Regional Lead Verifier

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Description

About Cordaid

Cordaid believes in a world without poverty and exclusion. We strive for just and sustainable societies where every person counts. We stand for knowledge and talent sharing between North and South, between farmers and businesses, between activists and policymakers. Where poverty, conflict and exclusion divide societies, we connect people and communities. We stand for professionalism, expertise and solidarity across borders. We aim at maximizing our social impact and contributing to systemic change. We operate where natural disasters strike, where conflicts tear up communities and where lack of opportunities and service delivery keep families in extreme poverty.

Cordaid is an internationally operating value-based emergency relief and development organisation, working in and on fragility.

Cordaid is a member of the international faith-based networks Caritas and ACT Alliance as well as other worldwide civil society networks. We work in around 20 countries in Africa and Asia.

For the Cordaid Project Regional offices in Kabale, Fort Portal, and Kamuli, Cordaid is looking for Regional Lead Verifier.   

About Result Based Financing (RBF)

Cordaid has been active in Uganda for over 25 years. In Uganda and in 15 other sub-Saharan African countries Cordaid has experience in system strengthening through the Result Based Financing (RBF) approach. In Uganda we are anticipating implementing an RBF project Agricultural Governance Results Improvement Project (A-GRIP) with focus on land tenure and food security governance in 16 districts across 5 regions (Kigezi, Rwenzori, Busoga, Elgon and Lango) of Uganda. For the project, we are looking for experienced Regional Lead Verifier , with strong knowledge on food systems and economic empowerment, project management skills, stakeholders and partner capacity building and willingness to learn on technical approaches of RBF. The position is pending donor approval of the project.

Justification and context

Cordaid is recruiting Regional Lead Verifier for an anticipated Result Based Financing in Land Tenure and Farming Systems Project, 2023 – 2028. The anticipated project will work in 16 districts and aiming at secured land tenure security and inclusive development of farming systems in 5 regions in Uganda.

The project has four (inter-related) outcome areas :

1. Increased formal and equitable land ownership under customary law, especially for the most vulnerable populations ;
2. Increased sustainable agricultural smallholder farmers production by enhanced take-up of effective, quality and equitable agricultural food production and natural resources management services ;
3. Strengthened regulation and enabling policies for better agricultural and food security (FS) sector performance to match smallholder farmers’ and communities’ needs ;
4. General good governance and management at district level in support of improved performance of the contracted departments.

Purpose of the position

The Regional Lead Verifier will be responsible for the day-to-day management of the regional project office. And will coordinate and plan the different RBF verification tasks and responsibilities of the regional verification team. S/he will lead and coach the verification officers and data entrants and monitor the progress of the project in the region and draft monthly internal and quarterly donor reports that will be consolidated in the overall quarterly report to the donor, working closely with the Project, Land Expert, Finance Manager and Senior RBF Expert.

The Regional Lead Verifier will build positive working relations and liaise with all the relevant actors in the region, such as representatives of the contracted departments, CBOs, the regulators and EKN funded projects present in the region.

Key Duties & Responsibilities

Coordination

• Ensure that start -up and the implementation of the RBF-project by the district(s) in the region is well coordinated.
• Making sure that all systems and procedures are in place and that the project has realised the intended results as it is formulated in the project proposal, while keenly following the Project Implementation Manual.

• The Regional Lead Verifier will actively participate in the development of the Project Implementation Manual and designing of effective and user-friendly data collection, monitoring and evaluation tools of the project.
• Ensure the Verification Officers conduct the quarterly quantity audits at contracted departments timely and accurately.
• Ensure proper data management by Monitoring and Evaluation Officer and supervise the entry of quarterly quality data, quarterly community satisfaction data into the agreed electronic data system.
• Conduct preparation and submission of quarterly invoices and reports to the RBF Team Leader.
• Monitor the use of the RBF-subsidies in the contracted district departments and Sub-counties and submit quarterly subsidy use reports to the Team Leader.
• Ensure collaboration with the EKN funded projects and the CCO Capacity Development partners activities as and when required.
• Constant liaison  with the RBF Senior Expert, Land Expert and Data Analyst.

