Country: Uganda
Closing date: 25 Sep 2015
PROGRAMME/DEPARTMENT SUMMARY:
Mercy Corps Uganda does high-quality, analytical work in very difficult places. We have been operating in Uganda since 2006 and currently implement development programs in the Acholi and Karamoja sub-regions of Uganda with funding from USAID, EC, SDC, and USDA. Mercy Corps Uganda is nearly three years into a market-development focused USAID/Food for Peace-funded program –the Growth, Health and Governance (GHG) program. A gender strategy was developed for GHG in the first two years and was overseen and implemented by a gender advisor, two gender officers and sector teams. As the program moves into its final two years of implementation, and the team learns from and adapts its interventions to better suit the needs of the local context, it will expand its activities so that the program can better meet the needs of young people, with an additional focus on vulnerable groups, with the support of the Gender, Youth and Vulnerable Groups officer.
GENERAL POSITION SUMMARY:
The Gender, Youth and Vulnerable Groups officer will support the implementation of cross-sectoral gender, youth and vulnerable groups integration strategies aimed at ensuring that program activities result in equal outcomes for male and female beneficiaries of different age groups and socio-economic backgrounds across target communities. S/he will assist to build team capacity to integrate a gender and youth perspective into program activities; work closely with sector team leads to ensure the effective and timely execution of activities related to gender and age-based access to opportunities in economic, health and civic engagement activities; support the M&EL team to include a gender and youth perspective in research, mid-term and endline evaluations and to mainstream sex and age disaggregated and gender sensitive indicators into the overall M&EL framework.
ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:
Technical Capacity:
Assist with:
§ Sectorally-focused gender and youth mainstreaming trainings for all team members;
§ Implementation of GHG’s gender, youth and vulnerable groups’ integration strategies and adapting and improving strategies as needed;
§ Application of gender and youth analysis to current program activities and with new program design;
§ Coordination of gender and youth activities with other GHG team leads and officers during regular planning and coordination sessions;
§ Roll out of GHG’s gender behavior change communications (BCC) strategy;
§ Implementation of activities designed to promote greater access, inclusion and empowerment for traditionally excluded groups (Karamajong traders, adult women, male youth, adolescent girls etc.) in the area of conflict mitigation and management and good governance, as well as at the household and community levels;
§ M&E activities to ensure that sex and age disaggregated and gender sensitive data is collected and analyzed in line with Mercy Corps’ Design for Impact Guide (DIG) recommendations;
§ Identifying barriers to recruiting and retaining female program staff and maintaining a gender friendly work environment.
Organizational Learning:
§ As part of our 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 Mercy Corps as well as themselves.
Accountability to Beneficiaries
§ Mercy Corps team members are expected to support all efforts towards accountability, specifically to our beneficiaries and to international standards guiding international relief and development work, while actively engaging beneficiary communities as equal partners in the design, monitoring and evaluation of our field projects.
KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:
§ Bachelor’s degree in international development, women’s studies, gender or a comparable area of study
§ At least five years of experience in youth civic engagement and/or economic engagement, gender, and development work; with a minimum of three years in field postings
§ Substantial professional background and experience in conducting gender training, gender mainstreaming, SGBV prevention and response and Positive Youth Development (PYD), including civic engagement, good governance and participatory M&EL methods.
§ Experience working in Northern Uganda a must
§ Karamoja language skills strongly preferred
§ Experience working in large scale, complex programs and challenging environments
§ Proficiency with Microsoft Office
SUCCESS FACTORS:
§ Exceptional verbal and written communication skills
§ Strong training and facilitation skills
§ Ability and willingness to both lead and follow as appropriate
§ Comfortable working in a dynamic environment with shifting needs and priorities
§ Has an internal and external network of gender experts to draw upon as needed
How to apply:
Applications:Submit your application including a cover letter clearly stating your salary requirements, CV (with 3 referees), and copies of academic qualifications/certificates to the HR/Admin Manager, Kampala Head Office on 4thFloor Embassy Plaza, Plot 1188-1190 Ggaba Road. E-mailed applications with cover letter to mcjobs@ug.mercycorps.org will also be accepted. Deadline for Submission:Close of business on Friday, 25th September, 2015.Only short-listed candidates will be contacted by Mercy Corps. MercyCorps is an equal opportunity employer; female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply. Previous applicants need not apply.