Project Officer

About Us:

HEKS/EPER was founded in 1946 by the Federation of Swiss Protestant Churches (FSPC) as the aid organization of the Protestant Churches in Switzerland committed to the dignity of every human being. HEKS/EPER is active in more than 30 countries with more than 200 projects around the world, running its own Coordination Offices in 17 primary-focus regions. HEKS/EPER has been present in Uganda since 2016 and strives for systemic change through its development work with a strong focus on access to land, livelihoods, and food security, improved access to safe and clean water, climate change and resilience, institutional strengthening of civil society and conflict transformation initiatives. HEKS/EPER also provides humanitarian assistance worldwide for victims of natural disasters and armed conflicts.

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JOB DESCRIPTION:

Place of employment: Zombo (Zombo District) with regular travels to Yumbe and other locations within Uganda.

Standard functions:

1. Contribute to the planning, implementation, monitoring, and reporting of specific projects/programmes in close collaboration with the Yumbe Team Leader and Programme Coordinator.
2. Work with project stakeholders at various levels while adhering to HEKS/EPER’s core values, Business Ethics, PSEAH and the Code of Conduct.

Project/ programme planning, implementation, monitoring, and reporting.

• Responsible for overseeing and implementing project activities, ensuring work is completed against the approved scope, agreed-upon timelines, and available budget.
• Conduct regular monitoring visits to project sites to review progress made towards the proposed work plan as well as the stated objective and results quarterly.
• Prepare detailed work plans and budgets.
• Prepare, submit and disseminate quality quarterly, annual, and periodic reports (both narrative and Financial) as per donor requirements and project reporting timeline.
• Ensure quality delivery, documentation and reporting of all project activities on time in line with the project’s strategic long-term vision, desired impact, cost-effectiveness and sustainability.
• Ensure effective project budget utilization, budget tracking and variance explanation for all implemented activities.
• Manage project resources, including supporting procurements, efficiently and effectively in accordance with HEKS/EPER policies and guidelines and any other given requirement.
• Supervise project staff (including community facilitators and volunteers) to ensure that daily, weekly, monthly, quarterly and annual performance targets are achieved.
• Ensure effective management of all risks, including preventing fraud in implementing the project to minimise their occurrence and possible effects on the project.
• Ensure all project documentation is organized and well maintained for accountability purposes, aiming for a well-articulated programme model.
• Organize regular performance review meetings to assess progress and agree on and communicate any agreed/proven changes in strategy with the key project staff, project beneficiaries and other stakeholders.
• Ensure cross-cutting issues (inclusivity, gender sensitivity, conflict sensitivity, human rights-based approach and resilience building) are adhered to in project implementation.
• Oversight of M&E processes, ensuring key indicators and cross-cutting issues are well monitored and documented.
• Actively support participatory planning with team members and partners.
• Support the Finance team with financial inputs, reports and updates.
• Responsible for the safety of all project/ programme assets in the Zombo office and ensuring that all assets are serviced and maintained in good condition.
• Identify needs and contribute to developing concept notes and proposals.
• Discharge other responsibilities and assignments given by the supervisor(s).

Coordination with project stakeholders at various levels

• Coordinate and communicate effectively with HEKS/EPER staff, partners and all other stakeholders to ensure the smooth running of the project(s).
• Represent HEKS/EPER Uganda in all relevant Working Group meetings with local authorities, CEFORD and other key stakeholders.
• Represent (with the supervisor’s guidance) HEKS/EPER externally with partners, government and other agencies/alliances at the district level for project-related issues as may be required.
• Participate in knowledge management and documentation.
• Ensure that programs’ successes and learnings are regularly documented and shared among HEKS partners and stakeholders.
• Show good interpersonal skills and a belief in team spirit.
• Build synergy for effective coordination with other ongoing projects implemented by HEKS/EPER within West Nile and, whenever applicable, other parts of Uganda and South Sudan.

Partnerships

• Identify local organisations/associations and partners’ needs and assist in preparing Capacity Building/Enhancement plans to deliver the advocacy activities.
• Assist in facilitating and coordinating activities of implementing partners, ensuring cross-cutting approaches on gender, local capacity for peace / Do No Harm/ and participatory project planning methods are mainstreamed.

Programme development

Actively contribute to context analysis and proposal development.

Minimum qualifications & experience:

• A minimum of bachelor’s degree is a relevant subject.
• Minimum of 3 years of experience in project delivery, management and facilitation
• Proven knowledge and experience in the delivery of projects in humanitarian and development contexts, with a focus on cash support and business development.
• Knowledge of proposal development
• Good interpersonal skills
• Demonstrated success in project implementation.