Project Manager – Uganda

POST: PROJECT MANAGER

Job reference: UgandaSMEP+ Project Manager

Reporting to: WasteAid’s Director of Programmes,

Location: Kampala, Uganda

Contract Length: February 2024 – March 2026

Start date: February 2024

Salary: £20k Per Annum

Hours of work: 37.5 per week, between 09:00 and 17:30 Mondays to Fridays.

Dependent on funding

Introduction

1 out of 3 people worldwide are forced to dump or burn their waste, causing the spread of disease, polluting the oceans, and contributing to the global climate crisis.

At WasteAid, we work with communities and policy makers in low and middle-income countries to implement waste management and recycling programmes. Our work improves the livelihoods of some of the poorest and most marginalised, promotes circular economy innovation and contributes to a cleaner and healthier future for all.

Waste management is often a neglected element of the international development agenda yet the consequences of poor waste management are severe, affecting both people and planet. Health consequences include increased respiratory illnesses due to burning waste, higher levels of insect borne illnesses due to open dumping, greater prevalence of watery diarrhoea and other illnesses due to blocked and polluted waterways. It is the poorest that bear the heaviest disease burden and for those living in extreme poverty, this can lead to increased mortality. The environmental consequences of poor waste management are no less severe, burning waste contributes to the climate crisis through greenhouse gases, contaminated soil and waterways put ecosystems at risk and the dirt and odour from unmanaged waste degrades the general environment

To tackle this crisis, WasteAid promotes and shares locally appropriate, evidence based and inclusive resource recovery activities, supporting and empowering others to take positive action. We partner with public, private and community-based organisations in countries where poor waste management is harming the environment, economy and society. We cooperate with businesses and governments to help address the global waste crisis and we build the capacity of international non-governmental organisations with our bespoke approach to sustainable material recovery.

WasteAid is a dynamic, growing organisation that has more than quadrupled in size over the last 2 years. The organisation is currently active in Uganda, South Africa and The Gambia. It is a fast-paced, agile organisation that has incredible growth potential – constantly increasing in both scale and scope to respond to some of the world’s most pressing issues. See Wasteaid.org for more about our work.

Uganda Circular Textile Project

• Background to the Project: Uganda imports 80,000 metric tonnes of used clothing each year. But as much as 40% is discarded by local traders because the clothes are the wrong size, style, or quality to meet local demand. This residual waste ends up in landfill and dumped in waterways and informal dumpsites. WasteAid is collaborating with Uganda Tailors Association (UTA) and Management Training and Advisory Centre (MTAC) to set up a system to recover the unwanted materials and to train up new and existing tailors to incorporate these materials into fashion design. The project will also look to develop new value chains (eg shredding clothes for insulation/mattresses etc). The objective of the project is to reduce the amount of clothing going to landfill, to stimulate the nascent clothing industry in Uganda and to help tailors to skill up and earn more income. The project is part of a wider global programme of activities that are designed to tackle manufacturing and textile waste,
• THE PROJECT AIMS TO:
• Develop commercially sustainable secondary textile value chains in second hand clothes markets in Uganda to support the domestic manufacturing sector, reduce costs and create economic opportunities for women and young people.
• Reduce volumes of second-hand clothes going to landfill and contribute to improved health of ecosystems and reduced air pollution.
• Reduce open burning of textile waste, contributing to improved health outcomes for marginalised communities near dumpsites and reduced GHG emissions.

Job Description:

• MAIN DUTIES

You will lead the management and coordination of the project implemented by three partners: WasteAid (WA), Uganda Tailors Association (UTA) and The Management Training Advisory Centre (MTAC).

