Social worker with knowledge in agroecology – Uganda

Eirene Suisse is a secular NGO that has been active in development cooperation since 1963. In the countries where we operate, our goal is to strengthen and promote local initiatives that support peace and human rights. We specialize in cooperation through the exchange of people, i.e., sending qualified professionals from Switzerland to support the development projects of our local partners in our three main areas of intervention: Central America (Nicaragua, El Salvador), Quisqueya (Haiti), and the African Great Lakes region (Rwanda, Uganda, DRC). These professionals have the status of “volunteers.”

Local partner :

Since its creation, Hashtag Gulu Initiative has positioned itself as a major player in supporting children and young adults who depend and rely on the streets to survive (Street Connected Children & Youth – SCCY) in Gulu, Uganda. The first activities, initiated informally and on a voluntary basis in 2017, aimed to meet the urgent needs of SCCY, in particular by collaborating with local actors. In 2018, the organization reached an important milestone by formally structuring itself as a community association, which enabled it to play a central role in managing one of the few shelters for SCCY during the Covid-19 crisis.

Since then, Hashtag Gulu Initiative has developed a deep understanding of the challenges and aspirations of SCCY, thereby strengthening its ability to respond effectively to their needs. Through targeted actions, the organization has succeeded in gaining the trust of these vulnerable young people, an essential step for their sustainable reintegration into society. At the same time, the association has been actively involved in awareness-raising and advocacy campaigns to reduce the stigma faced by SCCY, using digital tools, radio broadcasts, and community dialogues. Today, Hashtag Gulu Initiative is recognized as a reliable and dynamic partner in the fight for the dignity and empowerment of SCCY.

Job purpose

The main objective of the position is to strengthen Hashtag Gulu’s team capacity in social work and in supporting young people in reintegration, often without qualifications or with only basic knowledge of agroecology, in order to improve the care provided to SCCY and offer them holistic support as part of an empowerment process through training in sustainable agriculture. At the same time, the role will provide agroecology support to further develop the partner’s agricultural farm.

Activities and tasks:

• Provide informed advice on procedures and appropriate approaches for supervising and offering psychosocial support to SCCY, and support their implementation in line with Hashtag Gulu’s objectives.
• Facilitate group therapy sessions, deliver short trainings, and carry out individual follow-ups with SCCY.
• Advise on and support agroecological activities and the development of Hashtag Gulu’s farm.
• Support activities carried out with SCCY through knowledge sharing, exchange of information, and capacity building of Hashtag Gulu staff, including by delivering social work trainings and developing training materials.
• Contribute to improving beneficiary care in a safe and stimulating environment and participate in monitoring the reintegration of SCCY.
• Strengthen Hashtag Gulu’s capacity to take ownership of and integrate social work and psychosocial support into its approach with SCCY.
• Support the collection, analysis, and evaluation of data collection, as well as the systematization and digitization of community data (database management, community diagnostics).
• Support the development of knowledge and scientific research in the field of social work and contribute to advocacy efforts.
• Participate in Eirene Suisse’s awareness-raising activities by sharing updates from the project.