Uganda: Graduate Trainees - 4 Vacancies based in Gulu and Kitgum (Open to Ugandan Nationals Only)

PROGRAM/DEPARTMENT SUMMARY:

As part of The MasterCard Foundation’s Youth Forward Initiative, the DYNAMIC (Driving Youth-led New Agribusiness and Microenterprise) program works to strengthen systems and facilitate creation of sustainable economic opportunities for disadvantaged youth. DYNAMIC’s goal is to increase the number of young people in secure employment or self-employment and to promote agricultural market systems for youth. Through a market facilitation approach, youth already engaged in on-farm activities will move from subsistence to more productive and profitable farming. DYNAMIC will increase the employability of youth by facilitating access to demand driven technical skills, knowledge and market information. In parallel, DYNAMIC will link agribusinesses and microenterprises to market opportunities and diverse stakeholders, and ensure they can utilize financial services.

DYNAMIC is one of the programs being implemented by Mercy Corps Uganda in Kitgum, Lamwo, Pader, Omoro and Gulu districts. The program engages an array of public and private sector actors to increase access to goods, services, markets, information, productive & social assets to increase the productivity of Ugandan agribusinesses and non-farm enterprises involving youth.

As a way of improving program performance through effective monitoring and evaluation, the DYNAMIC team is seeking the services of FOUR local graduate trainees for a period of 12 months. Two of which will be based at the Gulu field office, and the other two at the Kitgum field office. The trainees will be divided into 2 categories depending on their area of specialty. One team of TWO will consist of Communication trainees and the other team will consist of Data management trainees

GENERAL POSITION SUMMARY:

The primary aim of the graduate trainee program is to ensure mutual benefit for the trainee and the organization. The position holders will work closely with the Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning team to ensure program quality in accordance with accepted standards, providing essential feedback for learning, accountability and decision making. They will be equipped to provide internal capacity building for program staff on monitoring and evaluation activities/standards as well as review and develop necessary tools that feed into the needs of the DYNAMIC program. Below are the specific objectives of the two teams;

Communication Trainees

Document and draft case studies highlighting some of the impacts of the DYNAMIC program; these case stories will provide essential feedback for learning, accountability and decision making.

Data Management Trainees

The Data Management trainee will be responsible for ensuring and maintaining an accurate and up to date program database which will be used to inform program indicators.

They will also be required to provide training and on-going support for program and partner staff to ensure timely and quality data collection, analysis, storage, retrieval and reporting. The trainee will participate in providing data for production of program periodic reports and compiling data on program progress performance against set targets.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:

Activities of the Graduate Trainee assignment include;

Communication Trainee

· Conduct monthly longitudinal studies with selected youth across Kitgum, Lamwo, Pader and Omoro depending on the field office that s/he will be attached

· Document case stories from the different interventions implemented by both the DYNAMIC team and its partners

· Support design and implementation of assessments and other pre and post data collection actions and analysis.

· Assist the DYNAMIC team to develop and maintain knowledge and Information management systems to support data collection, reflection, analysis and reporting needs.

· Capture photographs that will accompany the case stories and other program documentations

Data Management Trainee

· Conduct monthly longitudinal studies with selected youth across Kitgum, Lamwo, Pader and Omoro depending on the field office that s/he will be attached

· Support design and implementation of assessments and other pre and post data collection actions and analysis.

· Ensure quality control procedures and accuracy of entered data and comparing it with the existing filing system to make sure all records are consistent and aligned.

· Support entry of data received from DYNAMIC staff and partners into excel spreadsheets, google sheets and mWater – a cloud based data collection and storage platform

KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:

Communication trainee

· Must hold at least a bachelor’s degree in Mass communication, Psychology, Journalism, Linguistics, Literature or any other related field

· Outstanding writing skills in particular case studies/success stories;

· Excellent ability to collect and document case studies, success stories etc

· Excellent written and spoken English language skills;

· Willingness to ride a motorbike; have a valid permit

· Acholi language skills will be highly valued

Data Management Trainee

· Must hold at least a bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Information Systems, Software Engineering, Statistics, Quantitative Economics, Demography or any other related field

· Experience with quantitative data collection and reporting techniques

· Should be able to design and implement surveys, have knowledge of commonly used probability and purposive sampling techniques.

· Willingness to ride a motorbike; have a valid permit

Applications: Submit your application through email to ug-mcjobs@mercycorps.org addressed to the Senior HR and Legal Manager, Mercy Corps Uganda. Include a cover letter clearly stating your salary requirements and preferred office location, CV (with 3 referees), and copies of academic qualifications/certificates. Communication Trainee applicants are required to submit an article, story or write up that they have written. Deadline for Submission: Close of business on Friday, 16^th March, 2018. Subject of email should include the position you are applying for**.** Only short-listed candidates will be contacted by Mercy Corps. Mercy Corps is an equal opportunity employer; qualified female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.