Open Positions

Background:   The Institute for Social Transformation (IST) is a Non-Governmental Organization registered with the NGO Board; its primary goal is to promote a more just society with an inclusive development approach in Eastern Africa. IST focuses on the following thematic areas; transformational learning and leadership, gender relations and economic empowerment the Institute IST has registered enormous achievements and established its self as a capacity building, an innovative and transformative organization that empowers individuals, organizations and communities especially women with skills and tools to discover and maximize their potentials to initiate, own and control development programs that impact on their livelihoods. Mission: To develop the capacity for critical thinking for efficient, effective leadership, gender equality and transformational learning through capacity building, Innovation and advocacy for the marginalized majority (women and Youth).

Purpose & scope of the assignment

 IST seeks to recruit a highly competent person to fill the position of an Accountants Assistant. The Accountants Assistant will work together with the Accountant in ensuring that IST finance department runs more efficiently.

Major Duties and Responsibilities

• Assist the Accountant in preparing monthly reports and bank reconciliation statements.
• Assist the finance officer in processing payment in compliance with IST finance policies and procedures.
• Maintain and update the assets register.
• Maintaining and updating the ledger accounts, monthly reconciliation of suppliers’ accounts.
• Ensure that expenses are coded properly and that documentation is complete and presented in chronological order.
• Assist the finance officer in Issuing of program advances and subsequent follow-up on accountability.
• Assist the Accountant in ensuring that all financial documents and vouchers are filed appropriately.
• Assist the Accountant in the coordination of office administration.
• Assist in banking of field advance balances.
• Assist the Finance Officer in preparation for external and internal audits.
• Any other duties assigned by the Accountant and Executive Director
• Finance / budget
• Prepares the planning of the financial needs for forth coming periods.
• Maintains the petty cash box, with all due accounting and security precautions.
• Prepares the elements for the budget analysis. Maintains the budget forecast tool.
• Monitors the development of expenditure, ensuring that budget overruns do not occur and prepares requests for possible amendments.

Others

• Carries out any other duties that may reasonably or exceptionally be required to ensure the smooth operation of IST’s work, such as substituting for absent colleagues, etc

Information / reporting

The FA will submit the Weekly and monthly expenditure reports.

Education Requirements

• Degree or Diploma in Accounting and Finance
• Knowledge in Accounting software (QuickBooks)
• Excellent oral and written communication skills

Competencies:

• Excellent analytical skills.
• Ability to work in a team and good interpersonal skills.
• Good computer applications skills.
• Ability to work independently with a minimum of supervision.
• Ability to work under time pressure and meet deadlines.
• Ability to work in diversified environments.
• Attention to details.
• Ability to learn fast.

CONTRACT DURATION

The initial duration of the job will be for 3 months. The contract will be extendable with availability of funding on satisfactory performance.  

IST shall accept ONLY applications through email provided below. Applications shall be submitted not later than 22nd March, 2023. Applications should be addressed to the Executive Director, Institute for Social Transformation. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted

Email: isocialtransformation32@gmail.com and copy in moureenwagubi@gmail.com Tel: +256-414665496

1. Background

Established in 2006, the Institute for Social Transformation (IST) is a capacity building, and transformative learning organization that empowers individuals, organizations and communities especially women with skills, tools to discover and maximize potentials.  Our primary goal is to promote a more just society with an inclusive development approach in Eastern Africa. The thematic focus areas are; Transformational leadership and learning, Equitable Gender relations and GBV Prevention and Economic empowerment. IST works with communities, Institutions and multilevel stakeholders in Uganda. The strategic plan 2019 to 2023 has its key focus on market women, the work which it has championed since 2015 to date through the various pillars of the program on; voice and power, self-discovery and awareness, transformative leadership skills development, Business mentorship, financial literacy and management, cooperative formation, promoting positive change in gender relations, accountability, conscietization and innovation for business.

