AFRICAN PRISONS PROJECT (APP)
Job Title: Access to Justice Manager.
Reporting to: COUNTRY DIRECTOR
Location: Kampala, Uganda including travel up-country.
Job Type: 12 months, renewable contract
Category: Project Management/Access to Justice.
Sectors: International Development, Human Rights & Criminal Justice
Salary:Competitive.
Hours: Full time
Background
The African Prisons Project (APP) is a group of people passionately committed to improving access to health, Life skills, justice and rehabilitation for prisoners in Africa. We aim to restore the dignity of those we serve by helping to provide humane conditions and services which help them to regain their dignity. We build and refurbish prison medical and educational facilities to provide innovative services and work to change the attitudes of the societies we serve when it comes to criminal justice issues.
We work to contribute to creating societies where no-one experiences injustice by building a community to serve others with equality, recognising the inherent value, potential and dignity within each of us.Our approach is to create a new generation of advocates with first-hand experience of the justice system, working selflessly as a community to use the law to serve the marginalised and create more just societies.
African Prisons Project was founded on Christian ethos and values which include; integrity, team work, professionalism, respect, commitment, Openness and reliability. We are committed to serving all prisoners and prison staff regardless of their religion, background, offence, sentence, race or gender. We believe every person’s life is fundamentally valuable—their past need not define their future.
We work with Prison Service leaders who wish to develop services and policies in line with our mission and welcome our support. We pursue these changes in a two-pronged approach. Firstly, by focusing on rising stars and senior management of the prison services, providing them with the skills needed to reform and improve prison systems. Secondly, by providing scholarships and training to prisoners and prisons staff pursuing legal degrees or diplomas through distance learning programmes, to support them act as educators and legal advisers to prisoners and to then take this knowledge of the law to the poorest communities upon release.
The Access to Justice Manager will be responsible for providing leadership, project delivery and guidance to the charity to strengthen our access to justice and human rights work.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
APP has since 2013 implemented a project aimed at promoting the access to justice rights for prisoners in Oyam and Apac Districts. The successful project has led to the release of over 2000 prisoners from the two districts. APP seeks to scale up its coverage across the eight Districtsin the entire mid northern/Lango sub region. APP will also leverage the lessons learnt from the project and work towards strengthening its partnership with the Justice Law and Order Sector (JLOS) at national level with particular focus on building the capacity of the judiciary through training, policy dialogues, advocacy and research. Thiswill be done with the aim of ensuring a systemic approach to penal reform and the promotion of the rule of law and measures for improved access to justice.
2.0 DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
2.1. Overall. Under the direct guidance and supervision of the Country Director, the Access to Justice Manager will provide strategic oversight over operations and timely implementation of various planned programme activities, and work at all times within the prison rules and our charities’ policies and procedures to fulfill the necessary management requirements.
2.2. Specific Duties and responsibilities.
1. Project Management:
1) Plan the delivery of the overall programme and its activities in accordance with the mission and the goals of the organisation.
2) Develop new initiatives to support the strategic direction of the organisation’s access to justice programme.
3)Develop and implement long-term goals and objectives to achieve the successful outcome of the programme.
4) Identify and evaluate the risks associated with programme activities and take appropriate action to control the risks.
5) Report evaluation findings to the Country Director and recommend changes to enhance the programme as appropriate.
2. Monitoring, Documentation and Reporting:
- Oversee the development and review of the programme’s monitoring and evaluation framework to assess the strengths of the programme and to identify areas for improvement
- Lead on the preparation of reports (monthly, quarterly and annual) as are provided on timely manner in line with the organisational and funding requirements.
- Promote and undertake the documentation of good practices and synthesis of lessons learned, and ensure that these are reflected in improved implementation of programme activities.
- Lead in obtaining and documenting success stories, news articles, input to newsletters, websites and social media pages etc
- Oversee regular update of the programme database with data collected from beneficiaries.
7)Enabling and supporting the appropriate dissemination of accurate results and findings to beneficiaries, partners and policy makers at various levels and in close collaboration with other project staff.
8)Overseeing the monitoring of project implementation by trained Prison Human Rights Advocates (PHRAs) and Prison Peer Educators (PPEs).
9)Monitoring and reporting any and all developments in areas of operation that have a bearing on the results of the programme.
10)Ensuring the collection of data and record keeping for monitoring and reporting purposes.
