Job Title: Project Manager: Community System Strengthening
Department: Uganda
Supervisor: 4Children Uganda Project Director
Position Type: Full-time
Areas of Interest: Program Quality, Social Work, Child Protection
Location: Kampala, Uganda
About CRS
Catholic Relief Services (CRS) carries out the commitment of the Bishops of the United States to assist the poor and vulnerable overseas. Our Catholic identity is at the heart of our mission and operations. We welcome as a part of our staff and as partners people of all faiths and secular traditions who share our values and our commitment to serving those in need. CRS is an international non-governmental organization (NGO) supporting relief and development work in over 100 countries around the world. CRS programs assist persons on the basis of need, regardless of creed, ethnicity or nationality. CRS works through local church and non-church partners to implement its programs.
CRS has worked in Uganda since 1965, initially providing emergency assistance to Sudanese refugees living in the north. Over the years, CRS has expanded its programming to address development needs in northern, western, central and eastern Uganda. CRS’ projects in Uganda currently include agricultural livelihoods, emergency response and recovery and health (including OVC). CRS implements its programs through partnerships with local organizations, including the Catholic Church, other faith-based organizations and community entities for maximum impact and sustainability.
About 4Children
Coordinating Comprehensive Care for Children (4Children) is a five-year, USAID-funded project implemented by a consortium of organizations led by CRS with partners IntraHealth, Maestral, Pact, Plan and Westat. 4Children is designed to improve health and well-being outcomes for vulnerable children affected by HIV and AIDS and other adversities. 4Children draws on global evidence, which illustrates that HIV and other adversities are best prevented and addressed when families and children have access to both high quality health and social welfare services. The project supports systems and structures at country and regional levels to implement evidence-based interventions that protect against risk, interrupt cycles of vulnerability, and build pathways to resilience leading to an AIDS Free Generation, and contributes to overall improvements in quality of life and productivity for vulnerable children and their families. 4Children promotes approaches that address the unique needs of each child and family, including strengthening front line social service workforce and case management processes.
In Uganda, CRS is implementing the 4Children Uganda System Strengthening Project (USS). In this project, 4Children will support and strengthen Ugandan institutions to partner effectively through the provision of technical support and financial and material resources. With the goal of strengthening the social service workforce to meet the needs of children affected by HIV and other adversities, USS will foster partnerships from the community-level up to the national-level. USS will focus on three strategic objectives over the life of the project:
- Ugandan institutions are strengthened to successfully plan, lead and coordinate comprehensive services for children made vulnerable by HIV and other child protection risks.
- Uganda’s social service workforce is strengthened to deliver comprehensive services for children affected by HIV and other adversities.
- Ugandan institutions collect, analyze and use data to improve planning, service delivery and learning around social protection systems.
Job Summary
The Project Manager for Community System Strengthening is responsible for leading and coordinating the implementation of activities focused on social service workforce strengthening, case management and child protection at the community-level. These responsibilities include supporting partnerships with local government, civil society and para-social workers to deliver comprehensive services for children made vulnerable by HIV and other child protection risks. S/he will be responsible for promoting collaboration, data-driven response plans and standardized approaches for engaging the para-social workforce at the community-level. The Project Manager will work in close collaboration with 4Children and CRS staff to build synergies, align efforts and strengthen coordination and partnerships between and among local institutions, initiatives and projects. S/he will work closely with global technical advisors from the 4Children consortium to ensure technical excellence and will demonstrate the skills and knowledge needed to manage a portfolio of activities that reinforce Ugandan leadership, ownership and capacity for sustainability.
Specific Responsibilities
Technical Leadership
- Lead and manage community-based system strengthening activities and ensure alignment with global best practice and national policies, standards and plans.
- In coordination with global technical advisors from the 4Children Consortium, manage the implementation of project activities and ensure adherence to international standards, documented best practices and relevant donor guidelines, by both project staff and implementing partners.
- Maintain regular communication with the 4Children Child Protection Senior Technical Advisor and ensure key changes in approach and focus are done in consultation with the 4Children Global Team, 4Children Uganda Project Director and relevant consortium focal points.
Project Management, Administration and Program Quality
- Lead all aspects of the project’s community-based system strengthening activities and ensure that implementation of activities is in line with the project’s approach, approved work plan and budget. This includes providing support to the Project Director and consortium partners to address emerging issues identified throughout the planning and execution of activities.
- Provide technical support and guidance to diverse collaborating institutions and partners to ensure that project objectives are achieved to the highest technical standards.
- Mentor and support project staff and partners to achieve high quality programming.
- Coordinate with the respective line ministries/officials, civil society and academia to build strategic partnerships and leverage in-country experience, systems and tools. This coordination includes ensuring stakeholder engagement and input in the development of standardized approaches and tools.
- Support staff and partners to collaborate and coordinate effectively during program planning and implementation and support joint-reviews. This support includes overseeing the development, implementation and review of monthly plans to strengthen collaboration and to monitor progress of expected outputs and deliverables.
- In coordination with global technical advisors from the 4Children Consortium, support the identification of technical assistance and capacity building needs, and coordinate the delivery of targeted interventions to strengthen local capacity.
