PROGRAM/ DEPARTMENT SUMMARY:
Mercy Corps Uganda does high-quality, analytical work in very difficult places. We have been operating in Uganda since 2006 and currently implement development programs in the Acholi and Karamoja sub-regions of Uganda with funding from USAID, EC, SDC, and USDA. Mercy Corps Uganda is nearly three years into a market-development focused USAID/Food for Peace-funded program –the Growth, Health and Governance (GHG) program. A gender strategy was developed for GHG in the first two years and was overseen and implemented by a gender advisor, two gender officers and sector teams. As the program moves into its final three years of implementation, and the team learns from and adapts its interventions to better suit the needs of the local context, it requires assistance from an experienced gender and youth expert who can lead integration efforts, with the support of two gender officers, but also identify areas where the program can better meet the needs of young people, with an emphasis on vulnerable groups.
GENERAL POSITION SUMMARY:
The Gender, Youth and Vulnerable Groups Team Leader will be responsible for overseeing the implementation of cross-sectoral gender, youth and vulnerable groups integration strategies aimed at ensuring that program activities result in equal outcomes for male and female beneficiaries of different age groups and socio-economic backgrounds across target communities. S/he will have overall responsibility for building team capacity to integrate a gender and youth perspective into program activities; work closely with sector team leads and gender officers to ensure the effective and timely execution of activities related to gender and age-based access to opportunities n; support the M&EL team to include a gender and youth perspective in research, mid-term and end-line evaluations and to mainstream sex and age disaggregated and gender sensitive indicators into the overall M&EL framework.
ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:
Technical Capacity
• Lead sectorally-focused gender and youth mainstreaming trainings for all team members.
• Oversee the implementation of GHG’s gender, youth and vulnerable groups’ integration strategies and adapt and improve strategies as needed
• Assist GHG team to apply gender analysis and youth analysis to current program activities and with new program design.
• Coordinate gender and youth team activities with other GHG team leaders during regular planning and coordination sessions.
• Identify the need for and supervise the implementation of activities designed to promote greater access, inclusion and empowerment for traditionally excluded groups (Karamajong traders, adult women, young males, adolescent girls etc.) in the areas of economic development, health and governance and at the household and community levels.
• Work closely with the M&E team to ensure sex and age disaggregated and gender sensitive data is collected and analyzed in line with Mercy Corps’ Design for Impact Guide (DIG) recommendations
• Assist team in identifying barriers to recruiting and retaining female program staff and maintaining a gender friendly work environment.
SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITY:
ACCOUNTABILITY:
REPORTS DIRECTLY TO: Chief of Party, with dotted reporting line to ESA Regional Gender Advisor
WORKS DIRECTLY WITH: Deputy Chief of Party, Sector team leads, M&EL manager, HR/Admin, Youth Technical team in Portland
KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:
- Bachelors degree or diploma in international development, women’s studies, gender or a comparable area of study
- At least five years of experience in youth civic engagement and/or economic engagement, gender, and development work; with a minimum of three years in field postings
- Substantial professional background and experience in conducting gender training, gender mainstreaming, SGBV prevention and response and Positive Youth Development (PYD), including market-based employment, civic engagement and participatory M&EL methods.
- Experience working in Northern Uganda a must
- Karamoja language skills strongly preferred
- Experience working in large scale, complex programs and challenging environments
- Proficiency with Microsoft Office
SUCCESS FACTORS:
- Exceptional verbal and written communication skills
- Strong training and facilitation skills
- Ability and willingness to both lead and follow as appropriate
- Comfortable working in a dynamic environment with shifting needs and priorities
- Has an internal and external network of gender experts to draw upon as needed
HOW TO APPLY:
Applications: Email your application including a cover letter clearly stating your salary requirements, CV (with 3 referees), and copies of academic qualifications/certificates to the HR/Admin Manager, tomcjobs@ug.mercycorps.org . Deadline for Submission:Close of business on Friday 10th July 2015 .Only short-listed candidates will be contacted by Mercy Corps. National posting ; female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.
