Uganda: Adolescent Girls Specialist 01 Vacancy based in Gulu (Open to Ugandan Nationals Only)

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 northern districts of Pader, Kitgum, Agago, Lamwo, Kaabong, Abim and Kotido with funding from USAID, USDA, Walmart Foundation, SDC, DFID as well as other private donations.

Mercy Corps is implementing a 2-year PEPFAR funded DREAMS program, Cultivating Safe Work, Life S**k**ills and Market Connections to Decrease HIV Risk for Young Women (SKY) seeking to address the growing rate of HIV/AIDS among young women (ages 19 -24) who engage in transactional sex in the Gulu, Lira and Oyam Districts. SKY will reduce 4,500 young women’s reliance on transactional sex by providing them the skills, confidence and connections needed to achieve steady employment. By tapping into the young women’s aspirations and locally available market opportunities, SKY will provide demand-driven technical and life skills training, which will enable young women to successfully navigate the private sector, generate a steady income and reduce their dependence on transactional sex. The program will include vocational training and market facilitation activities.

GENERAL POSITION SUMMARY:

Reporting to the Senior Program Manager, the Adolescent Girls Specialist will be responsible for providing insight and technical support in the design, implementation and monitoring of program activities, will play a key role in relationship building with community stakeholders and will be responsible for ensuring educational and livelihoods focused activities are attuned with girls’ needs and realities. This role is vital in ensuring the DREAMS/SKY program successfully provides young women-centered, locally relevant activities resulting in increased livelihood development, young women’s empowerment and improved food security for the three districts

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:

Technical Capacity

· Work directly with the Senior Program Managers, Program Officers and CBO partners to ensure all outreach and activities are sensitive to the needs, challenges and constraints placed on girls in each community.

· Strengthen the capacity of local staff and CBOs through technical support, ongoing training, and conduct regular meetings with staff and CBOs to monitor the progress of activities and address any challenges.

· Provide technical support on gender integration in various market facilitation activities within the urban centers geared towards vocational training, micro-franchise opportunities and entrepreneurism.

· Provide general capacity building for young women in urbanizing contexts in the areas of business, life skills and health.

KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE

· 4+ years of experience working with adolescent young women, including facilitating trainings and livelihood focused activities targeting adolescent young women

· Bachelor’s degree gender, social sciences or related field. Master’s Degree is preferred.

· Clear understanding of gender inequality, and issues surrounding violence against young women;

· Strong understanding of gender dynamics in pastoralist communities

· Experience working in the sectors of sexual and gender based violence, harmful traditional practices, the role of women in community-led processes, especially around livelihoods and education

· Experience designing and adapting programmatic tools to address gender issues or to promote positive gender outcomes

· Experience conducting research and analysis on gender issues, including leading focus groups or research on sensitive issues

SUCCESS FACTORS:

The ideal candidate will have the ability and curiosity to work comfortably and effectively in the cultural, relatively poor infrastructure of Acholi and Langi sub regions. She will be an excellent communicator, have a strong sense of humor, multi-tasker, and able to work difficult and often stressful environments

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, CV (with 3 referees), and copies of academic qualifications/certificates. Deadline for Submission: Close of business on Tuesday, 03^rd April, 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