Participatory Integrated Planning & Community Strengthening Coordinator

Job Title: Participatory Integrated Planning & Community Strengthening Coordinator
Location: Jinja, Uganda
Reports to: Deputy Team Leader

Direct Reports: CSO Partners (3) and Community Engagement Officers (9)

Application Deadline: 15th August 2024

GOAL and its consortium partner, Wageningen Environmental Research (WENR) and Technical Partners Resilience BV and Agriterra will be commencing on a 5 years resilient and inclusive economic development programme – INSPIRE, funded by the Embassy of the Kingdom of Netherlands in Kampala.  The objective of the programme is to build climate resilient and more productive farming systems and livelihoods, with environmentally sustainable and commercially viable practices, as such sustainably increasing productivity and income of 200,000 smallholder farming households (SHF) in Busoga and Lango regions. Through a participatory and community-led approach, INSPIRE aims to tackle the root causes of: Limited social resilience and agency of SHF; Underdeveloped farming systems with high vulnerability of SHF for climate and economic shocks; and Inefficient, inequitable markets in Lango and Busoga regions, to contribute to the goal of “resilient and inclusive economic development of rural lowland communities”. The project works through four pathways to achieve its goal “increased income and livelihood resilience of SHF to climate change and market failures”. Pathway and Outcome 1 focuses on enhanced social resilience and agency in SHF households and communities ; Pathway and Outcome 2 focuses on ensuring SHF farming systems are more sustainable, productive and resilient to shocks.; Pathway and Outcome 3 focuses on SHF actively participating and benefiting in inclusive markets; and Pathway and Outcome 4 ensures SHF have enhanced voice and influence to address market system issues. This can only be achieved with the active and full participation of SHF and local stakeholders from the onset.

Job Purpose

The Participatory Integrated Planning (PIP) and community strengthening coordinator is a hands-on technical expert in the implementation of the PIP approach in the two regions. He/she will be responsible for implementation of Pathway and outcome 1 on enhancing social resilience and agency among SHF households and communities. He/she will: Monitor progress and review quality of the engaged Field officers during the project implementation period in the development of community and individual SHF vision plans; Provide technical support to the INSPIRE project management, staff, and technical experts on integrating the outcome of household plans in climate smart solutions in production, increased household income and resilience; Support the promotion of household diversification, support linkages between PIP Vision, farming systems approach and climate smart service providers to promote adoption at scale; Bet the active PIP liaison with the other EKN funded projects who are implementing the PIP approach in their project implementation i.e. CommonGround, BRIGHT and INCLUDE projects as well as with the WENR experts who are leading and guiding the PIP approach and implementation. The position reports to the INSPIRE project Deputy Team Leader and works closely with the PIP specialists, Farming Systems Coordinator, Market Development Coordinator and Farmer Organisational Development Coordinator, while providing technical backstopping and supervision of the on-ground PIP Field Officers and other IWRM field officers. Pathway 1 is the foundation of community-led development, with SHF HHs and communities taking greater ownership of activities based on their self-identified needs, priorities and aspirations. It therefore contributes to all other Pathways and is fundamental to the overall success and sustainability of the project. The expected results of the INSPIRE programme for which this position will be responsible for are:

• Strong, dynamic and well-organized communities;
• Enhanced, diverse collaboration among local stakeholders to strengthen social networks.

Main Duties and Responsibilities

Strategy Development and Project Planning and Implementation  

• Lead in the assessments and identification of target communities and coordinate implementation of the PIP approach.
• Identify and propose improvements in the PIP approach and scaling process with the technical support team of WENR, PIP specialists and other projects using the PIP approach, funded by the same donor.
• Be the internal and external focal point on PIP and improvement areas suggested by smallholder farmers or informed by the lessons learned.

Positioning 

• Identify and analyse PIP development opportunities and threats and ensure relevant PIP implementing partners are informed.
• Participate in Strategic positioning meetings and acts as a knowledgeable face of the organisation to the client.
• Analyse, understand, and develop local networks with relevant stakeholders, identifies new clients, farmer groups and smallholders. 

Knowledge Development, Documentation and Reporting 

• Leading and contributing to knowledge development linked to the PIP approach, ensure lessons learned are harvested, documented, communicated, and applied in daily practice
• Participate in knowledge development/expertise groups and in internal and external networks.
• Compile and prepare periodic progress reports highlighting progress made on outcome area assigned.
• Work with and support monitoring and evaluation team to capture the required data for measuring output and impact of the programme  
• Ensure accurate and timely flow of information from the field and entry in the program database and for preparation of communication materials. 

People Management

• Steer colleagues and coach associated PIP implementing organisations, and other external stakeholders on quality within the PIP context of assignments.
• Apply process improvements in the PIP scaling process on quality technologies and practices important for reaching the project targets on improved production, income and resilience to climate and market related shocks and stresses.

