Job Details

Description

Program / Department Summary

Mercy Corps has been operating in Uganda since 2006 and works to catalyze change makers within the Ugandan private sector, civil society and government to create economically dynamic, healthy and secure communities. Our works focus on building resilience and enable economic growth, improve opportunities to attain better health and nutrition, and improved governance and conflict management.  We implement programs in the Acholi, West Nile and Karamoja as well as eastern Uganda with funding from USAID, US Department of State, Sida, SDC, DFID, ECHO, as well as other private donations. After more than a decade of operation in Uganda, the Mercy Corps country team has differentiated itself as a forward-thinking, market-driven agency, having implemented or currently implementing nearly 40 programs, valued at over $141 million, changing the lives of over 2.5 million Ugandans and refugees.

Mercy Corps has secured funding to continue our work on strengthening agricultural and basic goods markets within Rhino Camp and Bidi Bidi Settlements.  Strong and resilient markets within the settlements have become even more crucial as WFP reduces food rations and starts to switch from in kind to cash distribution.  Mercy Corps Uganda has been strengthening the local market capacity to respond to need of the population, particularly in Bidi Bidi settlement (zones 3-4) where 100 small ‘last mile’ vendors have been engaged in an e-voucher program that aims to build their capacity to stock and sell quality goods at affordable prices, and 18 agro-agents across Rhino Camp have been linked to agro-dealers.  To maximize on this initial support, Mercy Corps proposes an intervention to strengthen these markets further to support vulnerable households and improve their food security in these critical times.   With the current funding, MC proposes to extend the agro-agent network and market linkages to further strengthen provision of inputs and extension advice in the settlements and continue to support market vendors to improve their services – to make sure local populations are able to access affordable, quality foods, hygiene and agricultural inputs which enable them to improve their food security.  In addition, the program will support mother care groups, to improve nutrition practices with pregnant, lactating women and mothers of children under five.  In response to the growing issues with deforestation in the settlements, this program will also provide technical assistance to Pesitho, a solar-cooker company, to adopt Pay as you Cook technology and scale this within the settlements.

 

General Position Summary

Mercy Corps is looking for two (2) experienced and qualified candidates to fill the position of Program assistant. Reporting to the Senior Program Officer, the Program Assistant will support implementation activities in Bidibidi or Rhincamp settlement.

Specific activities will include strengthening relationships with existing community structures, sensitization of community groups, seed and voucher distributions, mentoring of small businesses, assist in creating activity reports and any other activity as needed. S/he will be a creative, action-oriented problem solver with strong experience in partnership management. As most of the work will happen in the field it’s required to travel at least 70% to the field.

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Essential Job Responsibilities

1.     Essential functions
  • In coordination with (Senior) Project Officer, organize and support inception and sensitization meetings
  • Mobilize community members and identify those who fit the selection criteria for registration of the several program activities.
  • Work closely with the partner organizations and other stakeholder like UNHCR, OPM and the District Local Government.
  • Registration and profiling of interested program participants e.g. farmers, agro-agents, vendors etc.
  • Build relationship with private sector partners
  • Attend weekly/monthly meetings with partners to ensure high quality program implementation.
  • Make daily field visits to settlements to ensure good implementation of activities as well as partners’ activities.

 

2. Documentation, Monitoring, Evaluation and Reporting

  • Under guidance of (Senior) Program Officer, participate in any market assessment, price monitoring and baseline/endline data gathering needs.
  • Support the development of participant registration tool.
  • Support data collection activities including post-training monitoring and post distribution monitoring. Continuous improvement of activities will be expected based on this information.
  • Prepare and submit weekly, monthly, and quarterly reports that will be indicative of program progress during implementation. Respond to queries if and when necessary.
  • Support in maintaining a proper filing system with activity reports, attendance lists and pictures.

3. Collaboration/Networking

  • 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 mission.

 

Accountability to Beneficiaries: All Mercy Corps team members are expected to support all efforts towards accountability, specifically to direct program participants, engaging them as equal partners in the design, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of our field activities.

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.

 Any other related duties assigned

Supervisory Responsibility:

None.

Accountability:

Reports Directly to: Senior Program officer

Works Directly with: MEL Officer/assistant, Program Assistants, finance, and operation teams

 

Ethics and Integrity

All Mercy Corps staff are expected to behave ethically and demonstrate highest integrity in their professional and personal life. Mercy Corps has zero tolerance to any form of fraud, corruption, abuse, harassment or exploitation. Any breach of our policies or misconduct will lead to disciplinary action or may lead to termination.

Knowledge and Experience

  • Diploma in relevant field: social sciences, economics, business administration or in any other related field.
  • Experience in humanitarian response activities and implementing and managing similar initiatives (agriculture, economic strengthening, entrepreneurship) is preferred.
  • Strong community mobilization skills a must.
  • Good writing, communication, organization, prioritization skills.
  • Good (English) verbal and written communication skills preferred.
  • Computer literacy with a full knowledge of office applications.
  • Excellent attention to detail and ability to complete tasks in a timely manner.
  • Excellent teamwork abilities and interpersonal skills.
  • 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.
  • Able and willing to drive a motorbike safely on a daily basis (Having a valid license is required).
  • Speaking a local language is preferable: e.g. Lugbara, Kakwa, Arabic etc.

Success Factors

The ideal candidate will have the ability and curiosity to work comfortably and effectively in the cultural, relatively poor infrastructure of West Nile. S/he will be an excellent communicator, have a strong sense of humor, multi-tasker, and able to work difficult and often stressful environments. S/he will be committed to the work of Mercy Corps and the objectives of this program. They will demonstrate their dedication with a strong work ethic, attention to detail and creative problem solving.

Closes: 7th Feb 2021

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