About CARE

CARE is a global leader within a worldwide movement dedicated to ending poverty. We are known everywhere for our unshakeable commitment to defending the dignity of people. CARE works around the globe to save lives, defeat poverty and achieve social justice. We seek a world of hope, tolerance and social justice, where poverty has been overcome and all people live with dignity and security. We put women and girls in the centre of our work because we know that we cannot overcome poverty until all people have equal rights and opportunities. CARE has been working in Uganda for over 50 years, and in 2019/2020, CARE improved lives of 2.6 million people (62% women). Our ambition for the next five years is to reach 10 million people, through our lifesaving, resilience building and gender transformative programs. CARE Uganda current portfolio is approximately $8 million annually, funded through a combination of institutional donors like the European Union, ECHO, DANIDA, ADA, UN Agencies like UNFPPA and UNWOMEN, foundations like Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and private donations. CARE Uganda’s new business plan (2021-2025) aims to grow the annual portfolio to approximately $10-12 million, reaching 10 million people by 2025. The portfolio will focus on Livelihoods, Climate Resilience, GBV, SRH and Emergency. In addition to gender equality, resilience, and inclusive governance, which is the core of CARE programming, the new business plan pays attention to disaster preparedness, urban programming, and humanitarian-development nexus.

Job Summary

The Initiative Manager (IM) is directly responsible for managing an Austria Development Cooperation (ADC) [LS1] five-year (2024-2029) funded project through CARE Austria- Gender Equality and Resilience (GEAR) Project. The project is implemented in two countries Rwanda and Uganda.  In Uganda, the project is being implemented Northern Region, Arua City; Terego District, including Omugo Refugee Settlement; Gulu City.  The project aims at strengthening women's and girls’ rights, resilience and well-being in the context of these challenges by addressing social and economic marginalization and amplifying voice and leadership, all while building economic and social resilience

The IM’s primary responsibility is to provide technical guidance and support to project staff, the partners- WROs/WLOs (CEFORD, Feminature, ThriveGulu), and project beneficiaries. The IM is responsible for the day-to-day management of the project, human resource management, planning, and timely and quality implementation of activities in line with the approved proposal and work plans. S/he is responsible for accurate and timely financial management of the grant in line with the approved budget. The IM provides oversight on implementation with the WRO/WLOs partners and collaboration with consortium members, and district leaders and ensures that the project under his/her management is compliant with CARE Uganda and specific donor rules and regulations. The IM will manage assets assigned to the project; ensure timely and on spot monitoring, evaluation, and reporting. This position reports to the Gender Justice Program Manager and collaborates with all CARE Uganda programs namely Emergency, Livelihoods and Climate Justice. The IM will keep in contact and coordinate with key strategic partners at national and district levels; CARE Member Partners (CMPs) and line ministries and ensure timely information sharing and collaboration.

SPECIFIC RESPONSIBILITIES AND TASKS:

Job Responsibility 1: Overall Project Management and technical direction to the core components of the project (30% )

1.1.   Responsible for overall project management to facilitate integrated programming through the development and monitoring of a joint Detailed Implementation Plan for the project, incorporating DIPs for the WROs/WLOs who are partners;

1.2.   Monitor overall project implementation as well as the budget and propose adaptations on time;

1.3.   Ongoing guidance to team members to fulfill project goals and objectives.

1.4.   Ensure compliance with donor rules and regulations by CARE and implementing partners with localization agenda and gender transformation as integral part;

1.5.   Conduct and document project inception and close-out meetings with all implementing partners/stakeholders and as per CARE Award and Sub Award policy;

1.6.   Produce quality consolidated reports including establishing joint reporting, planning and monitoring tools and mechanisms, in close cooperation with relevant staff of Implementing partners and the finance department;

Job Responsibility 2:  Project Quality and Learning (20%)

2.1  Provide strategic guidance in unifying and integrating approaches and models between implementing partners in different geographical areas and result areas with support from Technical staff and MEAL staff since GEAR is an integrated project bringing together evidence-based models/approaches (locally-led, SAA, CSC, Y/VSLAs, Evidence-based advocacy/policy dialogue, etc.) and testing innovations (market linkages, working on urban poverty etc.) requiring an integrated approach;