Through IST studies and number of interfaces with informal sector market women, many unanswered policy questions keep emerging necessitating the need for IST to step up efforts and pro actively position its work engage in strong advocacy in influencing policies that address the needs of market women and other others in informal sector categories. The need to strengthen advocacy to influence better policies and effective implementation is one of our key areas in IST strategic plan 2019-2023. IST is taking a strong step to scale up and navigate into higher policy spaces to influence better policies and other decision making processes enabling the voices and need of the market women to be heard.

IST is also strongly steering the processes to engender the proposed markets bill aimed at  repealing  the current regressive Markets Act Cap 94 1942 and replace with progressive law proposed entitled; The Establishment and Management of Markets Bill 2019. A number of consultations have been carried out and at the different levels including that with key stakeholders like the market women and leadership, CSOs, Line ministries and Policy makers. These are intended to garner support from market women and men to ensure that the proposed law is fair and gender responsive and that the views and concerns of stakeholders are made integral in the drafting process.

IST being a key player   and a champion of efforts to improve better work conditions for women in markets, Advocacy is important to bring about policy changes at the different levels of policy while also promoting local campaigns for awareness on the right of women in the informal sector primarily the market women.

It is in light of the above that IST seeks to hire a consultant/team of consultants to support in the development of “Advocacy Strategy” that will provide guidance/ roadmap on its advocacy actions for market women for the next five years.

2. Objectives of the Assignment

The overall objective of the consultancy will be to develop an “Advocacy Strategy for IST and her network which will guide and inform effective engagements targeted at influencing government policies and best practices for improved access to safe working spaces in Ugandan Markets.

The consultant will be expected to;

1. Review IST and networks current advocacy initiatives and identify gaps, potential priorities and areas of focus
2. Carry out consultations with IST staff and networks key staff to identify advocacy capacity gaps as well as priority areas of advocacy
3. Carry out consultations with some current advocacy networks to identify areas for potential collaborations.
4. Develop an advocacy strategy, outlining clear objectives, targets, activities, allies, deliverables and indicators
5. Develop an implementation plan

Aspects to be covered in the strategy:

1. Identification and analysis of advocacy issues
2. Identification and analysis of stakeholders
3. Formulation of measurable objectives
4. Developing core advocacy messages
5. Developing the strategy ( approaches, techniques, messages and materials)
6. Developing an advocacy action plan
7. Planning for monitoring and evaluation
8. Facilitate a validation workshop to be attended by the key project stakeholders especially those consulted during the assignment. During this workshop the consultants shall present the findings to the assignment.
9. Key Deliverables / Expected Outputs

The following are the expected deliverables during the consultancy period:-

(i). Inception report: This should be submitted two days after signing of the contract

The report should  include; a clear understanding of the terms of reference, budget, and description of the methodology, including data requirements, data sources and methods of collection, and a clear work plan with a proposed time frame for start and end of the assignment

  (ii). Submit the 1^st Draft of the Advocacy Strategy Document: After conducting a comprehensive desk review to gather data with reference key documents from reliable sources and with engagements with IST team and other stakeholders, a draft advocacy strategy should be submitted within the agreed timelines.

(iii). Submission of the Final study report with the advocacy strategy and action plan:  This will be done after generating feedback from the comments of the draft document and the validation meeting

4. Methodology and Scope of Work

The methodology will be proposed by the consultant. However, the consultant will be expected to use the participatory and interactive methods and approaches. The consultant will work closely with the project staff. These will include but not limited to the following; the use of desk review and engagements with IST staff, market women and the leadership in formulation of the indicators. This must be provided in the inception report. 

5. Time Frame & Reporting

-Upon successful identification, the awarded consultant should be willing to start work immediately and the assignment is expected not to take more than 25 working days.

-The Consultant will report directly to Ag. Executive Director and shall work closely with the Programme Officer as the Immediate supervisor throughout the assignment period. 

Facilitation:

1. The total amount as professional fees for the assignment shall be agreed upon by both parties upon understanding of the task. Statutory Deductions, the consultant will be responsible for declaration of the income for income tax purposes (6% from the gross payment) payable to Uganda Revenue Authority in accordance with the income tax regulations of the republic of Uganda.

