Program Officer – PEARL Program Youth Impact Labs East Africa

Mercy Corps is an international development organization that works in over 40 countries to promote community-led and market-driven development. With a strategic focus on countries in transition, Mercy Corps takes a progressive approach to supporting communities, entrepreneurs, governments and the private sector from relief to long-term economic growth. With a network of over 3,700 experienced professionals around the world, we are uniquely positioned to respond to complex environments and the needs of local communities.

In Uganda, Mercy Corps has been in operating since 2006 in Karamoja specifically in Kotido, Kaabong and Moroto; in Northern Region in Gulu; West Nile in Yumbe and Central region specifically Kampala district. Mercy Corps offers technical expertise in Market Development, Gender, Peace and Conflict Management, Economic Empowerment, Food Security Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning, Agriculture and Agribusiness.

Mercy Corps has implemented and still implements multiple donor-funded projects her major donors including but not limited to DANIDA (Danish Government Overseas Aid), Austrian Development Agency, Agence Française de Développement (AFD) and Private foundations among others.

Program / Department Summary

The Preventing Extremism through Advocacy, Resilience, and Local Action (PEARL) Programme is a strategic initiative aimed at preventing and countering violent extremism (VE) in Uganda through institutional reform approaches.

Preventing Extremism through Advocacy, Resilience and Local Action (PEARL) programme seeks to ensure a stronger enabling environment for whole-of-society and whole-of-government approaches to Preventing and Countering Violent Extremism (PCVE), addressing the identified relational, capacity, and resource-related barriers to effective PCVE implementation, as identified through consultations, assessments and previous engagement.

Mercy Corps and its partner(s) will adopt a range of approaches to support sustainable change from the Action, leveraging past experience of PCVE programmeming across the East Africa region. This Action adopts an institutional strengthening approach rather than direct delivery, to build awareness and capacities in WoS-WoG approaches to PCVE across a broad spectrum or State and non-state actors, whilst also enabling the key actors responsible for leading and coordinating PCVE action in Uganda to more effectively play this role. Institutional strengthening and reform approaches focus on identifying and overcoming the barriers that often prevent institutions and the people within them from adopting new attitudes, behaviours and ways of working.

General Position Summary

The Programme Officer will play a key role in supporting the effective implementation of the PEARL Programme at the community level. This position requires close engagement with stakeholders and target communities to ensure inclusive participation and successful delivery of programme activities. The Programme Officer will conduct regular field visits, in coordination with the Programme Manager, to promote understanding and consistent application of PEARL approaches and methodologies.

A core component of this role involves strengthening the capacity of local partners by supporting the development of tailored institutional development plans and providing ongoing technical guidance. The Programme Officer will also represent Mercy Corps in peace actor coordination meetings, fostering collaboration and information sharing among relevant stakeholders.

Additionally, the Programme Officer will contribute to programme planning and management by preparing and submitting work plans, concept notes, and activity budgets for review and approval by the Programme Manager. This position demands a proactive, organized, and community-driven professional committed to advancing the objectives of the PEARL Programme.

Essential Job Responsibilities

Safeguarding Responsibilities

• Actively learns about safeguarding and integrates it into their work, including safeguarding risks and mitigations related to their area of work
• Practices the values of Mercy Corps including respecting the dignity and well-being of participants and fellow team members
• Encourages openness and communication in their team; encourages team members to submit reports if they have any concerns using reporting mechanisms e.g., Integrity Hotline and other options.

Technical Responsibilities

Program Implementation & Community Engagement

• Work with community structures to plan and implement pearl programme activities in line with agreed targets and timelines.
• Conduct regular field visits, in coordination with the programme manager, to ensure stakeholders understand and apply pearl approaches and methodologies.
• Engage local leaders, councilors, and community members to promote inclusive participation and local ownership of the programme.
• Participate in partner-led community meetings and activities, providing timely feedback and reporting to the programme manager.

Stakeholder Coordination & Representation

• Represent mercy corps in district-level coordination meetings, peace actor forums, and other relevant stakeholder platforms.
• Support effective collaboration with implementing partners, ensuring clarity in communication, joint planning, and alignment with programme objectives.
• Support the coordination of field-level activities with relevant government departments, civil society actors, and local institutions.

