Uganda: Project Manager II – Child Protection and Care (Re-Advertised)

Country/Location: Uganda/Kampala

About Catholic Relief Services:

Catholic Relief Services (CRS) is an international non-governmental organization (NGO) supporting relief and development work in over 100 countries around the world. CRS carries out the commitment of the Bishops of the United States to assist the poor and vulnerable overseas. CRS' Catholic identity is at the heart of our mission and operations, serving people based on 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 western, central, and eastern Uganda. CRS' projects in Uganda currently include agriculture, health, microfinance, peacebuilding, and youth. CRS Uganda implements its programs through partnerships with local organizations, including the Catholic Church, other faith-based organizations, and community entities for maximum impact and sustainability.

Project Background:

As part of its Vision 2030 agency strategy, CRS is investing in six strategic change platforms to achieve results at scale. One of these key strategic change platforms is Strengthening Families for Thriving Children Strategic Change Platform 5 (SCP5). This Strategic Change Platform is a bold initiative to support vulnerable children to thrive in safe, healthy, and nurturing families, create more resilient and supportive communities, work with our Catholic partners, civil society and governments to establish policies and systems that strengthen families. SCP5 also aims to influence governments, donors, Catholic actors and other regional and global stakeholders to redirect resources and support to strengthening families.

The platform is implemented across CRS country programs, one of which is Uganda. CRS Uganda is leveraging success from its protection focused programs, 4Children and SOCY to achieve national care reform at scale in Uganda, by influencing other actors in the sector to change practices, policies and resources in support of family strengthening and family care.

Job Summary:

The Project Manager is responsible for providing high-level social welfare and child protection oversight as well as quality assurance to the project staff and partners. The project Manager provides technical guidance, coordinates and supports local implementing partners. S/he also promotes active coordination and collaboration between external care reform projects working on care reform in the country. S/he leads country program efforts to pre-position CRS for strategic opportunities in Child Protection and Care Reform, plays a catalytic role and provides technical guidance in country strategy development, proposal development and project design with a focus on scale. In addition, the Project Manager will liase and collaborate with the Strategic Change Platform five global team, particularly the Regional Family Care Advisor and the Senior Technical Advisor for Family Strengthening and Alternative Care

Specific Responsibilities: 

Program Quality: 

• Ensure that project implementation is in line with the projects’ technical approach, approved work plan, and that project deliverables meet expected technical quality standards.
• Coordinate, support, and monitor project activities to ensure technical adherence to international social welfare and child protection standards, documented best practices and relevant donor guidelines, by both project staff and implementing partners.
• Together with local partners, develop and provide training to all project staff on child protection and safeguarding policies that meet CRS’ policies on the protection of vulnerable children and adults - ensuring safeguarding mechanisms are active and effective throughout project duration.
• Maintain regular communication with the SCP5 Regional Family Care Advisor and ensure key changes in approach and focus are done in consultation with the SCP5 global team, CRS Director Health and Social Services, DHOP, and relevant project Consortium focal points.

Program Management and Administration: 

• Serve as the main technical point of contact for implementing partners to provide support and guidance, identify and address emerging issues, problem-solve and troubleshoot technical issues.
• In consultation with Director H4S, coordinate, support and monitor the implementation of project activities in line with the project’s technical approach and approved work plan and budget.
• Oversee the development, implementation and review of monthly plans to monitor progress of expected outputs and deliverables. This monitoring includes guiding CRS staff and consortium partners to address emerging issues identified by stakeholders throughout the planning and execution of the project.
• Facilitate coordination between implementing partners, CRS and MGLSD.
• Provide technical support and guidance to implementing partners and other collaborating agencies to ensure that project objectives are achieved to the highest technical standards.
• Support the identification of technical assistance and capacity building needs and coordinate the delivery of targeted interventions to strengthen local capacity in collaboration with the global technical advisors from the SCP5 platform.
• Ensure project implementation is in accordance with CRS programming principles and CRS core values and engage country program staff as needed.

Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability, and Learning (MEAL): 

• Work closely with staff and partners to ensure that project monitoring data are analyzed and used for program planning, monitoring, learning and performance measurement.
• Contribute to the development of required project narrative reports, quarterly performance data, as well as other reports needed/required by the local government, donors, the CRS regional office or headquarters. This input includes accurate and timely reporting.
• Support the identification, documentation and dissemination of project results in various forms, including abstracts, PowerPoint presentations, case studies and support programming learning exchanges within and outside of Uganda.