6. Required Experience and Competencies

• The successful consultant/teams must have the following;
• Master degree or its equivalent in Social Sciences, Law, or Human rights, with at least 5 – 10 years of experience in policy research and advocacy.
• Knowledge and experience in understanding of the legal and policy frameworks related to gender equality is a priority requirement.
• Be knowledgeable and in touch with contextual understanding of gender issues, women rights and legal analysis in Uganda
• Must possess strong skills in analysis, communication/presentation, research methods and writing skills
• Demonstrable ability to work under pressure with strict deadlines
• Must be willing to work with others in a team and with ability to meet tight deadlines

Apply Now:

Interested Individuals or Teams who meet the above criteria and ready to start work immediately should submit a cover letter supported with a current CV, with Two (2) Referees, technical and financial proposals by Tuesday 11^th August 2020 5:00pm. These should be submitted to the Ag. Executive Director on email address: isocialtransformation32@gmail.com or moureenwagubi@gmail.com

1. Background

   The Institute for Social Transformation (IST) was established and registered with the NGO Board in 2006 as a non-governmental organisation with the primary goal of promoting a more just society with an inclusive development approach in Eastern Africa. Over its eleven (11) years of existence, IST has established its self as a capacity building, innovative and transformative organisation that empowers community activists especially women with skills and tools to discover and maximise their potentials to initiate, own and control development programs that impact on their livelihoods.

   IST’s thematic focus areas are; transformational learning and leadership, gender relations and economic empowerment. The Institute conducts training of individuals, institutions, and communities to enable them initiate and sustain change processes. Local knowledge and experiences on the root causes of poverty, gender inequality and poor leadership play a key role in providing information on actions to be undertaken. 

    About the project

   The five Year project of “Access to markets by market women” supported by UN Women has been in implementation since September 2016. 

   In order to empower women in the informal sector for social and economic self –reliance, IST built capacity of 1600 market women from Gulu main, Cereleano , Nakawa and Kalerwe-Bivamuntuyo markets in business and financial literacy. Despite this, the market women entrepreneurs still encounter challenges and competition from mobile vendors, and an emergency of the second layer of middle men who brokerage individual /personal house hold shopping /small and medium sized enterprises shopping and make more profit. The above scenario among others ought to be minimized and create convenience for the shoppers at the comfort of their palm with phones or laptops through the Market Garden App, a  sales platform targeted to benefit market women. 

   In December 2018, IST with support from UN Women and the Embassy of Sweden developed and launched the Market Garden App for both vendors and customers but this was made available only in the Google Play Store. It is with this background that IST would like to develop, upload and maintain the Market Garden App in the Apple Store.

   Objectives 

   The main objectives of the assignment is to develop and launch a user friendly, technological platform compatible with iOS version 13 to enable customers and market women conduct an e-line marketing /sales for their fresh goods and commodities. This includes the means of delivery and integration of a payment platform. 

   Scope of work

   The work will be performed under the overall guidance of the Executive Director at IST and direct supervision of the Communications Officer. The consultant will undertake the following tasks, duties, and responsibilities.  

   Task 1: To conduct a needs assessment of the user friendliness/applicability of the right technological platform required. 

   • Develop a methodology and a tool to assess the type of platform needed to meet the needs of customers and market women
   • Develop a report incorporating proposals for the platform to address the findings, capacity gaps, and plan for user ability.

   Task 2: Develop a sales/marketing platform targeting iOS users and market women in Kampala and other countries in Africa catering for future expansion in use 

   • Develop a sales /marketing platform to address the needs identified above
   • Customize the App in terms of availability of products in given markets
   • Take into account the literacy levels of the users
   • Consider the need of the targeted clientele or customers and buyers
   • Incorporate the means of delivery and means of payment where a customer can indicate a Mobile Money number where money for the items can be purchased
   • Display of goods and cost prices before and after purchase
   • Provide an option for promotions and combos
   • Create a platform for customers to earn loyalty points and provide a platform for searching for a product
   • Customize the products available in selected markets with their different prices
   • Consider both the webpage and application accessibility
   • Hosting and management warranty options
   • Make the App available for download in other countries
   • Participate in key technical partnership engagement meetings for the functionality of the platform

   Task 3: Build capacity of users to utilize the platform 

   • Develop a training manual for the orientation and training on the user ability of the platform
   • Build the capacity of IST staff to conduct successive orientation
   • Ensure that the platform is secure through various tests.

