Uganda: Expert on Community Development

Terms of Reference- Expert on Community Development

Basic Information on the project and Terms of Reference

VNG International, the cooperation agency of the association of Netherlands Local Governments, will upon request of the Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs start with a new project in Northern Uganda. The aim of this project is to strengthen the capacity of local governments, in dealing with the impact of the large refugee influx, thereby improving the resiliency of both the host communities as well as refugees. The duration of the project will be 15 months.

For Empowering Refugee Hosting Districts in Uganda: Making the Nexus Work Project, VNG International will focus on strengthening the capacity of Ugandan local governments, by collaborating with the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM), UNHCR & UNDP, the Ugandan Local Government Association (ULGA), and NGOs operating in the targeted areas. Where needed the project will bring on board expertise from Dutch local governments.

The project will be locally oriented, focusing on settlements in Adjumani District Local Government, Koboko District Local Government and Yumbe District Local Government. The project aims to station three experts in the region. The project will also be represented in Kampala, where VNG International has an office. The local project team will be assisted by the VNG International Nexus project team in The Hague, who will be responsible for overall management and monitoring of the project.

The Expert on Community Development in Northern Uganda, will be contracted by VNG International and is charged with contributing to the project results, as defined in the overall project proposal. This document describes the terms of reference for this contract.

Job description

Position

Expert on Community Development

Tasks & Responsibilities

· Support DLGs community outreach campaigns, as to assist host communities and refugees, including vulnerable groups, such as women, youth, elderly, people with disabilities and people with HIV/aids, in understanding their basic rights, the obligations of the government and help them raise their voice in DLGs decision-making and accountability mechanisms;

· Support the improvement of district level dialogue and the alignment of participation mechanisms for both host and refugee communities;

· Assist DLGs to use and translate the information into LG (scenario) plans;

· Enhance DLGs knowledge on accountability and transparency mechanisms, provide exposure to international norms in service delivery and the importance of inclusivity, where possible based on lessons learned in other Ugandan district local governments;

· Facilitate district peer-to-peer learning on governance;

· Document case based evidence on example modalities (district development plans, scenario planning tool, training material) as to provide input to policy development (Ugandan & international humanitarian and development sector);

· Provide guidance to short term expert interventions on the ground;

The Expert on Community Development will continuously engage with the other experts in Northern Uganda and in Kampala to implement and monitor the project.

Terms and conditions

· Base of operation: Northern Uganda.

· Travel: Within Northern Uganda, to Kampala and other locations as required by the project

· Employment days: Full time

· Period contract: January- December 2018

· Entitled leave according to Ugandese employment law as well as scheduled and sanctioned national holidays

Minimum qualifications

Education:

· Relevant completed higher educational background (social science, political science, governance, public administration, or equivalent).

Professional experience:

· Minimum of five years of relevant practical work experience in the field of community development

· Proven experience in working with and understanding the local government sector in Uganda

· Experience in and able to build and sustain a network of people, organizations, and partners in sectors relevant for the implementation of Making the Nexus Work; already having a local government network is considered to be an asset;

· Experience with working in a political sensitive environment;

· Minimum of 7 years of experience with implementation and monitoring of international and donor-funded capacity development Programmes for local governments;

· Experience with good governance, gender and sustainability concepts is considered to be an asset;

Skills:

· Excellent knowledge of English, knowledge of local language(s) is considered to be an asset;

· Excellent social, communication and networking skills, both oral as in writing;

· Eye for conflict-sensitivity, gender-sensitivity and sustainability;

· Pro-active and representative attitude;

· Able to work independently;

· Willingness to work in northern Uganda;

· Knowledge of Project Cycle Management. · Excellent facilitation and coaching skills;

Send your CV and a motivation letter of maxiumum 1A4 to myrte.vanderspek@vng.nl