Project Coordinator – PlayMatters War Child

The Project Coordinator oversees War Child’s programmatic and operational implementation activities in Uganda for the 5-year PlayMatters consortium project, funded by the LEGO Foundation and lead by the International Rescue Committee (IRC). PlayMatters is designed to promote learning through play for all conflict affected children aged 3 to 12+ in Ethiopia and Uganda, working with stakeholders including children, caregivers, educators, communities, and education systems. War Child’s role in the consortium includes co-leadership of the research agenda with the consortium lead, as well as designing and implementing War Child’s own research and program activities in Uganda.
The Project Coordinator (PC) position involves planning and managing the implementation of project activities in Uganda (including those associated with research studies), monitoring of the progress and achievements of the project goals and objectives, managing a project team, networking with partners and stakeholders, representing WCH in the field and managing projects in the field office/locations.
The PC reports to the Program Manager – Uganda, and will closely work with the Program Manager – PlayMatters, the PlayMatters M&E Coordinator, the Research Coordinator, and field area coordinators.

Objective of the job
1. Responsible for the coordination of overall implementation of project activities
2. Support in daily planning of project activities and monitor project progress
Manage and guide the staff under his/her responsibility
4. Liaise and work with partners and stakeholders
5. Proactively participate in play matters partners coordination meeting
6. Write project reports
7. Financial management

Position in organisation and essential functional relations
The PC reports to the Program Manager (Uganda) and support the implementation of play matters in Uganda.
Essential functional relations include: the PlayMatters Program Manager, the PlayMatters M&E Coordinator, the PlayMatters Research Coordinator, M&E Manager , Admin Officer, Program Development Advisor Psycho Social Support, Finance, HR and Logistics teams.

Roles and Responsibilities
1. Responsible for the implementation of project activities
• Oversee the planning and implementation of PlayMatters project activities in Uganda
Prepare and implement monthly activity plans and budgets
Coordinate with partners for activities where relevant
• Organize recruitment and trainings as needed and as per project schedule
• Submit monthly reporting on the activity plan and budget, including actively providing feedback and suggestions to the line manager on deviations from the approved monthly activity plan
• Ensure that the project team communicates effectively with and demonstrates accountability to the children and communities that are stakeholders in the project
• Ensure adherence to relevant SPHERE and sectoral minimum standards for humanitarian support
• Ensure that the feedback provided by M&E and technical teams is discussed and incorporated in implementation
• Coordinate with PlayMatters consortium partners and attend coordination meetings as requested
• Report any violation of organization code of conduct by staff or facilitators
2. Assure accurate monitoring of the progress and achievements of the project goals and objectives
• Coordinate with M&E team for accurate and quality reporting of the project data form the field locations.
• Keep track and report on activity implementation and progress towards output with the support of M&E coordinator
• Coordinates with the operations department to ensure all operational and compliance activities are performed
• Ensure that internal and external (donor) reports are submitted to management on time and are of high quality
• Ensure that implementation associated with research studies takes place according to specific and detailed guidelines
3. Manage and guide the staff under his/her responsibility
• Support the deployment of staff and community volunteers rationally and supervise their work
• Work closely with technical and quality counterparts on the capacity development of staff and volunteers
• Conduct performance appraisals of direct reports as per the WCH Performance & Development system
• Actively monitor the work of implementers at field and community level
• Coach and motivate the team in the WCH mandate
4. Representation
• Represent WCH Uganda with PlayMatters consortium partners, at the request of the PM Uganda
• Represent WCH Uganda at local level i.e. government institutions, as agreed with the PM Uganda
• Represent WCH Uganda in working groups and other coordination platforms as agreed with the PM – Uganda
• Cooperate with and support consortium members in the implementation of the PlayMatters program
5. Financial management
• Monitor the assigned budget and make sure that all administrative procedures are followed strictly and effectively with the support of operations staff
• Control the budget and ensures proper expenditure of each budget line, in coordination with the finance department
• Monitor PlayMatters related finance transactions
• Support to manage PlayMatters assets at field locations.
• Any other duties as assigned by line manager in line with these terms of reference and the fulfillment of the tasks.

Requirements
Knowledge and Experience
• Master’s Degree in Community Development, Education, Child Protection, Psychology, Social Sciences or equivalent is desirable.
• Degree in Community Development, Education, Child Protection, Psychology, Social Sciences or equivalent demonstrable experience in relevant fields (social work, community development)
• At least 5 years of relevant field work experience (including work with conflict-affected groups)
• Previous experience working with children/refuges/vulnerable populations
• Experience as team leader focusing at least one of the following areas: education, psychosocial support, mental health, child development
• Understanding of the refugee settlement contexts in at least one region of Uganda.
• Experience with managing teams and working in partnerships
• Demonstrated experience of managing budgets;

Skills and Competencies
• Strong social and communication skills for team management as well as for liaising with external stakeholders
• Ability to coordinate and deliver project activities faithfully according to highly specific guidelines
• Facilitation skills
• Fluency in English, preferably able to speak in one of the local and/or refugee languages
• Problem solving skills, able to deal independently with field work related issues
• Result oriented
• Strong computer and report writing skills
• Basic understanding of the principles of research is desirable but not essential

“Commitment to the vision and goals of War Child Holland in Uganda, including adherence to the Child Safety Policy, is essential”