• PROJECT MANAGEMENT & COORDINATION: Ensure the project is implemented by all parties in line with the proposal, plans and budget, as per WasteAid and SMEP policy and procedure.
• REPRESENTATION: represent WasteAid and the project to a diverse range of stakeholders including partner staff, potential project participants, government staff, partners and donors.
• COORDINATION: Strengthen relationships across the three project partners and coordinate with them for the timely, high quality implementation of the project. You will lead regular coordination meetings, maintain good communication and proactively address any issues arising.
• PARTNER MANAGEMENT; Carrying out a capacity assessment of partners to ensure that any capacity gaps/risks are identified and mitigated throughout the project. Building capacity of partners across the whole project cycle
• TRAINING: Supporting partners to co-design, develop, deliver and evaluate training curriculum to provide tailors and designers with training to repurpose these goods for sale.
• MARKET DEVELOPMENT: In conjunction with the partners, developing collection systems for unwanted items to be taken to a new Textile Reuse Hub. Identifying and developing end-market opportunities for textile users locally.
• FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT: Ensure sound budget management, including forecasting, reporting and compliance on procurement. Working with partners to ensure they provide the required financial reporting and supporting paperwork, and correct procurement procedures and are undertaking. You will link with the Head of Finance and Administration to undertake capacity building as needed.
• MONITORING AND EVALUATION, REPORTING: Responsible for monitoring and evaluation of the project, supported by the Head of Programmes and Impact and including developing frameworks and collecting and analysing data.
• KNOWLEDGE MANAGEMENT; Working with WasteAid team to develop knowledge pieces, position papers that would contribute to the wider SMEP project portfolio (there are a number of projects funded through the SMEP initiative worldwide).
• ACCOUNTABILITY AND SAFEGUARDING: Responsible for setting up beneficiary accountability systems. You will fully engage with and abide by WasteAid’s safeguarding policy and codes of conduct and ensure that partners understand and follow all guidance and requirements.
• COMMUNICATIONS: You will provide engaging content for WasteAid’s communications team to promote our work and positive impact, linking with project stakeholders and beneficiaries as needed.
• OTHER: From time to time you may be asked to support other activities of the organisation, as appropriate e.g. development of new project proposals, contribution to evaluations, presenting to potential supporters, etc.
• PERSON SPECIFICATION

We are seeking a confident and ambitious individual with the ability to engage community members, non-profit stakeholders and government officials and who can take initiative for the successful implementation of a new project to engage and support those who work with textile waste.

Essential

• Fluent English, with a high standard of writing and communications skills.
• Strong project cycle management experience from developing baseline/endlines, implementation, working with and through partners, finance management, compliance, donor reporting and communications.
• Experience in applying GESI concepts in the design, development, implementation and measurement of projects
• Monitoring and evaluation: experience in measurement of projects that need to demonstrate an environmental impact (ed reduction in GHG emitted or waste flows diverted etc).
• Education (to degree level) in a relevant discipline, particularly desirable would be for an education that has included elements of circular economy, waste management and textile recycling/upcycling).
• Significant experience in local partner management including local government partners
• Experience in market based approaches and value chain analysis, supporting the development of inclusive value chains.
• Significant experience working in a low-income country, either on a community development or environmental project.
• A proven track record in NGO project and financial management and reporting in an international development context, i.e. with institutional donor funding.
• Demonstrated excellence in engaging a range of stakeholders and coordinating diverse partners for a common goal, ranging from community-based organisations, the private sector and local government officials.
• An ability to integrate and engage with a diverse partner base and demonstrated excellence in managing complex relationships, with an understanding of the Principles of Partnership and demonstrated application of these in a multi-partner context.
• Networking, influencing and negotiating skills.
• A passion and commitment to the mission and goals of WasteAid’s programmes and all policies including demonstrated application of Health and Safety, beneficiary accountability and Safeguarding.
• A willingness to travel, work alone and as part of a remote team.
• Flexibility and ability to overcome pressure, improvise, prioritise workloads and take initiative as required.
• Excellent IT skills including MS Office Word and Excel.
• You must have the legal right to work in Uganda

Advantageous

• Experience with textiles and waste management would be a bonus, with familiarity with waste collection processes and upcycling.
• Experience in value chain creation / waste valorisation activities and market analysis.
• Familiarity with Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices (KAP) surveys and sensitisation programme approaches.
• Fluent Luganda and/or Swahili would be advantageous.