Organisation: United States Embassy, US Mission in Uganda
Duty Station:
USAID, Kampala, Uganda
Salary: Grade
09 (UGX . 47,002,912 to 70,504,368 p.a.
Inclusive of allowances)
Welcome to the United States
Embassy in Kampala, Uganda. The United
States has enjoyed diplomatic relations with Uganda for over 30 years. Ambassador Scott H. DeLisi currently heads
the U.S Mission to Uganda. The Mission
is composed of several offices and organizations all working under the auspices
of the Embassy and at the direction of the Ambassador.
Among the offices operating
under the U.S Mission to Uganda are:
- United
States Agency for International Development (USAID) - Centers
for Disease Control - Peace
Corps
Job Summary: The US Embassy Political and Economic
Assistant will serve as the principal LES handling macroeconomic analysis;
environment, science, technology, and health (ESTH) issues; Uganda’s oil and
gas sectors; the financial sector; information and communications technology;
and cross-cutting issues such as corruption efforts, government accountability,
and transparency issues. The job holder also keenly tracks overall foreign
investment and the business environment, and analyses and reports on foreign
investment from non-U.S. destinations. The incumbent is a member of Embassy
Kampala’s interagency health team, and serves as a liaison with the U.S. Agency
for International Development’s (USAID) Energy Governance and Capacity
Initiative (EGCI), which focuses on issues relating to Uganda’s nascent oil
industry and attends meetings with the Mission’s Petroleum Working Group. The
incumbent also works closely with the U.S. Department of the Treasury, World
Bank and International Monetary Fund, and coordinates activities with the
regional environment, science, technology, and health office in Addis Ababa.
The incumbent frequently functions as the de facto control officer for high
level visits by ensuring all scheduling needs are met and providing assistance
to American Officers. The incumbent briefs visiting officials on current and
political developments and trends, and accompanies them to meetings with host
government officials. Frequent visits by U.S. government officials require an
attention to detail and ability to multitask when planning multiple visits.
Visits also often require work outside office hours to coordinate events and to
communicate with American officers on urgent matters or last-minute
developments. The job requires astute judgment, quick decision-making skills
and the ability to form thoughtful connections between different political and
social developments. The job also requires significantly high diplomatic and
communications skills to be able to engage with career and elected government
officials at the highest levels. This job also requires the ability to
independently interact with U.S. officials in Washington on key substantive
issues and informational requests, as well as trip planning and visit
strategies. The job requires superior writing and communication skills so as to
minimize editing by the American supervisors thereby allowing them to focus
their time more efficiently. Often at his/her own initiative, the incumbent
prepares extensive spot and in-depth analytical reports on a wide range of
sensitive political and economic issues in the context of national issues ,as
well as the implications for U.S. interests. The incumbent drafts analytical
and factual reports, researches and gathers information, prepares briefing
memos and establishes a wide range of contacts in the government and NGOs which
with legislative and policy developments in the areas of macroeconomic, oil and
gas, ESTH, and government-led anti-corruption efforts. The incumbent must be
able to brief the Pol/Econ Chief, Deputy Chief of Mission and Ambassador and
TDY visitors on developments and issues with authority and accuracy. This
involves oral or written briefings and inputs, evaluating events in historical
perspective and identifying their relationships to national trends and to the
interests of the U.S. Incumbent must be able to make reasonable projections
about the future course of politics and social changes, demonstrating critical
judgment and as strong integration of social, political and economic factors.
The job holder must maintain a wide range of contacts at the highest level of
government including ministers, legislature, judiciary, media, academia,
businesses, and civil society. Incumbent advises American officers on a variety
of sensitive political and economic issues and related matters, such as gauging
the probable reaction of government officials and the Ugandan public to U.S.
views or proposals. The incumbent advises the Embassy’s interagency Small
Grants selection committees, managed by the Political Section. The incumbent
backs up the Section’s Political and Economic Specialist and must be conversant
on financial and commercial issues.
