Program Manager I – Restore Africa

Title: Program Manager I – Restore Africa – Eastern/Western Region

Department: Programming

Report to: DCOP I – Program Implementation

Job Location: Eastern Uganda

Vacancies: One (1)

About CRS

Catholic Relief Services is the official international humanitarian agency of the Catholic community in the United States. CRS works to save, protect, and transform lives in need in more than 100 countries, without regard to race, religion or nationality. CRS’ relief and development work is accomplished through programs of emergency response, HIV, health, agriculture, education, microfinance, and peacebuilding.

CRS has been working in Uganda since 1965 and has a vibrant portfolio of projects, serving over a million vulnerable Ugandans and refugees each year through the Country Program 2030 Strategy. CRS programs in Uganda currently support five strategic priority areas, including Health and Social Services Systems Strengthening, Resilient Food Systems, Emergency Preparedness and Management, Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation, and Local Leadership. CRS Uganda implements its programs through partnerships with local organizations, including international and local NGOs, Ugandan government departments and ministries, the Catholic Church, and community-based organizations for maximum impact and sustainability.

About the Project

CRS’ Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation Portfolio: Under the Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation strategic priority area, CRS aims to ‘drive uptake and scaling of nature-based solutions and novel financing mechanisms to support national and community level efforts to mitigate and adapt to climate change’. CRS currently has three projects which fall explicitly under this strategic priority area, and is in discussions with other donors to start additional and related programs:

• Restore Africa, which aims to restore 560,000 hectares of land with 352,500 smallholder farmers across 31 districts (Climate Asset Management funded)
• Accelerating and Scaling Climate Smart Jobs within Restore Africa – Market Linkages for Livelihoods and Land Restoration (M4R – FCDO funded) in 17 districts, focusing on 60,000 small-holder farmers and 40,000 hectares also engaged in Restore Africa.
• Mixed-Use Agroforestry in Refugee Hosting Districts (World Bank / MinWE funded), targeting 17,550 hectares and 87,782 smallholder farmers.

These projects aim to assist smallholder farmers, with an average landholding of 2 hectares (minimum 0.5 hectares, maximum 20 hectares) to diversify production within their agroforestry systems, including through payments for carbon sequestration through integration of trees into their plots. The projects also aim to incentivize smallholder farmers to be able to invest in activities which restore health to their soil and increase productivity over time, as well as meet their own food security and economic needs.

Job Summary:

As the Program Manager for Restore Africa in the Eastern/Western Region, you will oversee three (3) implementing partners (IPs); Caritas Tororo Archdiocese, and Caritas Moroto Hoima and Care International in the management of the Restore Africa program in the Uganda country program (CP). Restore Africa Project aims at restoring 560,000ha of degraded landscapes by planting 25 million trees in Uganda (33 districts in the West Afromontane, Mt. Elgon, and parts of the Karamoja regions) through transformational land restoration, regeneration, and carbon sequestration, contributing to improved food security and diversified livelihoods and increased resilience to climate extremes for 352,500 smallholder farmer households. You will also provide oversight and coordination of the partner activities related to the M4R project, which works closely with the Restore Africa project to improve smallholder farmer livelihoods. Your management skills and knowledge will ensure that the CP delivers high-quality programming and continuously works towards improving the impact of its programming.

Roles and Key Responsibilities:

