PROGRAM/DEPARTMENT SUMMARY:
Mercy Corps drives high quality, analytical work in tough places. We have been operating in Uganda since 2006 and currently manage a breadth of programs in Northern, Eastern and Karamoja regions with funding from a basket of donors. We partner with a range of private, public and civil society actors to systemically broaden opportunity for people across Northern, Eastern and Karamoja regions.
PEACE III, a 5 year USAID funded Program, implemented by Pact Kenya and Mercy Corps is designed to strengthen cross border Conflict Management in the Horn of Africa. It aims at strengthening horizontal and vertical linkages within and between local, national, and regional conflict management actors—working with and through local implementing partners to build the capacity of community peace leaders and organizations. PEACE III operates in 5 countries namely Uganda, Kenya, Ethiopia, Somalia and South Sudan in what is known as Karamoja and Somali Clusters. In Uganda, PEACE III is implemented in Karamoja region with an operational office in Moroto.

GENERAL POSITION SUMMARY:
The Learning and Communications Specialist is a key position in Program quality assurance, accountability, documentation and learning. The position will support program design, implementation and utilization of information collected at different stages. Under the direction of the Program Director for the Karamoja Cluster (Uganda, South Sudan, Kenya and Ethiopia), the position holder will be responsible for documentation, learning and communication. S/he will be responsible for documenting and cataloging stories/quotes for project descriptions and qualitative data use that feed into needs of Mercy Corps, its partners and donor reporting requirements.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:
Thought Leadership and Influence:
o Focus on key learnings in: conflict management, peacebuilding through formal and informal structures; private sector engagement; social impact; and other areas of interest to PEACE III project.
o Supplement program learning agendas by developing compelling thought leadership pieces, sharing of lessons learned, new innovations and best practices/case studies, both for external and internal use.
o Capture and write up stories from the field to articulate conflict and market system development and/or related sectors in action and ‘how’ and ‘why’ of project interactions with peace building and governance actors that can be shared internally and externally.
o Engage and collaborate with a range of partners and stakeholders to stimulate joint inquiry, analysis and reflection that lead to shared learning and collective action.
Learning and Knowledge Management:
o Assist in developing revamped internal document management systems and information flows, including the Mercy Corps’ shared document drive and others that aligns with the implementing partner’s information management.
o Develop and manage streamlined knowledge management system to efficiently manage the wealth of information produced by PEACE III partners and relevant external stakeholders and ensure the strategic use of this information to catalyze learning and evidence-based decision-making across the agency.
o Support data collection, analysis, organization and presentation;
o Participate in assessments, evaluations and monitoring surveys. This will entail trainings and management of data collectors, report writing and facilitating results discussion.
o Visit sites and partners to collect supplementary data and conduct qualitative research both independently and in teams.
o Establish database for partners working with the program and work closely with the program team to monitor progress.
o Maintain an active advisory role with each program team, train and help guide them towards robust and relevant data collection.
o Support the implementation of the Institutional strengthening plans with the PEACE III partners.

Communication:
o To lead in the implementation of PEACE III communication strategy;
o Provide oversight to program publications and visual outputs such as presentations so they are of high quality and are disseminated appropriately
o To take high quality outcome communicating program photographs.
o Blogging and or compiling other written releases or reports as required.
o Lead documentation of case studies, success stories, lessons learnt and other qualitative information for periodic communication.
o Design and update program communication materials and develop compelling thought leadership pieces, new innovations and best practices, and similar communication products tailored for a specific audience.
o Conducting, documenting and recording beneficiary interviews and sharing all learnings from the program.
o Work closely with program team members to develop and maintain an excellent communication, and facilitate periodic reflection and analysis of program monitoring information that feeds into programming and learning.

KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:
o Must hold at least a bachelor’s degree in Mass Communications, Information Science, Economics, or any relevant field
o At least 4 years of program management and communications experience
o Must have good writing and analytical skills
o Experience with Peace building and conflict management program
o Should have knowledge of quantitative and qualitative data collection, reporting techniques.
o Good skills in Microsoft Office, adobe publisher or similar publishing soft wares.
o Must be fluent both spoken and written English.
o Knowledge of Karamoja cluster is an added advantage.

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 Friday, 4th November, 2016. 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.