Key Duties and
Responsibilities:
1. Macroeconomic Issues 20%: Uganda is one of the fastest growing economies in East Africa,
averaging 7% growth over the last 20 years.
- The
incumbent is tasked to monitor, analyze and report on government and
international organization economic reform programs. - Actively
monitors foreign debt, foreign aid and the national budget and keeps
updated data on the economy. The incumbent will be responsible for an
annual analysis of the Ugandan national budget and its affect on U.S.
government programs. - The
job holder closely follows developments in Bank of Uganda and Ministry of
Finance and liaises with the IMF and World Bank on macroeconomic and
financial stability matters. The incumbent tracks foreign investment and
Uganda’s overall investment environment, reports and analyzes investments
from non-U.S. origin countries, and advises on the development of the
financial sector and its regulatory and policy framework. - The
incumbent must establish and maintain a wide range of contacts at the
Central Bank, Ministry of Finance, Insurance Regulatory Authority, Capital
Markets Authority, Uganda Securities Exchange and the Uganda Bureau of
Statistics. Analyzes and advises on the development of the information and
communications technology sectors and its regulatory and policy framework.
2. Oil and Gas Sector 20%: With an estimated 3.5 billion barrels of reserves, Uganda’s nascent oil
sector has the power to transform Uganda’s economy if managed properly, and the
incumbent will actively monitor the Ugandan government’s ability to transfer
oil wealth to the general populace.
- The
incumbent serves as the Political and Economic Section’s principal expert
on the oil sector, and advises American officials on how developments in
Uganda’s oil sector affect the U.S. government and American businesses. - The
incumbent closely analyzes and follows the development of Uganda’s
petroleum sector, including its legal framework, business environment,
regulation, and impact on national development priorities and the
environment by maintaining contact with key officials at the Ministry of
Energy, Petroleum Exploration and Production Department (PEPD),
Parliament’s Natural Resources Committee, and Ministry of Water and
Environment. The incumbent must exercise an excellent sense of judgment,
intuition, tact, and diplomacy to obtain accurate, but sensitive
information.
3. Environment, Science, Technology and Health 20% :With oil and gas finds, rising
population, and one of the most diverse and delicate natural eco-systems in
Africa, Uganda is now just beginning to face and balance the next generation of
environmental challenges. In addition, with numerous epidemics, poor health
delivery systems, and extensive pandemic disease research collaborations,
health issues are a major U.S. interest in Uganda. Therefore, the ESTH
portfolio represents a significant portion of our overall bilataeral portfolio.
- The
incumbent advises on ESTH issues, policies and initiatives in Uganda and
must have a thorough knowledge of Uganda’s environmental, technological,
and health issues. - He
/ she will be an integral part of the Embassy’s interagency health team
which is comprised of six U.S. government agencies and manages over $400
million in health assistance each year. The incumbent will organize
meetings, make contacts, and advise American officers, including the
Regional ESTH Office in Addis on developments that impact U.S. government
priorities and initiatives. - The
incumbent actively promotes bilateral and regional cooperation among
agencies and organizations concerned with ESTH matters, and liaises with
USAID’s Economic Development, Health, and Education Offices.
4. Corruption and Governance 20%: Uganda suffers from corruption at all levels of government, which
potentially impact U.S. interests and programs and domestic political
stability.
- The
incumbent monitors corruption and governance issues and the effect they
have on society and the economy. - The
incumbent keenly tracks and reports on corruption-related cases, and
maintains contact with anti-corruption civil society groups, and attends
court proceedings for high profile cases. - The
incumbent is responsible for compiling and drafting an annual summary of
corruption cases. The job requires tact and sound judgment to engage the
various government ministries and institutions in the very sensitive area
of corruption and poor governance. - He
/ she also needs to establish and maintain close contact with senior-level
officials in the judiciary, Directorate of Public Prosecution, Inspector
General of Government and civil society organizations which deal with
governance issues and must demonstrate a high level of maturity and
objectivity while interviewing and reporting on corruption cases. The
incumbent will work closely with USAID’s Democracy, Governance &
Conflict Office.