2.2  Responsible for overseeing the implementation and further development of the project’s integrated Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability, and Learning (MEAL) framework, with support from the MEAL Team and CARE Austria, including a common beneficiary database that can be used by implementing partners;  

2.3  Ensure the project planned evaluations are conducted in a timely and quality manner;

2.4  Ensure measures for cross-learning and reflection as a project team, accountability, ongoing monitoring of progress and results through the use of shared monitoring tools and accountability minimum standards throughout the life of the project;

Responsibility 3: Operational, Human, Financial and Administrative Management (15%)

3.1. Responsible for the overall management of project resources - human, financial and assets in line with donor and CARE rules and regulations;

3.2. Supervises a team of staff as per CARE HR Manual (ensuring timely goal setting, feedback, performance assessments, coaching, mentoring) and indirectly supervises senior staff from implementing partners;

3.3. Ensure the project develops costed action plans, procurement plans, and cash projections/forecasts promptly to allow for appropriate cash flow and availability of goods and services,

3.4. Create or adapt management systems in line with CARE’s standard operating procedures, ensuring consistency with project needs.

3.5. Oversee flows of funds to implementing partners and CARE Uganda by CAUT and review both financial and narrative reports from IPs to CAUT, in close coordination with the CARE Finance Team;

3.6. Oversee overall performance of implementing partners sub-contracted by CARE Uganda together with the Grants and Contracts team; Ensure ongoing capacity building at institutional, organizational, and technical levels, including attention to Gender Equity and Diversity

3.7. Ensure adherence of IPs to approved budgets, regularly collect and report to the Program Management Unit and Project Steering Committee on overall burn rates, and prepare proposals on budget reallocations with / for IPs and / or CARE Uganda when needed;

Responsibility 4: Planning and Coordination (15%)

4.1 Ensure effective mechanisms for joint planning, integrated implementation, joint & participatory monitoring and management between project staff and IP staff;

4.2 Support effective mechanisms for information sharing and cooperation among project team, including implementing partners' staff at all levels (Arua and Gulu Cities and in Omugo Extension – Refugee settlement);

4.3 4.4 Ensure effective mechanisms for information sharing and cooperation with other complementary initiatives/projects with which GEAR collaborates (e.g. city authorities/settlement working groups, private sector actors), including organizing regular coordination meetings as needed; 

Responsibility #5 Coordination with authorities and actors (10%)

5.1 Responsible for developing and/or strengthening excellent working relations with various actors about the project with the team Project Manager and stakeholders in Uganda including (I) the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM) at the settlement level, (ii) Arua and Gulu City authorities and (iii) in close collaboration and coordination with other CARE representatives in the regions;

5.2 Responsible for ensuring good relationships with relevant local councils, including Refugee Welfare Council authorities for work in settlements, Youth Councils, Women Councils, etc.; 

5.3 Responsible for closely coordinating with other agencies working on similar issues in the targeted areas, (e.g. UNHCR on Protection and GBV in settlements, District level NGO Coordination, etc.) and ensure the project is well represented in the various relevant technical working groups and coordination meetings at settlement and district level while positioning CARE overall and not presenting WAYREP in a siloed standalone manner to external actors; 

5.4 Build and maintain productive working relationships with CAUT, in particular ensure good communication and collaboration with CAUT coordinator and technical experts;

5.5 In agreement with CD and CAUT, engage with ADA Representation in Uganda to prepare monitoring visits, participate in meetings and send regular updates, etc. 

5.6 Responsible for all external representation of the project at meetings, events, conferences, and other fora, to key stakeholders, providing them with information about project objectives, risks, constraints, and progress;

6.1   Practice a behavior that is consistent with CARE’s core values and promotion of gender equity and diversity goals;

6.2 Play a leadership role in identifying and implementing initiatives that enhance CARE’s commitment to gender and diversity.

6.3 Ensure that CARE Safeguarding policies and procedures are adhered to by all and the staff that S/he supervisors both directly or indirectly

6.4 Ensure that staff and related personnel as well as partner staff are familiar with the following organizational policies and procedures, can apply them and identify breaches; The CI Safeguarding Policy, Protection from Sexual Harassment, Exploitation and Abuse and Child Abuse, The anti-discrimination and harassment policy, The Code of conduct.

