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Program Coordinator for Quality and Learning

Kampala

  • Organization: IRC - International Rescue Committee
  • Location: Kampala
  • Grade: Mid level - Mid level
  • Occupational Groups:
    • Education, Learning and Training
    • Project and Programme Management
    • Managerial positions
  • Closing Date: Closed

Currently, the IRC in Uganda has 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. 
Job Overview
As the IRC approaches its 100th year of service in 2033, we remain focused on ensuring that the impact of our programs and the influence of our ideas empower people caught in crisis to make last change in their lives. To achieve that vision, the IRC is launching Strategy100, a strategic plan that provides a north star for our programs, our research, and our voice. We will deliver it in partnership with the people we serve and the local communities in which we work. Our goal is to make our programs a model for the highest global standards. We aim to deliver high-quality, client-centered, cost-effective programs – on our own and with local partners. We will combine the best available research with client-driven insights. This is how we reshape the way the world aids those in need. We want empowerment and lasting change to be the norm not just for the people we serve, but for all those who are caught in crisis – including the climate crisis.
As part of the IRC’s Strategy100 initiatives, IRC Country Programs are expected to consistently improve and institutionalize program quality. These efforts normally require extensive effort from the Deputy Director of Programs (DDP) to ensure that these various efforts are adequately coordinated and supported. However, the Uganda Country Program instead delegates the bulk of the coordination and support responsibilities to the Program Coordinator for Quality and Learning role. This coordinator works closely with the DDP to ensure the successful implementation of Strategy100 efforts. 
While the coordinator must support all efforts related to Strategy100, they will particularly focus on supporting the Uganda programs transition from Good and Great Standards to the IRC’s new “IMPACT Standards.” These standards form a framework for driving high-quality programming, by promoting behaviours and using routines and resources that ensure our programming: focuses on being Informed by evidence and learning, Measurement, Partnership with local organizations, being Adaptive to the local context, Client responsive, and Transformative in addressing barriers to equal outcomes for women, girls and/or other marginalized groups. These standards help the IRC to improve the quality of programs and to implement the Core Humanitarian Standards more effectively.
A successful coordinator must be a generalist with varied skills in facilitation, communications, strategy, and program quality, while also having a general understanding of the work of their colleagues more specialized program functions. S/he must be able to motivate and lead a diverse staff as well as effectively manage programs, collaborations between departments, and budgets. The Program Coordinator reports to the DDP and is based in Kampala, with 35% expected travel to all field sites.
Major Responsibilities
1. Facilitate and track Strategic Planning (30%)
•Support the Senior Management Team’s efforts to develop and report on strategic initiatives, including the Country Strategy Action Plan (SAP), by facilitating workshops, writing internal reports on progress, and collecting information and feedback from staff. The SAP defines the country program’s priorities, strategic goals, and vision over the course of 5 years, and is used to drive internal investments and planning.
•Ensure that the strategic direction of programs is in line with the reviewed Country SAP, and in ensure that the SAP is implemented through committed investment in the monitoring of the SAP Implementation Plan (SAP-IP). The SAP-IP is a tool which helps to track specific action points related to the SAP and is used to report on successes and challenges to IRC’s HQ.
•Represent the IRC’s efforts to improve program quality and learning at key national forums (e.g. Accountability to Affected Populations Task Force), and support Sector Leads in sector-specific engagements at national forums on an as needed basis. 
•Support the DDP in monitoring all programs through periodic field visits and review sessions.
•Train staff on identified areas as needed (e.g. related to technical needs, program management needs, and Programmatic IMPACT Standard needs).
2. Programmatic IMPACT Standards and Accountability to Affected Persons (30%)
•Ensure that all departments in the country program adopt the IRC’s Programmatic IMPACT Standards in the way they design and implement their programs. The IMPACT standards aim to ensure that all IRC programs are Informed, Measured, Partnered, Adapted, Client-Centered, and Transformative. The IMPACT Standards can be thought of as IRC’s approach to implementing the Core Humanitarian Standards.
•Provide training, support, and oversight to country-wide efforts to institutionalize the Programmatic IMPACT Standards.
•Work with the DDP and all sector leads to ensure IRC programs are measurably more outcome-focused, gender sensitive, responsive to clients’ needs and preferences, and adapted to contexts of intervention.
•Support DDP, Technical Coordinators and Grants team with the facilitation of program design processes and support the grants team to ensure that new proposals budget for and plan for adherence to the IMPACT Standards.
3. Support special project and research grants (30%)
•Provide backstopping budgeting, grant management, and supervisory support to projects that are aligned to program quality and research but do not fit neatly into any pre-existing IRC sector. This includes certain cross-sectoral research projects, as well as some technical assistance or systems strengthening-style projects.
•Supervise the IRC’s component of the U-Learn consortium, which is focused on strengthening the broader system of accountability to affected populations within the refugee response.
4. Internal and External Communications (10%)
•Work with the DDP and Sector Leads to identify needs for communications and information materials, and as needed support the development of communications materials (such as brochures, fact sheets, articles, posters, or audio-visual materials) to promote the work of IRC Uganda among various stakeholders.
•Support efforts to communicate key information internally to IRC Uganda staff. This can include supporting the dissemination of reports, minutes, key policies, etc., as well as more general knowledge management support to colleagues.

Job requirements

The Program Coordinator for Quality and Learning will need to meet the requirements below: 
•Degree in Development Studies, International Relations, Social Sciences, Development Economics, or a similar field (Master’s degree preferred).
•Four to six years of experiences focusing on program quality in the humanitarian or development sectors, with increasing levels of seniority. Given that the IMPACT Standards are new and are broad, it is not expected that a given candidate will have directly relevant experience in all components of IMPACT. Instead, candidates should be able to demonstrate experience in at least some aspects of program quality and should also be able to demonstrate a propensity for learning and teaching across diverse topics within program quality.  
•Minimum one year international experience working in a humanitarian or development setting.
•Experience with fundraising, communications, and working with humanitarian and development donors.
•Strong data interpretation, report writing, and presentation skills – background in research, statistics, or M&E preferred.
•Excellent leadership, communication, problem solving and facilitation, interpersonal, coordination and networking skills.
•Organized approach with ability to work on several different projects independently.
•Ability to work and be flexible under difficult circumstances in a stressful environment.
National Candidates:  We strongly encourage national candidates to apply for this position. The IRC strives to attract, motivate and retain qualified national staff in our programs.
Standards of Professional Conduct : The IRC and IRC workers must adhere to the values and principles outlined in the IRC Way – Code of Conduct. These are Integrity, Service, Equality and Accountability. In accordance with these values, the IRC operates and enforces policies on Beneficiary Protection from Exploitation and Abuse, Child Safeguarding, Harassment-Free Workplace, Fiscal Integrity, Anti-Retaliation, Combating Trafficking in Persons and several others.
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. IRC considers all applicants on the basis of merit without regard to race, sex, colour, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, disability or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.
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This vacancy is now closed.
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