Representation Collaboration/Networking and Coordination 

• Establish and maintain good coordination and working relationships with Partners and district leadership and local government departments, representing GOAL in district coordination meetings and soliciting their participation in all activities where appropriate and as directed by the line manager. 
• Maintain close working relationship and ensure close coordination and sharing of information with relevant stakeholders such as local government departments, NGO’s and local authorities, as appropriate and advised by the line manager. 
• Liaise with other international, local NGOs and civil society organizations, and other for cross learning and to avoid duplication of services as well as ensure support for and acceptance of INSPIRE for Youth market-based interventions. 
• Conduct himself/herself both professionally and personally in such a manner as to bring credit to GOAL Uganda and to not jeopardize its humanitarian mission. 

Other duties 

• Represent GOAL Uganda in a range of external fora and building strategic relationships and partnerships. 
• Respect local laws, customs and adhere to GOAL systems procedures for personnel, communications, finance, logistics, health and safety. 
• Carry out any other tasks as required, to ensure the overall success of the programme. 

Qualifications & Experience

To be a successful candidate you will need the following:

Essential Criteria:

• Master’s degree in specialised/ relevant technical field.
• A minimum of 7 or more years’ experience in development work and project implementation or technical field (at least 4 years in a management position), ideally with experience in implementing the PIP approach.
• Experience in working with household participatory approaches with local communities of not less than 5 years in related projects/programs.
• Experience in agricultural and environment sectors with relevant technical models such as PIP, INRM, catchment management, agribusiness, private sector engagement and local Value Chain Development, among others.
• Demonstration of well-developed interpersonal skills, excellent communication skills, both verbal and written.
• Experience in community work and engagement in Agricultural, Economic Development, Livelihood and specific technical expertise in GESI approaches (preferably GALS approach), Farming Systems, Sustainable agriculture, land use and management or crop production is an added advantage.
• Ability to work effectively with and manage multiple partners including (local leaders, government parish, sub-county, village officials), other NGOs, value chain actors in the communities.
• Ability to ride a motorcycle with a valid riding permit is an advantage.

Desirable Criteria/Additional requirements: 

• Conceptual thinking: Having and gaining insight into situations, problems, and processes. Deconstructing problems and systematically investigating the various components. Having a complete picture of the context and overview of the whole problem.
• Coaching: Encouraging and guiding employees to make their performance more effective and to enhance their self-perception and problem-solving skills.
• Focus on quality: Setting high quality standards and striving for continuous improvement and quality assurance.
• Result orientation: The ability to take direct action to attain or exceed objectives.
• Persuasiveness: The ambition to win over other people for one’s views and ideas and to generate support.
• Flexibility: Readiness to travel to the different project locations.
• Initiative and proactivity: In problem identification and proposing solutions.
• Self-motivated, highly organized, positive attitude, resilient, willing to learn new skills and to be continually adaptive within a dynamic and often self-directed working environment.
• Ability to work under pressure to tight deadlines, focus on and prioritize day-to-day tasks at hand while also working towards longer-term objectives with an understanding that the workload will change continuously.

GOAL

Established in 1977, GOAL is an international humanitarian agency, with a global team of 2,400 personnel, dedicated to alleviating the needs of the most vulnerable communities. Currently operating in 14 of the world’s most vulnerable countries, GOAL delivers a wide range of humanitarian and development programmes, ranging from humanitarian relief in disaster situations, to focusing on nutrition, food security, and building greater resilience and sustainable livelihoods

General description of the country programme:

First operational in Uganda in 1979, the current GOAL Uganda country programme focuses on Health (including WASH, Health Accountability and Nutrition programming); and a market-based systems approach to improving agricultural livelihoods and WASH. GOAL Uganda mainstreams gender, child protection, social behaviour change and resilience strategies across all programming. GOAL works on a district focused approach and uses a mixture of direct implementation and partnerships with national and international civil society organizations, local government, the private sector and communities to give effect to our mission.

Safeguarding

Children and vulnerable adults who come into contact with GOAL as a result of our activities must be safeguarded to the maximum possible extent from deliberate or inadvertent actions and failings that place them at risk of abuse, sexual exploitation, injury and any other harm. One of the ways that GOAL shows this on-going commitment to safeguarding is to include rigorous background and reference checks in the selection process for all candidates.

Accountability within GOAL

Alongside our safeguarding policy, GOAL is an equal opportunities employer and has a set of integrity policies. Any candidate offered a job with GOAL will be expected to adhere to the following key areas of accountability:

• Comply with GOAL’s policies and procedures with respect to safeguarding, code of conduct, health and safety, confidentiality, do no harm principles and unacceptable behaviour protocols.
• Report any concerns about the welfare of a child or vulnerable adult or any wrongdoings within our programming area.
• Report any concerns about inappropriate behaviour of a GOAL staff or partner.

GOAL Uganda has a skilled team of approximately 130 personnel and manages an annual operating budget of approximately €9.7 million (2024). GOAL is currently operational in the North, South, East and West of Uganda with six established offices in Kampala, Lira, Mbale, Kabarole, Moroto,  Kaabong and Agago Districts. GOAL Uganda country programme is funded by a number of donors who include Mastercard, charity water, Irish Aid and some small foundations.

Our package includes a competitive salary, health insurance cover for up to 3 dependents, comprehensive 24-hour personal accident cover, terminal benefits equivalent to one month for each completed year of service, a flexi-work arrangement and our working hours provide for a half day on Fridays.  GOAL promotes a learning and development environment with training & study opportunities aligned to our staff development policy.