Policy Research and Policy Advocacy Officer Job Placement – ULGA

Organization: Uganda Local
Governments’ Association (ULGA)
Duty Station: Kampala, Uganda
Reports to: Programs
Manager
About US:
The Uganda
Local Governments’ Association (ULGA) is an Association for Local Governments
in Uganda that was formed in 1994 with the mandate to unite Local Governments,
and provide them with a forum through which to come together and give each
other support and guidance to make common positions on key issues that affect
Local Governance. ULGA carries out this mandate through lobbying, advocacy and
representation of Local Governments at local, National and International fora.
Its ultimate goal is to promote and build Democratic and Accountable Local
Governments capable of delivering Efficient and Sustainable Public Services to
the people of Uganda. Our current strategic focus is in the areas of lobbying
and advocacy; institutional strengthening; increasing services to members and
facilitating local economic development.
Job Summary:  The Policy Research and Policy Advocacy
Officer will take lead of the implementation of ULGA’s Policy Research,
advocacy and campaigns strategy/agenda in line with ULGA strategic direction,
goals and objectives and in line with instructions from the Programs Manager
Key Duties and Responsibilities: 
1.
Oversee and guide in the strategic planning processes for policy research
advocacy and campaigns, at the local, regional and national levels:
·        
The incumbent will guide the contextualization of
the policy and advocacy components of ULGA’s strategy.
·        
Organize and participate in various policy meetings
relating to ULGA’s mandate
·        
Offer technical support and guidance to LGs
strategic planning processes in the areas of policy research and advocacy
·        
Develop and implement mechanisms for collecting and
consolidating policy research and policy advocacy issues and initiatives from
all LGs (ULGA members) for planning, budgeting and engagement
·        
The incumbent will also develop and oversee the
implementation of ULGA’s guidelines for policy research, advocacy and campaigns
·        
Develop concept notes for policy advocacy and
campaigns in line with ULGA’s strategy and submit to the Programs Manager for
approval
2.
Manage contracts and supervise the performance /outputs of any assigned
interns, researchers, consultants and teams in the policy Advocacy unit:
·        
Build the capacity of staff and interns in the area
of policy research and advocacy in line with the organizational policies and
procedures
·        
Set and document performance targets for persons
assigned to the policy advocacy (including consultants, researchers, interns
etc)
·        
Offer technical coaching support to ULGA members in
the areas of Policy Research and Policy Advocacy and provide them with
continuous feedback
·        
The incumbent render support to the Membership
Department in periodically carrying out training needs analysis in policy work
for ULGA members and recommend relevant training for ULGA members (Develop TNA
templates for Policy Research and Analysis and share with Membership Department
for implementation)
·        
Assess Local Governments’ requirements for the unit
and solicit funding and support to enable capacity building in Policy research
and policy advocacy
3.
Initiate and sustain strategic networks and alliances for policy advocacy,
Campaigns and maintain linkages and communication:
·        
Initiate strategic relations with networks alliances
for policy advocacy for advocacy and campaign
·        
Identify and prioritize LG capacity gaps, develop
and agree capacity building initiatives and monitor their implementation in
line with the ULGA strategy
·        
The incumbent will identify and appraise strategic
networks that would further ULGA’s policy advocacy and policy agenda, recommend
their engagement to the Program Manager
·        
Make sure there is effective communication flow
·        
Develop and maintain/update a database on policy
work in order to keep track of various policy initiatives impacting LGs
·        
Actively monitor and document performance and
learning’s from policy interventions and ULGA’s input therein
·        
Communicate, maintain and report on strategic and
value-adding linkages with other policy teams in-country and globally.
4.
Develop and monitor the implementation of policy and advocacy frameworks,
communicate and consolidate reports and submit to relevant stakeholders in line
with the organizational accountability systems’ requirements:
·        
Develop and monitor the implementation of broad
frameworks, goals and standards for monitoring Policy & research
programmes, then communicate and consolidate reports and submit to relevant
