1.0 Background
The Government of the Republic of Uganda (GoU) received financing from the World Bank towards the cost of implementation of the Investment for Industrial Transformation and Employment (INVITE) project. The Project is complemented and supported by the other development partners including the Netherlands, the United Kingdom and Sweden through a Multi-Donor Trust Fund (MDTF) Grant. This includes finance from the World Bank’s IDA Window for Host Communities and Refugees which supports integrated socio-economic solutions for refugees and host communities.
The Project Development Objective is to mitigate the effect of COVID-19 on private sector investment and employment and to support new economic opportunities including in refugee and hosting communities.
The Project comprises four components and is being implemented jointly by the Bank of Uganda (BoU) and the Private Sector Foundation Uganda (PSFU).
The Project Components include:
Component 1: Mitigating the Impact of COVID-19 with a focus on the Manufacturing and Exporting Sectors Driving Economic Transformation, including Refugee and Hosting Districts; Component 2: Creating New Product and Transformative Assets including in Refugee and Host Districts; Component 3: Enhancing Capabilities in Public Institutions and Private Firms; and Component 4: Implementation Support, Monitoring, and Evaluation. More details on the project can be found at www.invite.go.ug. PSFU under INVITE seeks to engage the services of a Refugee Specialist (RS) as part of Component 2 implementation, to be part of the Project Implementation Team (PIT). Under component 2 track A: INVITE provides co-financing to selected Lead Investors to develop competitive supply chains in RHDs.
Lead investors will be supported to address issues directly related to an increase in production and to stimulate the demand within their own supply chain in RHDs. These will include:
• assets that go onto the investor’s balance sheet. E.g. Machinery, technology, buildings, utility connections, energy saving investments.
• including training of the labor force, certification of suppliers through 3rd party consulting services, identifying and coordinating suppliers, improving standards, creating market linkages, developing on-site childcare services for their staff, etc.
Track B: INVITE and Lead Investors will work with existing stakeholders (public and private) in the system to address institutional constraints in RHDs.
INVITE expects that Lead Investors primarily address issues in their supply chain, whether individually or working through partners. But where there is a clear wider benefit beyond the Lead Investor, identified by investors or INVITE (a public good), then INVITE may support by working
with partners and providing additional funds, as part of the Investment Plan.
Two areas of need provisionally identified are in labour market coordination, and in the supply of investment-relevant information. INVITE may work with partners such as UNHCR local government, OPM, UIA, and others to address these.
In the future, INVITE might provide funds for projects such as a regional standards liaison office, or to repair an airstrip. Roads will not be funded.
2.0 Job Purpose
The Refugee Specialist will be part of the PIT and will specifically be responsible for the implementation of interventions under the refugee window sub-component.
2.1 Specific duties and responsibilities
- Take the lead and provide technical support in the implementation of the refugee and host community sub-component.
- Through analysis of secondary data, close relationships with relevant experts at OPM, UNHCR, and other refugee-focused organizations, and leading collection of primary data where needed, the refugee specialist will build a detailed understanding of all relevant labor market issues in and around refugee settlements. This should be tailored specifically to the types of large-scale export-oriented manufacturing and agriculture supply chain investments that INVITE seeks to support.
- Such issues include and are not limited to the characteristics of the
potential workforce (demographics, skills, availability, migration, etc), as well as incentive
and
capacity constraints to labor market participation (training, coordination, information,
transport,
childcare, social norms including gender issues, wage expectations, access to land, access to
finance, access to inputs, etc.).
NOTE: Labor market participation includes wage work, agriculture, and self-employment.
Wage work and agriculture are particularly important for INVITE, and the experience of the specialist should reflect this. - Beyond labor market issues, the specialist will similarly build a detailed understanding of other factors in RHDs that create obstacles to investment (access to land, transport infrastructure, support services, local regulation, information, etc),
- The specialist will work as part of the PIT to prioritize which of the labor market and other investment constraints should be addressed through intervention. They will be a key contributor to the design, implementation, and monitoring of these interventions.
- The specialist will support the PIT in building relationships with representatives of potential investors, especially by providing information that builds confidence in those investors with respect to their labor market and other investment factors. They will work closely with investors to understand emerging factors
- The specialist will be proactive in analyzing and bringing to the early attention of the PIT any factors that may create challenges to the effective implementation or success of the program, including potential negative consequences of investments such as conflict or environmental impacts, as well as leading efforts to overcome or mitigate such factors.
- Liaise with other Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs), and stakeholders involved in supporting refugees including OPM, UNCHR, and projects to ensure coordination, lessons learned, and complementarity of the planned interventions.
- Support the Project Advisory Committee on Refugees (PACR) meetings
- Participate in the development of monitoring tools and systems for the subcomponent
- Monitor implementation of the sub-component activities in the RHD
- Identify potential project risk specific to the refugee and host subcomponent and mechanism for mitigating them.
- Develop sub sub-component annual work plan in line with the sub-component and project objectives
- Ensure regular communication with various stakeholders and partners
- Prepare periodic subcomponent reports including monthly, quarterly, and annual reports.
- Coordinate the overall M&E and Impact assessment teams.
- Perform any other related roles as may be assigned by the Project Coordinator from time to time.
- Support environment and social PIT members in managing the specific ESF risks in refugee settlements.
3.0 Qualifications, Experience, Other Skills, and Competence:
3.1 Academic qualifications
- Applicants should possess an honors degree from a recognized institution in any of the following areas: Economics or Business or Social Work and Social Administration, Rural Economy, Development Studies, or other related discipline.
- Post-graduate qualification in refugee management will be an added advantage
3.2 Experience:
- At least eight (8) years of professional experience working on economic and social development projects, three (3) of which should be on refugee-related interventions.
- Demonstrated experience and skills in undertaking social assessments, stakeholder analysis, developing plans, and execution.
- Experience in working across the areas of grassroots communities, the private sector, non-governmental organizations, financing, multilateral and bilateral development agencies, and government will be an advantage.
3.3 Other Required Skills and Competences:
- Good communication skills (verbal and written)
- Should be able to work with minimum supervision and deliver under pressure
- Strong ethics, hands-on approach
- Attention to detail and excellent follow-through
- Self-motivated, problem-solving skills and versatility
- Proven integrity and honesty in handling public resources
4.0 Key Deliverables
- Rapid Assessment of the RHD
- Subcomponent Annual Work Plan developed
- Timely execution of approved activities
- Timely regular reports
- Sub-component M/E framework and tools
5.0 Reporting
The RS will report directly to the RHD and Firm Export Support Program manager on issues relating to day-to-day project implementation and to the Project Coordinator for overall supervision under the contract.
6.0 Duty Station
The RS will be deployed on a full-time basis and the duty station shall be the INVITE PIU Office in Kampala.
7.0 Facilities to Be Provided by The Employer
The Project will provide office space, with connectivity to the internet, printer, and access to other office amenities during the term of the contract.
8.0 Duration of Services
The RS will be appointed on a contractual basis for an initial period of 24 months, with a possibility of renewal based on performance, business needs, and budget availability.