Program Assistant job at Mercy Corps

Vacancy title:
Program Assistant

Jobs at:

Deadline of this Job:
Wednesday, February 19 2025 

Summary
Date Posted: Friday, February 14 2025, Base Salary: Not Disclosed

JOB DETAILS:
Mercy Corps is a leading global organization powered by the belief that a better world is possible.
In disaster, in hardship, in more than 40 countries around the world, we partner to put bold solutions into action — helping people triumph over adversity and build stronger communities from within. Now, and for the future.

Program Summary
Present in Uganda since 2006, Mercy Corps Uganda’s aim is to catalyze change through the Ugandan private sector, civil society, and government to create resilient, economically inclusive, healthy, and secure communities.
Serving on the frontlines of the hardest hit communities by climate change, as in Northern Uganda, Mercy Corps, Energy 4 Impact (E4I), Simusolar, and Tulima Solar are witnessing first-hand the detrimental impacts of the unfolding climate crisis and the multifaceted ways that this is impacting smallholder farmers. The Danida-funded Powering the Uptake of Climate Change Mitigating Pumps (Pump Up), Uganda project seeks to enable farmers in Northern Uganda (Yumbe and Gulu areas), including women, youth, and refugee farming communities to build resilient livelihoods and to adapt to the negative impacts of climate change. We aim to do this by supporting viable investments in climate resilient technologies such as solar water pumps (SWPs) coupled with best practices in climate smart agriculture (CSA) and integrated water resource management.
The project will be implemented by a consortium led by Mercy Corps, as the administrative partner; Energy 4 Impact, Mercy Corps’ energy access platform, which will provide business model and technology advisory services; and Tulimasolar and Simusolar as commercial partners. The Pump-Up project will improve capacities of the commercial partner to adapt and localise their product in Yumbe and Gulu areas by improving their PAYGO consumer financing offer and developing cost-effective and inclusive go-to-market and sales strategies. The project will support the commercial partner’s goal to increase its reach and market traction in Northern Uganda (currently at 38% of total sales) by adding an additional 430 SWPs over 3 years by: 1) diversifying value chains and market segments to reach SHFs, women, youth, and refugee communities, 2) adopting engagement terms and exploring financial products suitable for women and youth, 3) holding demonstration events that increase awareness and adoption. Altogether, these efforts will help to establish an enduring foundation to reduce vulnerability to climate change for SHFs by facilitating inclusive access and uptake of SWPs coupled with the promotion of best practices in CSA and integrated water resource management.
The project aims to reach 2,220 people with opportunities for increased income and/or improved livelihoods (555 female and 888 youth); create 50 decent jobs (15 female and 30 youth); and support 500 SHFs including women and youth to engage in off-season production.
Pump Up started on July 1, 2023 to June 30, 2026 for a total duration of three years. The position will be based in Gulu,

General Position Summary
The primary focus of the Program Assistant will be to respond to the needs of communities through the integrated set of activities under Pump-Up. The Program Assistant will focus on mobilizing the different groups/platforms within their community. The Program Assistant will also mobilize the surrounding government and private sector systemic structures and similarly identify capacity building needs of these structures. The Program Assistant will adopt an “adaptive” management approach to understand the needs of the groups within the community and the external support structures.. The Program Assistant will ensure that activities are sequenced, layered and integrated for comprehensive service delivery. The Program Assistant will closely work with staff from local partners in the Pump-Up Activity to strengthen integration. The Program Assistant will work closely with the MEL team to ensure that data capture takes place.

Essential Job Responsibilities
Program Implementation
• Assist with the design and implementation of weekly, monthly and quarterly workplans
• Conduct participant identification exercises for the different activities in the community.
• Mobilize participants for planned activities in respective locations.
• Organize and supervise community trainings in line with the approved work plan and budget based.
• Coordinate to ensure complementary approaches, monitor implementation of project activities and document learnings and success stories.
• Collaborate with fellow Program team members to ensure team success, including but not limited to logistics coordination, temporary support during leave, etc., as advised by Program Officer.
Gender and Youth Integration
• Ensure that program activities apply gender equity and empowerment principles
Monitoring and Evaluation
• Responsible for data gathering, data validation, quality control and timely data submission including gender and age disaggregated data.
• Troubleshoot monitoring and evaluation challenges for proactive problem solving with support of program manager and M&E team.
• Utilize qualitative and quantitative data to inform program implementation.
• Actively document best practices and lessons learned to share with team during routine monitoring, coordination meetings and other learning opportunities.
• Prepare and submit timely and quality weekly and monthly reports.
Influence and Representation
• Promote Pump-up Activity visibility at both Community and Sub County level.
• Ensure establishment and maintenance of relationships with communities, village councils and local government in the target areas.
• Coordination of field activities with partners and local government to avoid duplication of services.
• When needed, support visits from district and sub-county government, regional and HQ based staff and external visitors, such as donors and media, in collaboration with the Program Officer.
• Support Pump-up activities with key stakeholders, ensuring collaboration with counterparts in partner organization in relevant meetings, internal and external.
Ethics and Integrity
• All Mercy Corps staff are expected to behave ethically and demonstrate highest integrity in their professional and personal life. Mercy Corps has zero tolerance to any form of fraud, corruption, abuse, harassment or exploitation. Any breach of our policies or misconduct will lead to disciplinary action or may lead to termination.
Security
• Ensure data protection policies are adhered to, establishing security controls for software, hardware and archive beneficiary databases.
• Ensure compliance with security procedures and policies as determined by country leadership.
• Proactively ensure that team members operate in a secure environment and are aware of policies.
Organizational Learning
• As part of our commitment to organizational learning and in support of our understanding that learning organizations are more effective, efficient and relevant to the communities they serve, we expect all team members to commit 5% of their time to learning activities that benefit Mercy Corps as well as themselves.

Accountability to Beneficiaries
• Mercy Corps team members are expected to support all efforts toward accountability, specifically to our beneficiaries and to international standards guiding international relief and development work, while actively engaging beneficiary communities as equal partners in the design, monitoring and evaluation of our field projects.
• Sensitise communities on Mercy Corps’ CARM system and encourage them to share feedback through the promoted channels.
Other:
• Conduct himself/herself both professionally and personally in such a manner as to bring credit to Mercy Corps and to not jeopardize its humanitarian mission.
• Other duties as assigned.
Supervisory Responsibility
There is no staff supervision assigned to this role.
Accountability
Reports Directly to: Senior Program Officer
Works Directly with: Tulimasolar and Simsolar staff and all project team.

Knowledge and Experience
• Advanced Training Certificate or Diploma
• 1-2 years’ experience in conducting community mobilization, training, and networking
• Experience in capacity building with communities in Yumbe and/or Gulu
• Experience and skills in working with other NGOs, government partners, and local community-based organizations.
• Fluency in local languages prevalent within the operational district where assigned (essential)
• Computer literacy
• Ability to ride a motorcycle with a valid riding permit is desired

Work Hours: 8

Experience in Months: 12

Level of Education: Associate Degree

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