   Note: Short listed candidates will make a prototype presentation to the IST team on a date to be communicated. 

   Duration of the assignment 

   The duration of the assignment will be from August 24^th to October 30^th 2020. 

   Expected Deliverables 

   The consultant will produce the following;

   • A detailed consultancy activity plan agreed upon with IST
   • Draft report on the Assessment of the platform needs and applicable iOS user ability 
   • Produce a draft of the application on iOS
   • Pretest the platform and draft report of the concerns and incorporate recommendations 
   • Orientation and training of users 
   • Launch and final report including all activities 

   In puts 

   IST will guide the consultant with mobilization of the targeted beneficiaries 

   Consultant will work using their own gadgets such as computers, and space

   Performance Evaluation

   Consultant’s performance will be evaluated based on: timeliness, responsibility, initiative, communication, accuracy, friendly user ability of the platform and quality of product delivered. 

   Required Experience 

   • Experience in development of innovative iOS Applications
   • Previous experience in similar assignment will be considered as an asset
   • Previous experience in conducting technological capacity needs assessment will be considered an asset.
   • A gender balanced team will be a plus
   • Language and other skills 
   • Facilitation and training skills
   • Fluent in English and Luganda

    Submission of Application and package 

   Interested candidates are requested to submit electronic application to the Executive Director, Institute for Social Transformation to:  isocialtransformation32@gmail.com and copy in moureenwagubi@gmail.com. Deadline is 17^th August 2020 and attach;

   • Cover letter
   • CV, including contact information of 3 references
   • Financial proposal: The financial proposal shall specify a total lump sum amount per each deliverable involved

1. Background

Established in 2006, the Institute for Social Transformation (IST) is a capacity building, and transformative learning organization that empowers individuals, organizations and communities especially women with skills, tools to discover and maximize potentials.  Our primary goal is to promote a more just society with an inclusive development approach in Eastern Africa. The thematic focus areas are; Transformational leadership and learning, Equitable Gender relations and GBV Prevention and Economic empowerment. IST works with communities, Institutions and multilevel stakeholders in Uganda. The strategic plan 2019 to 2023 has its key focus on market women, the work which it has championed since 2015 to date through the various pillars of the program on; voice and power, self-discovery and awareness, transformative leadership skills development, Business mentorship, financial literacy and management, cooperative formation, promoting positive change in gender relations, accountability, conscietization and innovation for business.

Through IST studies and number of interfaces with informal sector market women, many unanswered policy questions keep emerging necessitating the need for IST to step up efforts and pro actively position its work engage in strong advocacy in influencing policies that address the needs of market women and other others in informal sector categories. The need to strengthen advocacy to influence better policies and effective implementation is one of our key areas in IST strategic plan 2019-2023. IST is taking a strong step to scale up and navigate into higher policy spaces to influence better policies and other decision making processes enabling the voices and need of the market women to be heard.

IST is also strongly steering the processes to engender the proposed markets bill aimed at  repealing  the current regressive Markets Act Cap 94 1942 and replace with progressive law proposed entitled; The Establishment and Management of Markets Bill 2019. A number of consultations have been carried out and at the different levels including that with key stakeholders like the market women and leadership, CSOs, Line ministries and Policy makers. These are intended to garner support from market women and men to ensure that the proposed law is fair and gender responsive and that the views and concerns of stakeholders are made integral in the drafting process.

IST being a key player   and a champion of efforts to improve better work conditions for women in markets, Advocacy is important to bring about policy changes at the different levels of policy while also promoting local campaigns for awareness on the right of women in the informal sector primarily the market women.

