Project Officer – Community Development-Uganda Jobs

Organisation: Share An Opportunity (SAO)- Uganda

Duty Station: Kolir, Bukedea District, Uganda

Reports to: Project Coordinator

About SAO:

Share An Opportunity (SAO)- Uganda is a Christian non-government, non-profit organisation established in 1991.It exists to facilitate local communities in their endeavours to attain a holistic self-sustainable development. SAO implements integrated programs for child development and makes every effort to reach all vulnerable children in its operational areas located in Eastern and Central Uganda.

Job Summary: The Project Officer – Community Development will primarily facilitate planning, implementation, coordination, monitoring and evaluation of project activities in the operation area through application of approaches in livelihood, micro-finance and credit to achieve objectives and goals of the project for sustained community development

Key Duties and Responsibilities: 

1. Project Planning and Development:

• Offer support and guide research and learning studies such as Participatory learning and evaluation, outcome studies.
• Facilitate the development of Annual and Phase work plans according to donor requirements.
• Develop concept papers and proposals for resource mobilization.
• Prepare timely periodic work plans and budgets (with the support of the Project coordinator) for the sector assigned and other related activities in liaison with other section heads, to ensure appropriate utilization of project resources;

2. Mobilization of Communities, Local Organizations and Institutions for Project Development and Implementation

·         Mobilize community participation in programme/project planning, development, implementation and monitoring.

·         Mobilize local government institutions and technical staff in the planning and implementation of project activities.

3. Build project level partnerships, networks and coalitions with civil society organizations and lower local government institutions:

• Facilitate networking with lower local government institutions and other development partners within the project area in planning and implementation of development programmes.
• Identify and nurture local partnerships with grassroots civil society organizations, Churches and sub county government.
• Build and facilitate the capacity and growth of community and grassroots organizations.
• Facilitate growth of strong grassroots movements on specific advocacy issues.

4. Child/Family Partner Administration:

• Offer support and facilitate Community Ambassador Model (CAM) in registered households.
• Monitor performance of CAM families in responding to partner correspondence and Child and family well being.
• Facilitate correspondences between CAM families and supporters on a periodic basis.

5. Child Protection and Participation:

• Facilitate community response, documentation and referral of child protection issues in the community.
• Ensure adherence at organizational child protection policy, guidelines and protocols.
• Facilitate the participation of children in the project cycle; integrate child participation in project activities.

6. Proper and efficient management and use of ADP finance and assets:

• Project financial and asset resources are managed and used in line with policy guidelines.
• Offer accurate and timely variances explanations on ADP over and under expenditures

7. Monitoring and track progress of programme implementation:

• Organize review, reflection and learning forum for Project staff, community, local organizations and government.
• Carry out regular visits within the project area to all beneficiary sites where funding, materials, inputs, and equipment are utilized in this sector’s activities, to supervise activities of the child monitor’s, verify existing beneficiary caseloads, check on project needs, problems, and progress, ascertain how project inputs are being utilized, assess if delivery of material support to project beneficiaries is achieved, and advise accordingly;
• Develop monitoring tools in consultation with M & E officer to check and report on the quality of the SHGs, project activities and supervise community facilitators.
• Documentation and sharing of programme learning and change stories.

8. Documentation and Reporting:

• Produce ADP quality and timely reports to keep track of progress of planned activities within the area of operation.
• Produce timely and quality bi-annual and annual reports.

9. Self Help Groups

• Facilitate formation and monitoring of groups through the SHGs approach is implemented in the project areas as per the SHG manual and other recommended guidelines.
• Ensure a functional linkage between SHGs and youth groups for adoption of possible practices from the SHG approach by the youths.
• Coordinate mobilization of activities of the SHGs, CLAs and Federation using the Rights Based Approach (RBA), to enable them identify, assess, and analyze viable activities geared towards self-reliance;
• Facilitate training needs assessment amongst SHGs, CLAs, CFs and Federation and ensure role transfer at different levels during project implementation.
• Receive and assess proposals and ideas from SHGs, CBOs and recommend viable self-help initiatives to the Project coordinator for appropriate action.
• Build capacity of SHGs to save and invest in groups for household and individual income
• Perform any other roles and responsibilities as assigned.

Qualifications, Skills and Experience: 

• The applicant must hold a University degree and/or a Development Studies, Social sciences, Child Development and Ministry or any relevant field.
• The candidate should possess at least 3 years’ experience working with communities in development.
• Demonstrated experience with a Child Agency.
• Good working knowledge and understanding of key community development approaches in economic and social development, Health, Group savings, Child Sponsorship, Child Protection and Advocacy
• Possess the ability to work with minimal supervision.
• Good Networking and advocacy skills
• Be a mature Christian and active in church activities.
• Ability to ride a motor cycle is an added advantage.

·         Language Proficiency: Knowledge of the Iteso language is preferred.

How to Apply:

All suitably qualified and interested candidates should send their applications and supporting documents including copies of academic qualifications, curriculum vitae (CV) indicating names plus telephone contacts of three professional referees and Pastor/Church leader's recommendation should be posted or hand delivered to:

HR & Administration Officer,

Share An Opportunity Uganda,

Plot 1448, Kitala Zone, Kanyanya, Gayaza RD

P.O. Box 23408, Kampala Uganda.

Deadline: Friday 7th February 2014.