Banio Luiji Nobert Email & Phone Number

Kampala, Ug

Kampala, Central Region, Uganda

As the Programme Coordinator, I oversaw the implementation, execution, control and completion of specific project activities of 04 partners of HORIZONT3000 in Uganda and Tanzania that are part of the ERI East Africa Programme consortium. I ensured that project results were delivered on time, in full compliance and timing with approved budgets and agreed quality standards. Enabling Rural Approach is an internationally accredited participatory agro enterprise development approach in rural extension that catalyses farmers transition from subsistence to market-oriented agriculture.In the first 03 years of this assignment, I led a vibrant consortium of these partners (06 in 2018 and 04 since 2019). I organised, and also facilitated capacity building programmes for the staff. Through their subsequent participatory capacity enhancement of communities, progress reports and regular monitoring visits showed that more than 50% of the farmer groups have merged into bigger rural producer organisations, associations and cooperatives. Over 90% are engaged in savings and credit schemes while more than 10% have bought land for production, office construction and establishment of stores. This is expected to increase collective marketing for better prices from the current rate of about 60%. It's interesting to see the improved confidence with which farmers plan, speak, network, monitor their progress, conduct market research and do field experimentation as they adopt more sustainable agricultural practices. These justify the improvements in food security, incomes and gender relations reported by them. Since ERI does not promote handouts, other partners are keen to learn how to use the same approach to ease their work and created a sustainable impact.

Kampala, Uganda

I coordinated the ERI East Africa Program being implemented by 04 partners in Uganda and 02 in Tanzania on a consultancy basis for 5 months (August- December 2018), before being hired as the Program Coordinator by January 2019 on full-time basis

Uganda

I spearheaded and coordinated activities aimed at improving farmers’ accessibility of improved agricultural inputs (such as seeds, fertilizers, farm implements, agricultural chemicals etc) in the West Nile sub-region. This involved coordinating the DANIDA funded Development Assistance to Refugee hosting areas phase 3 (DAR3) Project activities of UNADA in West Nile with the focus of building the capacity of agro-input dealers to offer better quality inputs and related services to farmers affordably. I conducted a baseline study that aided needs assessment and provided a basis for tracking project progress, through midterm and end of project evaluations that I later oversaw. These findings enabled me to organize capacity development programs for agro-input dealers in; business management, safe handling of chemicals, marketing, new product knowledge, supervised regional office staff, prepared work plans, budgets and reports in addition to attending planning and review meetings. Meetings with consortium partners, government entities and other businesses enabled the organization to create a bigger brand, influence processes and achieve rapid project success. At the end of the two years, 30 agro-input dealers reported an average increase in their revenue by more than 25%. They were also inspected by the government for licensing, after completion of training on safe handling of agrochemicals. Notably, the input dealers established meaningful linkages with national and international seed and agro-chemical companies.

Eastern Uganda

This role involved managing and coordinating the HORIZONT3000 funded Enabling Rural Innovation project at Caritas Tororo. I was charged with leading a team of staff to support smallholder farmers' transition from subsistence to market-oriented agriculture. The three cores of the programme included food security, income security and sustainable management of natural resources using a participatory extension methodology called Enabling Rural Innovation approach. During this period, I also headed the department of Production and Marketing at Caritas Tororo. Being the social services and development arm of the Catholic Archdiocese of Tororo, Caritas operates in its 16 districts of Eastern Uganda.

Eastern Uganda

I led efforts of the organization to develop and implement livelihood and economic empowerment programs together with a team of other volunteers. The production of chia seed for export and the eventual implementation of the Caritas Tororo ERI project were examples by then, among others.

Tororo District, Petta Sub County

I provided advisory services to crop farmers on agricultural inputs, production, agribusiness and value chain development for improved household food security and incomes.

Masters Degree, Agroecology

This programme reinforces the concept of integrating all the three dimensions of economic viability, social acceptability and ecological.

Bachelor'S Degree, Agriculture, General, Second Class Upper (With Honors)

This programme addressed general agriculture in a broad way by covering modules in agribusiness, rural sociology, crop and livestock.

Uganda Advanced Certificate Of Education (Uace), Phyics, Chemistry, Biology, Agriculture

Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Agriculture and General Paper

Uganda Certificate Of Education, O'Level (Uce)

Activities and Societies: Deputy Head Prefect, St Peter's College Tororo Member of Uganda Martyrs'Cathedral catholic choirBiology.