Strategic Leadership: 

• Lead country program efforts to pre-position CRS for strategic opportunities in Child Protection and Care to play a catalytic role in collaboration with the CP BD Specialist, Director H4S, and other key program staff.
• Provide technical guidance in country strategy development, proposal development and project design with a focus on scale.

Partnership and Representation: 

• Liaise with Government of Uganda authorities, particularly MGLSD in relation to programmatic and technical matters.
• Engage project consortium 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 with key stakeholders engaged in social welfare strengthening and child protection – including government, civil society, faith-based organizations, learning institutions and UN agencies.
• Represent CRS at national forums to present CRS’ work in catalyzing outcomes at scale to influence technical partner approaches, donor funding practices, and policies.
• Network with relevant organizations to increase CRS’ profile as a catalyst for scale, actively contribute to stakeholders and donor understanding of the factors that enable locally led scale

Qualification:

• Master’s degree in social work, Public Health, International Development or a related field.
• Eight (8) years of experience in programs focused on child protection, family strengthening, case management and reintegration; experience with social welfare systems strengthening, OVC and/or social welfare workforce capacity development strongly preferred.
• Demonstrated knowledge and technical capacity in child protection programming, including an understanding of the issues facing separated children and families in vulnerable contexts.
• Experience with capacity building - particularly of local implementing partners - as well as working in partnership or consortia.
• Knowledge of national government institutions and policies related to child protection and alternative care.
• Previous experience of working and collaborating with national government institutions.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (SKAs): 

• Commitment to uphold CRS agency standards, policies and procedures, and comply with donor requirements.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills in English required.
• Proficiency in the use of Microsoft Office suite, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook.
• Strong critical thinking, creative problem-solving and organizational skills.
• Demonstrated experience working successfully in cross-disciplinary teams and facilitating team efforts in the workplace, as well as working independently.
• Proactive, results-oriented and service-oriented.
• Attention to details, accuracy and timeliness in executing assigned responsibilities.
• Ability to travel within Uganda on a regular basis (estimated at a minimum of 30 percent).
• Willingness to travel outside of Uganda to attend conferences, workshops or other related activities.

Supervision and Coaching/Mentoring Responsibilities: 

• The Project Manager will supervise the Senior Project Officer – Child protection and Care; Officer, Household Economic Strengthening and Officer, MEAL.
• S/he will also provide support in mentoring project and partner staff and will provide technical guidance as required by the project.

Key Working Relationships: 

Internal: CRS Director Health and Social Services; DHOP; Monitoring Evaluation, Accountability and Learning (MEAL) manager; SCP5 Regional Family care Advisor, SCP5 Senior Technical Advisor – Family strengthening and Alternative Care, SCP5 MEAL Advisor; Consortium Partners; Child’s I Foundation; Home Free, Association of Religious in Uganda.

External: Ministry of Gender, Labour, and Social Development: Alternative Care Implementation Unit; District Local Government, including Department of Community-based Services (DCS); other networks (civil society and faith-based) engaged in child protection and care reform.

DISCLAIMER CLAUSE:

This job description is not an exhaustive list of skills, effort, duties and responsibilities associated with the position.

Our Catholic identity is at the heart of our mission and operations. Catholic Relief Services carries out the commitment of the Bishops of the United States to assist the poor and vulnerable overseas. We welcome as a part of our staff people of all faiths and secular traditions who share our values and our commitment to serving those in need. CRS’ processes and policies reflect our commitment to protecting children and vulnerable adults from abuse and exploitation.

By applying to this job, I understand and acknowledge that CRS requires its staff to treat all people with dignity and respect and to actively prevent harassment, abuse, exploitation, and human trafficking. Further, I understand that if I am a successful candidate, I will be subject to a comprehensive background check, and my personal/professional references will be asked to evaluate my behaviors related to the above safeguarding related topics.

CRS Uganda is an Equal Opportunity Employer!

How to Apply: 

To apply for this position please Click Here. The deadline for receiving applications is no later than August 4, 2023, before 5 PM.