Programme Coordinator

Programme Coordinator (Internal Recruitment)

Apply by: 25th October 2026 at 5:00 PM (E.A.T)

About Restless Development

We have been operating in Uganda since 1997, guided by four impact areas shaped by young people: Voice and Democracy, Education and Livelihoods, Gender and Sexual Health, and Climate Justice. We support young people to influence decisions, access quality education and sustainable livelihood opportunities, advance sexual and reproductive health and rights, promote gender equality, and lead action towards a just and sustainable future. 

Our approach to safeguarding

Restless Development considers the welfare and protection of children, young people and vulnerable adults to be an organisational imperative with primacy over the success of programmes or strategic objectives. 

About the project

The Promoting Youth Inclusion in Governance and Decision-Making Processes (YIGA) project is a three-year initiative (2025–2027) implemented under the broader PACER programme. YIGA seeks to strengthen youth-responsive governance and improve public service delivery by enhancing youth participation in local decision-making and accountability processes across nine districts in the Karamoja sub-region and three districts in West Nile.

YIGA recognises that meaningful youth participation can contribute to better public policies, stronger service delivery and greater civic responsibility. The project works towards two mutually reinforcing outcomes:

• Outcome 1: Strengthened youth civic competence, including the knowledge, skills and awareness needed to engage effectively in governance and accountability processes.
• Outcome 2: Enhanced capacity and responsiveness of local governments and community structures to address youth priorities and ensure inclusive, timely and accountable service delivery.

About the role

The Programme Coordinator will coordinate the day-to-day implementation of YIGA under the strategic direction of the Programme Manager. The Coordinator will translate approved programme strategies, workplans and budgets into practical implementation plans, supervise Programme Officers and support partners to deliver quality activities that contribute to the project’s intended outcomes.

Working closely with youth-led organisations, local governments, community structures, consortium partners and the MEL Coordinator, the Coordinator will support meaningful youth participation, responsive governance and accountability. The role will coordinate field delivery, monitor progress and expenditure, prepare programme reports, support learning and adaptation, and ensure that safeguarding and inclusion are embedded in implementation.

Job title: Programme Coordinator

Location: Moroto, Karamoja, Uganda

Salary: UGX 73,792,966 gross per annum

Preferred start date: As soon as possible

Length of contract: One year, renewable depending on funding and performance

Reports to: Programme Manager

Direct reports: Programme Officers

Expected travel: Regular domestic travel, mainly within Karamoja and West Nile, with other national and programme travel as required

Key responsibilities

1 Programme planning and implementation

• Translate the approved programme strategy and annual workplan into quarterly and monthly detailed implementation plans, activity budgets and schedules, with clear responsibilities and timelines for Programme Officers and partners.
• Coordinate delivery of approved activities across the assigned districts in Karamoja and West Nile, ensuring that implementation contributes to the project’s intended outcomes and meets agreed quality standards.
• Coordinate the preparation and use of technical guides, training materials and implementation tools with relevant programme and technical colleagues.
• Monitor delivery against agreed plans, resolve day-to-day implementation challenges and promptly escalate delays or decisions requiring the Programme Manager’s attention.

2.Governance youth participation and accountability

• Support the development and delivery of the Meaningful Youth Engagement capacity-strengthening approach for district local governments and youth structures in Karamoja and West Nile, under the Programme Manager’s guidance.
• Support district local governments to develop, implement and review Meaningful Youth Engagement Action Plans, and follow up commitments made to young people.
• Support Programme Officers to implement youth feedback mechanisms and social audits, including accessible digital tools where appropriate, and track responses and communicate follow-up actions to young people.
• Ensure that young women, young people with disabilities and other marginalised or underrepresented groups can participate meaningfully in programme activities and decision-making.

3.Partnerships and stakeholder engagement

• Maintain effective working relationships with district authorities, youth-led organisations, community structures, consortium members and other PACER partners to support coordinated implementation.
• Coordinate routine partner meetings, joint activity planning and follow-up on agreed deliverables, identifying implementation gaps and referring significant concerns to the Programme Manager.
• Represent YIGA in district coordination meetings and other engagements as delegated, providing accurate updates and following up agreed actions.
• Identify local collaboration and sustainability opportunities, share these with the Programme Manager and support agreed actions that strengthen ownership of programme approaches.

