Project: The Youth Economic Empowerment through Livestock Development (YEELD)
Organization: International Foundation for Recovery and Development (IFRAD)
Duty Station: Teso Sub-region, Uganda
Reports to: Project Manager / Head of Programs
Contract Duration: Fixed-term, renewable based on performance and project funding
Employment Type: Full-time
Background
The Youth Economic Empowerment through Livestock Development (YEELD) Program is a five-year initiative aimed at improving the socio-economic well-being and resilience of financially disadvantaged young people aged 18–35 years in the Teso, Bukedi, and Ankole sub-regions of Uganda through livestock value chains. The program seeks to create 250,000 work opportunities, including 200,000 (80%) young women, 5% persons with disabilities (PWDs), and 3% refugees and displaced persons (RDPs). YEELD is being implemented across 20 districts in the three sub-regions through a consortium coordinated by Ripple Effect, dfcu Foundation, and Multi Community Based Development Initiative (MUCOBADI), in partnership with the Mastercard Foundation.
The Cluster Coordinator will provide strategic leadership and operational oversight for project implementation in the Teso sub-region. The role will ensure effective supervision of District coordinators, quality implementation of project interventions, stakeholder coordination, and development of high-level partnerships with government institutions, private sector actors, development partners, and community structures.
Position Summary
The Cluster Coordinator will lead regional coordination and management of project activities in the Teso cluster, covering Soroti, Soroti City, and Serere districts, and ensuring timely delivery of outputs, achievement of targets, and compliance with donor and organizational standards.
The position requires a dynamic and experienced development professional with strong leadership, partnership development, team management, and stakeholder engagement skills. The coordinator will play a central role in strengthening strategic relationships, enhancing visibility of the project, and supporting sustainable impact across the region.
Key Roles and Responsibilities
1. Regional Coordination & Project Leadership
- Lead and coordinate the implementation of project activities across the Teso cluster.
- Supervise, mentor, and support District Coordinators as they supervise project officers to ensure effective delivery of project interventions.
- Ensure alignment of field implementation with approved project work plans, budgets, in consultation with the DFCU Foundation project manager.
- Monitor progress toward project targets and recommend corrective actions where necessary.
- Coordinate regional planning, scheduling, and implementation meetings.
- Ensure quality assurance and consistency in project delivery across all target districts.
2. Team Management & Capacity Building
- Provide performance management support to District Coordinators and Project Officers.
- Conduct regular field supervision, coaching, and mentorship to staff under their cluster.
- Build a high-performing regional implementation team focused on accountability and results.
- Support staff capacity development in project implementation, reporting, safeguarding, and community engagement.
- Promote teamwork, collaboration, and effective communication within the project team.
3. Strategic Partnerships & Stakeholder Engagement
- Develop and maintain high-level partnerships with district local governments, ministries, private sector actors, producer organizations, financial institutions, NGOs, and development partners.
- Represent the project in regional coordination platforms, consortium meetings, donor engagements, and stakeholder forums.
- Strengthen collaboration with technical and vocational institutions, agribusiness actors, and market systems stakeholders.
- Identify strategic opportunities for partnerships and sustainability.
- Promote visibility and positioning of the project and partner organizations within the Teso sub-region.
4. Monitoring, Reporting & Learning
- Review and consolidate reports submitted by District Coordinators and ensure the timely submission of quality regional reports.
- Support monitoring, evaluation, accountability, and learning (MEL) activities across the cluster.
- Analyze implementation data to inform adaptive management and decision-making.
- Ensure proper documentation of lessons learned, case studies, success stories, and best practices.
- Support donor reporting, audits, assessments, and compliance processes.
5. Financial & Administrative Oversight
- Support budget management and activity planning for regional operations.
- Ensure accountability and proper utilization of project resources.
- Review field accountability documentation and activity expenditures.
- Ensure compliance with organizational policies, safeguarding standards, and donor requirements.
- Support procurement planning and logistics coordination for regional activities.
Qualifications & Experience
Education
- Bachelor’s Degree in Development Studies, Project Planning & Management, Agriculture, Business Administration, Economics, Social Sciences, Entrepreneurship, or related field.
- A Postgraduate qualification in Project Management, Development Management, or a related discipline is an added advantage.
Experience
- Minimum of 8 years of progressive experience in project coordination or management within development or donor-funded programs.
- Demonstrated experience supervising field teams and managing multi-district projects.
- Strong experience in stakeholder engagement and partnership development.
- Experience working on youth and women economic empowerment, livelihoods, agribusiness, or enterprise development programs is highly desirable.
- Familiarity with the Teso region and local context is highly preferred.
Required Competencies & Skills
- Strong leadership and team management skills.
- Excellent stakeholder engagement and networking abilities.
- Strong strategic planning and coordination skills.
- Excellent report writing, communication, and presentation skills.
- Ability to build and maintain high-level partnerships.
- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
- Experience in monitoring and evaluation systems.
- High level of integrity, accountability, and professionalism.
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office and digital reporting tools.
- Ability to travel extensively within the Teso sub-region.
Equal Opportunity Statement
International Foundation for Recovery and Development (IFRAD) is an equal opportunity employer committed to diversity, inclusion, and safeguarding. Women, youth, and qualified candidates from the Teso region are strongly encouraged to apply.
How to Apply: Applicants should submit: A cover letter, an updated CV/resume, copies of academic and professional certificates, plus Contact details of three professional referees by 30th June 2026.
Only Shortlisted candidates will be contacted.