Job Title: Regional Learning and Advocacy Programme (REGLAP) Officer,
Building Resilience to Drought in the Karamoja Region through
Sustainable Natural Resources Management (NRM) in Okok Sub
Catchment
Position: Project Officer, REGLAP (Regional Learning and Advocacy Programme).
Location: Kampala, Uganda
Background
IUCN, International Union for Conservation of Nature, helps the world find pragmatic
solutions to our most pressing environment and development challenges. IUCN works on
biodiversity, climate change, energy, human livelihoods and greening the world economy by
supporting scientific research, managing field projects all over the world, and bringing
governments, NGOs, the UN and companies together to develop policy, laws and best
practice. IUCN is the world’s oldest and largest global environmental organization, with more
than 1,200 government and NGO members and almost 11,000 volunteer experts in some
160 countries. IUCN’s work is supported by over 1,000 staff in 45 offices and hundreds of
partners in public, NGO and private sectors around the world.
The Eastern and Southern Africa Regional Office (ESARO) of IUCN that coordinates the
implementation of the Eastern and Southern Africa Regional Program (ESARP) is based in
Nairobi under an Agreement between IUCN and the Government of Kenya. Through the
Drylands programme, in collaboration with the Water and Wetlands programme, IUCN is
implementing two projects in Uganda aimed at building the capacity of local communities and
government to develop and implement integrated natural resource management plans which
promote resilient and sustainable livelihoods. These projects are: Building drought resilience
through land and water management in the Upper Aswa-Agago Sub-Catchment region of
Uganda funded by the Austrian Development Agency and Building resilience to drought in the
Karamoja Region through sustainable natural resources management (NRM) in Okok Sub
Catchment in partnership with ACF with funding from ECHO.
Regional Learning and Advocacy Programme for vulnerable dryland communities
(REGLAP)
The Regional Learning and Advocacy Programme (REGLAP) for Vulnerable Dryland
Communities is a consortium that promotes lesson learning and good practice on strengthening
dryland resilience in the Horn of Africa and advocates to governments, NGOs and other
stakeholders for improved policy and practice. The REGLAP consortium currently includes:
CARE, Cordaid, Dan Church Aid, IUCN, Oxfam GB and Save the Children, and collaborates
with a range of local CSOs and networks, governments, research organisations and ECHO
partners. The REGLAP programme has been operating since June 2008 and is funded by
ECHO. It is now in its 4th phase of programme and focussing on 3 result areas:
1. Evidence based Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) good practice is identified or developed
for, and disseminated to, governments, NGOs and other stakeholders.
2. National governments and key stakeholders are including DRR good practice in their
strategies/plans.
3. Increased agreement by ECHO partners and other key organizations on priorities for
building resilience for joint advocacy and implementation.
IUCN is the REGLAP Learning Group Lead for Water Development for Disaster Risk Reduction
(DRR). Within this role IUCN aims to:
1. Ensure that humanitarian response in the dryland areas has increased awareness of
implications of poor water development on dryland ecosystems and livelihoods and
considerations for good practice;
2. Ensure that good practice models of integrated water and land development in drylands
areas that promotes resilience are collected, developed and disseminated; and
3. Ensure policy opportunities for influencing water development in the dryland areas are
identified and strategies for engagement recommended.
Responsibilities:
The focal person for the REGLAP Water Learning Group will link project activities to the broader
REGLAP objectives and activities where possible. He or She will also provide technical
backstopping and guidance to dryland projects in Uganda. Specifically, the REGLAP focal will
do the following:
1. Project implementation and management
Support the implementation and management of IUCN’s role as REGLAP’s Learning Group
Lead for water development for DRR ensuring performance monitoring and efficiency,
effectiveness and quality outputs.
a. Oversee and manage a research consultancy on best practices in water planning
and development in the drylands
b. Disseminate good practice case studies to identified targets through appropriate
means: briefs, seminars, videos, face to face meetings, website postings, etc.;
c. Based on the development of good practice examples and principles, generate key
policy messages related to water development for DRR for national and regional
level stakeholders to feed into REGLAP Country Core Groups and Regional
Consortium activities;
d. Manage the communications between the Water Learning Group members and
support information sharing, and collaboration.
e. Provide technical, managerial and administrative support and facilitation to project
activities and ensure quality outputs that meet the satisfaction of project partners;
f. Assist in information management and correspondence; and
g. In consultation with relevant IUCN Officers and collaborating partners, develop and
implement tools, systems and procedures for effective planning, monitoring,
evaluation and reporting of project activities;
2. Assist in managing IUCN’s relationship with key project partners
a. Assist in overseeing and developing the relationship between IUCN and REGLAP
partners in the region.
b. Assist in overseeing and developing relationships with key regional policy bodies such
and IGAD, and AU.
3. Representation
With prior approval from Uganda Head of Office, Regional Technical Coordinator Water and
Wetlands and Regional Technical Coordinator Drylands represent IUCN:
a. At REGLAP and other internal and external meetings of the project.
b. At relevant local, district and national level meetings
4. Support to the Drylands Portfolio
a. Assist in developing the knowledge of the IUCN Uganda office on Drylands issues.
b. Support the IUCN Uganda office to develop of proposals and project concepts for
Drylands projects in the country.
5. Other duties
Carry out any other relevant tasks as required by, and mutually agreed with, Uganda Head of
Office, Regional Technical Coordinator Water and Wetlands and Regional Technical
Coordinator Drylands .
6. Annual Work plan (performance agreement)
To operationalise the above mentioned duties under job description framework, develop and
implement an annual work plan (performance agreement) as well as carry out the appraisal as
per the IUCN requirement.
Competencies
Ideally a postgraduate qualification or at the minimum good first degree in dryland and
water related study;
At least 5 years work experience in research, advocacy, information packaging and
dissemination;
Strong track record of effective advocacy and experience in preparing information,
education and communication (IEC) products from projects;
Excellent understanding of policy contexts and changing environments in the drylands;
Experience in planning, monitoring and evaluation of projects/programmes;
Familiarity with the Ugandan Catchment Based Water Resource Management approach
and associated policy and laws
Experience in resource mobilization and/or fundraising;
Good verbal and written communication skills in English.
Personal attributes
1. Strong inter personal skills, cultural sensitivity, and a very good communicator
2. Innovative and dynamic, with ability to take initiative and provide creative solutions to
project management problems
3. A proactive and self-motivated individual with good interpersonal skills, demonstrated
ability to work in a team and capacity to pay attention to detail.
4. Excellent analytical skills and ability to work with little supervision and function in a
multicultural and multidisciplinary environment.
IUCN staff are required to conduct themselves at all times in a manner that is compatible with their
responsibilities and in accordance with the standards of conduct expected by IUCN as set out in the
IUCN Staff Rules.
Applicants are asked to submit their CV and a supporting letter of motivation and provide the
names and contact details (including e-mail addresses) of three referees. The letter must be
submitted on or before 25th July 2012 to: earohr@iucn.org
IUCN is an equal opportunities employer and welcomes applications from qualified men and
women.
Deadline: 25th July 2012
2:17 AM
Harriet