NGO Jobs in Kampala,Uganda; Program Assistant for Access to Justice

Job Title:        Program Assistant for Access to Justice
Job Location:   Kampala, Uganda
Employer:    Democratic Governance Facility
Reports To:     Program Officer – Access to Justice

About Us:
Established by Austria, Denmark, Ireland, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, the United Kingdom and the European Union, the Democratic Governance Facility (DGF) supports state and non state partners to strengthen democratisation, protect human rights, improve access to justice and enhance accountability in Uganda. DGF's work is built upon the principles and values enshrined in Uganda's 1995 Constitution and reiterated in its current National Development Plan. It is guided by a belief that sustainable development is best achieved through constructive engagement by Ugandan citizens with the state at national and sub-national levels. The facility does not implement activities directly, but works with a diverse array of national, regional and district-based partners. It promotes the development of Uganda's centres of excellence in specific areas related to democratic governance and supports the efforts of Ugandan citizens to ensure peace, prosperity and justice for all.

The overall goal of the DGF is to contribute to equitable growth, poverty eradication, rule of law and long term stability in Uganda. The DGF's programming approach is focused on the following three interlinked and mutually reinforcing components and their associated sub-components.

Job Overview:
The incumbent will be responsible for the day-to-day management and implementation of the programme components as agreed by the DGF-Steering Committee while observing the DGF Board's strategic direction.
The incumbent will report to the Program Officer (PO) for Access to Justice for the progress and the management of the Access to Justice sub-component. The PA will assist the PO in providing avenues for poor women and men to access justice through legal aid, alternative dispute resolution, advocacy, local council courts, etc. In particular, the PA will provide technical and management support for coordinating the legal aid program (LEAP) expanding coverage while ensuring improved quality of the legal services provided. The PA will be part of the Rights, Justice and Peace Component team, and will work collaboratively with colleagues in the RJP Component and across the DGF.

Job Requirements:

• Bachelor’s Degree in Law and a diploma from the Law Development Centre;
• Additional qualifications in project and program management & administration, including the management of partner relations, would be an advantage.
• A minimum of three years’ experience in the legal aid service programs in Uganda;
• Possess a good understanding of the legal aid service provision context, including challenges facing Access to Justice in Uganda;
• At least one year’s experience in managing projects and report writing.
• Access to justice, and good understanding of systemic challenges in the justice sector;
• Competency in Legal Aid policy and service provision;
• Prior organizational and financial management skills and experience;
• Possess gender mainstreaming competence;
• Skills in capacity development and organizational development;
• Monitoring and evaluation skills
• Excellent communication and facilitation skills;
• Fluency in English and strong writing skills;
• Strong cooperation and team working skills;
• Capacity to work under pressure, with high level of self-motivation;
• Demonstrated ability to interact professionally with stake-holders at all levels of the Ugandan society.

Job Duties:
 1. General Program Management (70%): The Program Assistant will support the Program Officer for Access to Justice in the day-to-day management of the Access to Justice sub-component within the Rights, Justice and Peace Component, including achievement of agreed targets:

•     Offer technical inputs to development of concepts, proposals, annual work plans and budgets of DGF partners;
•     Actively participate in developing the annual work plans and budgets of DGF; and in reporting on the indicators, milestones and targets of the sub-component as specified in the DGF Log Frame;
•     Assist in the development and management, where required, of funding application processes or call for proposals for potential implementing partners;
•     Participate in reviewing and providing comments to narrative and financial reports received from partners and follow-up with timely requests for disbursements;
•     Build and grow good working relationships with key stakeholders, including the effective management of relations with state and non-state partner organisations;
•     Technically support the capacity development of partners by providing supporting tools, advice, contacts as required;
•     Summarize results, case stories, challenges faced and “lessons learned” in the sub-component and other information designed for communication to wider audiences;
•     Ensure compliance and adherence with the “Business Procedures” of the DGF;
•     Ensure all that cross-cutting issues are addressed adequately during planning, implementation and reporting, especially gender related issues.

2. Monitoring and Evaluation (30%):  The Program Assistant for Access to Justice will actively participate in M&E of the sub-component in close collaboration with the Program Officer and the Results and Communication Unit (RCU), measuring notably the results of the LEAP and the support to the Local Council Courts. This will include:

•     Conduct field visits to partners to accompany and monitor activity implementation;
•     Monitor projects’ progress and achievement of milestones and targets as per the projects’ document and monitoring framework;
•     Ensure that partners submit periodic reports to DGF for review;
•     Support the Program Officer in monitoring partners’ program and projects’ implementation to ensure results for the Access to Justice sub-component;
•     Actively participate in Mid-Term-Reviews and contribute to evaluation of projects as requested.
•     Maintain an updated LEAP results’ framework;
•     Support the Program Officer in ensuring that LEAP partners are effectively reporting on results.

3. Context Analysis input and Management of Partner Relations (10%)
The Program Assistant for Access to Justice will specifically have knowledge of the “Access to Justice” context and the key actors in the Justice Law and Order Sector. He/she will contribute to providing ongoing context analysis in the area of “Access to Justice” and provide input to management of partner relations to ensure that program implementation is adjusted to the changing context:

•     Proactively participate in providing analysis of key developments in Access to Justice.
•     Carry out any other assignments as delegated by the Program Officer.

Deadline Date: 10/05/2014

How to Apply:
Please send an application letter and updated CVs / resumes that clearly provide details of the applicant’s specific qualifications for this job vacancy and contacts of three professional referees to:
E-mail: vacancies@dgf.ug.

Note: Please clearly indicate the title of the position for which you are applying in the subject of the e-mail. The E-mail size shouldn’t exceed 2MB.