PROGRAM/DEPARTMENT SUMMARY:
Mercy Corps has been operating in Uganda since 2006 and works to catalyze change makers within the Ugandan private sector, civil society and government to create economically dynamic, healthy and secure communities. Our works focus on building resilience and enabling economic growth, improving opportunities to attain better health and nutrition, and improving governance and conflict management. We implement programs in the northern districts of Pader, Kitgum, Agago, Lamwo, Kaabong, Abim, Kotido, Moroto, Napak, Nakapiripirit and Amudat with funding from USAID, USDA, Walmart Foundation, Nike Foundation, SDC, DFID as well as other private donations.
BRACED Mercy Corps is a consortium led by Mercy Corps that includes TANGO Intl, Makerere University, University of Nairobi and Wajir South Development Association (WASDA). BRACED Mercy Corps is being implemented in northern Uganda (Karamoja) as well as northern Kenya (Wajir County). The BRACED Mercy Corps programme is designed around three integrated thematic focus areas – Natural Resource Management and Lands, Market Systems Development and Governance and Gender Mainstreaming. We are in search of an inquisitive individual to support project staff in conducting research and gathering and analysing quantitative and qualitative data to help communicate the program’s impact to various audiences – stakeholders, donors and internal Mercy Corps team members.

GENERAL POSITION SUMMARY:
The Governance Team Leader will be responsible for overseeing program activities aimed at strengthening the horizontal and vertical linkages of governance with the aim of community development, advocacy and increased public sector support towards public projects, plans and budgets that enhance resilience. This includes leading community mobilization and engagement efforts, promoting engagement of local government departments, and advocating for strengthening of policies within the BRACED practice areas (water resources management, livestock and rangeland management, climate-smart agriculture, urban economic linkages).

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:
Program Implementation:
1. Develop and execute a cross sector strategy to resilience focused budgeting and activities within governance structures
2. Providing research, review, advocacy, coordination and support to policy formulation between remote communities in select districts of Karamoja, district-level government departments, and national level government Ministries.
3. Coordinating and supervising the implementation of sub program activities by leading local level Shared Learning Dialogue sessions between the BRACED Team and practice area line ministries. The SLDs will constitute a series of dialogue workshops that engage both public and private sector actors around innovation and learning for greater resilience.
4. Facilitating technical coordination of technical and financial, budget actors in interventions of the various PROGRESS practice areas to respond to current government strategic plans and community led initiatives.
5. Maintain strong, up-to date understand of the national and local-level policy environment, including donor initiatives and funded activities and public budgeting processes, timelines and prioritization.
6. Foster enhanced communication and collective planning across line ministries in a way that honors needs of communities with a focus on gender-sensitive policy and budget planning.
7. Identify women in positions of community and local government leadership for targeted technical trainings.
8. Lead the planning and coordination of targeted learning events that emphasize public-sector innovation around public-private ventures.
9. Support coordination of large-scale infrastructure projects and other elements of an enabling market environment that local and national governments should consider when attempting t invite private sector investment and market activity.
10. Strengthen the role of civil society by promoting civic agency, advocacy and participatory planning with the public sector and market actors including advocacy for long-term strategic planning around extractive industries.
11. nsure that women and girls are actively participating in community engagement processes and that issues affecting women are brought in to the public realm when addressing the strategies for government to support community-wide resilience.
12. Provide support, oversight and technical guidance to local civil society partners in Karamoja tasked with community engagement and advocacy.
13. Liaise between BRACED Consortium, local government counterparts, relief, aid and resilience agencies and bi-lateral organizations such as UN agencies that support planning and policy for development and management of natural resources and economic development.

KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:
• Advanced University Degree (Masters) in public administration, public policy, political science, or related field.
• At least five years of experience including three years in a senior management position in relevant field.
• Previous experience with and strong understanding of DFID rules, regulations and compliance issues
• Strong writing, communication, organization, prioritization and negotiating skills.
• Strong management skills, with good understanding of relevant cross-sector and cross-cultural issues.
• Experience contributing to donor-funded proposal processes including assessment, design, and writing
• Proven understanding of both urban and rural livelihoods systems, climate change adaptation strategies, public administration and resilience programming;
• Demonstrated knowledge of the Ugandan political context and the geo-political and socio-economic environment of northern Kenya.

HOW TO APPLY:
Applications: Submit your application through email to ug-mcjobs@mercycorps.org addressed to the Senior HR and Legal Manager, Mercy Corps Uganda. Include a cover letter clearly stating your salary requirements, CV (with 3 referees), and copies of academic qualifications/certificates. Deadline for Submission: Close of business on Wednesday, 29th March, 2017. Subject of email should include the position you are applying for. Only short-listed candidates will be contacted by Mercy Corps. Mercy Corps is an equal opportunity employer; qualified female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.