Senior Conflict Transformation Officer Full Time

About Us:

HEKS/EPER, Swiss Church Aid, supports projects designed to combat hunger, poverty and injustice in over 30 countries on four continents. HEKS/EPER also provides worldwide humanitarian assistance for victims of natural disasters and armed conflicts and supports the Church’s diaconal work in Eastern Europe and the Middle East. In Switzerland, HEKS/EPER champions the rights and causes of refugees and socially disadvantaged people. Through its development and social policy work in the fields of climate justice, access to land and food, migration, and integration, HEKS/EPER strives for systemic change – globally and in Switzerland.

HEKS/EPER is present in Uganda since 2016 with a strong focus on conflict sensitivity and/or measures for conflict transformation within its country programs to combat the causes of hunger, poverty and injustice through its focus on access to land, livelihoods and food security; improved access to safe and clean water; and conflict transformation and peacebuilding initiatives.

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Job Description:
The Senior Conflict Transformation Officer will be responsible for leading the planning, coordinatio and implementation of conflict-sensitive programming within the projects. The primary tasks include conducting thorough assessments of conflict dynamics to identify root causes and stakeholders, facilitating workshops and training sessions aimed at enhancing conflict resolution skills among community members, and promoting inclusive dialogue processes that ensure the voices of marginalized groups are heard. Additionally, the officer is responsible for developing and implementing strategies that encourage sustainable peace through community engagement, collaboration with local organizations, and the establishment of trust-building initiatives. The Officer also will monitor and evaluate, and report the effectiveness of conflict resolution interventions, adapting strategies as necessary to respond to evolving conflict contexts.

Conflict Analysis:

• Conducting in-depth conflict analyses and assessments to understand the core causes, actors, and dynamics of conflict, as well as capacities for peace, in specific contexts.

Strategic Guidance:

• Providing technical guidance to teams leading to strengthening the conflict transformation model.
• Leading teams in mainstreaming conflict transformation in project design and strategies.
• Overseeing the implementation of conflict transformation activities across all projects.

Project Implementation:

• Support community members and local leaders to facilitate dialogues and mediation meetings using the Neighborhood Assembly Approach.
• Conduct peaceful coexistence sensitization meetings with farmers’ groups and community members, including women, PSNs, elderly and youth.
• Organize strategic, creative and community-driven conflict prevention and peace building events (e.g. drama, sports, music)
• Organize and support peace clubs in schools
• Support through routine monitoring to identify existing /potential conflicts at Pads for all making workshop (Bidipads) and provide timely support in resolving conflicts.

Capacity-Building:

• Lead the planning and delivery of training and technical support to right-holders, duty-bearers, and team members to enhance their technical and organizational effectiveness in conflict identification and management.
• Support HEKS/EPER supported social enterprises/groups with training in conflict sensitivity, group dynamics and advocacy.

Partnership Development:

• Building and maintaining relationships with community groups, local government officials, local partners, and other stakeholders.
• Representation of HEKS/EPER at meetings and events.
• Support Program Manager and Project Officers in the program regions to identify potential collaborations and provide support to establish meaningful linkages/partnerships with like-minded actors, government agencies and CSOs

Advocacy and Policy Influence:

• Planning and leading the implementation of advocacy, lobbying and policy influence initiatives that support civil society-led conflict management and peacebuilding and other HEKS/EPER supported initiatives.
• Develop IEC materials and disseminate them to relevant stakeholders.
• Organize advocacy and communication campaigns in collaboration with key actors, allies, networks, duty-bearers and rights-holders.
• Promote participation of rights holders, systems actors and local communities to play an active role in their community and stimulate involvement in decision-making

Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning (MEAL):

• Overseeing the implementation of monitoring and evaluation activities to track and document progress and impact of conflict transformation, advocacy, triple nexus, and civil society development initiatives.
• Overseeing implementation of Accountability and Affected Population (AAP) activities and compliance with the Core Humanitarian Standard (CHS) principles and Commitments of the CHS.
• Liaising with other program teams to collect, analyze, and report data on conflict transformation.

Knowledge Management:

• Support internal reporting processes of monthly, quarterly and annual reports of projects implementing advocacy, conflict transformation and related components.
• Documenting lessons learned and best practices to contribute to continuous learning and improvement in the areas of conflict transformation and civil society development.
• Leading organizational and team learning on conflict transformation, advocacy, and civil society development.

Resource Mobilization:

• Support in identifying funding opportunities and developing concept notes and proposals to secure resources for conflict transformation and civil society development.
• Support concept notes/proposal development processes for business acquisition and funding for projects advancing conflict transformation and advocacy causes.

The employee may be asked to perform duties and tasks not covered in this job description within the remit of their expertise, as well as to provide support to other work areas when necessary.

The position is based in Yumbe District, with regular travels to other locations within West Nile and Uganda.

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Minimum Qualifications and Experience:

• Academic degree (Bachelor’s Minimum) in a subject relevant for the program.
• Strong expertise on conflict-sensitive program management.
• At least 3 years’ experience designing, coordinating and implementing conflict transformation activities.
• A winning and motivating character with good facilitation skills working with diverse and inclusive target groups with right-holders and duty-bearers.
• Experiences in dealing with the past and trauma are an asset.
• Strong commitment towards enhancing peace and justice.

Strong analytical skills.

• High social competence and empathy, as well as sensitivity, in working in a conflict-affected context.
• Good knowledge on rights-based programming.
• Experience in CSO capacity building.
• Good knowledge of the region and culture of the different actors’ groups in Uganda and South Sudan
• Experience in climate resilient & triple nexus programming, particularly in refugee-hosting contexts.
• Good knowledge and understanding of DO NO HARM principles and Human Rights-Based Approach in development

Excellent English language skills, both oral and written.

Tagged as: HEKS/EPER, Uganda