certificate of Education (UACE) - undefined
Masaka Secondary School
Uganda Certificate of Education (UCE) - undefined
Lyantonde Secondary School
Skills
1 Building thriving and resilient business ecosystems
2 Organizational management and sustainability
3 SME lending and finance
4 Collaboration
5 Strategy development and implementation
6 Cross cultural sensitivity and communication
7 Enhancing team productivity, innovation and motivation
8 Analytical
9 Value chain development
Trainings And Skills
The above trainings and skills put me as a candidate with more edge due to my already tested abilities in partnerships development & management, critical thinking, analysis and quick strategic decision making. I have worked in urban, Peri-urban and hard to reach areas in addition to working in conflict and post conflict zones. I have helped to nurture and grow a couple of organizations (strategic partners, implementing partners) through holistic organizational capacity assessments and then after prioritized and deployed strategies/solutions that have changed them from nascent to mature, stable and sustainable institutions. I have fully executed multiple projects using Making Markets Work for the Poor (M4P), Local Economic Development (LED) and Value Chain Analysis methodologies. I am therefore more than competent to catalyze and analyze any market. Over the years I have accumulated practical experience in Program and budget management of Food Security and Livelihoods projects, Economic Development projects, Projects capitalizing on Public Private Partnerships, in addition to advocacy and social inclusion. I have well tested team work, mature management and leadership skills. I have a strong interest in working with people as well as learning from others. I am self-motivated and ready to work in any region of this world.
References
- Mr. Jokkene Timothy, Chief Executive Officer, Talanta Finance Ltd, +256-772423310, Jokkene@yahoo.com
- Mr. Mukasa Livingstone, Board Chairperson, Partners Worldwide Uganda, +256772459167, Livinbusiness@gmail.com
Timeline
Uganda Partnerships Manager
Partners Worldwide
12.2014 - Current
Urban Development Manager
Mercy Corps Uganda
02.2014 - 11.2014
Economic Development Manager
Mercy Corps Uganda
08.2013 - 01.2014
Economic Development Team Leader
Mercy Corps Uganda
03.2012 - 07.2013
Assistant Program Manager-Food Security and Livelihoods
ACF Uganda
01.2011 - 03.2012
Economic Development Officer
Mercy Corps Uganda
01.2010 - 01.2011
Loans Officer
STEP Uganda
01.2009
MSc. Agricultural Economics (thesis Stage) -
Makerere University
Certified in PMD Pro1 &2 Project Management for Development Professionals – Level 1&2) - undefined
APM Group Limited
Bachelor of Science in Agriculture (Economics option) - undefined
Makerere University
Uganda Advanced Certificate of Education (UACE) - undefined
Masaka Secondary School
Uganda Certificate of Education (UCE) - undefined
Lyantonde Secondary School
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