Background

The International Rescue Committee’s mission is to help people whose lives and livelihoods are shattered by conflict and disaster to survive, recover, and gain control of their future. Founded over 90 years ago, the IRC is a leading humanitarian and development organization with presence in more than 40 countries. Across contexts, the IRC is committed to delivering innovative, high-impact programs tailored to the needs of communities affected by crisis.

The IRC has been working in Uganda since 1998 supporting refugees, vulnerable host communities, and various institutions in the country notably the government, community-based organizations, civil society, and the private sector. Currently, the IRC in Uganda has a presence across five sub-regions and six refugee settlements, implementing programming in the sectors of health, protection and rule of law (PRoL), women’s protection and empowerment (WPE), economic recovery and development (ERD), and education. IRC Uganda also implements cross-cutting programming focused on systems strengthening and accountability to affected persons.

Project Overview

The IRC is soon to begin implementing an Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Kampala (EKN)-funded 4-year project ‘PROSPECT SRHR’ in the West Nile sub-region of Uganda to enable women, men, adolescents and youth to achieve their Sexual Health and Reproductive Rights.The PROSPECT SRHR project aims at improving the sexual reproductive health and social wellbeing of adolescents, youth, and women in West Nile by reducing maternal mortality, the number of teenage pregnancies, instances of SGBV and child marriages, and rates of new HIV infections. The project will be implemented in 6 districts with three cluster offices in Yumbe, Adjumani and Terego. The project will work in close collaboration with the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Education and Sports, and the Ministry of Gender, Labor and Social development, and district local governments as well as other development and implementing partners in the region.

Job Overview

The IRC is seeking a Senior Livelihood officer who willresponsible for technical leadership and oversight of activities under result 4 – Women, adolescents and young people, especially marginalized groups, are economically empowered to overcome barriers to access and utilization of SRHR, SGBV & education services:This will include organizing opportunities for increased economic opportunities around theMarket systems Development, and value chain development-driven job creation by starting with market demand and working backwards to build the technical and entrepreneurial skills to meet workforce demand.The livelihood officer will work with the private sector to determine which skills re in demand in each district and which sectors can support a productive youth labor pool. S/he will then examine the human, social, financial, and physical capital-related constraints that youth encounter entering the workforce and design interventions to overcome these constraints.

Project Management

• Lead the economic empowerment component of the project specifically strengthening the relationship with the livelihoods implementing partner(s) in line with the project wide results framework, budget and work plan.
• Directly oversee and supervise project activities implemented by local implementing partners at the community level. Lead the IRC project staff in developing, managing and implementing key project management tools, such as workplans, spending plans, procurement plans, etc. to track progress and ensure accurate and timely reporting.
• Facilitate partners, to provide private sector market driven technical skills development services. Review existing business development and training models that are age and gender appropriate and can be incorporated into the project
• Support partners to Develop, harness and facilitate increased employment opportunities along the promoted Enterprises.
• Support Partners to Broker and leverage productive relationships that result in increased access to various financing mechanisms by youth
• Support partners to Design and promote “resource bundles” for youth, where youth are supported to, access training, financing, and market linkages.
• Support partners to identify and leverage partnerships that enable youth to access timely and appropriate market information
• Act as a strong liaison between project team and other departments (supply chain, Logistics, HR, admin & finance etc.) to ensure collaborative processes move smoothly and swiftly
• Ensure that all ERD interventions in the targeted clusters are implemented in a timely and professional manner, according to established objectives, goals and indicators and in line with donor requirements and client needs
• Manage and oversee the IRC project budget, track expenditure and maintain accurate projections.
• Collaborate with other consortium members, implementing partners, government and other stakeholders in the target districts to ensure successful implementation and monitoring of the project including through regular coordination and information sharing

Partnership Management

• In coordination with the project Coordinator, manage relationships with local partners, including community-based and refugee-led organizations and local governments
• Coordinate with the ERD Coordinator, Uganda Country Program partnership teams, and the project Coordinator to identify and nature partnerships to support program implementation.

Reporting and Accountability

• Share responsibility to maintain refugee community participation mechanisms in the project, ensuring that the voices of, young women, boys and girls and groups with specific needs are heard and represented
• Contribute to data gathering and timely reporting as requested by the Consortium project coordinator
• Maintain an open dialogue with the beneficiaries to promote transparency and accountability including Strengthening functionality of client responsiveness in the project.
• Identify, document, and disseminate best practices gained from livelihood interventions
• Share responsibility to maintain refugee community participation mechanisms in the project, ensuring that the voices of, young women, boys and girls and groups with specific needs are heard and represented

Presentation and Coordination

• Develop and maintain positive working relationships with IRC staff, national and local authorities, international and national organizations as well as technical focal points in food security and livelihoods, coordinate all planned projects with other Implementing partners (IPs), OPM, and donors to ensure consistency with cluster priorities.
• Representing IRC in relevant forums e.g., clusters, coordination structures with OPM, donors and NGOs in agreement with the project Coordinator.
• Represent IRC in different platforms and maintain good working relationships with OPM, UNHCR, District and Sub County Local government officials, Civil society meetings, and behave in a manner that safeguards IRC Public image.
• Attend and actively participate in sector related working group meetings and present the Interests of the IRC.
• Other duties as assigned by the ERD Coordinator/ Project Coordinator and team leader

Minimum Qualifications:

The Senior Livelihood officer will need to meet the requirements below:

• Minimum of a bachelor’s degree in business administration, Economics or related field. At least 5 years of professional experience working on humanitarian, development or nexus programs.
• Significant practical experience in multiple humanitarian emergencies in designing, setting up, and implementing CVA, including experience in carrying out market and multi-sectoral assessment
• Experience with training and capacity building of internal and external stakeholders, including consortium partners and local implementing partners. This includes demonstrated understanding of coaching and service provider mentorship.
• Experience engaging with and mobilizing community-based organizations, structures and mechanisms.
• Fluency in English (written and spoken) is essential, with demonstrated exceptionally strong writing and presentation skills.
• Familiarity with the political, social, economic and cultural context of West Nile preferred.

Competency

• Highly organized self-starter with proven success prioritizing multiple tasks, making critical decisions, and delivering results in a fast-paced environment with tight deadlines.
• Strong attention to detail with the ability to prioritize and manage time effectively.
• Possesses initiative, patience, tact, and able to work with minimum supervision
• Able to work under pressure.
• Good interpersonal and communication skills
• Demonstrates adaptability and flexibility in all aspects of working.
• Ability to work effectively in a team and support others in their work.
• Excellent computer skills in Microsoft Excel, Word, PowerPoint, internet etc.
• Strong commitment to the IRC’s mission, purpose and values.

Gender Equality & Equal Opportunity

We are committed to narrowing the gender gap in leadership positions. We offer generous benefits that provide an enabling environment for women to participate in our workforce including parental leave, gender-sensitive security protocols and other supportive benefits and allowances. We welcome and strongly encourage qualified female professionals to apply.

IRC is an Equal Opportunity Employer, and we value diversity in our organization. We do not discriminate based on race, religion, color, national origin, sex, gender, age, marital status, veteran status, disability status or any other characteristic protected by applicable law. We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided with reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us to request reasonable accommodation.

Professional Standards

IRC workers must adhere to the values and principles outlined in the IRC Way – Standards for Professional Conduct.  These are Integrity, Service, Accountability and Equality.  In accordance with these values, the IRC operates and enforces policies on Beneficiary Protection from Exploitation and Abuse, Child Safeguarding, Anti Workplace Harassment, Fiscal Integrity, and Anti-Retaliation.

NB: This advert will close on 27^th November 2024.