Conflict and Governance Officer (Open to Ugandan Nationals Only)

CONFLICT AND GOVERNANCE OFFICER – 1 VACANCY (BASED IN KOTIDO)

PROGRAMME SUMMARY:

Mercy Corps implements high-quality, analytical development work in very difficult places. We have been operating in Uganda since 2006 and currently implement programs in the Acholi and Karamoja sub-regions of Uganda with funding from DFID, USAID, EC, SDC, and USDA. The Conflict and Governance Officer will participate in strategy development and work on a daily basis with his/her assigned groups to improve governance mechanisms in Karamoja and help build them into sustainable, vibrant civil society organizations that will play a long-term role in the development of Karamoja.

GENERAL POSITION SUMMARY:

The primary focus of the Conflict and Governance Officer will be to build local partner capacity and serve as key advisors to Youth CSOs/CBOs as those organizations may to governance efforts. The Conflict and Governance Officer will work to improve private-sector performance through, among other interventions, the fostering of a Karamoja private sector body that can unite the concerns and aspirations of local business people as they relate to governance and conflict-related issues. Lastly, the Conflict and Governance officer will work in coordination with the other sector teams to enhance sector efforts to achieve its desired objectives/goals.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:

§ Oversee all governance, conflict and community mobilization/engagement and institutional capacity building activities of identified civil society organizations (CSOs) within the program, ensuring these CSOs are able to mobilize themselves and community members, mitigate crime/conflict and engage with government.

§ Advise on the development of CSO, youth-led groups, mobilization strategies, capacity building programs and government engagement strategy

§ S/he will provide advice on technical aspects of the training and implementation of good governance, community mobilization and engagement strategies for the CSOs so that they represent their community within the government structures hence promoting participatory governance mechanisms in target areas, reinforcing their community needs and delivery of service

§ In addition s/he will advise in developing and implementing training programs for members of the CSO (Youth Groups, traditional leaders and other stakeholders), including local government officials involved in conflict management, prevention of crime and sexual and gender-based violence, dispute resolution and multi-stakeholder dialogues.

§ S/he will further support CSOs to develop a conflict prevention plan over resource use, including livestock (depending on the possible areas of tension) and facilitate local response and management of conflicts as they emerge.

§ Provide key support to CSO management system development for local partners, including financial and internal governance standards and adherence.

§ Enhance capacity building/support to CSOs (Youth groups) to strengthen their internal systems( Documentation, reporting and communication) in a timely manner.

§ Overall will implement activities of the program, implementing work plans in collaboration with other staff, monitoring implementation and impact, training staff in all relevant technical areas, including providing training for trainers.

§ Work with the gender officers to ensure that youth programs are gender sensitive and responsive to the needs of different beneficiary groups.

§ Liaise with local government officials, local NGOs and civil society organizations, local religious leaders and other notables to ensure support for and acceptance of Mercy Corps’ programs.

§ Maintain close working relationships with other humanitarian and development organizations, and local partners, including representing Mercy Corps at local coordination meetings as may be assigned.

§ Conduct himself/herself both professionally and personally in such a manner as to bring credit to Mercy Corps and to not jeopardize its humanitarian mission.

§ Communicate the organization’s commitment to gender equity, and the rationale for it, to staff and stakeholders.

§ Other duties as assigned.

KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:

§ Preferably Bachelor Degree in appropriate subject, Social Science, Peace Studies, Community Development/Mobilization or related field.

§ 3+ years of experience focused on governance programs at both community and official levels.

§ Experience supporting the development of CSO internal management systems.

§ Team management, report writing and training skills are strong assets.

§ Demonstrated understanding of complex emergencies, related security concerns and appropriate responses.

§ Excellent negotiation and representation skills and the ability to work comfortably with an ethnically diverse staff in a sensitive environment.

§ Effective verbal and written communication, organizational and prioritization

§ Good knowledge on Microsoft Office applications (Word, excel, PowerPoint and Outlook) are a requirement

§ Excellent English language skills essential (verbal and written), with Ngakarimojong skills preferred.

§ Experience working with youths is desirable

§ Ability to ride a motor bike with a valid riding permit is preferable

SUCCESS FACTORS:

§ Ability to provide relevant, timely, and focused support to CBOs

§ Degree to which one promotes and captures learning by her/his partners, institutionalizing activity reviews, identifying and evaluating preconceptions and promoting a culture of inquiry and urgency.

§ Degree to which one drives results, making critical decisions and producing scheduled outputs at deadline and to expected quality.