ASPIRE Fellow – Training Program

Opportunity: ASPIRE Fellow – Training Program
Contract Duration: 12 Months
Country/Location: Uganda/Kampala

About Catholic Relief Services:

Catholic Relief Services is the official international humanitarian agency of the Catholic community in the United States. CRS works to save, protect, and transform lives in need in more than 100 countries, without regard to race, religion or nationality. CRS’ relief and development work is accomplished through programs of emergency response, HIV, health, agriculture, education, microfinance, and peacebuilding.

CRS has been working in Uganda since 1965 and has a vibrant portfolio of projects, serving over a million vulnerable Ugandans and refugees each year through the Country Program 2030 Strategy. CRS programs in Uganda currently support five strategic priority areas, including Health and Social Services Systems Strengthening, Resilient Food Systems, Emergency Preparedness and Management, Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation, and Local Leadership. CRS Uganda implements its programs through partnerships with local organizations, including international and local NGOs, Ugandan government departments and ministries, the Catholic Church, and community-based organizations for maximum impact and sustainability. CRS Uganda employs around 150 staff and has its main office in Kampala, with sub-offices in Yumbe, Kyangwali, Kasese and Hoima. 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. Persons with disabilities (PwDs) are strongly encouraged to apply.

Program Summary:

The ASPIRE Program is a unique career-building opportunity for individuals who are passionate about relief and development work and have the skills, attitude, and approach to excel in positions with CRS. This structured and intentional field-based learning program is designed to prepare participants for positions of greater responsibility with CRS.

Under the supervision of experienced staff, participants actively support CRS’ relief and/or development projects over a 12-month period while building foundational skills in programming and operations. Through the foundational training, participants gain experience in project management, monitoring, evaluation, accountability, and learning (MEAL), project design and proposal development, partnership and capacity strengthening, supply chain, human resources and more.

To complement the core training, each participant also hones their skills in a specific area that aligns with their career objectives and strategically positions them for onward employment with CRS.

Job Roles and Responsibilities:

Under the supervision of an experienced staff member and in collaboration with CRS partners, the ASPIRE participant will support programming and operations as follows:

Project Management

• Support implementation of current projects (e.g. participate in planning/review workshops, support activity implementation in the field)
• Support appropriate management of cash and in-kind resources (e.g. monitor/analyze spending on project budgets, prepare cash forecasts, participate in financial reporting to donors, support commodity management).
• Support timely and accurate reporting (e.g. review/synthesize data to report on project indicators, draft/edit narrative reports).
• Support communication-related activities for country program and projects (e.g. draft program summaries, annual reports, partnership newsletters, social media content and webpage updates).

Project Design and Proposal Development

• Support project design (e.g. participate in needs assessments and problem identification, stakeholder analysis, development of concept notes)
• Support proposal development (e.g. participate in design workshops, draft sections of technical narratives and budgets, package/edit proposals for submission).

Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning (MEAL)

Support MEAL activities in:

• Project design (e.g. support data collection, needs assessments, gender analysis, gap analysis, development of results frameworks, Proframes, theories of change, evaluation plans, performance management plans).
• Project start-up (e.g. support baseline assessments, development of MEAL manuals and accountability mechanisms).
• Project implementation (e.g. prepare survey instruments using ICT4D, support collection of monitoring data, prepare donor reports, organize learning events, document learning).
• Project close-out (e.g. draft final reports, support final evaluations and knowledge management activities).

Partnership & Capacity Strengthening

• Support CRS partners with project management, project design and MEAL.
• Support partnership strengthening and capacity building (e.g. participate in partnership reflection workshops, partner assessments and monitoring visits).

