Cross Cutting Director

Project Background:

The USAID Uganda Feed the Future Water and Food Systems for Resilient Communities Activity (WFSRCA) is a five year activity (2023-2028) that aims to inclusively and equitably improve food and water security in the Kyoga Basin in northeastern Uganda, specifically three watersheds – Lokok, Awoja, and Lokere, by empowering individuals and communities to mitigate and adapt to shocks and stressors in order to improve livelihoods, maintain nutrition and health wellbeing, address drivers of conflict, and reduce reliance on humanitarian assistance. This area is home to nomadic pastoralists whose livelihoods are at risk due to violent cattle raiding and the effects of climate change (drought and flooding). This part of Uganda also suffers from fragmented markets, chronic underinvestment in public services, and a lack of private sector investment. This Activity is aligned with the Water and Development II (WADI II) scope to access critical technical services in support of the U.S. Government’s Global Water Strategy, Global Food Security and Strategy Refresh, Agency Climate Strategy, and the President’s Emergency Plan for Adaptation and Resilience; and is a cornerstone of the USAID Uganda (2022) Country Development Cooperation Strategy Development Objective (DO) 2, Resilient Growth Enhanced. The activity aims therefore aims to achieve results under the following development objectives:

1. Improve water supply and integrated water resource management.
2. Increase equitable access to sanitation and hygiene services for households and schools.
3. Improved agriculture-based livelihoods.
4. Increased consumption of nutritious foods among women and children.
5. Expanded access to financial resources for women, men, youth, indigenous people, and marginalized groups.
6. Improve local capacity to manage shocks and stressors.

WFSRCA will enhance market systems, strengthen relevant institutions, expand access to climate-resilient services, and—in two of the most vulnerable of the 20 districts covered by the activity—employ “graduation” approaches to assist the ultra-poor. These initiatives will incorporate conflict sensitivity, local leadership, climate change adaptation, and approaches inclusive of women, youth, the elderly, persons with disabilities, and indigenous groups.

The Cross-cutting elements of WFSRCA are the following:

• Result 4: Increased Consumption of Nutritious Foods Among Women and Children
• Result 5: Expanded Access to Financial Resources for Marginalized Groups
• Result 6: Improved Local Capacity to Manage Shocks and Stressors

Role’s Purpose:

The Cross Cutting Director will play an instrumental role in ensuring technical crosscutting themes are integrated into technical focus areas, implementation, and Monitoring and Evaluation and Learning (MEL). The Cross Cutting Director will ensure there is consistent consideration of crosscutting themes in project work plans, design, and delivery through close collaboration with the Deputy Chief of Party – Technical and the Implementation Director. The Cross Cutting Director directly oversees the Access to Finance Senior Specialist, Disaster Risk Management Senior Specialist, and GEYSI Specialist. The Cross Cutting Director reports to the Chief of Party.

Key Duties and Responsibilities:

• Oversee the design and reporting of all cross-cutting-related activities, to contribute to meeting WFSRCA performance targets under IR4, 5, and 6, with a focus on women and children (i.e., via annual work planning, listening and pause and reflect sessions, and contractual reporting). Taking lead on integrating crosscutting themes into technical focus areas, implementation, and Monitoring and Evaluation and Learning (MEL).
• Provide programmatic supervision, leadership, guidance, and mentorship to the Access to Finance Senior Specialist, the Disaster Risk Management Senior Specialist and the GEYSI specialist.
• Coordinate and regularly communicate with the Agriculture Livelihoods Lead, Deputy Chief of Party Technical, Cross-cutting Director, Implementation Director, and other Technical Leads to ensure the comprehensive integration of nutrition into WFSRCA programming. Ensure the consistent consideration of crosscutting themes in work planning, design, delivery, and adaptation through close collaboration with technical and implementation directors.
• Oversee and contribute to developing key research questions, with the support of the MEL Director, to apply rigorous sampling methods to identified respondents, collect data, and analyze findings for technical reports.
• Oversee and support the design of targeted grants, technical assistance, and infrastructure opportunities that support interventions proposed in the Annual Work Plan (AWP).
• Quality assure and oversee the work and deliverables of grantees, subcontractors, and independent consultants.
• Taking lead on establishing and maintaining effective relationships with project counterparts and stakeholders at all levels and maintaining linkages with related projects and stakeholders.
• Conduct regular field visits to assess project implementation, identify challenges, and provide on-the-ground support and guidance to field-based teams.
• Conduct regular performance evaluations for direct reports, providing feedback, and identifying opportunities for professional growth and development.
• Other tasks, as assigned by the COP.

Qualifications

• Advanced degree development studies, economics/business, agriculture, water/environment/natural resource management, or related field.
• 12+ years of relevant professional experience. Experience with USAID or donor-funded agriculture or water-related programs in Uganda preferred.
• Demonstrated skills working in one or a combination of the technical areas of access to finance, GEYSI, or disaster risk management preferred.
• Knowledge of / experience implementing market systems, graduation, and/or resilience approaches a plus.
• Excellent knowledge of USAID rules and regulations, preferred.
• Strong interpersonal skills to effectively interact with local counterparts, grantees, USAID, international donors, private sector partners, and other key stakeholders.
• Professional proficiency in English is required, and proficiency in local languages is preferred.

Reporting

The Cross Cutting Director will report to the COP.