Monitoring, Evaluation, Learning & Reporting

• Support the monitoring and evaluation of programme activities, including tracking results, measuring impact, and documenting lessons learned.
• Assist in setting and reviewing benchmarks along the programme’s results chain and contribute to learning and adaptation processes.
• Maintain and manage programme data systems, ensuring data is accurately collected, analyzed, and used for decision-making.
• Participate in research activities and recommend technical support where needed.
• Prepare and submit timely reports, work plans, concept notes, and budgets for review and approval.
• Ensure proper documentation of field visits, meetings, and key programme events.

Partner Support & Capacity Building

• Work closely with local partners to support the development and implementation of institutional development plans.
• Build the capacity of partners through technical support, mentoring, and regular engagement.
• Support partners in using monitoring tools and systems effectively.
• Ensure all partner-related programme and financial documentation is complete, accurate, and well-maintained.
• Prepare weekly movement plans and coordinate logistics for partner activities and fieldwork.

Finance & Compliance Management

• Ensure compliance with donor and mercy corps regulations related to peace and conflict programmeming.

Security

• Ensure compliance with security procedures and policies as determined by country leadership.
• Proactively ensure that team members operate in a secure environment and are aware of policies.

Organizational Learning

• As part of our commitment to organizational learning and in support of our understanding that learning organizations are more effective, efficient and relevant to the communities they serve, we expect all team members to commit 5% of their time to learning activities that benefit Mercy Corps as well as themselves.

Accountability to Beneficiaries

• Mercy Corps team members are expected to support all efforts toward accountability, specifically to our beneficiaries and to international standards guiding international relief and development work, while actively engaging beneficiary communities as equal partners in the design, monitoring and evaluation of our field projects.

Safeguarding Responsibilities

• Actively learns about safeguarding and integrates it into their work, including safeguarding risks and mitigations related to their area of work
• Practices the values of Mercy Corps including respecting the dignity and well-being of participants and fellow team members
• Encourages openness and communication in their team; encourages team members to submit reports if they have any concerns using reporting mechanisms e.g., Integrity Hotline and other options

Supervisory Responsibility: None

Accountability

Reports Directly to: Programme Manager

Works Directly with: Programme Team, Finance, P&C, Operations and Partners

Knowledge and Experience

• A Bachelor’s degree in Social Sciences, Rural Development, or a related field.
• At least two years of proven experience in implementing peacebuilding and conflict-related projects.
• Strong commitment to teamwork and collaboration in multi-disciplinary and cross-cultural environments.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to effectively engage diverse stakeholders, including community members, local leaders, and partners.
• Practical experience in conflict or post-conflict settings, with a sound understanding of conflict-sensitive programmeming.
• Proficiency in local languages is an added advantage and will support effective community engagement.
• Ability to ride a motorcycle with a valid license is preferred but not mandatory.

Success Factors

The ideal Programme Officer will demonstrate strong planning, communication, and coordination skills, with the ability to adapt quickly and apply new concepts in dynamic environments. They will be willing to travel to remote locations and effectively engage with diverse community structures.Proven experience in cross-cultural collaboration, capacity building, and mentoring is essential. The ability to manage multiple priorities while maintaining strategic focus and attention to detail is key.

Success in this role requires accountability, adaptability, and strong interpersonal skills. A positive attitude, willingness to learn, and a good sense of humor will further support success in Mercy Corps’ fast-paced, team-oriented environment.

Living Conditions / Environmental Conditions

The position is based in Kampala, Uganda. The location secure with access to most basic amenities.

Mercy Corps team members represent the agency both during and outside work hours. Team members are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner and respect local laws, customs and MC’s policies, procedures, and values at all times and in all locations.

Ongoing Learning

In support of our belief that learning organizations are more effective, efficient and relevant to the communities we serve, we empower all team members to dedicate 5% of their time to learning activities that further their personal and/or professional growth and development

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

Achieving our mission begins with how we build our team and work together. Through our commitment to enriching our organization with people of different origins, beliefs, backgrounds, and ways of thinking, we are better able to leverage the collective power of our teams and solve the world’s most complex challenges. We strive for a culture of trust and respect, where everyone contributes their perspectives and authentic selves, reaches their potential as individuals and teams, and collaborates to do the best work of their lives.

We recognize that diversity and inclusion is a journey, and we are committed to learning, listening and evolving to become more diverse, equitable and inclusive than we are today.