African Women Rising (AWR) supports women and families in Northern Uganda and South Sudanese refugee communities to build sustainable livelihoods and strengthen long-term resilience.
Through a combination of regenerative agriculture, microfinance, adult learning and girls’ education programmes, the organisation works to reduce poverty, restore degraded landscapes and create economic opportunities in communities affected by displacement and conflict.
The assignment
Millar Cameron supported African Women Rising in the appointment of a Program Director to lead the Lok Neno Demonstration, Research and Training Facility.
The role combined programme leadership, operational management and team oversight, ensuring Lok Neno continued to function as a demonstration farm, training centre and research hub while supporting African Women Rising's broader mission and strategic objectives.
The successful candidate would oversee site operations, programme delivery, partnerships and organisational development while providing leadership across multiple functions and stakeholder groups.
What the role required
This was a hands-on leadership appointment operating within a complex international development environment.
The successful candidate needed to combine operational discipline with strategic thinking, ensuring effective programme delivery while supporting organisational growth, learning and partnership development.
The role required:
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Significant experience leading complex development or agricultural programmes;
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Strong operational and team leadership capabilities;
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Experience working within multi-stakeholder environments and partnership networks;
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The ability to manage programmes, budgets and organisational resources effectively;
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Experience working in rural, humanitarian or post-conflict settings;
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Strong communication, relationship management and stakeholder engagement skills;
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An understanding of regenerative agriculture, resilience building or livelihood-focused programming; and
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A practical and adaptable leadership style capable of operating in dynamic field-based environments.
Success depended on finding an individual capable of balancing operational oversight, programme quality and stakeholder engagement while supporting the continued development of Lok Neno as a centre of excellence.
The outcome
Millar Cameron successfully supported African Women Rising in completing this appointment, securing a candidate with the programme leadership, operational management and stakeholder engagement experience required to lead a complex field-based programme supporting livelihoods, resilience and community development in Northern Uganda.
