Uganda: Uganda Project Coordinator (Volunteer)

BASED IN: Mbale, Uganda

START DATE: February 2016/ ASAP

DURATION: Minimum duration 3 months, maximum 1 year

JOB DESCRIPTION
The Uganda Project Coordinator works in conjunction with N.E.W. Foundation and a micro finance institution, Seeds’ two project partners in Uganda. S/he will be responsible for supporting the partners in the development of their project/business, training partners in business best practices and technology utilization, managing aspects of the projects related to financial records and reporting, and researching partnership expansion possibilities. This position offers the opportunity to develop project management, field research, and training skills, and it requires a highly motivated, flexible self-starter who can successfully work cross-culturally.

MAJOR RESPONSIBILITIES

I. Project Management and Training
i. N.E.W Foundation, first project: development of an income-generating activity (a tailoring business) with a women’s community group, thanks to a microfinance loan:

• support the project development: coordinating/supervising the tailoring space construction works, the tailoring training and, most importantly, the set-up of the tailoring business
• provide capacity building on business management, provide advice on the organization of the production and other services and on the repayment of the micro-finance loan that they will use to purchase the sewing machines and other materials
  ii. N.E.W Foundation, second project: development of Village Savings and Loans Association groups (community based micro-finance approach):
• support the project development: supervise the quality of the local coordinator’s work, measure the social impact of the developed microfinance groups, evaluate options of program’s growth
• provide capacity building on records keeping and financial management of the project
  iii. Microfinance Institution, third project: support of (a) microfinance institution(s) (Credit Cooperative):
  ⦁ provide capacity building for the MFI staff (financial management, clients’ protection principles, loan recovery management, IT tools development, etc),
  ⦁ conduct an informal audit related to all departments/sections of the MFI
  ⦁ conduct a study on the social impact of the work of the MFI and support the MFI in the implementation of best practices in that field,
  ⦁ other needs depending on the MFI needs of the moment and the availability and background of the volunteer

II. Research
i. Project expansion: Explore feasibility of new business possibilities, growing existing tailoring business, expanding projects to surrounding villages
ii. Potential new partnerships: explore and identify new potential partners within the microfinance local organizations
iii. Demographic and geographic data: Collect data about the region such as population, district map, and other useful indicators

III. Other activities as required

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS
• English fluency
• Ability to work independently and to be proactive
• Strong interpersonal and written communication skills
• Ability to identify needs and priorities and respond accordingly
• Capacity to work successfully across cultures
• Willingness to live in basic living conditions
• Some education in and/or experience with project management

Please note that this is an unpaid position.

APPLY
Please submit your CV and letter of motivation to hr@seeds-ngo.org