Vacancy title:
Community Development Specialist, Moroto_National

Jobs at:
VSO Uganda

Deadline of this Job:
Open until position is filled

Duty Station:
Moroto, Uganda

Job details:
Country: Uganda

Employer: Community Development Office, Moroto

Duration: 24 Months

Job purpose: In collaboration with Moroto District Education Office, build capacity of local government and schools to create an inclusive education environment where children, especially girls, can attend, stay in school longer and receive quality education

1. Job Description
Responsibilities
District level engagement

• In collaboration with the Community Development Office, support the district planning process especially at sub-county and district level, mobilize and facilitate community consultations alongside other community development specialists, to ensure that community voice on marginalized children especially girls is heard, issues planned for and budgeted for in district plans, implemented, monitored and reported on.
  
• In collaboration with Community Development office ensure community mobilization and education promotion is conducted at sub-county and school level to promote community dialogue on inclusiveness and conflict resolution especially in education for girls and other marginalized groups
  
• Support the strengthening of local council and village support systems in order to support the resolution of conflict situations for marginalized girls and boys e.g. training and mentoring local leaders – family courts, children’s courts as well as strengthening the sub-county capacity in undertaking conflict resolution procedures in accordance with their respective mandates.
  
• Support in strengthening of the capacity of local CBOs and sub-county offices to promote inclusive practices, through community and school awareness/education at village and household level and have the capacity to refer legal cases for further management through right channels provided for nationally.
  
• Plan and organize outreach support services to girls and boys in the community especially on barriers to daily attendance of school or dropout of girls and boys from school as a result of individual, family or community conflict
  
• Support in the training of leadership and management School Management Committees and Parent-Teacher Associations to provide and support an inclusive education environment
  
• Document and disseminate project’s best practices, challenges and lessons learnt
  
• Work in close collaboration with other VSO volunteers, particularly the other community development specialists, Teacher Educator – Gender and Inclusive Education Specialist and Researchers

VSO level engagement

• Participate in VSO coordinated activities with other partners and other stakeholders
  
• Prepare quarterly work plans, requisitions and reports
  
• Attend and participate in quarterly planning and coordination review meetings
  
• Prepare for quarterly placement reviews with the programme manager and/or officer at placement location or at VSO quarterly meetings
  
• Participate in VSO-led monitoring and evaluation

Ireland level engagement

• Help raise awareness among the Irish public about the role of Irish volunteers in development, the sustainable impact they have and other the positive benefits volunteering can bring to the countries where Ireland works
  
• Help raise awareness among professionals, particularly in the health and education sectors in Ireland, on volunteering for development opportunities, and motivate to pursue them

Due to the nature of our volunteer placements, it is possible that the responsibilities of this role may differ in reality and therefore the postholder will need to be prepared to be flexible and adapt to their environment as necessary.

Key Performance Indicators
Overall placement objective/indicator:

• Children, especially girls, in Moroto District in Karamoja region have access to a supportive, inclusive learning environment, leading to increased attendance and completion rates

Specific performance indicators:

• Evidence of implementation of agreed activities from district community operational plan – based on standard national planning templates that is inclusive and being used as a guide for delivering district community programmes
  
• Strengthened capacity of sub-county staff and other stakeholders at community level to be responsive to the education needs of girls and other vulnerable children , engage with and support community participation and engagement in inclusive education promotion for girls and boys including other marginalised children
• Improved knowledge, attitudes and practices of families and other community members toward inclusive education through mobilising and creating opportunities for community dialogue
• Contribute to documented good practice hand book by end of project

Competencies

• Building and Sustaining working relationships
  The social skills to build and actively maintain working relationships that foster teamwork and collaboration with others for the benefit of a common goal.
• Open Minded and Respectful
  A non-judgemental approach that values other people and culture.
• Seeking and Sharing Knowledge
  Recognition that learning is a two-way and continuous process.
• Facilitating Positive Change
  The ability to analyse problems and develop lasting solutions in line with VSO approaches.
• Adaptability
  A flexible approach and the ability to adapt behaviour to different situations.
• Resilience
  The self-confidence to work with a variety of situations, diverse people and ambiguity.

Qualifications
Essential:

• Bachelor’s degree in social sciences/Social work, Community development, Gender studies, special education , primary education or related field
  
• Minimum 5 years’ experience in community development
  
• Knowledge and understanding of gender and inclusive education globally and in Ugandan context
  
• Facilitation, training and mentoring skills
  
• Excellent oral and written English language skills

Desirable:

• High-level communication skills, including engaging and informative public speaking
  
• Ability to interact skilfully with diverse rural groups of people
  
• Planning, organizational and management skills
  
• Well-developed drive for results competencies
  
• Ability to work with minimum supervision
  
• Basic computing skills

Responsible to: Line Manager at Placement/VSO Programme Manager – Education

2. Personal considerations

In addition to the job description, the following information should be used when considering whether a placement is suitable for you.

Personal health considerations
If you have a significant current or past medical condition and/or you have general concerns about staying healthy as a volunteer, please use this information to assess whether this placement will be suitable for you. All volunteers require medical clearance from a VSO medical adviser before they are able to take up a placement with VSO. Occasionally, VSO may consider that this placement is too great a risk for you in terms of your personal health and you would be advised to consider a different placement. For further guidance about medical assessment and volunteering with a medical condition please see the frequently asked questions on VSO website.

Access to medical care and support
The standard and quality of local medical care and support available at this placement will depend on its location within the country. Health facilities are likely to be more poorly resourced in rural areas in terms of medical expertise, equipment, infrastructure and regular supplies of medication. However, this may not be the case in the capital city or in a larger town, where in some countries there may be a reasonable standard of medical care. The following gives you an indication of where the placement is in relation to the country office and how easy it would be to make the journey if you were ill.

There are many recommended health providers in Kampala provided by VSO health insurance scheme. More detailed information on managing your health in Uganda will be provided during In country orientation.

There is an ambulance service which is available to all members under this scheme which including volunteers

Most times however VSO Kampala would be the office that would provide more support in terms of further treatment needs, travel and other related support. VSO will usually provide private transport in case of emergency or illness

This placement is:
• in Kampala
If you wish to discuss your personal circumstances or health concerns in confidence with VSO’s medical team before you apply for this placement please contact medical@vsoint.org.

Accompanying partner or family: If you have a partner or children who are planning to accompany you to your placement, please use this section to assess whether this placement will be suitable for you.
This placement is okay for an accompanying partner

Motorcycle requirements
N/A

Job application procedure
Send application to martha.medical@vsoint.org