The Ugandan Jobline

Job Title:    Program Assistant

Organization: Mercy
Corps

Duty Station: Kampala,
Uganda

About US:

Mercy Corps is a
leading global organization powered by the belief that a better world is
possible. In disaster, in hardship, in more than 40 countries around the world,
we partner to put bold solutions into action — helping people triumph over
adversity and build stronger communities from within.   Working in Uganda since 2006, Mercy Corps
has applied market-driven solutions to communities across the country,
equipping individuals and households with the knowledge, skills and confidence
to generate improvements in their access to markets, livelihoods, health,
nutrition, and security, in order to improve their overall resilience. 

About Program:

Mercy Corps Uganda
has secured funding from BPRM in a consortium with the International Rescue
Committee (IRC, as lead agency) and Young African Refugees for Integral
Development (YARID) to implement a 9-month program entitled “Provision of
essential services to meet the basic needs of at-risk urban refugees in
response to COVID-19”. The emergency program will focus on addressing the
negative impacts of COVID-19 on urban refugees in Kampala. The program will
prioritize critical activities outlined in UNHCR’s Business Continuity Plan
(BCP) for urban refugees and will build off IRC’s existing BPRM-funded
three-year project, by scaling up essential protection and information
services, expanding cash and in-kind interventions to meet to meet the basic
needs of refugee households and small businesses, and engaging with refugee
community structures and associations to lead local response efforts. Mercy
Corps will lead on the livelihood component of this program, which includes
activities such as basic need cash transfer grants for three months for 320
households, micro-enterprise development grants for 82 entrepreneurs and rapid
recovery grants for 73 micro entrepreneurs. MC will work closely with the
consortium partners and relevant authorities including refugee leaders to
ensure the different components of the program work together effectively to
reach the desired impact.

Job Summary:  Mercy Corps is looking for an experienced,
qualified candidate to fill the position of Program Assistant to support the
Program Officer in implementation of livelihood activities on targeting Urban
refugees and host communities in Kampala. The specific activities will include
building positive relationships with local authorities, protection centres,
ensure routine monitoring of activities, work planning and compiling activity
reports and after-action-reviews to inform decision making processes. S/he will
be a creative, action-oriented, with strong experience in partnership
management.

Key Duties and Responsibilities:  

·       
Work in liaison
with the program officer, organize and support inception and follow up meetings
with key stakeholders in the program areas.

·       
Liaise
with consortium partners and other stakeholders to ensure that the intended
participants, are targeted by the program as per the pre-established
vulnerability criteria for registration to cause impact.

·       
Support
in the development of the beneficiary registration tool as per the agreed upon
livelihood pathways for the participants.

·       
Clean
datasets, ensuring that graduated participants to are removed from eligibility.

·       
Conduct
participants’ and merchant verifications, as well as standardized
post-distribution monitoring

·       
Under
guidance of the Program Officer and Senior MEL Officer, participate in any
market assessments and baseline/end line surveys.

·       
Participate
in routine data collection to track progress of livelihood initiatives within
the program areas.

·       
Prepare
and submit timely weekly, monthly, and quarterly reports that will be
indicative of program progress during implementation.

·       
Respond
to queries if and when necessary by ensuring that the complaints mechanism is
functional and individual complaints are addressed.

·       
Maintain
proper filing system with activity reports, attendance lists and pictures.

Collaboration/Networking

·       
Establish
and maintain good coordination and working relationships with division
authorities, representing Mercy Corps and soliciting participation in
activities where appropriate and as directed.

·       
Ensure
close coordination and sharing of information with relevant stakeholders such
as KCCA division authorities, local authorities and implementing partners
including NGOs and CSOs as appropriate and advised by the Program Manager.

·       
Work
closely with the consortium partners, share and request for relevant information
on the program.

·       
Conduct
himself/herself both professionally and personally in such a manner as to bring
credit to Mercy Corps Uganda and to not jeopardize its humanitarian and
development mission.

·       
Security

·       
Ensure
participants’ protection policies are adhered to and implement post
distribution monitoring and evaluation system to measure intended and
unintended impacts, including monitoring of gender based violence

·       
Ensure
data protection policies are adhered to, establishing security controls for software,
hardware and archive participants’ databases.

Organizational
Learning

·       
As part
of Mercy Corps Uganda’s commitment to organizational learning and in support of
our understanding that learning organizations are more effective, efficient and
relevant to the communities they serve – we expect all team members to commit
5% of their time to learning activities that benefit the program as well as
themselves.

Qualifications, Skills and Experience:

·       
The applicant
should preferably hold a Diploma in social sciences, development studies or
related fields.

·       
Experience
of at least one year working with communities to improve their livelihoods
through savings and loan associations, micro enterprise grants, business
linkages, social networking etc. is desirable.

·       
The
candidate must possess good mobilization skills, Excellent teamwork abilities
and interpersonal skills.

·       
The
candidate must possess verbal and written communication skills with good
command of the English language. Knowledge of other languages including
Luganda, Kiswahili, French and Arabic is an added advantage.

·       
Computer
literacy with a full knowledge of Microsoft office applications.

·       
Excellent
attention to detail and ability to complete tasks in a timely manner.

·       
Demonstrated
flexibility, creativity and enthusiasm as well as a willingness to learn and to
be continually adaptive within a dynamic and often self-directed working
environment mandatory.

·       
Proactive,
problem-solving action orientation is essential.

·       
The
ideal candidate will have the ability and curiosity to work comfortably and
effectively with a diverse vulnerable group in Kampala consisting of Urban
refugees and host communities. S/he will be an excellent communicator, have a
strong sense of humor, multi-tasker, and able to work in difficult and often
stressful environments. S/he will be committed to the work of Mercy Corps and
the objectives of this program. He/she will demonstrate their dedication with a
strong work ethic, attention to detail and creative problem solving.

How to Apply:

All candidates who
wish to join Mercy Corps in this capacity should apply online at the link
below.

Click
Here

Deadline: 17th June 2020

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