5. Develop and Maintain Contacts 10%:
- Initiate
and maintain a broad range of contacts in his/her portfolio at the highest
level, which includes government, legislature, judiciary, media, academia,
businesses, and civil society. To maintain and expand these contacts,
incumbent attends civil society gatherings, important public meetings,
legislative sessions and conferences and seminars relevant to his/her
portfolio. Drawing on his/her broad base of contacts, the incumbent
assists with the selection of candidates for Public Affairs programs. - The
Political – Economic Assistant will also be responsible for suggesting new
contacts that the Section can engage with. He/she helps orient new
American officers by introducing them to key political contacts and
opinion leaders. Incumbent also suggest guest lists for representations
events, and advising them on relative importance and experience of state
policy makers. The incumbent must therefore keep abreast of domestic and
regional events as well as its various actors and trends.
6. Travel and Operational Responsibilities 10%
- The
incumbent travels independently especially in Kampala and the surrounding
districts and other parts of Uganda as the need arises, to keep up-to-date
on political and social developments of importance to US interests across
the board. Through this travel, incumbent keeps the Political and Economic
Section informed about macroeconomic, energy sector, health, environment,
and good governance developments. - The
US Embassy Political – Economic Assistant will support the planning and
organizing of visits by state Department officials, Cabinet Secretaries,
other Executive Branch officials and Congressional delegations. Although
this is done under the supervision of American officers; the incumbent
plays a role not only in logistical arrangements but also in suggesting
site visits, tours and meetings with key Ugandan personalities. Incumbent
arranges meetings with key political and economic contacts ensuring that
American officers and official visitors are able to gather comprehensive
information and take full advantage of the visit. S/he recommends
approaches to be taken by American principals in the meetings and prepares
background and biographic material.
Qualifications, Skills and
Experience:
NOTE: All applicants must
address each selection criterion detailed below with specific and comprehensive
information supporting each item.
- The
US Embassy Political – Economic Assistant should hold a university degree
in political science, law, political economy, economics, history,
journalism and human rights is required. - At
least five years’ experience in foreign policy, political, law, social
development, academia or journalism. - Detailed
knowledge of Uganda’s economic and political system, as well as a broad
understanding of energy, environment, health, science and technology
(ESTH) issues. - Possess
the ability to interact with Uganda officials, civil society groups,
scientists, economists, members of the business community, and political
leaders at all levels. - Language Proficiency: List both English and host country
language(s) by level and specialization. Level IV English ability (fluent
written, spoken and reading) is required.
All those interested in
working with the US mission in Kampala should send their applications and
strictly adhere to the following:
- Universal
Application for Employment as a Locally Employed Staff or Family Member
(DS-174), Download
it Here. - A
current resume or curriculum vitae. - Candidates
who claim US Veterans preference must provide a copy of their Form DD-214
with their application. Candidates
who claim conditional US Veterans preference must submit documentation
confirming eligibility for a conditional preference in hiring with their
application. - Any
other documentation (e.g. essays, transcripts/certificates, awards) that
addresses the qualification requirements of the position as listed above.
By email at
KampalaHR@state.gov
NB: Only electronic submissions will be
accepted and only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.
Please clearly indicate the
position applied for in the subject area of the email submission.
Please use standard file
types such as Microsoft Word (.doc) and Adobe Acrobat (.pdf) and please send
all documents in one file attachment.
Telephone: 0414-306001/259-791/5
The US Mission in Kampala
provides equal opportunity and fair and equitable treatment in employment to
all people without regard to race, color religion, sex, national origin, age,
disability, political affiliation, marital status, or sexual orientation. The Department of State also strives to
achieve equal employment opportunity in all personnel operations through
continuing diversity enhancement programs.
0 comments:
Post a Comment