stakeholders
·        
The incumbent will develop mechanisms / programs /
strategies for the coordination of Policy and advocacy reviews, monitoring and
support visits to partners and implementing units
·        
Develop frameworks for Monitoring, reporting on and
disseminating program outputs/outcomes and key learning on the implementation
of Policy and advocacy project work
·        
Keenly review and consolidate specific Policy
Advocacy M&E indicators and measurement models, agree and prioritize key indicators
and share with relevant stakeholders
·        
Develop mechanisms / programs/ frameworks for the
collection, compilation and sharing of baseline data on the program focus areas
in line with agreed M&E indicators
5.
Steer the development of and coordinate the implementation of frameworks for
quality research and alternative modelling for policy influencing:
·        
Develop guidelines on researching and utilization of
research findings
·        
Develop guidelines for designing alternative models
for policy influencing
·        
Review/edit research findings/ reports and recommend
for dissemination to relevant stakeholders
·        
Review and approve concept notes and accountabilities
for policy research
·        
Develop guidelines on the conceptualization,
implementation, documentation and dissemination of alternative models for
policy influencing
6.
Coordinate the identification, consolidation, storage and dissemination of
programme knowledge for all ULGA and its partners:
·        
Develop and disseminate guidelines for the
definition of key information requirements of stakeholders and coordinate the
implementation of mechanisms for periodic provision of this information
·        
Represent the department in various Policy and
advocacy knowledge sharing and learning forums, document and share feedback
with the team
·        
Champion and track the use of program knowledge in
ULGA and amongst its partners/ stakeholders
·        
Keenly track trends in contemporary Knowledge
Management in the Policy and research, document and provide advice/
recommendations on key developments to ULGA Management
7.
Contribute to strategic decision making:
·        
Contribute to discussions and debate in on policy
and advocacy areas
·        
Communicate to management concerns and issues in the
area of policy research and advocacy for decision taking
8.
Coordinate resource mobilization for the Policy Unit by developing concepts and
proposals:
·        
Develop fundraising proposals for policy advocacy
work, campaigns or research in line with ULGA’s strategic goals
·        
Track donors and potential funding and identify
funding priorities and opportunities for ULGA in Policy Research and Policy
Advocacy
·        
Consolidate funding concepts and proposals and
submit to donors
·        
Follow up with funding opportunities
Qualifications, Skills and
Experience: 
·        
The ideal candidate for the Policy Research and
Policy Advocacy Officer vacancy should preferably hold a Degree in Economic
Research, Development Studies, social sciences or any other relevant
qualification.
·        
Possession of Master’s degree in relevant field is
an added advantage
·        
Additional training in Policy research &
advocacy
·        
A minimum of three to five years’ experience
implementing policy advocacy work in either Local Government, Ministries or an
NGO
·        
Prior experience running policy advocacy campaigns
·        
Experience in implementing economic development and
policy advocacy programs is an advantage.
·        
Essential Knowledge of Policy research and Advocacy
·        
Working knowledge of presentation to Media (radio
and TV)
·        
Essential Knowledge of conducting campaigns
·        
Good planning and budgeting skills
·        
Good report writing skills
·        
Working knowledge and skills in project proposal
development
·        
Monitoring & Evaluation
·        
Project Planning & Evaluation skills
·        
Essential Knowledge of Participatory methodologies
·        
People management skills
·        
Computer skills
·        
Strategic and Analytical thinking
·        
Good team player
·        
Research skills
·        
Excellent communication skills
·        
Good problem solving, judgment and decision making
skills
·        
Creativity, Self-drive
·        
High degree of innovation
·        
Leadership
NB: This is a re-advertisement so those who applied for these jobs in November 2015 don’t need to apply again.

How to Apply: 
All suitably qualified and interested candidates should send a filled application form, Download Here, and send it to: ulgajobs@gmail.com
Deadline: 11th January 2016

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