Project performance management

• Participate in the elaboration of the business plans for DPM, ENR and General Administration (CAO Office) and evaluate them bi-annually before new business plans are elaborated to ensure compliance of contracted departments and report any deviation to the team leader.
• Make quarterly analysis of the contracted departments’ performance and classify them accordingly.
• Quarterly assess the performance of the contracted departments based on performance indicators as it is detailed in the PIM.

Reporting

• Lead the identification, documentation and reporting of gaps and guidance on improvements to departmental staff.
• Lead the compilation and submission of timely quarterly verification reports.
• Timely sampling of beneficiaries from the department database for follow up of ‘client satisfaction surveys’ by the Community Based Organisation (CBO).
• S/he will compile quality and timely quarterly and annual financial and narrative progress reports in line with requirements of the donor and Cordaid Global Office
• Ensure that all the project’s documents including inventories for purchased materials, tools, equipment and assets are filed and kept under safe custody.

Operational

• Lead personnel in accordance with management style and social policy of Cordaid, focused on productivity, employee development and satisfaction.
• Ensure efficient use of resources and controls quality of work as outlined in the approved technical and financial manuals.

Contracts, workplans and review

• Facilitate and manage the timely preparation and signing of contracts with the District Production and Marketing, Environment and Natural Resources department, and General Management (CAO office) and the CBO’s.
• Formulate on a quarterly basis RBF-project management work plans and operational budgets.
• Ensure timely support of the quarterly reviews of the RBF contracted departments and CBOs focusing on the quality of reports submitted by the responsible departments and service providers.

Quality Analysis

• Oversee the (verified) final invoices for payment of the RBF-subsidies submitted are accurate and sent timely to the Fund holder, so that payments can be made in a timely manner.
• S/he will monitor the progress of the RBF-project and identify key challenges with solutions while working in consultations with the RBF Team Leader.
• S/he will also ensure timely monitoring and verification of the client satisfaction questionnaires for completeness and accuracy of data.

Training and coaching

• Supported by the Project Main Office in Fort Portal, the Regional Lead Verifier will provide hands-on training and support to the RBF Project staff and other actors playing a role in the institutional setup of the RBF-project including the DPM, ENR, CAO Office, steering committee members, and CBOs on performing their tasks and responsibilities as formulated in the Project Implementation Manual.
• Support RBF Senior Expert and Land Expert during project trainings and workshops.

Representation and networking

• Represent Cordaid and the RBF-project at the District. The Regional Lead Verifier will  also ensure active participation in all the district land tenure and food systems district coordination working groups/platforms.
• Represent the Cordaid Uganda Office, establishing and maintaining good relations with the district authorities, EKN funded projects colleagues and other key stakeholders in the targeted districts.

Requirements

QUALIFICATIONS

• Undergraduate degree in agriculture related fields, land use management, and business administration, social sciences, international development;
• Familiarity with the Uganda food systems and land tenure systems and functions.
• Experience and or willingness to learn the RBF implementation process: verification, data collection, invoicing and contracting of contracted departments, indicators;
• At least two years of data-collection and management work experience;
• Excellent communication and facilitation skills, including the ability to establish good working relationships, to transfer skills and knowledge, and to provide technical assistance to key actors;
• Fully proficient in the following software applications: Windows, Excel, Word, Outlook, Power Point etc.

Core Competencies:

• Excellent interpersonal, co-ordination and negotiation skills, and the ability to establish and maintain effective working relations with people in a multi-cultural, multi-ethnic environment with sensitivity and respect for diversity.
• Strong commitment to integrity, professionalism, creativity and innovation, learning, accountability, planning and organization, results orientation, teamwork and technological solutions.

Others/Extra Details

Applications including a motivation letter and extensive CV in English, should be submitted using the link below: 

https://cordaid.hrmagic.co/careers

Deadline: September 30th, 2023.