Senior Programs Associate job at Uganda Solar Energy Association

Job Overview
The Global Off-Grid Lighting Association (hereinafter “GOGLA”) and the Uganda Solar Energy Association (hereinafter “USEA”) have partnered to implement the IKEA funded programme on productive use of renewable energy (PURE) (hereinafter referred as “the Project”) in Uganda. The main objective of this partnership will be to enhance the enabling environment and scale up the market for productive use of renewable energy (PURE) in Uganda.

The project seeks to scale up productive use of renewable energy (PURE) for food security and economic empowerment in Uganda through (i) Improved Enabling Environment for PURE Markets at the Global and National Level, (ii) Increased Availability of Critical Market Data and Actionable insights, (iii) Strengthened Performance of PURE Companies and (iv) Improved PURE Ecosystem.

USEA is in the third year of implementing its 5-year strategic plan, the Senior Programs Associate will spearhead this project and drive traction to secure similar projects for the Association.

Key Responsibilities:
• Sourcing opportunities: Search and generate leads for new opportunities relevant and in alignment with company objectives (Estimated in 10% time dedication)
• Proposal Writing: Preparing concept notes and detailed project proposals, including project goals, deliverables, timelines, and budgets. Collaborate with the project team to ensure proposals align with organisational objectives and meet donor requirements. (Estimated in 10% time dedication)
• Project Management: Manage all project outputs and ensure their successful execution. Coordinate with GOGLA and other project partners, team members, and external stakeholders to ensure smooth implementation, adherence to project plans, and timely delivery of outputs. (Estimated in 60% time dedication). An indicative PURE-related output areas to be delivered are shown below and will be modified with mutual discussion and consent if needed on an annual basis:

Output 1. Specific task forces/technical committees established to deliver/track the roadmap endorsements, to enhance coordination within government, private sector, and development partners, providing support to establish or convene Inter-Ministerial Coordination Committees (IMCs) or other taskforces for specific support PURE.
Output 2. Donors and governments influenced by global/national (Impact/climate) metrics and data aggregation, developing the annual PURE state-of-the-art report, aiming to provide evidence that fosters industry decisions and increases appetite for investment, i.e., most up-to-date sales and impact data, finance flows and other elements. The document will be published and available to the public. Light-touch support by GOGLA will be provided.
Output 3. Effective sharing and engagement spaces established, there is a need to continuously engage various partners and private sector players through various platforms, including quarterly working groups (WG), catch-up calls, conferences, and member engagement visits. The objective of this is to keep each other up to date and current on issues and market status, including sharing key market information, amplifying private sector voice and gathering difficulties and challenges by a growing PURE community in Uganda.
• Reporting and Monitoring: Develop and maintain a comprehensive monitoring and evaluation system for projects. Collect relevant data, track progress, and prepare regular reports on project performance, outcomes, and impact. (Estimated in 10% time dedication)
• Budget Management: Monitor project budgets, expenditures, and financial reports. Work closely with the in-house finance team to ensure accurate financial tracking and compliance with donor guidelines. (Estimated in 10% time dedication).
• Partner Relationship Management: Cultivate strong and positive relationships with project partners, donors, and stakeholders. Regularly communicate with partners to ensure their needs are met, address concerns, and maintain alignment with project objectives.
• Research and Analysis: Conduct research and analysis on relevant topics to inform project design and business development processes.

Required Skills and Qualifications:
• A minimum of a Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field, such as international development, project management, business administration or related disciplines.
• A minimum of 4 years of proven experience in project management, including proposal writing, implementation, and reporting.
• Familiarity with project monitoring and evaluation techniques and tools.
• Strong budget management skills with attention to detail and accuracy.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English
• Ability to build and maintain effective partnerships with various stakeholders.
• Solid understanding of donor and grant management requirements and procedures.
• Proficiency in using project management software and MS Office applications.
• Excellent leadership and strategic management skills; strong communication, presentation, and negotiations skills; superior problem solving and decision-making competencies; ICT skills (Ms word Excel, PowerPoint, and internet applications, among others j. High moral character and proven integrity; innovative, creative, and self-driven with superior capacity to manage organisational risks.

Job application procedure

Application instructions USEA is a member organisation with offices in Naguru, Kampala, opposite the police headquarters. The organisation is inviting applicants to fill the position of Senior Programs Associate.

The application should be addressed and emailed to info@useaug.org All applicants should submit the following documents in a single folder (one PDF file): a Letter of motivation including three references, a CV, academic documents and other relevant documents.

NB: Mention the position applied for. Only complete applications will be reviewed. All materials should be submitted via email.

We regret that owing to the likely volume of applications, only shortlisted applicants will be contacted.

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