Position: Project Officer (3 positions)

Job location: Acholi, Lamwo Office

Starting date: September 2024

Vacancy closing date: 31st August 2024

Duration position: 1-year renewable contract (project runs for 33 months)

Working hours: Fulltime (40 hours per week)

About ZOA

We are here for people who have lost everything due to armed conflict or natural disaster.

ZOA, as an international NGO, supports people who have lost everything due to armed conflict or natural disaster. Together, we can come to their aid in emergencies and remain faithful to communities as they recover – providing new opportunities for them to help themselves again. The work of ZOA is coordinated from the Netherlands. We are active in multiple countries in Africa, South America, the Middle East Region, and Asia. We work with approximately 900 employees worldwide and with (local) partners. We invite you to join our team of committed colleagues.

Our work in Uganda

In Uganda, ZOA has offices in Kampala, West Nile (Arua), Acholi (Nwoya), and Karamoja (Amudat). ZOA Uganda works both in relief and recovery on the themes of food security & livelihoods, primary/accelerated/vocational education, and conflict management with a special focus on land security.

Project specific details:

The LIFT Overall Objective: Locally led, climate resilient and inclusive livelihoods for host and refugee communities in Lamwo district

ZOA will partner with local organisations, THRIVE Gulu and UCOBAC, in Lamwo District, to support refugees and host communities, with resilient livelihoods, secure access ownership and use of land, and mental health support to process their trauma and start a new life.

By building local capacity and ownership of activities, we seek to support households, local organisations, and communities to take informed decisions, which consider the needs of vulnerable people, particularly empowering women, youth, and persons with disability.

ZOA Uganda is looking for a Project Officers (Based in Lamwo -ZOA Acholi Program)

Your challenge

The Project Officer – LIFTwith support from the Project Coordinator, and working alongside other Project Officers, is responsible for day-to-day planning and implementation of the ZOA activities under the LIFT project, in Lamwo districts, in Acholi Programe Area. The PO will mobilize and train farmers in the Participatory Integrated Plan (PIP) approach, support and supervise the scale up of PIP to other farmers through farmer-to-farmer training, and support farmers’ linkages to viable markets.

The Project Officer will also work closely alongside other ZOA livelihoods project teams, to ensure coordinated and integrated support to project participants.

Your main tasks and responsibilities

Project planning and implementation

• Implement project activities in relation to the project document to achieve optimal project outputs and outcomes in line with ZOA/donor procedures and targets.
• Ensure project activities and outputs are consistent with project proposal, logframes and in line with quality standards and country policies.
• Facilitate and participate in capacity building events / trainings on PIP methodology, technical trainings, facilitation skills, ICT based extension programmes and other relevant trainings.
• Supports the step-by-step creation and implementation of PIPs by farmers and their families, in the community and beyond.
• Supervises and oversees high quality experimental plots or Integrated Plot Plans (IPPs) that serve as learning sites and demonstration plots for PIP farmers and the whole village.
• Facilitate documentation and learning among PIP farmers from experimental plots.
• Facilitate the formation of farmers groups, institutional capacity building and market linkages.
• Regularly provide technical backstopping (via phone and in person) to run the PIP (plots) and facilitate market linkages.
• Any other duty as assigned by the supervisor in line with the project.

Reporting and Knowledge Management, MEAL

• Provide inputs to implementation plans and activity/monthly reports.
• Identify, document lessons learned and best practices.
• Prepare and submit well written success stories.
• Contribute to project reports or implementation plans as required by supervisor.
• Collect monitoring data according to ZOA’s systems and activities in the project.

Representation and coordination

• Actively participate in the required and relevant technical working groups and coordination meetings conducted at sub county and parish level.
• Work closely with local government actors at Sub County and village level
• Work closely with UCOBAC and THRIVE GULU staff (the partner) to implement the project

Procurement and finance

• Initiate timely purchase requisition of project goods/services.
• Ensure expenses are in line with approved budget.
• Provide appropriate codes for expenses

Accountability

• Sensitize all stakeholders (beneficiaries, service providers, partners, government and other) on feedback and complaint mechanisms implemented by ZOA Uganda.
• Upon receipt of a complaint or feedback, ensure that it is correctly documented following correct reporting procedures.
• Work closely with MEAL team to ensure regular analysis of feedback and complaints registered to inform the program of changes in operational trends and context to help in improving the intervention and adaptive management.

Your profile

Identity

• The candidate is expected to fully support the vision, mission and Christian values 0f ZOA (see https://www.zoa-international.com/corporate-identity)

Knowledge & Experience:

• Degree in agricultural science or related fields.
• Specialized training as a ToT in Participatory Integrated Plan (PIP) or Farmer Field School (FFS) methodology is a plus.
• At least 2 years’ successful experience in a similar position implementing related projects.
• Working experience in a humanitarian setting is an added advantage.
• Understanding of the local context, culture, and language(s).
• Excellent spoken and written command of English.

Skills:

• Good facilitation skills, e.g. working with illiterate farmers
• Good communication and accurate writing skills.
• Innovative, creative and enthusiastic.
• Good computer skills: Ms Excel and Ms Word.
• Self-motivator, able to work with limited supervision.
• Ability to drive a motorcycle with valid driving/riding license class “A’’. This will be checked with a practical test during the interview process
• Language skills in relevant local languages of the regions where implementation will take place is a plus.

Attitude/behaviour:

• High level of personal integrity.
• Flexibility and adaptability.
• Interpersonal and cross-cultural sensitivity.
• Able to work under pressures and meet deadlines.
• Able to work in a sometimes fluid and innovative environment.
• Commitment to ZOA’s mission, vision and values (see https://www.zoa-international.com/corporate-identity)

Special conditions/circumstances

The PO will be based at the ZOA office in Lamwo with regular travel to communities to work with PIs or other farmers. The PO will need to ride a motorcycle daily in rural conditions/on unmade roads.

Our offer

• ZOA offers a challenging role in a dynamic context, and you will be part of an inspiring and motivated team.
• We offer good benefits and remuneration which suits the NGO sector.

Do you need more information?

For more information about ZOA, please visit our website www.zoa-international.com.