• Support and manage the planning and implementation of RESAf project activities in line with CRS program quality standards and GEA/CAM donor requirements and good practices.
• Support partners to deliver on their respective targets using appropriate methods and approaches. Guide partners to evaluate progress and plans for farmer/household recruitment, targets, seedling procurement and distribution.
• Ensure proper representation of CRS and RESAf at regional, district and respective sector level meetings, and collaborate, coordinate, and communicate on a regular basis with key partners including relevant local government and community actors.
• Review, monitor and update monthly project implementation plans to ensure project implementation is within donor approved schedules.
• Ensure that partners report in a timely and accurate fashion in line with the project’s reporting guidelines and requirements.
• Plan and link the technical specialists at PMU level to regularly provide technical guidance and backstopping to partners on the different program approaches.
• Support partners to build capacity of communities and farmer households through high quality community engagements to effectively participate in project activities including planting of recommended tree species for land restoration and carbon programming.
• Support the agroforestry volunteers and partners to build capacity of communities to raise contextually appropriate high-quality tree propagation materials including tree seed, cuttings, seedlings and/or implements to enhance or establish private and/or community-managed tree nurseries.
• Conduct monthly and quarterly check-ins with IP program managers to monitor progress and provide support through coaching and mentoring on a regular basis as necessary.
• Champion learning with project staff and partner teams. Analyze and evaluate project performance data following MEAL policy. Proactively identify issues and concerns and use participatory processes to overcome implementation obstacles.
• Coordinate the identification of partner staff gaps and technical assistance needs of partner organizations and capacity strengthening and provide required interventions to support quality project implementation.
• Help identify, assess and strengthen partnerships relevant to the project by applying appropriate partnership concepts, approaches, methods and tools.
• Support the operations team to coordinate and monitor financial and material resources relevant to project needs. Through planning and oversight ensure efficient use of project resources.

Basic qualifications:

• Master’s degree in international development or international Relations or relevant field required.
• Minimum of 2 years of relevant field-based experience in coordinating or managing light to moderately complex projects required, preferably with an international NGO.
• Additional experience may substitute for some education.

Preferred Qualifications

• At least 5years management experience including managing partner relations.
• Experience engaging with partner organizations.
• MEAL skills and experience preferred.
• Experience using MS Windows and MS Office packages (Excel, Word, PowerPoint), Web Conferencing Applications, information management systems.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Strong critical thinking and creative problem-solving skills with ability to make sound judgment.
• Strong relationship management skills and the ability to work effectively with culturally diverse groups.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills with ability to write reports.
• Proactive, results-oriented, and service-oriented.

Required Languages: English fluency, including excellent oral and written skills, required Travel – Must be willing and able to travel up to 80% of the time.

Travel: Must be willing and able to travel across the Country Program sub offices.

Key Working Relationships

• Supervisory: CARITAS Moroto Project Manager, CARE international in Uganda Senior Initiative Manager, CARITAS Tororo Project Manager, CRS Agroforestry volunteers, CRS driver.
• Internal: DCOP-Program Implementation, DCOP-Operations.
• External: Program Managers from ICRAF, CARE International, Caritas Moroto, Caritas Tororo, ECOTRUST, Project Management Unit Members, District and local government officials.

Agency-wide Competencies (for all CRS Staff)

Agency competencies clarify expected behaviors and attitudes for all staff. When demonstrated, they create an engaging workplace, help staff achieve their best, and help CRS achieve agency goals. These are rooted in the mission, values, and guiding principles of CRS and used by each staff member to fulfill his or her responsibilities and achieve the desired results.

• Personal Accountability – Consistently takes responsibility for one’s own actions.
• Acts with Integrity – Consistently models values aligned with CRS Guiding Principles and mission. Is considered honest.
• Builds and Maintains Trust – Shows consistency between words and actions.
• Collaborates with Others – Works effectively in intercultural and diverse teams.
• Open to Learn – Seeks out experiences that may change perspective or provide an opportunity to learn new things.

Agency Leadership Competencies:

• Lead Change – Continually looks for ways to improve the agency through a culture of agility, openness, and innovation.
• Develops and Recognizes Others – Builds the capacity of staff to reach their full potential and enhance team and agency performance.
• Strategic Mindset – Understands role in translating, communicating, and implementing agency strategy and team priorities.

Disclaimer: This job description is not an exhaustive list of the skill, effort, duties, and responsibilities associated with the position.

CRS is an Equal Opportunity Employer

CRS’ talent acquisition procedures reflect our commitment to protecting children and vulnerable adults from abuse and exploitation.

Our Catholic identity is at the heart of our mission and operations. Catholic Relief Services carries out the commitment of the Bishops of the United States to assist the poor and vulnerable overseas. We welcome as a part of our staff people of all faiths and secular traditions who share our values and our commitment to serving those in need. CRS’ processes and policies reflect our commitment to protecting children and vulnerable adults from abuse and exploitation.