Job Title:   Project Coordinator

Organisation: International Rescue Committee (IRC)

Duty Station: Twajiji Village, Yumbe, Uganda

About the Company:

The International Rescue Committee (IRC) responds to the world’s worst humanitarian crises and helps people whose lives and livelihoods are shattered by conflict and disaster to survive, recover, and gain control of their lives. Founded in 1933 at the request of Albert Einstein, the IRC works with people forced to flee from war, conflict and disaster and the host communities which support them, as well as those who remain within their homes and communities. At work today in over 40 countries and 25 U.S. cities, we improve outcomes in the areas of health, safety, economic wellbeing, education, and power.

About PROSPECT SRHR Project:

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 Summary:   The IRC is seeking a Project Coordinator who will lead the implementation of the IRC component of the PROSPECT SRHR project according to all agreed project deliverables, working with the Consortium unit, other Consortium partners, implementing partners, government and other key stakeholders. The role will also be responsible for all IRC project staff, including collaboration with IRC Uganda’s Health, Protection and Economic Recovery and Development (ERD) technical coordinators and other programs, operations and field colleagues. The Project Coordinator will ensure that the IRC component of the PROSPECT SRHR project achieves the expected results and is implemented in accordance with the donor agreement, donor regulations, and internationally recognized quality of assistance standards.

The Project Coordinator will plan and coordinate multi-sectoral project activities covering Health, Protection and Livelihoods and the integration of services where appropriate areas across the 6 districts of West Nile in collaboration with other stakeholders to ensure successful implementation and monitoring of the project.

Key Duties and Responsibilities:

Project Management

• Directly oversee implementation of IRC PROSPECT SRHR interventions (SRH, GBV, social norms, livelihoods) in the selected districts 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.
• Manage and oversee the IRC project budget, track expenditure and maintain accurate projections.
• Monitor all IRC project activities implemented through IRC staff, local governments, and implementing partners to ensure timely, quality implementation
• 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
• Work closely with the IRC MEAL Manager for timely collection and analysis of project data and the regular collection and sharing of project evidence and learning
• Lead the project team by creating and maintaining a work environment that promotes teamwork, trust, mutual respect, and empowers staff to take responsibility.

Technical Leadership

• Lead the Sexual and Reproductive Health component of the project including:
• Work with Community health manager and the district community department in coordination with other stakeholders on community health system strengthening.
• Jointly plan with the DHTs and stakeholders and conduct support supervision of selected health facilities and communities according to schedules drawn up by Health Management Teams using approved MoH tools.
• Work with MCH manager and the DHMTs to plan and coordinate On-the-Job Training (OJT) organized by MCH officers for all health service providers according to MoH guidelines and policies.
• Work with DHMTs to ensure constant and regular supply of relevant supplies to the health facilities by the respective national bodies.
• Support DHMT/CUs to run health education on RH/FP/MCH in health facilities and communities.
• Working with the district health teams and project staff, ensure integration of service delivery in the health facilities and at community level.
• Working with the MEAL health manager and district biostatician, ensure good data management across supported health facilities and community interventions.
• Represent IRC in the district level platforms and meetings including technical working groups and performance review meetings.
• Participate in joint learning events with other partners to generate and document best practices leading to improved program quality. Work closely with DHMT and Health Facility Teams to promote all the activities at facility level.
• Take lead in planning with District health teams to conduct coordinator meetings for all partners and district local governments
• Lead the GBV and Social Norms component of the project including:
• Assume primary responsibility for the overall management of social norms staff, and implementation themes and ensure compliance with the donor agreement and project proposal, proactively notifying the Deputy WPE Coordinator if issues arise.
• Provide ongoing supervision, mentoring, training, technical support, and guidance to social norms staff, and ensure all adhere to best-practice principles in all aspects of program implementation. Maintain open and professional relations with team members, promoting a strong team spirit and providing oversight and guidance to enable staff to successfully perform in their positions.
• Ensure project team understands, maintains, and follows ethical practices in data sharing and communication with external audiences in accordance with the existing information-sharing protocol.
• Ensure integration and linkages of social norms interventions with other sectors; Legal, Health, ERD, and Education to enhance cohesion including multi-sectoral response to the needs of survivors including women and girls at risk.
• Working with the social norms team, ensure updated GBV referral pathways are available for and adequately shared with staff, volunteers, and community members.
• Ensure close collaboration with partners to enhance adequate referrals, including health agencies, child protection agencies, UNHCR, and other relevant actors.
• Ensure regular communication with the Deputy WPE Coordinator, Field Coordinator and other internal departments regarding the project’s progress and processes.
• Lead the economic empowerment component of the project by overseeing the Senior Livelihoods Officer and the relationship with the livelihoods implementing partner(s)
• 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.

• Minimum of a bachelor’s degree in public health, social sciences or related field. At least 5 years of professional experience working on humanitarian, development or nexus programs. Experience in Sexual and Reproductive Health programming preferred, including family planning, gender-based violence (GBV) and HIV.
• Experience in project managing large-scale, multi-sector projects, including supervising various technical staff in multiple locations.
• Experience providing technical assistance in MNCH, RH/FP/HIV services
• Knowledge of the local government healthcare, education and social protection systems and experience working with government stakeholders in a system strengthening and coordination capacity.
• 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.

Competencies

• 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.