Requisition ID: req11903
Job Title: Protection and Rule of Law Coordinator
Sector: Protection and rule of law
Employment Category: Fixed Term
Employment Type: Full-Time
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Open to Expatriates: Yes
Location: Kampala, Uganda
Job Description
Organization description
The International Rescue Committee (IRC) responds to the world’s worst humanitarian crises and helps people whose lives and livelihoods are shattered by conflict and disaster to survive, recover, and gain control of their lives. Founded in 1933 at the request of Albert Einstein, the IRC works with people forced to flee from war, conflict and disaster and the host communities which support them, as well as those who remain within their homes and communities. At work today in over 40 countries and 22 U.S. cities, we improve outcomes in the areas of health, safety, economic wellbeing, education and power. Given the disparity faced by women and girls, IRC seeks to narrow gender inequalities and also ensure social inclusion of all vulnerable groups in broader policies, processes and actions affecting their lives. Currently, the IRC Uganda’s Protection and Rule of Law team works to promote the human rights, safety and protection, and access to justice for refugees and asylum seekers in Yumbe, Lamwo, Kyegegwa and greater Kampala utilizing rule of law and multilevel governance approach.
Job Overview
IRC Uganda is currently looking for a strategic and versatile leader to oversee and manage a complex multi-donor, multi-year Protection and Rule of Law (PRoL) and Child Protection portfolio composed of humanitarian protection, youth peace and security, access to justice, and protection and justice system strengthening programming being implemented in Yumbe, Lamwo, Kyegegwa and greater Kampala. The ideal candidate has excellent technical capacity in systems strengthening at national and sub-national levels, with versatile humanitarian and development experience vis-a-vis protection, crisis prevention and recovery, peace justice and security. S/he has practical experience working in a protracted displacement context; strong diplomacy, coordination and networking skills; solutions oriented and pragmatic with the capacity to solve problems efficiently; and previous change management experience preferred. S/he has strong leadership abilities to create an environment that cultivates innovative thinking and new approaches firmly anchored in the realities of the local context and aligned to national systems.
The Protection and Rule of Law Coordinator will work to oversee the quality and timely implementation of all aspects of the Protection and Rule of Law portfolio, providing cohesion and strategic direction to PRoL field teams operating in different geographic locations. S/he will work closely with IRC staff and key partners ensuring the interventions are context appropriate, coherent along the humanitarian and development nexus, leverage cross-programmer synergies and complementarities and align to national systems and international standards. Focus is on data-driven program quality, with progress being monitored and evaluated against quantifiable benchmarks and systems strengthening milestones, providing technical oversight across all sites of implementation as well as supporting and mentoring senior PRoL staff. S/he will forge strategic partnerships with the government, UN agencies, INGOs, NGOs, CSOs, the private sector, donors and civil society to successfully implement PRoL programs.
The PRoL Coordinator reports to the Deputy Director of Programs (DDP) and is based in Kampala, with regular travel to the field sites. This position supervises and mentors the Deputy PRoL Coordinator and the Senior National Protection and Rule of Law Manager who are based in Kampala.
Major Responsibilities:
Summary of Key Functions
Overall leadership and strategic direction of the PRoL portfolio
Supervision of the PRoL Team and oversee PRoL field programs
Lead strategic partnerships, overall grants management, new business development
Lead in technical advisory services to the government and focal point for external representation with key partners and stakeholders
Portfolio Management
Provide strategic direction and vision for the IRC’s PRoL programming in Uganda, while observing high program quality and ensuring alignment with IRC’s best practices
Oversee the technical aspects of the implementation and coordination of PRoL programs
Support senior managers and field teams in the implementation and monitoring of work plans ensuring that activities reflect commitments IRC made to donors and communities
Develop and/or adapt technical and managerial tools to support program implementation
Work collaboratively with the MEAL coordinator to ensure that monitoring and evaluation systems are effectively designed and integrated into all stages of the project; that output and impact data are captured and that data is used to optimize program quality
Participate in cross-departmental collaboration and coordination with economic recovery and development (ERD), health and women’s protection and empowerment (WPE) colleagues to ensure synergies are leveraged
Promote strategic collaboration with key national partners to deliver greater impact
Participate in grant opening, midterm review and grant closing meetings for all PRoL grants and ensure that the same process is implemented in the field
In collaboration with program and grants staff, set up a budget tracking system and review budget vs. actual expenditure for PRoL programs on a monthly basis with staff
Review all reports prepared by the field staff and provide appropriate feedback to the concerned staff and ensure that reports are written and submitted to concerned bodies in a timely manner
Liaise regularly with the relevant HQ technical units
Staff Support
Provide technical guidance, on-the-job mentoring and coaching for the deputy coordinator, senior manager and managers.
