Women’s Economic Empowerment Senior Officer – Mercy Corps

PROGRAM/DEPARTMENT SUMMARY:
Mercy Corps implements high-quality, analytical development work in very difficult places. We have been operating in Uganda since 2006 and currently implement development programs Northern and Eastern Uganda with funding from USAID, EC, SDC, and USDA. In 2012 Mercy Corps began implementation of the five year USAID funded Growth, Health and Governance (GHG) operating in Northern Karamoja, along with a consortium of partners. GHG is accountable for improvements in food security through economic empowerment, improved nutrition and improved peace and security. In order to achieve all program objectives, Mercy Corps seeks to empower women by increasing their access and control over resources that can help them make a positive change for improve nutrition and food security.

GENERAL POSITION SUMMARY:
The primary focus of the Women’s Economic Empowerment (WEE) Senior Officer will be to support the roll out of a women’s empowerment curriculum to the community-based mother care groups. MCGs are a community platform of mothers that gather to share health and nutrition information with their neighbors. Those in the MCG+ model also benefit from additional training that focused on increasing their access and control over resources through life skills and economic empowerment trainings. The Senior Officer will be responsible for the quality of program delivery, from coordinating the training of mentors to support supervision and liaison with other teams. Trainings will cover life skills, basic numeracy and savings, as well as business development skills. These topics will be introduced concurrently with the ongoing health and nutrition information that is the focus of the traditional mother care groups.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:
Program
• Coordinate the activities of MCG+ Officers and community mentors to ensure training and mentorships are delivered on a timely and weekly basis
• Provide technical support and quality control checks to MCG+ Officers, trouble shooting challenges, and standardizing implementation approaches in delivery of MCG+ messages
• Coordinate with the MCHN Teams including World Vision on program implementation to leverage synergy and maximize impact
• Provide support to other MCHN programming areas as needed such as support on implementation of MCHN modules to care groups or support to community behavior change activities.
• Provide technical contribution to the development of core IEC materials
• Working closely with team leaders of MC SO2 activities to coordinate day-to-day operations and logistics to maximize use of resources and ensure complementary programming
• Work in liaison with Financial access, CBC, MCG mainstream teams to provide advice and technical support in the mentoring and development of women’s businesses
• Support the cultivation of MCG+ women’s micro scale businesses as a means to sustainable economic empowerment and poverty reduction
• Develop and oversee the effective implementation of the MCG+ workplan

Monitoring and Evaluation
• Compile monthly reports with emphasis on lessons learned, best practices, success stories and achievement of project outcome and output targets
• Ensure MCG+ documentation is collected and maintained in such a way to assist donor reporting and meets MC’s filling minimum standards
• Facilitate a culture of learning and knowledge sharing within the programme; sharing good practices, and addressing under-performance

Partnership Management:
• Establish and maintain productive working relationship with World Vision and Whave, working together to develop complementary monitoring, evaluation, and adaptive management structures wherever possible
• Liaise with partners to coordinate and maximize influence at local and regional forums
• Establish and maintain productive working relationships with sub-county and district leaders, soliciting their participation in all activities where appropriate;

KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:
• At least five years’ experience in managing and delivering livelihoods development programs and/or gender empowerment programs, previous experience in Karamoja a plus
• Bachelors in Entrepreneurship, Business Administration, development or related studies, advanced degree a plus
• Previous experience coaching or mentoring of women groups
• Previous experience developing curricula and leading trainings related to gender, savings or business development
• Experience in implementing effective savings, financial empowerment or functional adult learning programing
• Experience with private sector business or income generating activity experience a plus
• Demonstrated skills in data collection, verification and documentation
• Proven skills in networking, team-building, community consultations and organizational development;
• Excellent reporting, communication and representation skills
• Fluency in English required, fluency in Ngakarimojong a plus
• Motorbike riding permit required
• Knowledge and skills in Microsoft packages

HOW TO APPLY:
Applications: Submit your application through email to mcjobs@ug.mercycorps.org addressed to the HR Manager, Kampala Head Office on 4th Floor Embassy Plaza, Plot 1188-1190 Ggaba Road. 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 Wednesday, April 6, 2016. Only short-listed candidates will be contacted by Mercy Corps. MercyCorps is an equal opportunity employer; qualified female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.