Back Project Officer - Gender and Civil Society Response to COVID -19

Reporting Unit/Supervisor: Project Manager

Location: Arua, Uganda

Travel: Kampala, West Nile

Grade: 8

About us

For nearly 50 years, AKF has been partnering with communities, governments, and local leaders to harness the best from people from all backgrounds to improve the quality of life. The Foundation’s work is rooted in core values of self-reliance, pluralism, and respect for human dignity. AKF is a member of the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN), one of the world’s leading poverty solutions networks. The AKDN’s integrated approach makes long-term investments, builds permanent institutions, and cultivates an active civil society, impacting tens of millions of people annually in 30 countries. Alongside its sister AKDN agencies, the AKF implements innovative, community-driven solutions that are based on decades of experience, learning and evaluation.

Position Description

To rapidly respond to the COVID -19 global crisis, the Aga Khan Foundation Uganda (AKF) will strategically address the emerging needs of Persons with Disabilities (PWD’s). The project will be implemented through partnership with Disabled Person’s Organisations (DPOs) that are primarily focused on enhancing the rights of women, youth, and children with disabilities.

The project seeks to slow down the spread of COVID-19 and mitigate its effects on PWDs and their households by rapidly responding to immediate necessities and providing important health, gender equality, social inclusion, and rights messaging.

AKF seeks a highly experienced Project officer who will work with a team for a period of 5months, starting 15th July and ending November, to provide overall day-to-day leadership and contribute to the technical direction of the project ensuring achievement of project goals and deliverables. The Project officer will play a critical role in coordinating all project partners and providing significant day to day support to ensure that agreed targets and deliverables are met including proper reporting, financial management and compliance.

Key responsibilities

• Develop and execute workplans and activities derived from the project’s goals, agreed targets and deliverables.
• Maintain effective and regular communication with all implementing partners, including national and local government stakeholders.
• Work closely with the Project Manager to provide day to day supervision of project activities and project partners to ensure efficient and effective project implementation.
• Provide input in the development, implementation and regular review and revision of the project’s risk management plan.
• Provide regular project progress and results, success stories and lessons learnt, and flag risks or areas of concern through timely weekly and monthly reports to the Project Manager.
• Work with the M&E team, and partners to support M&E activities such as the baseline and end-line surveys, focus group discussions etc.
• Collaborate with partners, community leaders and members, to deliver the program on the ground.
• Perform other relevant duties as and when assigned, by the Project Manager, and Senior Management Team.

a) Required Skills & Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field e.g. Gender Studies, Development Studies, Social sciences, Project Management, or other related degree.
• At least 2 years’ relevant experience in gender equality and social inclusion programming community engagement, social and other development project activities. Experience working with Civil Society and Community Based Organisations will be an added advantage.
• Strong community mobilization skills are required.
• Training and facilitation skills are desired.
• Team player with the ability to work within a multi-cultural environment.
• Working knowledge of MS Excel, Word, PowerPoint, and Outlook.