11)Assist in preparation of training materials and manuals and help to conduct necessary training and workshops at different levels as and when required in the process of implementation of programme activities.
12)Undertake regular visits to the programme sites to understand the ground situation and take necessary actions for improvement in programme activities.
3. Planning and Implementation:
1) Drafting coordinated plans with project team as well as various departments including finance and procurement/administration to support the implementation of the programme in a timely manner.
2) Preparation of work plans and operation plans for various elements/ components of the project on a monthly and quarterly basis.
3) Monitor progress on regular basis and give timely suggestions for corrective actions.
4. Coordination with the Partners:
1)Establishing and nurturing Networks and Linkages with the key actors who play a role in the promotion and protection of prisoners’ right to access to justice at all levels.
2)Developing and maintaining constructive dialogue with district, national, regional and international stakeholders for strategic collaboration to contribute to the programme’s objectives and goals.
3)Preparing, organising, coordinating and attending communication, meetings and interactions with key stakeholders and ensure transparent communication.
4)Complying with the Uganda Prisons Service rules and regulations in carrying programme activities.
5)Overseeing the development and conclusion of relevant memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) between APP and its partners.
5. Human Resource
1)Oversee staff who contribute to the delivery of the programme’s goals and objectives whocould be in one or more locations.
2)Supervise programme staff by providing direction, input and feedbackensuring their development.
3)Establish and implement a performance management process for all programme staff.
4)Engage volunteers for appropriate programme activities using the organisation’s established volunteer management practices
5)Advise on HR aspects in the department including recruitment or disciplinary action in line with the organisation’s policies and procedures.
6. Finance, Budgeting and Fundraising
1)Contribute to resource mobilisation in the organisation including through the development of funding proposals for the programme to ensure the continuous delivery of services.
2)Overseeing the development annual, quarterly and monthly of programme budgets.
3)Ensuring programme activities and expenditures comply with the policies and regulations of the African Prisons Project and donor organisations.
4)Accounting for programme cost, time and budget and ensure that the programme operates within the approved budget and report any variance to the Country Director
5)Ensure financial reports and supporting documentation for funders are prepared as outlined in funding agreements
7. Other
- Plus any other duties as reasonably required.
IDEAL SKILLS & EXPERIENCE:
Criteria / Essential / DesirableQualifications
Bachelor’s Degree in Law, Social Work, Public Health /
Training/Courses taken
Project Planning and management and Monitoring and Evaluation /
Experience/Knowledge
Proven experience in project planning and management /
Experience working in the field and overseeing field based activities /
Experience in cultivating relationships with stakeholders on the ground /
Basic skills and knowledge in financial and grants management /
Skills
Excellent organisational skills, rank priorities, organize work efficiently, and deliver assignments in a timely manner often under time constraints /
Demonstrated ability to work independently, handle a variety of concurrent activities /
Ability to establish and maintain positive relationships with a wide range of people /
Ability to communicate effectively, in writing and orally, in English; /
The ability to produce reports or publicity materials to a high standard of presentation requiring excellent skills in written communication and accuracy. /
An articulate and confident manner, demonstrating sensitivity and diplomacy in order to develop good relationships and solicit support. /
Strong analytical and practical problem-solving skills /
Excellent IT skills, including components of Microsoft Office software, with good working knowledge of using online databases. /
Attributes/Personal Characteristics
Excellent time management skills with the ability to prioritise a varied and diverse workload and to work independently with minimum supervision, calmly under pressure and to meet deadlines. /
Highly motivated and goals orientated. /
Proactive and positive approach, a willingness to take the lead in ensuring the goals and objectives of the project are achieved. /
Ability to deal with confidential matters and act with discretion. /
Flexible approach to work and over working hours when required. /
Ability and willingness to travel and occasionally to work at evenings or weekends. /
Ability to adapt their knowledge and skills to the cultural environment of the Uganda Prisons Service. /
Ability to speak the local language (Luo) will be an added advantage /
Interested applicants should submit their applications by 5pm on 12th June, 2017. Applications should be sent by email to or hand delivered to the African Prisons Project at Plot Plot 237, Zone 4 Mutungo – Biina, Kampala – Uganda. Interested Applicants should only submit a cover letter and CV as a single document of no more than five pages long. Due to the volume of applications we are unable to respond to each applicant and only shortlisted candidates will be contacted by 20th June 2017.