It is in light of the above that IST seeks to hire a consultant/team of consultants to support in the development of “Advocacy Strategy” that will provide guidance/ roadmap on its advocacy actions for market women for the next five years.

2. Objectives of the Assignment

The overall objective of the consultancy will be to develop an “Advocacy Strategy for IST and her network which will guide and inform effective engagements targeted at influencing government policies and best practices for improved access to safe working spaces in Ugandan Markets.

The consultant will be expected to;

1. Review IST and networks current advocacy initiatives and identify gaps, potential priorities and areas of focus
2. Carry out consultations with IST staff and networks key staff to identify advocacy capacity gaps as well as priority areas of advocacy
3. Carry out consultations with some current advocacy networks to identify areas for potential collaborations.
4. Develop an advocacy strategy, outlining clear objectives, targets, activities, allies, deliverables and indicators
5. Develop an implementation plan

Aspects to be covered in the strategy:

1. Identification and analysis of advocacy issues
2. Identification and analysis of stakeholders
3. Formulation of measurable objectives
4. Developing core advocacy messages
5. Developing the strategy ( approaches, techniques, messages and materials)
6. Developing an advocacy action plan
7. Planning for monitoring and evaluation
8. Facilitate a validation workshop to be attended by the key project stakeholders especially those consulted during the assignment. During this workshop the consultants shall present the findings to the assignment.
9. Key Deliverables / Expected Outputs

The following are the expected deliverables during the consultancy period:-

(i). Inception report: This should be submitted two days after signing of the contract

The report should  include; a clear understanding of the terms of reference, budget, and description of the methodology, including data requirements, data sources and methods of collection, and a clear work plan with a proposed time frame for start and end of the assignment

  (ii). Submit the 1^st Draft of the Advocacy Strategy Document: After conducting a comprehensive desk review to gather data with reference key documents from reliable sources and with engagements with IST team and other stakeholders, a draft advocacy strategy should be submitted within the agreed timelines.

(iii). Submission of the Final study report with the advocacy strategy and action plan:  This will be done after generating feedback from the comments of the draft document and the validation meeting

4. Methodology and Scope of Work

The methodology will be proposed by the consultant. However, the consultant will be expected to use the participatory and interactive methods and approaches. The consultant will work closely with the project staff. These will include but not limited to the following; the use of desk review and engagements with IST staff, market women and the leadership in formulation of the indicators. This must be provided in the inception report. 

5. Time Frame & Reporting

-Upon successful identification, the awarded consultant should be willing to start work immediately and the assignment is expected not to take more than 25 working days.

-The Consultant will report directly to Ag. Executive Director and shall work closely with the Programme Officer as the Immediate supervisor throughout the assignment period. 

Facilitation:

1. The total amount as professional fees for the assignment shall be agreed upon by both parties upon understanding of the task. Statutory Deductions, the consultant will be responsible for declaration of the income for income tax purposes (6% from the gross payment) payable to Uganda Revenue Authority in accordance with the income tax regulations of the republic of Uganda.

6. Required Experience and Competencies

• The successful consultant/teams must have the following;
• Master degree or its equivalent in Social Sciences, Law, or Human rights, with at least 5 – 10 years of experience in policy research and advocacy.
• Knowledge and experience in understanding of the legal and policy frameworks related to gender equality is a priority requirement.
• Be knowledgeable and in touch with contextual understanding of gender issues, women rights and legal analysis in Uganda
• Must possess strong skills in analysis, communication/presentation, research methods and writing skills
• Demonstrable ability to work under pressure with strict deadlines
• Must be willing to work with others in a team and with ability to meet tight deadlines

Apply Now:

Interested Individuals or Teams who meet the above criteria and ready to start work immediately should submit a cover letter supported with a current CV, with Two (2) Referees, technical and financial proposals by Tuesday 11^th August 2020 5:00pm. These should be submitted to the Ag. Executive Director on email address: isocialtransformation32@gmail.com or moureenwagubi@gmail.com