Mercy Corps
VACANCY : Urban Development Officer
COMPANY :
Duty Station: Kotido, Uganda
About Mercy Corps:
Mercy Corps is an International NGO that exists to alleviate poverty and oppression by helping people build secure, productive and just communities. 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 in the Acholi and Karamoja sub-regions of Uganda with funding from USAID, EC, SDC, and USDA. We were recently awarded a market-development focused 5-year USAID/Food for Peace-funded program working in the northern half of Karamoja, and are in search of six creative problem solvers with private sector experience to fill the position of Economic Development Officers. The project, called Northern Karamoja Growth, Health and Governance (GHG), aims to support the immediate needs of program beneficiaries while promoting long-term development by spurring systemic improvements in key economic sectors of northern Karamoja. The Urban Development Project Manager will participate in strategy development and the daily implementation of long-term development programming through support to key business, local government and civil society partners working in urban areas across Northern Karamoja.
Job Summary:
The Urban Development Officers will be to design, implement and support facilitation projects that improve the performance of sectors that are key to sustainable urban development in the semi-arid environment of Karamoja. At the start, this will include water access, energy access, sanitation and construction, but will expand to new sectors as the urban project progresses. These activities will work almost exclusively through private sector actors, seeking to crowd in provision rather than displace or replicate private actors with donor-funded services. It will also require a high degree of fruitful coordination with civil society and local government.
Responsibilities:
1. Program Support:
With support from the team leader, carry out market assessments and develop sector-focused strategies;
Introduce the program to relevant stakeholders including local business owners, local representatives and community members.
Foster and build ongoing positive cooperation with these stakeholders;
Guarantee an integrated approach to program implementation in order to maximize resource utilization and synergy between the staff and different MC programs, if any;
2. Partnership Management:
Identify, assess and develop partnership strategies for potential private sector GHG partners;
Establish and maintain productive working relationships with town council, sub-county and district leaders and line departments, soliciting their participation in all activities where appropriate;
Conduct on-site field visits regularly to provide technical review and/or design suggestions;
Work with team leader(s) and Mercy Corps technical staff in order to develop potential projects, implement and closely monitor selected economic development projects including detailed work plans and business plans.
3. Monitoring and Evaluation:
Create a dynamic program environment that promotes inquiry;
Take primary responsibility for sector-focused data gathering;
Establish procedures and guidelines to monitor and evaluate the progress and impact of economic development support work including setting and measuring benchmarks along results chains;
Analyze project implementation strategies to identify constraints to program success and provide timely recommendations;
Provide data in support of team submission of timely weekly, monthly, and quarterly reports that will be indicative of program progress during implementation.
Where needed support external evaluations by research partner Feinstein International Centre and other organizations;
Work with the Chief Learning Officer to ensure accurate and timely flow of information from the field for entry in the database and for preparation of PR materials
Qualifications
- The prospective Mercy Corps employee should hold a University degree in business, economics or a related field, preferable in a related field
- Two or more years’ professional experience in a related job role
- Possess the willingness to work on the field
- Ability to interact effectively with a wide variety of people
- Ability to evaluate businesses and business plan
- Good skills in networking, team-working, and community consultations
- Excellent Good reporting, communication and representation skills
- Fluency in both spoken and written English. Fluency in Ngakarimojong and Ethurr is an advantage
How to Apply:
All suitably qualified and interested candidates should send their applications including a cover letter clearly stating your salary requirements, CV (with 3 referees), and copies of academic qualifications/certificates to the HR/Admin Manager, Kampala Head Office in Nsambya on Plot 1102 Nsambya Estate Road. Kampala, Uganda. E-mailed applications with cover letter to: mcuganda@ug.mercycorps.org will also be accepted.
NB: Only short-listed candidates will be contacted by Mercy Corps. Female Candidates are encouraged to apply.
Deadline: Thursday, 20th February, 2014
