Senior Project Officer - SRH

Job Description

The International Rescue Committee (IRC) responds to the world’s worst humanitarian crises and helps people to survive and rebuild their lives. Sexual and reproductive health is a core component of the IRC’s work with a comprehensive package aiming to ensure care before, during and after pregnancy – including safe and respectful maternity and delivery services for women and newborns; access to clients’ contraceptive of choice; treatment of sexually transmitted diseases; post abortion care; and clinical care for survivors of sexual assault.

The IRC is now launching a new SRH project in Uganda which will focus on advancing the learning agenda on self-care in humanitarian and fragile settings, using innovative self-care programming in Uganda as a learning lab. This program, which will be implemented in partnership with local organizations and institutions, will support IRC’s broader goals to expand a coordinated movement to transform self-care for women and girls living in humanitarian and fragile settings.

The IRC Uganda team has identified Bidibidi and Palabek refugee settlements in Yumbe and Lamwo districts for this project because of the already existing structures, complementary funding, and the presence of existing local partners. Furthermore, the two field locations offer two different contexts, one of an acute emergency, and one a protracted state and IRC provides SRH service in both locations.

Project Overview: Today, Uganda is host to the largest refugee population on the African continent and the third largest in the world. It is also dealing with multiple shocks from over the border displacement, outbreaks- including COVID-19, and the growing impacts of climate change.

To address numerous SRH needs for humanitarian populations in Uganda, the IRC has been piloting SHIFT (Shifting Paradigms for SRHR in Emergencies) a transformative approach to local partnerships that aims to overcome partnership inequalities, challenge the status quo and shift power back to local institutions, change agents and women and girls to sustainability advance SRH in fragile settings. SHIFT is being implemented in collaboration with the Agency for Cooperation in Research & Development (ACORD Uganda) and Women and Rural Development Network (WORUDET), two dynamic civil society organizations working in Uganda refugee settlements, as well as Lamwo and Yumbe health districts. Please note project funding for the SHIFT partnership has recently ended but for this project, the IRC Uganda proposes to build on our existing partnerships with WORUDET, ACORD Uganda and district health authorities to: 1)Design, implement and generate evidence on innovative SRHR self-care interventions in refugee settings. 2)Contribute to a locally led movement for self-care that serves the unique needs of displaced populations in the country.

Job Overview: This position is based at the field (Lamwo and Yumbe) and directly reports to the Health Manager. S/he will be responsible for assisting the project coordinator in managing, coordinating and monitoring the implementation of deliverables of the project. S/he will manage the project portfolio that includes working with the local partners, the district health teams to strengthen management, leadership at sub district level and build capacities for effective delivery of SRHR programs. Working in close coordination with the Project Coordinator, provide support to contributing to project outcomes. S/he will work with the local partners and program staff to developing annual work plans and progress reports for submission to donor and to undertake other important documentation for the project team. S/he will play a major role in the day-to-day coordination with local partner/s and district health teams to ensure timely execution of the different technical assistance activities.

Duties and Responsibilities: •Act as the main focal point for all project activities at the field. •Provide support to the local partners, district health teams and program staff to ensure smooth implementation of activities following IRC policies and donor regulations. •Coordinates and communicates regularly with other partners and stakeholders to support technical assistance and service delivery in program. •Provides supervision and monitoring of program activities and ensures that activities are aligned as per plan and regularly reported. •Supports the partners in the development and management of their activities. •Identifies and resolves project issues and implements improvement plans to ensure project stays on schedule and within budget. •Coaches, mentors, and manages project team to ensure quality, efficiency and compliance with project and organization standards/policies. •Builds, develops, and grows relationship local partners and government and non-government stakeholders vital to the success of the project. •Closely works with the health manager and project coordinator to facilitate IRC technical assistance within the project framework in coordination with the local partners and government counterparts and other key stakeholders at district and national level. •Represent IRC in the district level forums and meetings including technical working groups •Contribute to developing annual work plan, procurement and spending plan and submit to the project coordinator. •Contribute and participate in grant opening, quarterly project cycle meetings and project review meetings as per program schedule. •Compile and submit timely project reports to Project coordinator for technical review as per donor regulations. •Any other duty assigned by the Supervisor.

Qualifications

The successful candidate will possess high-level of project management skills, a proven record of successfully working and managing local partners, multi-years of experience in project implementation, and a strong ability to successfully manage, cooperation between national and local authorities, donors and other stakeholders. •Degree in public health, or related field (Nurse, Midwife, clinical medicine). •At least three (3) years demonstrated experience in managing and supervising a team. •Experience working in Sexual reproductive health rights (SRHR) and health system strengthening is highly desired. •Experience working in humanitarian setting with INGO/NGO will be a plus •Significant exposure and experience of successfully working and supporting local partners •Proven ability to prioritize tasks, meet deadlines and work with limited supervision •Excellent interpersonal skills and demonstrated ability to establish effective working relations at all levels •Demonstrated skills in financial management – with knowledge and experience in managing complex budgets and ensuring donor compliance •Experience in successfully managing various forms of partnerships with stakeholders, including national and local authorities, UN agencies, local NGOs, etc. •Fluent in written and spoken English. •A dynamic and flexible individual with ability to multitask and who can work under pressure •Team player •Familiar with IRC’s PEERS an advantage •Strong budget management abilities •Good communication and interpersonal skills. •Excellent Microsoft word and Microsoft excel, power-point presentation skills. •Willingness to travel to 'insecure areas within the constraints of IRC Uganda's security policy.

Professional Standards: The IRC and IRC workers must adhere to the values and principles outlined in IRC Way - Standards for Professional Conduct. These are Integrity, Service, and Accountability. In accordance with these values, the IRC operates and enforces policies on Beneficiary Protection from Exploitation and Abuse, Child Safeguarding, Anti Workplace Harassment, Fiscal Integrity, and Anti-Retaliation.