About the DREAMS Project

CARE International in Uganda, with support from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF), is implementing the DREAMS project, Delivering Resilient Enterprises and Market Systems, which seeks to enhance the economic resilience of 340,000 women over three years. The project promotes gender-transformative Women's Economic Empowerment (WEE) by advancing inclusive policies, catalyzing enterprise growth, and strengthening market systems that work for women.

 Implemented in close collaboration with the Ministry of Gender, Labor and Social Development (MGLSD) and the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development (MoFPED), DREAMS leverages Savings Groups (SGs) and Women-Led Enterprises as core platforms to strengthen socio-economic resilience and promote inclusive micro, small, and medium enterprise (MSME) development. Special attention is given to underserved and displaced refugee women entrepreneurs across Northern and Southwestern Uganda.

 In alignment with CARE’s digital financial inclusion agenda, the project integrates the rollout of the Digital Data Trail for Credit (DDT4C) initiative, supporting the digitalization of women’s businesses and financial journeys. Through targeted support to Digital Community Entrepreneurs (DCEs), the project facilitates women's access to affordable credit and digital services, ultimately aiming to unlock sustainable business growth and strengthen the broader entrepreneurial ecosystem for women.

1. Scope of work

The EMA maternity cover is critical to the effective execution, coordination, and oversight of the DREAMS Project’s multifaceted activities and partnerships at the field level. This role will also play a key part in aligning with and supporting the rollout of the Digital Data Trail for Credit (DDT4C) initiative, including hands-on support and monitoring of Digital Community Entrepreneurs (DCEs) in the digitalization of savings groups and women entrepreneurs, with a strong emphasis on enhancing access to credit.

 In addition to coordinating capacity-sharing efforts with implementing partners, the EMA maternity cover will lead the monitoring and reporting of project implementation progress. The position will oversee the development and rollout of enterprise and market systems and guide private sector engagement strategies. A central responsibility will be driving the development and refinement of inclusive business strategies aimed at scaling women-led businesses from micro-enterprises to small and medium enterprises (SMEs).

 Furthermore, the EMA maternity cover will provide direct training and ongoing support to 42 Village Savings and Loan Association (VSLA) groups in Bushenyi District, ensuring quality implementation of the VSLA methodology and fostering linkages to digital and financial services through the DDT4C platform.1.2 Specific tasks.

2. Strategic Oversight and Partnership Management

• Provide strategic oversight and managerial support to DREAMS Project Officers and Volunteers in line with CARE’s policies and standards.
• Build the capacity of implementing partners, staff, and volunteers through technical backstopping, refresher training sessions, and continuous skills enhancement, particularly in supporting digital and market-based approaches.
• Support partner implementation by co-developing activity work plans, offering real-time technical assistance, and ensuring effective communication and coordination with private sector actors and other stakeholders.
• Ensure regular monitoring, verification, and quality assurance of partner activities; review narrative reports, track milestone achievements, and ensure timely submission of deliverables for procurement and finance processing.
• Work closely with the Project Manager and project staff to maintain work quality, strengthen team integration, and enhance overall performance.
• Foster strong partnerships and open communication with key stakeholders, including local governments, ministries (MoFPED and MGLSD), private sector actors, and women’s groups to ensure the successful implementation of DREAMS activities.
• In alignment with the DDT4C initiative, oversee and support the rollout and performance of Digital Community Entrepreneurs (DCEs) in promoting the digitalization of savings groups and women-led enterprises to expand access to credit and market opportunities.

B) Promotion of Gender Equality, Diversity, and Safeguarding Practices

• Demonstrate behavior aligned with CARE’s core values, with an active commitment to gender equity, diversity, and inclusion.
• Provide oversight and technical guidance to Women’s Rights Organizations (WROs) and Women-Led Organizations (WLOs) in the implementation of gender-transformative components of the DREAMS project.
• Champion the integration of gender-responsive strategies into enterprise development, digital financial inclusion, and market systems interventions.
• Lead the identification and execution of initiatives that advance CARE’s commitment to gender equality and diversity across project interventions.
• Ensure full adherence to CARE’s Safeguarding policies and procedures by all project personnel and stakeholders under their supervision, both directly and indirectly.

C) Monitoring, Reporting, and Documentation

• Track and verify implementation of DREAMS project interventions, including digital market development efforts under the DDT4C framework and other enterprise support initiatives.
• Guide and facilitate periodic reviews of market engagement approaches, identifying and sharing emerging best practices that support the growth of women-led MSMEs.
• Prepare and submit regular reports and updates on the progress of women entrepreneurs, with specific attention to digital adoption, enterprise growth, and credit access.
• Monitor the impact of advocacy strategies and contribute to their ongoing refinement in response to changing dynamics in the ecosystem.
• Lead and participate in monthly, quarterly, and bi-annual partner coordination, reflection, and learning sessions to inform adaptive programming and innovation across DREAMS.

• Collaborate with the MEAL team to leverage data and evidence in shaping adaptive learning strategies, especially those aimed at enhancing youth engagement and efficiency in agricultural and market systems.
• Drive the documentation and dissemination of lessons learned, success stories, and best practices to inform strategic decision-making and promote knowledge sharing across the project and partners.

D) Any other duties assigned from time to time

·        Provide ongoing support to the Country Office in strategically engaging with locally led partner organizations, as needed.

·        Perform any other duties or assignments as delegated by the Supervisor.

3. Key Outputs:

• Monthly Activity Reports: Timely and comprehensive reports documenting activities implemented, progress made, challenges encountered, and key learnings.
• Monthly Workplans: Clear, actionable workplans outlining planned activities, timelines, and deliverables aligned with project goals and implementation schedules.
• MERL Support Outputs: Accurate and up-to-date data submissions to Monitoring, Evaluation, Research, and Learning (MERL) systems, including tools such as Kobo Toolbox and other relevant platforms, contributing to data-driven project decision-making.
• End-of-Engagement/Handover Report: A well-documented summary report detailing key accomplishments, lessons learned, pending actions, and clear recommendations to support continuity and effective transition.

4. Qualifications and Experience

Minimum Academic Qualification:

• A bachelor’s degree in business administration, Social Sciences, Economics, Entrepreneurship and Business Development, or a related field from a recognized institution. A post graduate diploma in any field is a MUST.

Required Experience and Competencies:

• Minimum of five (5) years of relevant professional experience in the NGO sector, private sector, or Government, preferably in technical roles supporting development programs in one or more of the following areas:
• Enterprise development
• Market systems development
• Private sector engagement
• Pro-poor financial services
• SME development
• Women’s Economic Empowerment (WEE)
• Demonstrated experience engaging with diverse stakeholders at local, national, regional, and international levels.
• Proven ability in report writing and developing abstracts that contribute to program learning and knowledge sharing.
• Strong digital literacy for business, particularly in supporting digital solutions for women-led enterprises.
• Proficiency in data collection and analysis tools, like Kobo Toolbox and Excel, with the ability to generate insights from data.
• Solid training and facilitation skills, including the ability to mobilize communities, build capacity, and foster collaboration among development partners.
• Excellent communication skills—both written and spoken English—with proficiency in MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and other relevant tools.
• Strong analytical and quantitative skills, including the ability to identify trends, interpret data, and recommend actionable solutions.

5. Contract Duration

This is a temporary position for a maternity cover  until August 2025.