Finance, Supply Chain, HR, Compliance

• Support strong financial management by analyzing budgets, monitoring & forecasting spending, reviewing supporting documentation for financial transactions by CRS and sub-recipients.
• Support supply chain and procurement by assisting with inventory counts, data collection, bid analysis and vendor selection, contracting, receipt and warehousing of goods.
• Support human resources by preparing job descriptions, reviewing applications/shortlisting candidates.
• Support audit and compliance by reviewing internal controls, systems for fraud prevention, studying CRS policies and donor regulations.
• Support staff safety by reviewing security protocols and manuals, updating as needed.

Education and Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree in related field of International Development, Agriculture, Health, Business, Communications, Public Administration, Finance, Human Resources, Supply Chain, Social Works, Social Science, Project Management, and Monitoring and Evaluation.
• Must have graduated within 2 years of program start date (degree conferred between October 2022 and October 2024), with second upper and above.
• 3 – 24 months of related work experience (internships, volunteering, or paid work).
• Candidates must exhibit a positive attitude and a willingness to learn, grow in the field of humanitarian work.

Preferred Qualifications

• Proficient in both spoken and written English.
• Must be open to traveling up to 25% of the time to field locations.
• Willing to be stationed in field offices during and after the program.
• Demonstrates excellence in collaborative, multicultural environments.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and research skills.
• Possesses agility, proactivity, and a results-oriented mindset.
• Persons with disability are strongly encouraged to apply.
• Shows a commitment to respecting, promoting equity, diversity, and inclusion, including gender equality.

Agency-wide Respect, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (REDI) Competencies (for all CRS staff)

Agency competencies clarify expected behaviors and attitudes for all staff. When demonstrated, they create an engaging workplace, help staff achieve their best, and help CRS achieve agency goals. These are rooted in the mission, values, and guiding principles of CRS and used by each staff member to fulfil his or her responsibilities and achieve the desired results.

• Personal Accountability – Consistently takes responsibility for one’s own actions.
• Acts with Integrity – Consistently models values aligned with CRS Guiding Principles and mission. Is considered honest.
• Builds and Maintains Trust – Shows consistency between words and actions.
  •Collaborates with Others – Works effectively in intercultural and diverse teams.
• Open to Learn – Seeks out experiences that may change perspective or provide an opportunity to learn new things.

Agency Leadership Competencies:

• Lead Change – Continually looks for ways to improve the agency through a culture of agility, openness, and innovation.
• Develops and Recognizes Others – Builds the capacity of staff to reach their full potential and enhance team and agency performance.
• Strategic Mindset – Understands role in translating, communicating, and implementing agency strategy and team priorities.

Key Working Relationships

• Internal: CRS Country Representative, Head of Programming, Head of Operations, Program Managers, Finance, Supply Chain and HR staff
• External: CRS partner organizations

Disclaimer: This job description is not an exhaustive list of the skill, effort, duties, and responsibilities associated with the position.

CRS is an Equal Opportunity Employer

Our Catholic identity is at the heart of our mission and operations. Catholic Relief Services carries out the commitment of the Bishops of the United States to assist the poor and vulnerable overseas. We welcome as a part of our staff people of all faiths and secular traditions who share our values and our commitment to serving those in need. CRS’ processes and policies reflect our commitment to protecting children and vulnerable adults from abuse and exploitation.
By applying to this job, I understand and acknowledge that CRS requires its staff to treat all people with dignity and respect and to actively prevent harassment, abuse, exploitation, and human trafficking. Further, I understand that if I am a successful candidate, I will be subject to a comprehensive background check, and my personal/professional references will be asked to evaluate my behaviors related to the above safeguarding related topics.

How to apply

All candidates who meet the requirements are encouraged to apply by following the provided instructions.

• ASPIRE Program has officially launched and is actively accepting applications at www.crs.org/aspire.
• This position is for Uganda Nationals only with degree conferred between October 2022 and October 2024), with second upper and above. Persons with disabilities (PwDs) are strongly encouraged to apply
• The online application will be open until June 30, 2024. Please feel free to engage with our team by participating in one of the online information sessions.

ONLY SHORTLISTED CANDIDATES WILL BE CONTACTED.