Senior Governance Officer - 1 Vacancy based in Moroto (Open to Ugandan Nationals Only)

PROGRAM/DEPARTMENT SUMMARY:

Mercy Corps has been operating in Uganda since 2006 and works to catalyze change makers within the Ugandan private sector, civil Mercy Corps has been operating in Uganda since 2006. It has and continues to implement programs in Karamoja, Acholi and West Nile regions. Mercy Corps is taking a community-led, market driven approach to address poverty and food insecurity needs through interventions that get to the root causes and contributing factors of economic vulnerability. Among the many country programmes is the Building Resilience and Adaptation to Climate Extremes and Disasters (BRACED) whose implementation period is 2015-2019.

BRACED is being implemented in the Karamoja Region of Uganda, as well as Wajir County Kenya. The BRACED Mercy Corps programme is designed around three integrated thematic focus areas – Lands/Natural Resources Management, Market Systems Development and Governance. Mercy Corps recently received an 18-month extension operating from January 2018-June 2019.

GENERAL POSITION SUMMARY:

The Senior Governance Officer will be responsible strengthening the horizontal and vertical linkages of governance with the aim of helping institutionalize community driven resilience actors, including BRACED Resilience Adaptation Committees. The Senior Governance Officer will represent the program at government meetings, helping to raise awareness of program activities and to strengthen policies and budget allocations around NRM and land rights.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:

Program Implementation:

· Develop and execute a cross sector strategy to resilience focused budgeting and activities within governance structures

· Drive sustainability around Resilience Adaptation Committees helping to operationalize community level Resilience Action Plans

· Maintain strong, up-to date understand of the national and local-level policy environment, including donor initiatives and funded activities and public budgeting processes, timelines and prioritization.

· Foster enhanced communication and collective planning across line ministries in a way that honors needs of communities with a focus on gender-sensitive policy and budget planning.

· Provide research, review, advocacy, coordination and support to policy formulation between remote communities in select districts of Karamoja, district-level government departments, and national level government Ministries.

· Support Project Manager in the dissemination of program findings to key government stakeholders

· Represent Mercy Corps at government, donor, NGO and other relevant events in the field, in close coordination with the Programme Director. Attend key events, committee meetings, fora, seminars, etc. as they relate to East Africa resilience. Coordinate activities with consortium partners, sub grantees, local government and other implementers, as well as with other Mercy Corps programs.

KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:

· Advanced University Degree (Masters) in public administration, public policy, political science, or related field.

· At least five years of experience including three years in a senior management position in relevant field.

· Strong writing, communication, organization, prioritization and negotiating skills.

· Strong management skills, with good understanding of relevant cross-sector and cross-cultural issues.

· Proven understanding of both urban and rural livelihoods systems, climate change adaptation strategies, public administration and resilience programming;

· Demonstrated familiarity with Karamoja context

· Demonstrated attention to detail, ability to follow procedures, meet deadlines and work independently and cooperatively with team members.

· Experience working in conflict environments is preferred.

SUCCESS FACTORS:

The successful candidate will have the following characteristics:

· A strong team player, with good communication and diplomatic skills.

· Proven ability to work independently as part of a regional team and with international professionals.

· Excellent analytical and information management skills.

· Good organizational skills and ability to work under stress and in austere contexts of remote locations.

· Flexible and creative in planning and problem solving.

· Attention to detail, ability to follow procedures and meet deadlines and work independently and cooperatively with team members.

· Proven excellence maintaining professional internal and external relationships.

· Fluency in N’Karamojong preferred

Applications: Submit your application through email to ug-mcjobs@mercycorps.org addressed to the Senior HR and Legal Manager, Mercy Corps Uganda. 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, 24^th January, 2018. Subject of email should include the position you are applying for**.** Only short-listed candidates will be contacted by Mercy Corps. Mercy Corps is an equal opportunity employer; qualified female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.