Project Officer- Green Energy (Bio mass) Short term Contract for 3 Months (1 Position for Ugandan Nationals only!) At ZOA

Job Title: Project Officer- Green Energy (Biomass) Short-term Contract for 3 Months (1 Position for Ugandan Nationals only!)

Reporting to: Project Manager- Renewable Energy

Purpose of the position

The Project Officer – Green Energy with support from the Project Manager is responsible for day-to-day planning, implementation, and monitoring of the activities of ZOA activities under the Green Energy project, specifically focusing on the Biomass activity elements. Other colleagues focus on supporting the Solar Energy elements.

The Project Officer will also work closely alongside other ZOA livelihoods project teams, specifically SUPREME, to ensure coordinated and integrated support to project participants.

Project-specific details:

The Green Energy – Biomass project runs from January 2022 to August 2023 (20 months) in Madi Okollo and Terego districts of West Nile. Our target participants for the project are farmer refugees and host community members who are currently active in Savings Groups under the SUPREME project. This specific project will support the farming households through using clean and new energy sources, with biomass energy being the focus.

This role will focus on the biomass value chain elements of the project, under Outcome 1: Increased efficiency in the value chain of biomass utilization. Activities include supporting the use of Casamance kilns for efficient charcoal production, fuel-saving stoves at the household level and enterprise level, and manufacture and use of briquettes.

Place in organization

The PO fulfills a field-based role within the Green Energy project and reports to the Project Manager who is based in Arua. They will interact on a daily basis with other project delivery staff, support team members, and community members.

Responsibilities and main activities

Implementation

• Implement project activities in relation to the project document to achieve optimal project outputs and outcomes in line with ZOA/donor procedures and targets;
• Support Savings & Development Clusters (farmer groups) and Village Agents (Community Based Facilitators/volunteers) in the day-to-day project implementation;
• Compilation and reporting of the field activities conducted ;
• Work with Village Agents to ensure dissemination of renewable energies among the communities;
• Ensure accurate information flow between ZOA energy project team, SDCs, VAs, and the beneficiaries;
• Implement awareness activities to scale up the uptake of sustainable and efficient energy products and solutions through market and community education;
• Contribute towards resource mobilization through gaps identification;
• Any other duty as assigned by the supervisor in line with the project;

Reporting

• Provide timely and accurate weekly and activity reports together with work plans;
• Ensure accurate and timely data collection and reporting;
• Organize and conduct beneficiaries feedback meetings, and report to management as required;
• Identify, and document lessons learned and best practices;
• Prepare project success stories on a monthly or quarterly;

Human Resource Management

• The Project Officer does not supervise any staff as a direct supervisor, however, the Project Officer will work and oversee the work of community volunteers. They may be asked to check attendance records, training quality delivery and provide day-to-day support to volunteers.

Procurement and finance

• Initiate timely purchase requisition of project goods/services;
• Ensure expenses are in line with the approved budget;
• Provide appropriate codes for expenses.

Characteristics of Role

The duty station is the ZOA office in Rhino Camp (Yoro Base Camp) with regular visits to project locations in West Nile (Madi Okollo and Terego districts). Regular visits to the ZOA office in Arua are anticipated, which may necessitate overnight stays in Arua. Visits to other locations may also be requested for coordination, training, and learning. The PO will need to ride a motorcycle daily in challenging conditions.

The role is 1.0 FTE (40 hrs/ week). Working hours are outlined in the ZOA Uganda Conditions of Service. Some flexibility on working hours may be required, e.g. for travel at weekends, or during reporting times.

The role is recruited at Grade 3 in the ZOA Uganda 2023 salary scale. Starting salary is 1,590,000 Ugx gross/month.

Contacts

Eternal contacts:

• Project participants and other community members;
• Local government departments such as the District Environment Office, Community Development Office, Sub County offices, and others when deemed necessary;
• Other (I) NGOs, CBOs, and other civil society actors implementing education projects in the project area

Internal contacts:

• ZOA Management;
• Members of the project team (Project Manager, fellow Project Officers)
• Other project teams, particularly SUPREME team colleagues
• Support staff.

Competencies

Knowledge & Experience:

• Degree in Forestry and Environmental Science and related fields; working knowledge in ERI, PIP, and FFS methodology is a plus.
• At least 2 years of successful experience in a similar position implementing related projects (green/renewable energy projects)
• Working experience in a humanitarian setting is an added advantage;
• Good facilitation skills, e.g. being able to host a community meeting or training group;
• Understanding of the local context, culture, and language(s);
• Excellent spoken and written command of English.

Skills:

• Good communication, writing, and facilitation skills;
• Innovative, creative, and enthusiastic;
• Good computer skills: Ms Excel and Ms Word;
• Self-motivator, able to work with limited supervision;
• Ability to drive a motorcycle with valid driving/riding license class “A’’. This will be checked with a practical test during the interview process

Attitude:

• High level of personal integrity
• Flexibility and adaptability
• Interpersonal and cross-cultural sensitivity
• Able to work under pressure and meet deadlines
• Motivated to work independently / self-managing
• Commitment to ZOA’s mission, vision, and values (see https://www.zoa-international.com/corporate-identity/)