4.Programme quality monitoring evaluation and learning

• Work with the MEL Coordinator to apply the agreed results framework, indicators, data collection tools and reporting requirements across programme activities.
• Supervise routine collection, verification and timely submission of programme data and supporting records, ensuring that results are appropriately disaggregated and securely managed.
• Conduct regular field monitoring and supportive supervision visits, provide feedback to Programme Officers and partners, and follow up actions to improve programme quality.
• Review progress towards outcomes as well as activities and outputs, including evidence of youth influence, local government responsiveness and changes in service delivery.
• Facilitate field-level reflection and learning with staff, partners and young people; document lessons, good practices and challenges; and propose practical adaptations to the Programme Manager.

5. Resource and financial management

• Prepare activity budgets, expenditure forecasts and procurement or logistical requirements in line with approved workplans, and submit them through the agreed review and approval processes.
• Monitor expenditure against assigned budget lines with Finance, review management accounts, explain variances and recommend corrective actions to the Programme Manager.
• Coordinate activity logistics and use of programme resources, monitor operational and financial risks, and escalate proposed budget reallocations or additional resource needs for approval.

6. Team supervision and capacity development

• Line-manage Programme Officers, agree individual workplans and performance expectations, and provide regular supervision, feedback and performance reviews.
• Coach staff and support youth facilitators and partners to strengthen practical skills in youth engagement, governance, facilitation, reporting and programme delivery.
• Identify staff development and wellbeing needs and work with the Programme Manager and relevant colleagues to address them.
• Promote collaboration across programme, MEL, advocacy, communications, finance and operations teams, and support a working culture consistent with Restless Development’s values.

7.Programme reporting communications and accountability

• Consolidate timely and accurate implementation updates and draft programme reports for review by the Programme Manager, drawing on contributions from Programme Officers, partners, MEL and Finance.
• Ensure reports explain progress towards outcomes, include young people’s perspectives and supporting evidence, and identify challenges, learning, expenditure issues and required actions.
• Support donor visits, programme reviews and learning events by preparing field updates, coordinating logistics and following up agreed actions; participate in donor engagements.
• Work with Communications and advocacy colleagues to prepare approved stories, civic education content and media campaigns on youth participation, governance and accountability, with appropriate consent and safeguarding arrangements.

Other duties

• Other duties as required from time to time including occasional work on weekends, outside normal working hours, for which time off in lieu can be taken. 

Qualifications skills and experience

Essential

• A bachelor’s degree in Development Studies, Governance, Public Administration, Political Science, Social Work, Social Sciences, International Development, Project Management or a related field.
• Relevant professional experience coordinating development projects or programmes, including practical experience in governance, accountability, youth leadership or meaningful youth engagement.
• Experience supervising and supporting staff, facilitating capacity development and working collaboratively with diverse teams and young people.
• Experience working with local governments, youth-led organisations, civil society or community structures to deliver agreed programme activities.
• Experience preparing activity budgets, monitoring expenditure and maintaining timely and accurate financial accountabilities.
  

Desirable

• A postgraduate qualification in Project Planning and Management or a related field.
• Experience implementing programmes in Karamoja and/or West Nile, with a good understanding of the local context and relevant language skills.
• Understanding of Uganda’s decentralisation and local government planning, budgeting and accountability processes.
• Experience working with consortiums or multi-partner programmes.
• Experience supporting advocacy, policy briefs, community feedback mechanisms, social audits or digital civic engagement.
• A valid motorcycle riding permit.

Please note: This position is an internal job opportunity, open to current employees and Restless Development alumni only.

To apply: Please submit your CV and a covering letter that explains why you are excited by this role, and provides examples of how your skills and experience respond to the essential and desirable criteria in the Job Description (using no more than 500 words).

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