About US:

Whitaker Peace & Development Initiative (WPDI) is an international Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) founded by artist, social activist, and UNESCO Special Envoy for Peace and Reconciliation Forest Whitaker, with the goal of helping fragile communities affected by conflict, fragility and vulnerability transform into peaceful, resilient and productive communities. To achieve this objective in line with the Sustainable Development Goals proclaimed by the United Nations, WPDI empowers young women and men from vulnerable and fragile places as peace leaders and agents of positive transformation in their countries and communities. An ambitious organization, WPDI collaborates with a range of local and international, public and private partners to pursue its mission.

Job Summary:

The Business Skills Officer will manage the business and entrepreneurship skills component of WPDI programs in Karamoja. This includes in particular the Business Boot Camp, a facility designed by WPDI to incubate youth-led small businesses, based on a process comprising a rigorous selection of business projects, including through business plan competitions, and the support to successful candidates, notably through funding, backstopping and continuous mentoring. As Entrepreneurship Officer, the incumbent is expected to work from the WPDI Office in Moroto, or such other location as WPDI may request from time to time. Missions may require travelling domestically for business purposes from time to time.

Key Duties and Responsibilities:

• Oversee, manage and report on activities of WPDI pertaining to entrepreneurship development and business support in Karamoja;
• Oversee and ensure the full deployment of WPDI Business model in Karamoja, including the set up of review and oversight committees for the TOTs SMEs and Business Plan Competitions;
• Represent WPDI at the partners coordination meetings in the Karamoja Sub-region as needed.
• Design and teach training modules in entrepreneurship for youth peacemakers involved in the YPN program, adapting the WPDI business curriculum to the context of Karamoja;
• Develop curricula/modules in business and entrepreneurship skills for trainings at WPDI Community Learning Center in Moroto, breaking them into basic, intermediate and advanced levels;
• Oversee and conduct WPDI business and entrepreneurship skills trainings delivered at the WPDI Community Learning Center in Moroto;
• Oversee and organize Business Plans Competitions at WPDI Community Learning Center in Moroto;
• Provide support and guidance to the youth for the design of their business plans and launch of their income-generating projects;
• Work closely with the Program Coordinator for the design of the workplan/calendar of activities and the mobilization of youth and community members for the business and entrepreneurship skills trainings at WPDI Community Learning Center in Moroto;
• Provide regular guidance and mentorship to participants in the Business Boot Camp, ensuring notably that income generating projects or SMEs undertaken with the support of WPDI are manage effectively and efficiently with a view to profitability and sustainability;
• Connect the youth with potential local partners for the expansion of their projects;
• Develop and implement monitoring and evaluation mechanisms for the income generating community projects supported by WPDI and provide regular data on their progress and impact;
• Maintain records of microloans/grants distributed to recipients and routinely monitor and report on the impact of these microloans/grants;
• Carry out any additional activities that may be assigned from time to time.

Qualifications, Skills and Experience:

• The applicant must hold a University Degree in Business Administration or other business-related courses suitable for the work of the organization.
• Five to seven years of progressively responsible relevant experience with preferably professional and field-based experience in business, entrepreneurship, agri-business, project implementation and youth empowerment or a related field; keen interest in working with youth leaders; proven ability to work efficiently, under pressure, and in multicultural environment. Language: Excellent written and spoken English, Ngakarimojong, Pokot and Leb Thur
• Language: Excellent written and spoken English, Ngakarimojong, Pokot and Leb Thur

All suitably qualified and interested applicants, who hold Uganda citizenship, are invited to submit a cover letter (in English and referencing the Job Announcement) accompanied by a full resume stating details of educational qualifications and working experience, home and office telephone numbers, and a writing sample in English by email below:

E-mail to: [email protected]

Deadline: 17th April 2020 by 5:00pm

NB: Due to the high volume of applications, only short-listed candidates will be contacted. No academic certificates should be attached; these will be required during interviews. WPDI is an equal employment organization; female candidates who meet the above selection criteria are encouraged to apply.