Women Economic Empowerment/Gender Officer

Location: Central Uganda (Kampala), Eastern Uganda (Soroti), Western Uganda (Mbarara)

Reports To: Project Coordinator, GROW Project

About UWEAL

UWEAL was established in 1987. UWEAL is an apex woman in business organisation with 5.7 million women benefiting from its programmes with presence in 109 districts/chapters. The women are segmented in 14 clusters including Agribusiness, manufacturing, professional/service, textiles, Art and craft, tourism, oil and gas among others.

Since its establishment, UWEAL has remained a force to reckon with in promoting women's entrepreneurship in Uganda. Rooted in its core pillars of advocacy, capacity building, networking, and Institutional development. UWEAL has been instrumental in fostering an inclusive and prosperous business environment for the last 37 years. Over the past three decades, the organization has played a pivotal role in advocating for women's active participation in business, aiming to create a more equitable and dynamic business landscape in the country.

Project Overview

The GROW project (Generating Growth Opportunities and Productivity for Women Enterprises) aims to increase women's income through gender-transformative policies and enhance access to finance and markets for women entrepreneurs. The project supports the implementation of Women Entrepreneurs Platforms (WEPs) across multiple regions, contributing to Uganda's economic development through women’s empowerment.

1. Role Summary:

The Women Economic Empowerment Specialist/Gender (WEE Specialist) will be responsible for supporting and strengthening Women Entrepreneurs Platforms (WEPs) under the GROW project. The specialist will play a key role in developing strategic frameworks for empowering women entrepreneurs, conducting capacity- building initiatives, and facilitating collaboration between stakeholders. The ideal candidate will have extensive experience in women’s economic empowerment and demonstrated ability to lead programs that uplift women through financial and entrepreneurial initiatives.

2. Key Responsibilities:

1. Strategy Development and Implementation:

• Lead the development of strategic frameworks that align with the GROW project’s objectives of empowering women entrepreneurs.
• Facilitate the implementation of gender-transformative policies and operational guidelines for WEPs.

2. Capacity Building and Training:

• Conduct workshops, training sessions, and mentorship programs focused on empowering WEP leaders and members.
• Develop comprehensive training modules for financial literacy, business management, and market access for women entrepreneurs.

3. Stakeholder Engagement:

• Collaborate with key stakeholders, including government bodies, NGOs, and financial institutions, to promote the objectives of the WEPs.
• Organize stakeholder engagement sessions to facilitate shared learning and best practices in women’s economic empowerment.

4. Monitoring and Evaluation:

• Design and oversee a comprehensive monitoring and evaluation framework to track the progress of WEPs.
• Regularly assess the impact of capacity-building initiatives and provide feedback for continuous improvement.

5. Advisory and Support:

• Provide technical advice and support to women entrepreneurs on business development, financial inclusion, and accessing markets.
• Guide WEPs in navigating challenges related to governance, business operations, and sustainability.

6. Reporting and Documentation:

• Prepare reports on the progress of the WEP initiatives, highlighting achievements, challenges, and recommendations.
• Document success stories and lessons learned to contribute to the continuous improvement of women empowerment programs.

3. Qualifications and Experience:

Education:

• A Master’s Degree in Business Administration, Development Studies, Gender Studies, or a related field.
• Additional qualifications in International Trade or Project Management will be an asset.

Experience:

• At least 10 years of experience in women’s economic empowerment, with a focus on entrepreneurship, business development, and capacity-building.
• Proven experience in managing multi-faceted development programs targeting women in the private sector.
• Demonstrated experience working with NGOs, government bodies, and international organizations on projects related to women’s empowerment.

Skills:

• Strong project management and leadership skills.
• Excellent communication, facilitation, and stakeholder engagement abilities.
• Proficiency in monitoring and evaluation tools and frameworks.
• Knowledge of Uganda’s economic landscape and the challenges faced by women entrepreneurs.

Working Hours

This is a full-time position working 40 Hours per week] during normal office hours with occasional evening/weekend working and the option to work flexibly to be agreed on appointment. The contracted place of work will be UWEAL’s Head Office in Kampala. However, there is the potential for some home/remote working subject to negotiation with the Line Manager.

How to Apply:

All applications will be received and Reviewed through BrighterMonday Portal by Clicking on the 'Apply Here' section