6.5.  Ensure that an effective Complaints, Reporting and Feedback system in place for the whole project staff, beneficiaries and third parties;

7.0 Other Responsibilities 5%

Perform any other duties as assigned a competent CARE Authority.

RELATIONSHIPS AND COLLABORATION:

This is a middle-level management position in CARE and it is therefore important that the position holder exercises both sensitivity and responsiveness to the needs of the program, staff and partners, as well as the mission, program directions, policies, procedure and core values of CARE International.  S/he will have close and joint planning, coordination, and collaboration with Greater North Humanitarian staff, and implementing partners. In addition, collaboration with governmental (Local district governments) and non-governmental counterparts (other INGOs) and stakeholders (UNHCR) is essential. S/he will coordinate relevant activities of implementing partners with other CARE programs when relevant and communicate and cooperate with CAUT as well as various Care International Technical Experts as appropriate.

WORK CONDITIONS

The position is based in Gulu and will operate from CARE Gulu Sub office. A significant amount of time (at least 50%) is expected to be spent in West Nile region and in the refugee settlement and host communities, liaising with partners, local government and stakeholders within the area of operations. It is essential that the IM maintains a close effective presence in the field to ensure proper management supervision, guidance and leadership on field activities. However, s/he will be required to travel to Kampala and elsewhere, including potentially abroad, from time to time for meetings, training events, among others.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATION AND EXPERIENCE

The IM should have a suitable combination of experience and relevant training in the following technical and programmatic requirements for the post

• BA in gender/women studies, social sciences, social work, development studies, economics or related field
• At least 5 years proven management experience of complex projects, of which a minimum of three years should be as Project Manager and leading or managing a team of implementing partners;
• At least three-year experience with gender advocacy strategies and action at local and national levels
• A minimum of three-years’ experience with humanitarian, protection and gender based violence programming is required; 
• Solid understanding of livelihoods and women economic empowerment especially through VSLAs and income generation, apprenticeship and skills development.
•  Commitment to gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls demonstrated by personal action;
•  Demonstrated capacity to lead professional teams for success;
• Timely decision making, building effective teams, problem solving, functional/ technical skills, strategic agility and cross-cultural sensitivity

Required Competencies

• Excellence: Sets high standards of performance for self and/or others; successfully completes assignments; ensures interactions and transactions are ethical and convey integrity.
• Integrity: Maintains social, ethical and organizational norms; firmly adheres to codes of conduct and ethical principles inherent to CARE.
• Communicating with Impact: Diplomatically, logically and clearly conveying information and ideas through a variety of media to individuals or groups in a manner that engages the recipient / audience and helps them understand and retain their message.
• Facilitating Change: Supports and manages the change process at CARE Uganda by developing a culture affirmative of change; encouraging others to seek and act upon opportunities for different and innovative approaches to addressing problems and opportunities; critically analyzing evolving and fluid situations; facilitating the implementation and acceptance of change within the workplace; actively engaging with resistance to change.
• Strengthening Partnership: Identifying and utilizing opportunities within and outside of CARE Uganda to develop effective strategic relationships between one’s area and other areas/departments/units or external organizations to achieve CARE’s objectives.
• Management Excellence: Makes the connection between values and performance. Influences the performance of others, and ultimately, the performance of the organization. Sets direction, coaches & develops, promotes staff wellness & safety, practices & promotes compliance, models gender equity & diversity, communicates effectively.
• Developing Teams: Using appropriate methods and a flexible interpersonal style to help build a cohesive team; facilitates the completion of team goals.
• Diversity - Promoting, valuing, respecting and fully benefiting from each individual’s unique qualities, background, race, culture, age, gender, disability, values, lifestyle, perspectives or interests; creating and maintaining a work environment that promotes diversity.
• Adaptability- Expected to well adjust with the country, the CO operating environment and with the Project team to function effectively and efficiently
• Coaching - Ability to demonstrate to enhance skills and capacity of staff working in the field and office for them continue to serve CARE in the future program activities