About US:
Catholic Relief Services (CRS) in an international non-profit organization that carries out the commitment of the Bishops of the United States to assist the poor and vulnerable overseas. Our Catholic identity is at the heart of our mission and operations. We welcome as a part of our staff and as partners’ people of all faiths and secular traditions who share our values and our commitment to serving those in need.
About USAID SOCY Project:
CRS Uganda is implementing a five year USAID-funded program that will serve 625,000 orphans and vulnerable children and 101,500 families in 17 districts in Western and Central Uganda. This program is the Sustainable Outcomes for Children and Youth in Central and Western Uganda (SOCY). CRS leads a consortium that includes key local implementing partners, Action for Community Development (ACODEV), African Network for Prevention and Protection against Child Abuse and Neglect (ANPPCAN), and TPO Uganda. International implementing and resource partners include Palladium, the Institute of Reproductive Health (IRH), Center for Creative Leadership (CCL) and Living Goods. The program will improve outcomes for vulnerable children and youth by strengthening the system that surrounds them. Caregivers will have greater economic opportunities to increase their resilience and therefore be less susceptible to shocks; local government structures and CSOs will be strengthened to provide services targeting the diverse needs of vulnerable children; and health and social service agencies will strengthen their coordination and referral systems to provide integrated care along the continuum of response.
Job Summary: The Project Officer DREAMS will provide technical leadership to the design and roll out of the SOCY DREAMS expansion strategy to all program districts with the aim to improving the health and social lives of AGYWs, families and their communities. Based on SOCY lessons learned from the original three SOCY DREAMS districts (Mityana, Gomba and Rakai), the Coordinator will support CSOs to develop DREAMS implementation plans and budgets, identify trainers and manage the training process in all relevant DREAMS packages at different levels. The DREAMS Coordinator will work collaboratively with the Referrals and Linkages Officer to ensure that beneficiaries receive comprehensive interventions as per DREAMS requirements, the Monitoring and Evaluation Unit for tracking and reporting of DREAMS interventions and with the Education Subsidy Officer to ensure DREAMS is supportive of retention and completion of school especially for adolescent girls. The Coordinator with support from the Services and Linkages Technical Manager will facilitate vertical collaboration between the three program result areas to maximize existing program interventions for effective delivery of services. The Coordinator will be required to actively participate in all relevant USG, IP and LG stakeholder meetings, as well as District DREAMS coordination/planning meetings. The Coordinator will be expected to travel to the districts frequently to provide on-site technical assistance to CSOs to ensure effective, timely and high quality program implementation.
Key Duties and Responsibilities:
Oversee the planning and implementation of the DREAMS program at the community and District levels
Provide technical leadership in the design of DREAMS roll out strategy in the current non-DREAMS districts under SOCY while ensuring strengthened, high quality and effective implementation in the current DREAMS district
Render support to the Services and Linkages Technical Manager to develop DREAMS activity work plans and budgets in the three DREAMS pilot and roll out districts
Support CSO and Districts to plan and coordinate enrolment and retention of AGYW (10-24 years old) into individual segments to facilitate access to core community and facility based DREAMS services
The incumbent will also plan and manage all training processes in the different DREAMS interventions ensuring use of recommended evidence based curricula, certified trainers and eligible trainees
Provide regular on-site technical assistance to all implementing districts ensuring high quality implementation and keeping track of timelines
The incumbent will facilitate the linkages and integration of DREAMS with the overall SOCY OVC Program
Actively participate in all DREAMS planning and coordination activities/meetings at the IP, District and National levels.
Work in liaison with the line sector heads and technical staff from District departments of Community based services, health and Education and other USG implementing partners at district level to ensure layering, tracking and reporting of DREAMS services
Work closely with SOCY IPs and CSOs to plan and coordinate agency and donor technical support visits
Collect and document success stories and best practices in the implementation of DREAMS activities
Qualifications, Skills and Experience:
The ideal candidate for the USAID SOCY Project Officer DREAMS job placement must hold a University Degree in Social Sciences, Social Work, Public Administration or any Public Health or HIV/AIDS training would be an advantage
At least five years’ experience working in HIV/AIDS programs with focus on adolescent sexual reproductive health and youth programs
Prior exposure and experience in the management and implementation of USG funded HIV Prevention and/or OVC Programs including supervision and reporting
Extensive knowledge and experience working with the local government structures
Knowledge and experience in managing and facilitating community-facility service linkages
Skills and knowledge in managing and implementation of multiple partner programs
Knowledge of OVC, HIV prevention, behavior change and communication, sexual reproductive health, gender mainstreaming into HV and AIDS programming
High degree of adaptability to accommodate rapidly changing expectations, plans and deliverables
Ability to manage multiple priorities and tasks
Ability to work under pressure and produce high quality results/outputs
Exceptional interpersonal skills with all ages are required.
Excellent written and oral communication skills are required.
Ability to pay attention to details
High degree of adaptability to new ideas and learning
Ability to work effectively both independently and/ or in a team environment
Ability and willingness to travel 60% of the time.
Agency-Wide Competences (for all CRS Staff): Serves with Integrity, Models Stewardship, Cultivates Constructive Relationships, Promotes Learning
How to Apply:
All suitably qualified and interested candidates should send a cover letter, updated CV, testimonials and three work references (names and contact information only) to ug_recruitment@crs.org or submit hard copy to Catholic Relief Services, Plot 577, Block 15, Nsambya Road, P.O Box: 30086 Kampala.
Deadline: 7th August 2017 by 5:00pm.