Uganda: Protection & Rule of Law Coordinator - Uganda

The IRC has been working in Uganda since 1998 supporting IDPs, refugees and various institutions in the country notably the government, community based organizations, the civil society and the private sector. The current program portfolio in Uganda includes health and nutrition, support to persons with specific needs (PSNs) including case management, legal assistance to refugees, prevention and response to gender-based violence, and economic recovery and development.

The IRC has a country office in Kampala and field offices in Amudat, Imvepi, Isingiro, Kitgum, Kyegegwa, Lamwo, Moroto and Yumbe, as well as an urban office in Nsambya within Kampala. Currently, the IRC’s Protection and Rule of Law program works to safeguard the human rights and wellbeing of refugees in Bidibidi and Kyaka II settlements, as well as urban refugees in Kampala. Components include protection monitoring, information dissemination, protection case management, promotion of social cohesion, psychosocial support and legal services – all incorporating a community based protection approach. In early 2020, there will be the addition of the community engagement component under the IRC’s current Ebola preparedness work.

Job Overview

IRC Uganda is currently looking for a strategy leader for its ongoing protection activities with a geographic focus on Yumbe, Kyegegwa and Kagadi districts and Kampala. The ideal candidate has excellent technical capacity in human rights and legal protection, practical experience working in an emergency context, coordination and networking skills, the capacity to innovate and solve problems efficiently and the ability to work effectively with a focus on programming in different geographic locations, providing cohesion and strategic direction to IRC Uganda protection programming.

The Protection and Rule of Law (PRoL) Coordinator will work to oversee the quality and timely implementation of all aspects of the Protection and Rule of Law program. S/he will work closely with IRC staff ensuring the IRC’s interventions are context appropriate, complement other responses and meet minimum standards and expectations. Focus is on program quality, with program progress being monitored and evaluated against quantifiable benchmarks, providing technical oversight across all sites of implementation as well as supporting and mentoring the PRoL staff.

The PRoL Coordinator reports to the Deputy Director of Programs (DDP) and is based in Kampala, with significant travel to the field sites. This position supervises in partnership a Senior Protection Manager and two Protection Managers who are based in the field by providing them with technical backstopping.

Major Responsibilities:

Program Management:

 Provide strategic direction and vision for the IRC’s PRoL programming in Uganda, while observing high program quality and ensuring alignment with IRC’s best practices.

 Oversee the technical aspects of the implementation and coordination of PRoL programs, including legal, protection monitoring, information dissemination, community based protection, support to PSNs, protection case management, psychosocial support and protection mainstreaming - providing support to the senior manager and managers to develop work plans and spending plans to guide implementation of approved grants.

 Support the senior manager, managers and field teams in the implementation and monitoring of the work plans ensuring that activities reflect the commitments IRC made to the donor and the community.

 Develop and/or adapt technical and managerial tools to support day to day program implementation.

 Work collaboratively with the MEAL coordinator to ensure that monitoring and evaluation systems are effectively designed and integrated into all stages of the project; that output and impact data are captured and that data is used to optimize program quality.

 Participate in cross-departmental collaboration and coordination with economic recovery and development, health and women’s protection and empowerment (WPE) colleagues to ensure that linkages between programs are made and programs gain from protection best practice.

 Ensure that all interventions are in compliance with Uganda’s Refugee Act and Constitution as well as relevant international laws including International Refugee Law and Human Rights Law; and Humanitarian law. Additionally, IRC’s protection mainstreaming guidelines will need to be observed during the implementation of all project activities.

 Provide routine support to and monitoring of local partners to ensure adherence with best practices and alignment with approved project documents. Support the field-based staff to put in place capacity building plans as necessary.

 Participate in grant opening, midterm review and grant closing meetings for all PRoL grants and ensure that the same process is implemented in the field.

 In collaboration with program and grants staff, set up a budget tracking system and review Budget vs. Actual expenditure for PRoL programs on a monthly basis with staff.

 Review all reports prepared by the field staff and provide appropriate feedback to the concerned staff, and ensure that reports are written and submitted to concerned bodies in a timely manner.

 Liaise regularly with the relevant HQ technical units.