Ensure ongoing training and targeted capacity building of PRoL staff. This includes staff training in program management areas such as reporting, budgeting, monitoring, evaluation, and supervision
Support field coordinators to ensure that the deputy coordinator and senior manager put capacity development plans in place for the national protection teams based on documented capacity needs assessments exercise
Provide continuous support to and ensure targeted capacity building of staff
Review performance of PRoL staff in the field and provide supportive approaches to address issues identified
New Business Development
Ensure PRoL strategy is updated as required in close collaboration with the PRoL team, DDP and PRoL and other Technical Advisors
Identify opportunities for, design and develop concept notes and proposals to grow the PRoL portfolio
Ensure all designed protection projects use the IRC theories of change and that outcomes are evidence-driven and evidence-generated
Coordinate and participate in the development of budgets for program proposals in conjunction with the grants and finance departments
In coordination with the MEAL coordinator, develop proposal log frames and indicators that will optimize program quality
Develop and/or input into protection assessments and protection reporting analysis for the purpose of program development
Identify opportunities for partnership and strategic collaboration
Representation, coordination and advocacy
Coordinate with the CD, DDP and other technical coordinators to forge connections with key government counterparts at the Office of the Prime Minister, Justice, Law and Order Sector (JLOS), Ministry of Gender Labor & Social Development (MGLSD), Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) and District Government; UN agencies, I/NGOs, human rights actors and other sub-national government actors
Represent the IRC in high level and strategic meetings involving protection actors such as protection working group meetings, inter-agency coordination meetings, and bilateral meetings
Regularly coordinate with internal program and operational stakeholders, including the Protection/Rule of Law and Child Protection Technical Advisors, Women’s Protection and Empowerment and other IRC colleagues
Key Working Relationships
Position reports to: Deputy Director of Programs
Direct reporting: Deputy PRoL Coordinator and the Senior National Protection and Rule of Law Manager
Other internal contacts: County Director, Finance Controller, Deputy Director of Operations, MEAL Coordinator, Grants Coordinator, other Technical Coordinators, PRoL Technical Advisor, Child Protection Technical Advisor and Governance Technical Advisor
Qualifications
The Protection and Rule of Law Coordinator will need to meet the requirements below:
Degree in international law, human rights law, international relations, social sciences, or other related field
At least 8 years experience in senior management and leadership position managing large scale portfolio of multi-donor, multi-million dollar, multi-year programming
Proven record of technical expertise in policy and programming in one or more of the following areas: governance, rule of law, systems strengthening, access to justice, justice sector reform, social protection, social development in development contexts
Previous experience implementing humanitarian protection programs
Previous experience providing advisory services to government and high-level key stakeholders preferred
Demonstrable ability to lead strategic planning, change processes, results-based management and data-driven reporting
Ability to lead effectively, mentoring and conflict resolution skills, including managing complexities
Demonstrated knowledge and experience in new business development, grants management and donor liaison
Familiarity with key donor regulations, i.e. World Bank, EU, UNHCR, BPRM and ECHO
Experience in working with and coordinating with the UN, donors, INGOs and other stakeholders
Demonstrated experience in staff supervision, capacity building, project design and budget management
Strong communication and interpersonal skills with excellent analysis and writing skills
Excellent analytical, writing skills and fluency in English
Strong team and people leadership, portfolio management, organizational and development skills
Proven networking, team building, organizational and communication skills
Additional qualities: ability to multi-task, ability to handle pressure well, ability to improvise, flexibility, adaptability to transitions
National Candidates: We strongly encourage national candidates to apply for this position. The IRC strives to attract, motivate and retain qualified national staff in our programs.
Standards of Professional Conduct
The IRC and IRC workers must adhere to the values and principles outlined in the IRC Way – Code of Conduct. These are Integrity, Service, and Accountability. In accordance with these values, the IRC operates and enforces policies on Beneficiary Protection from Exploitation and Abuse, Child Safeguarding, Harassment-Free Workplace, Fiscal Integrity, Anti-Retaliation, Combating Trafficking in Persons and several others.
Gender Equality & Equal Opportunity
We are committed to narrowing the gender gap in leadership positions. We offer generous benefits that provide an enabling environment for women to participate in our workforce including parental leave, gender-sensitive security protocols and other supportive benefits and allowances. We welcome and strongly encourage qualified female professionals to apply.
IRC is an Equal Opportunity Employer. IRC considers all applicants on the basis of merit without regard to race, sex, colour, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, disability or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.