- Ensure project implementation is in accordance with CRS programming standards and CRS core values and engage respective country program staff for support as needed.
- Provide support to and collaborate closely with consortium partners and implementing partners.
- Participate in the recruitment and management of project staff and the selection and coordination of consultants.
Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning (MEAL)
- Work closely with 4Children staff and partners to ensure that project monitoring data are used and analyzed for program planning, monitoring, learning and performance measurement.
- Contribute to the development of accurate and timely donor project narrative reports, quarterly performance data, as well as other reports needed/required by the local government, donors, the CRS regional office or headquarters.
- Support the identification, documentation and dissemination of project results in various forms, including but not limited to abstracts, PowerPoint presentations, case studies, and support learning across CRS and 4Children programs.
Partnership and Representation
- Liaise with Government of Uganda authorities, particularly in relation to programmatic and technical matters.
- Engage 4Children consortium partners as well as local implementing and research partners as appropriate, during key stages in the project cycle for their insights on the appropriateness of program approaches and interventions and to support program quality.
- Support meaningful engagement and partnerships with and among key stakeholders engaged in social service workforce strengthening, and community-based system strengthening initiatives, including government, civil society, learning institutions and UN agencies.
Supervision and Coaching/Mentoring Responsibilities
The Project Manager will be responsible for the recruitment and supervision of two staff members: Capacity Strengthening Manager (seconded to NASWU), and the Project Officer for Community System Strengthening. S/he will provide mentoring support to project staff as well as partners, providing technical guidance as required by the project.
Key Working Relationships
Internal: 4Children Project Director, 4Children Program Manager, 4Children Government System Strengthening Manager, 4Children Senior Technical Advisor for Child Protection, 4Children Capacity Strengthening Manager, 4Children Program Officer for Community System Strengthening, and consortium partners: Makerere University, National Association of Social Workers in Uganda (NASWU), DataCare.; CRS Capacity Strengthening Lead; and CRS Case Management Lead.
External: Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development: OVC Implementation Unit and Expanding Social Protection Program; Ministry of Local Government; UNICEF, District Local Government, including Department of Community-based Services (DCS); other networks (civil society and faith-based) engaged in system strengthening for child protection, and social protection.
Agency-wide Competencies (for all CRS Staff)
These are rooted in the mission, values and guiding principles of CRS and used by each staff member to fulfill his or her responsibilities and achieve the desired results.
- Serve with Integrity
- Model Stewardship
- Cultivate Constructive Relationships
- Promote Learning
Program Manager Competencies
- Set clear goals and manage toward them
- Collaborate effectively with staff and stakeholders
- Manage financial resources with integrity
- Apply program quality standards to project design and organizational learning
Qualifications
- Master’s Degree required. Degree in social sciences, social work or public health preferred.
- 8 years of work experience, with at least five years in a program management position with progressive responsibilities for an international NGO.
- Demonstrated expertise in social welfare systems with a focus on the para-social workforce.
- Experience and abilities in a range of capacity strengthening methods, including guidelines and curricula development, and facilitating large stakeholder meetings, and trainings etc.
- Experience engaging and managing complex relationships with key stakeholders and partners, including government, civil society and community-based actors.
- Staff management experience, including ability to manage staff in a supportive and respectful manner while ensuring that staff fulfill their responsibilities and implement activities in accordance with the project workplan and individual performance objectives.
- Previous experience working on USAID-funded programs and knowledge of USG rules and regulations.
- Commitment to uphold CRS agency standards, policies and procedures, and to comply with donor requirements.
- Fluency in written and spoken English.
- Experience using MS Office packages (Excel, Word, PowerPoint), Web Conferencing Applications, information and budget management systems.
- Excellent strategic, analytical, systems thinking and problem-solving skills, with capacity to see the big picture and ability to make sound judgment and decisions.
- Strong relations management abilities. Ability to relate to people at all levels internally and externally.
- Proactive, resourceful, solutions oriented and results-oriented.
- Team leadership abilities.
- Ability to travel within Uganda on a regular basis (approximately 20%).
- Willingness to travel outside of Uganda on a regular basis to attend conferences, workshops, or other related activities.
Disclaimer: This job description is not an exhaustive list of the skill, effort, duties, and responsibilities associated with the position.
How to apply:
Disclaimer Clause:
This job description is not an exhaustive list of skills, effort, duties and responsibilities associated with the position. CRS’ recruitment and selection procedures reflect our commitment to protecting children and vulnerable adults from abuse and exploitation. “I understand that CRS takes all allegations of abuse and exploitation seriously. Abuse or exploitation of children or vulnerable adults is grounds for immediate dismissal.” Note: Please submit cover letter, CV, testimonials and three work references (names and contact information only) to [email protected] or submit hard copy to Catholic Relief Services, Plot 577, Block 15, Nsambya Road, P.O Box: 30086 Kampala. Deadline for submitting applications is August 31st, 2017, at 5:00pm.
Only selected candidates that meet the requirements will be notified. EOE/M/F/D/V**
More Information
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