Staff Support

 Provide technical guidance, on the job mentoring and coaching for the senior manager and managers.

 Ensure ongoing training and targeted capacity building of PRoL staff. This includes staff training in program management areas such as reporting, budgeting, monitoring, evaluation, and supervision.

 Support Field Coordinators/Managers to ensure that the senior manager/managers put capacity development plans in place for the national protection teams based on documented capacity needs assessments exercise.

 Provide continuous support to and ensure targeted capacity building of staff.

 Review performance of PRoL staff in the field and provide supportive approaches to address issues identified.

New Business Development

 Ensure PRoL strategy is updated as required in close collaboration with the PRoL team, DDP and PRoL Technical Advisor.

 Identify opportunities for, design and develop concept notes and proposals to grow the PRoL portfolio.

 Ensure all designed protection projects use to the IRC theories of change and that outcomes are evidence-driven and evidence-generated.

 Coordinate and participate in the development of budgets for program proposals in conjunction with the grants and finance departments.

 In coordination with the MEAL coordinator, develop proposal log frames and indicators that will optimize program quality.

 Develop and/or input into protection assessments and protection reporting analysis for the purpose of program development.

 Identify opportunities for partnership and strategic collaboration.

Representation, coordination and advocacy

 Coordinate with CD, DDP and other Coordinators to forge connections with key government counterparts at the Office of the Prime Minister and Local Government; with UNHCR and other UN, I/NGOs, human rights actors and other sub-national government actors.

 Represent the IRC in high level and strategic meetings involving protection actors such as protection working group meetings, inter-agency coordination meetings, and bilateral meetings.

 Regularly coordinate with internal program and operational stakeholders, including the Protection/Rule of Law Technical Advisors, Women’s Protection and Empowerment and other IRC colleagues.

KEY WORKING RELATIONSHIPS

Position reports to: Deputy Director of Programs

Direct reporting: Senior Protection Manager, Protection Managers

Other internal contacts: County Director, Finance Controller, Deputy Director of Operations, MEAL Coordinator, Grants Coordinator, other Technical Coordinators, PRoL Technical Advisor

Qualifications

The Protection and Rule of Law Coordinator will need to meet the requirements below:

 Post-graduate degree in international law, human rights law, international relations, social sciences, or other related field;

 At least five years’ experience working in the field of Protection or Human Rights in conflict-affected areas;

 Experience implementing emergency protection programming;

 Previous experience working with IRC and an understanding of IRC’s systems and processes is strongly preferred;

 Strong commitment to humanitarian work and values;

 Familiarity with key donor regulations such as UNHCR, BPRM and ECHO;

 Experience in working with and coordinating with the UN, donors, INGOs and other stakeholders;

 Demonstrated experience in staff supervision, capacity building, project design and budget management;

 Strong communication and interpersonal skills with excellent analysis and writing skills;

 Excellent analytical, writing skills and fluency in English;

 Strong team and people leadership, management, organizational and development skills;

 Works well in and promotes teamwork, comfortable in a multi-cultural environment, flexible and able to handle pressure effectively and productively; and

 Additional qualities: ability to multi-task, ability to handle pressure well, ability to improvise, flexibility, adaptability to transitions.

National Candidates: We strongly encourage national candidates to apply for this position. The IRC strives to attract, motivate and retain qualified national staff in our programs.

Standards of Professional Conduct: The IRC and IRC workers must adhere to the values and principles outlined in the IRC Way – Code of Conduct. These are Integrity, Service, and Accountability. In accordance with these values, the IRC operates and enforces policies on Beneficiary Protection from Exploitation and Abuse, Child Safeguarding, Harassment-Free Workplace, Fiscal Integrity, Anti-Retaliation, Combating Trafficking in Persons and several others.

Gender Equality & Equal Opportunity: We are committed to narrowing the gender gap in leadership positions. We offer generous benefits that provide an enabling environment for women to participate in our workforce including parental leave, gender-sensitive security protocols and other supportive benefits and allowances. We welcome and strongly encourage qualified female professionals to apply.

IRC is an Equal Opportunity Employer. IRC considers all applicants on the basis of merit without regard to race, sex, colour, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, disability or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.

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