Project Officer – Entomologist

Catholic Relief Services (CRS) — the official international humanitarian agency of the U.S. Catholic community, working in over 100 countries — is looking for a Project Officer (Entomologist) to join the Uganda Climate Smart Agricultural Transformation Project (UCSATP) in Kyangwali. This project aims to increase productivity, market access, and resilience for smallholder farmers and refugee communities across 69 districts. In this role, you will lead the implementation of beneficial insect value chains — particularly Black Soldier Fly (BSF) production and apiculture — to improve household incomes, nutrition, and agricultural sustainability.

Key Responsibilities

• Coordinate and implement all beneficial insect-related project activities, including BSF and apiculture value chains, in line with the detailed implementation plan, CRS programme quality standards, and donor requirements.
• Work closely with partner staff and community-based facilitators to support field delivery, ensure alignment with technical guidelines, and strengthen consistency in implementation.
• Monitor insect production challenges such as colony and pest management issues, input constraints, and environmental factors affecting productivity; report gaps and recommend adjustments to plans.
• Support project accountability through coordinating evaluation activities and helping partners collect and analyse beneficial insect production and adoption data using approved tools and mechanisms.
• Collaborate with local partners to prepare reports per the established reporting schedule.
• Identify staff capacity needs and technical assistance requirements within partner organisations, particularly in BSF rearing, beekeeping, site selection, and basic colony management.
• Monitor capacity building and technical support activities to ensure effective impact; train farmers in climate-smart insect production, hygienic handling, and production optimisation.
• Promote farmer group development and support market linkages for insect-based products, integrating beneficial insects with crop and livestock systems for improved pollination and feed benefits.
• Complete project documentation for assigned activities and contribute to case studies and reports on promising climate-smart beneficial insect approaches and farmer field school demonstrations.

Requirements

• A Bachelor of Science degree in Zoology is required.
• At least five years of hands-on experience in BSF production and/or beekeeping within a refugee settlement context.
• Experience monitoring projects and collecting relevant data is preferred; experience in participatory action planning and community engagement is an advantage.
• Proficiency in MS Windows and Microsoft Office (Excel, Word, PowerPoint).
• Strong observation, active listening, and analytical skills with sound judgement; good relationship management skills with local partners and community members.
• High attention to detail, accuracy, and timeliness in executing responsibilities; proactive and results-oriented.
• Fluency in English is required; knowledge of local languages in the area of operation is an advantage.
• Willingness and ability to travel up to 30% of the time.

How to Apply

Apply through the employer’s official page: https://form.jotform.com/261683609108562.