Program Manager Agency For Accelerated Regional Development (AFARD)

Responsible for AFARD’s SIYEP component of skilling delivering on time within budget and scope and ensuring effective coordination and collaboration among SIYEP consortium partners.

Roles    & Responsibilities

Program Leadership and Management

• Lead annual and quarterly planning, implementation, monitoring and learning with strict adherence to the program goal, outcomes, outputs, and timelines.
• Manage human resource and assets of the program.
• Monitor and evaluate progress, identifying lessons and areas for improvement.
• Ensures gender and safeguarding and disability inclusion are mainstreamed in the program activities.

Consortium Coordination and collaboration

• Participate in regular consortium reflection events to review progress, share knowledge and decision-making.
• Manage and resolve conflicts and challenges that may arise during implementation.
• Ensure project communications are timely, relevant, and accurate, including regular status updates, managers’ weekly catch-up and monthly meetings.

Budget and Financial Management

• Oversee the budget and expenditures, ensuring effective financial management and compliance with the funding requirements.
• Work closely with the Accountant to review financial reports and make budget adjustments as needed.
• Support the finance team during internal and external audits.

Documentation, Reporting and Learning

• Prepare regular progress reports, including narrative and financial reports.
• Ensure accurate and timely documentation of program activities, achievements versus targets, challenges and mitigation measures, lessons learned, and best practices.

Risk Management

• Identify potential risks to the successful implementation of the program and develop risk mitigation plan.
• Ensure effective and functional monitoring, quality control and feedback mechanisms are in place and used to support continual improvements of project implementation.

Stakeholder Engagement

• Develop and maintain strong relationships with key stakeholders including private sector, TVETs, government departments and development partners.
• Represent the program at relevant meetings, events, and fora, advocating for the goals and objectives of the program.

Person specifications:

• Masters degree in Development Studies, Social Sciences, Education, Vocational/Technical Education, Agriculture, Business Administration, Entrepreneurship, Youth Development, management studies.
• Additional training in project planning, gender, disability inclusion, safeguarding, and financial management will be an added advantage.
• At least 3 years of experience in the design, delivery and quality assurance of youth skilling, entrepreneurship/business development programming in Uganda.
• Knowledge of current best practices in entrepreneurial skilling and workforce development for vulnerable and at-risk youth.
• Demonstrated experience in working with government MDAs, TVETs, private sector, local artisans and other humanitarian and development organizations.
• Knowledge of relevant approaches for strengthening learning environments at the community.
• Demonstrated experience in developing operational tool (curricula, policies, guidelines) and documenting lessons learned.
• Familiarity with work in refugee-host community settings is an added advantage.
• Strong facilitation and communication skills (in English), including the ability to work effectively with diverse groups of youth.
• Familiarity with participatory and youth-centered methodologies.
• Ability to work collaboratively with diverse teams and partners.
• Flexible, adaptable, and able to execute a range of job duties and changing priorities.
• Experience working in refugee-host community settings.
• Exceptional skills in report writing and tracking results
• Exceptional interpersonal, teamwork and networking skills
• Willingness to travel to remote districts as and when required.