Not for Profit DGF Careers – Programme Officer-Media Development and Public Debate at Democratic Governance Facility

Organisation: Democratic Governance Facility (DGF)
Duty Station: Kampala, Uganda
Reports To: Component Manager (CM)
About DGF:
Established by Austria, Denmark, Ireland, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, the United Kingdom and the European Union, the Democratic Governance Facility (DGF) supports state and non state partners to strengthen democratisation, protect human rights, improve access to justice and enhance accountability in Uganda. DGF’s work is built upon the principles and values enshrined in Uganda’s 1995 Constitution and reiterated in its current National Development Plan. It is guided by a belief that sustainable development is best achieved through constructive engagement by Ugandan citizens with the state at national and sub-national levels. The facility does not implement activities directly, but works with a diverse array of national, regional and district-based partners. It promotes the development of Uganda’s centres of excellence in specific areas related to democratic governance and supports the efforts of Ugandan citizens to ensure peace, prosperity and justice for all.
The overall goal of the DGF is to contribute to equitable growth, poverty eradication, rule of law and long term stability in Uganda. The DGF’s programming approach is focused on the following three interlinked and mutually reinforcing components and their associated sub-components.
Job Summary: The Programme Officer-Media Development and Public Debate will be primarily responsible for the day-to-day management and implementation of the programme components as agreed by the DGF-Steering Committee while observing the DGF Board’s strategic direction. The Programme Officer – Media Development and Public Debate is part of the Deepening Democracy Component, whose main objectives are to ensure that: i) elected leaders are more responsive to citizens’ needs and concerns and increasingly held accountable for their performance in office; ii) politics is increasingly pluralistic, competitive, accountable and tolerant based on democratic freedoms and values and centered on policies and issues facing Ugandans and iii) key democratic process, particularly elections are improved in terms of their integrity and credibility. The DD Component currently has 30 partners. The Programme Officer – Media Development and Public Debate reports to the Component Manager (CM) for Deepening Democracy for the overall progress and the effective management of the DGF’s interventions to strengthen the media’s contribution to democratic development and to promote issue-based public debate. The DGF’s media development strategy is a guiding document for the PM’s work. The PO will also be responsible for interventions seeking to achieve the following DGF outputs: i) ‘issue-based news reporting and investigative journalism has increased reach and improved quality’ and ii) ‘active debate on policy proposals and issues affecting ordinary citizens is enhanced’.  The incumbent will take a lead role in managing DGF’s relations with partners in media development and public debate related interventions, ensuring that projects are on track, actively monitoring implementation and promoting mutual learning and sharing of best practices.  To ensure acceptability and quality of supported DGF interventions, the PO will liaise with other stakeholders, particularly other organisations involved in media and public debate related matters.  The PO will report on achievements and shortcomings against the DGF objectives and logframe indicators, and ensure that DGF’s interventions are appropriately evaluated. The PO will be part of the Deepening Democracy Component team, and will work collaboratively with colleagues in the DD Component and across the DGF.
Key Duties and Responsibilities: 
1. Context Analysis and Stakeholder Relations (20%): The Programme Officer will be responsible for providing ongoing context analysis relevant to the implementation of media development and public debate related interventions. He/she will maintain constructive relations with key stakeholders, and ensure that implementation of interventions is adjusted to the changing context:
  • Offer periodic analysis of key developments affecting the implementation of media development and public debate interventions (including regulatory environment, legal and policy developments)
  • Work closely with key stakeholders, particularly other organizations involved in media and public debate related matters.
  • Assess possible areas for media and public debate related interventions in line with DGF objectives, strategies and available resources, particularly in the run-up to 2016 elections.
  • Scrutinize and assess proposals presented to the DGF and make recommendations in line with objectives, strategies and available resources.
2. Monitoring and Evaluation (40%):  The Programme Officer – Media Development and Public Debate will be responsible for M&E of the respective projects in in close collaboration with the Results and Communication Unit (RCU). These tasks will include:
  • Conduct regular field visits to partners to accompany and monitor activity implementation;
  • Make sure that partners develop project logframes and monitoring frameworks with realistic output targets;
  • Monitor project progress and achievement of milestones and targets as per the projects’ logframes and monitoring frameworks;
  • Actively participate in project mid-term reviews, as appropriate.
  • Ensure that a comprehensive evaluation of DGF’s interventions is carried out in a timely manner.
3. General Management of Partnerships (40%): The Programme Officer is responsible for the achievement of DGF’s objectives in the area of media development and public debate. This entails, in particular, responsibility for the day-to-day management of the DGF’s relations with partners. This management function comprises, but is not limited to, the following key tasks:
  • Stay abreast with local, national and international “best practices”
  • Ensure good working relationships with partner organisations aimed at sound project implementation;
  • Provide capacity development support to partners as/if needed;
  • Ensure that partners comply with the “Finance & Administration Manual” and “Partnership Manual” of the DGF during project implementation;
  • Review and provide comments to narrative and financial reports received from
  • Ensure that cross-cutting issues are addressed adequately during planning, implementation and reporting, especially gender related issues;
  • Promote information sharing and mutual learning among partners, and between media and public debate interventions and other related DGF-support projects (civic education, social accountability etc).
  • Provide input to the development of annual work plans and budgets of the DGF;
  • Report on the indicators, milestones and targets for civic education as per the DGF’s objectives and as specified in the DGF logframe;
  • Summarize results, challenges faced and “lessons learned” for DGF reports;
  • Provide “case stories” and other information designed for communication to wider audiences;
  • Perform any other assignments as delegated by the Component Manager.
Qualifications, Skills and Experience: 
  • The applicant must hold advanced academic qualifications relevant to the position, preferably at Masters’ level, particularly in the areas of journalism/communication, non-for-profit management, development studies, law, human rights and/or political science.
  • Additional qualifications in project and program management & administration, financial management, monitoring and evaluation or related topics would be a distinct advantage.
  • A minimum of five years’ experience and well documented good track record in program management and capacity development, preferably in the area of governance, human rights and/or accountability;
  • At least five years’ experience in media -related work
  • Good working knowledge of current governance challenges and political developments in Uganda;
  • Good knowledge and understanding of the media environment in Uganda (legal, regulatory and commercial environment, ethics and professional standards etc.);
  • Skills in Results Based Management
  • Past program design and implementation skills
  • Skills in capacity development and organizational development
  • Excellent monitoring and evaluation skills
  • Strong conceptual and analytical skills;
  • Excellent communication and facilitation skills;
  • Fluency in English and excellent report writing skills;
  • Excellent inter-personal cooperation and team working skills;
  • Possess the capacity to work also under pressure, with high level of self motivation;
  • Proven ability to interact professionally with stake-holders at all levels of Ugandan society
How to Apply: 
All suitably qualified and interested candidates should send an application letter and updated CVs / resumes that clearly provide details of the applicant’s specific qualifications for this job vacancy and contacts of three professional referees via E-mail to: vacancies@dgf.ug. Please clearly indicate the title of the position for which you are applying in the subject of the e-mail. The E-mail size shouldn’t exceed 2MB.
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