Project Manager at UNCHR, Kampala, Uganda
Job Description
General Background:
Uganda is Africa’s largest refugee hosting country, accommodating over 1.5 million refugees and asylum seekers. The majority are refugees (97.9%), with South Sudanese refugees being the largest group (57%), followed by those from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Somalia, and Burundi. Women and children make up a significant portion of the refugee population. Most refugees reside in settlements in underdeveloped districts, while a small percentage live in urban areas, including Kampala.
Uganda has a progressive refugee policy, granting refugees rights such as land for housing and cultivation, access to education, healthcare, and national services, and the freedom to work and own property. The country made six pledges during the Global Refugee Forum in 2019 to support refugee integration and development.
The Comprehensive Refugee Response Framework (CRRF) in Uganda aligns with the Global Compact on Refugees (GCR) and is supported by UNHCR, development partners, and the private sector. Uganda’s National Development Plan III includes refugees, ensuring their inclusion in planning and statistics. Efforts have been made to address refugee needs in education, health, water, and other sectors through inter-sector coordination. Despite its progressive approach, Uganda’s refugee response remains underfunded. The upcoming Global Refugee Forum in December 2023 will provide an opportunity to showcase progress, announce new pledges, and address challenges. Uganda aims to build on its achievements and promote long-term sustainability as it co-convenes the forum with the theme “Uganda, the world’s model for the refugee response: Let’s make it sustainable.”
In line with the country’s GRF priorities, strategic partners like the EU/INTPA and the Government of the Netherlands are investing in multiyear programs to support the refugee response in Uganda:
• EU/INTPA support to Uganda on forced displacement and migration (Flexible Funding Mechanism) is a 15,000,000 Euro program (including Euro 13.5 million for UNHCR Uganda) co-implemented with IOM over the period 2023/2026. The project aims to support the implementation of government policies on migration and forced displacement, strengthening Uganda’s national and sub-national institutions and systems.
• The Government of the Netherlands is providing significant support through the PROSPECTS Partnership Programme, which is aiming to fulfill the country’s commitments to the Global Compact, World Humanitarian Summit, and OECD-DAC on a new way of working. The programme, implemented with UNHCR, UNICEF, ILO, WB, and IFC, operates in two refugee settlements in Uganda, promoting a protective environment for the wellbeing of refugees and building a path to success for refugee children and youths. The first phase of the programme (2019-2023) has a total contribution of over USD 47.8 million, with UNHCR receiving 9.9 million USD. The programme contributes to bring development actors and approaches into the refugee response to attract investment and increase impact. The phase 2 of the program (2024/2027) is under development.
Under the supervision of the Deputy Representative of UNHCR in Uganda, and in close cooperation with the Senior Development Officer and Senior External Engagement Coordinator, the project manager will lead the coordination, implementation, monitoring, and reporting on a USD 25+ Million portfolio of projects – internally and at inter-agency level. Additionally, the incumbent will support the management of other multiyear projects, such as the National Association Partners (NAPs initiative) and the ECHO Programmatic Partnership (PP), among others.
Duties:
The project manager will perform the below:
– Build and maintain effective contacts and relationships with all stakeholders, namely the authorities, donors, partners.
– Identify potential gaps and obstacles in implementation of the project, recommend appropriate solutions to ensure the continued efficient implementation of projects activities
– Stay abreast of political, social, economic and cultural developments that could have an impact on the implementation of the project.
– Consistently apply international and national norms, including UNHCR standards, SOPs and the Code of Conduct.
– Ensure that necessary expertise is provided in the context of the projects.
– Ensure follow-up with all key external actors in charge of implementing the project.
– Provide the needed support to effectively carry out the activities foreseen by the work plan.
– Provide the necessary information to the reporting officer to ensure the timely financial and narrative reporting.
– Liaise with the concerned partners and authorities in relation to the project.
Ensure a close coordination with all relevant units and offices to ensure a quality implementation, reporting on and monitoring of activities.
– Assist in establishing new cooperation that serves the project’s objectives.
– Monitor activities as determined in the project and update the work plan as required.
– Ensure quality reporting by providing all supporting documentation.
– Ensure compliance of UNCHR’s project implementation, management and reporting with established policies, guidelines, procedures, and standards
– Contact the beneficiaries of the activities to discuss and ensure their implementation.
– Coordinate with internal units (protection, administration, technical focal points and program) with a view to implement the activities in accordance with UNHCR’s rules.
– Report situations or difficulties that could prevent the proper implementation of the activities.
– Advise on improvements that could be made in managing and implementing the project.
– Perform other related duties as required.
Minimum Qualifications:
Years of Experience / Degree Level: For P3 – 6 years relevant experience with Undergraduate degree; or 5 years relevant experience with Graduate degree; or 4 years relevant experience with Doctorate degree
Field(s) of Education: Law; International Law; Political Science; or other relevant field.
(Field(s) of Education marked with an asterisk* are essential)
Certificates and/or Licenses: A project/programme management certification would be an added advantage.
Relevant Job Experience:
– Previous work experience in partnerships and project management, programme, M&E and reporting.
– Experience working in development and humanitarian sector.
– Experience working in refugees in displacement settings.
– Strong experience in interacting with and building partnerships and synergies with Governments, UN agencies, NGOs and civil society organizations.
– Demonstrated leadership skills and ability to work independently with minimum supervision in a fast-paced environment.
– Demonstrated ability to successfully and effectively work and communicate with people in a multi-cultural environment.
– Good knowledge of the UN system, its operational procedures and exposure to provision of support services in an International Organization.
– Fluency in English with excellent drafting and analytical skills is required. Working knowledge of another official UN language is an asset.
Desirable: Excellent presentation skills. Strong negotiation and interpersonal skills. Diverse field experience. Good IT skills including database management skills.
Functional Skills:
– EL-Monitoring and Evaluation
– CO-Drafting and Documentation
– SO-Presentation skills
– MG-Project Management
Language Requirements
For International Professional and Field Service jobs: Knowledge of English and UN working language of the duty station if not English.
