Assistant Programme Coordinator

Assistant Programme Coordinator (Internal Recruitment)

• YIGA | West Nile
• Apply by 14th September 2026 at 5:00 PM (E.A.T)

About Restless Development

Restless Development Uganda is a non-profit agency for Youth Led change. We support the collective power of young leaders to create a better world. We are independently registered and governed in Uganda. We also associate with The Restless Development Global Network which is registered in nine countries (India, Nepal, Sierra Leone, Tanzania, Uganda, UK, USA, Zambia and Zimbabwe) bound together by a vision for youth power. We run youth-led programmes to tackle the issues that young people care about the most. We also coordinate the Youth Collective , a growing network of over 4000 local youth civil society groups and organisations in 185 countries. We are committed to creating an agency that walks the talk on power shifting, using the power shifting checklist, both internally and externally.

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 YIGA

YIGA is The Promoting Youth Inclusion in Governance and Decision-making in Uganda Project. The project is supported by the Embassies of Ireland, Netherlands Sweden and Denmark under PACER and runs through December 2027. Restless Development leads the consortium implementing the project with Media Challenge Initiative (MCI) and Karamoja Youth Effort to Save the Environment (KAYESE). Building on implementation in Karamoja, the project is expanding to Arua, Terego and Madi-Okollo in West Nile, alongside activities that bring regional youth priorities into national discussions.

YIGA addresses the information gaps, limited opportunities and institutional barriers that prevent young people from influencing decisions about their communities. It helps young people understand local government planning and budgeting, gather evidence on public services, and raise their priorities with elected representatives, officials and community leaders. At the same time, it supports leaders to involve young people in decisions and respond to their concerns through practical action plans and regular follow-up.

In West Nile, this includes training Youth Accountability Advocates and youth councillors, supporting community barazas and Youth Leader Connect meetings, and monitoring service delivery with local governments. The project’s Youth Information Hub+ combines a physical hub in Arua and Karamoja, mobile and digital engagement approaches and digital resources with civic films, radio, storytelling and media literacy activities. Evidence from both regions will inform the State of Youth Civil Society in Uganda report and The National Youth Working Group discussions. Throughout, YIGA seeks to turn informed youth participation into decisions and services that better reflect young people's needs.

About the Role

The Assistant Programme Coordinator will coordinate day-to-day YIGA delivery in West Nile, helping teams and partners implement a connected programme across Arua, Terego and Madi-Okollo. The role will serve as the regional programme contact, maintain implementation schedules, support district relationships and ensure that agreed activities, documentation and follow-up are completed on time.

Reporting to the Programme Coordinator, the role will supervise Programme Officers and work with the Programme Manager on wider YIGA priorities. The Assistant Coordinator will bring together field implementation, MEL, finance, logistics, communications and partner inputs, including coordination with MCI's civic media work. The role will ensure that youth engagement leads to clear requests, documented commitments and practical follow-up, and will contribute West Nile evidence and learning to activities shared with Karamoja and national stakeholders.

Job title: Assistant Programme Coordinator

Location: Arua - West Nile, Uganda

Geographical coverage: Mainly West Nile: Arua, Terego and Madi-Okollo, with contributions to shared YIGA and national activities as required.

Salary: UGX 60,526,159 Gross Per Annum

Preferred start date: ASAP

Duration: 1 year, renewable depending on funding and performance.

Reports to: Programme Coordinator

• Direct reports: Programme Officers.
• Expected travel: Regular domestic travel, mainly within West Nile, with other programme travel as required.

Key responsibilities

1.Regional planning and implementation

• Translate agreed YIGA priorities into practical West Nile activity plans with locations, responsible staff, partner contributions, budgets and deadlines. Maintain a shared calendar and implementation tracker for the three project districts.
• Coordinate district inception and the practical arrangements for the rapid assessment, ensuring that programme staff, local governments, youth structures and partners understand their roles before delivery begins.
• Sequence youth training, local government assessments and training, community dialogue and follow-up so that each activity builds on earlier work. Identify dependencies and arrange the support needed from technical teams.
• Review delivery progress with staff and partners, identify delays or overlapping activities, and agree on corrective action. Escalate significant issues through the Programme Coordinator and keep the Programme Manager informed.

2.Partner and district coordination

• Serve as the regional contact for routine programme coordination with consortium and PACER partners. Maintain clear communication, agreed meeting actions and follow-up without taking over partners' technical responsibilities.
• Coordinate district-level engagement with youth structures, local government departments, elected representatives and community leaders. Help teams agree access, participation and follow-up arrangements for governance activities.
• Coordinate the link between Restless Development's accountability work and MCI-led films, the Youth Information Hub+, mobile activities, civic news desks, radio and the West Nile Annual Film Forum.
• Bring implementation issues and youth priorities from West Nile into consortium reviews and shared learning. Support regional contributions to national activities through the Programme Manager and advocacy team.

3.Youth participation and government follow-up

• Coordinate training and ongoing support for Youth Accountability Advocates and youth councillors. Ensure that facilitators, materials and follow-up plans help participants apply learning in planning, budgeting and public service monitoring.
• Ensure that youth priorities and perspectives are reflected in district activity plans and service delivery follow-up. Support field teams to organise peer consultations and present clear, evidence-based requests to duty bearers.
• Coordinate the gender and youth inclusion assessment and Meaningful Youth Engagement sessions with technical colleagues. Follow up district action plans with staff, advocates and relevant Heads of Department.
• Coordinate community barazas, Youth Leader Connect meetings and biannual service delivery monitoring with district structures. Ensure that commitments identify who will act, what will be done and when progress will be reviewed.
• Help teams provide young people with updates on responses and unresolved issues. Arrange accessible venues, local-language support and suitable participation methods for young women, young people with disabilities and those with limited literacy.

4.Performance, learning and reporting

• Use programme evidence and learning to adjust West Nile activity plans and improve delivery, in consultation with the Programme Coordinator. Record agreed changes and follow up whether they address the identified problems.
• Work with the MEL Coordinator to ensure that staff submit complete records on participation, youth concerns, official responses and action-plan progress. Resolve gaps before information is consolidated for reporting.
• Consolidate activity reports, district updates and partner implementation inputs for review through the Programme Coordinator. Provide the Programme Manager with clear information on progress, challenges, resource needs and decisions required.
• Organise quarterly reviews and support biannual joint monitoring, assessment and evaluation visits. Maintain an action log and follow up decisions with the staff and partners responsible.
• Work with MEL, communications and advocacy colleagues to document verified changes and lessons. Support West Nile contributions to the State of Youth Civil Society study, National Youth Working Group discussions and shared learning products.

5.Operations and resource coordination

• Consolidate activity resource needs and coordinate with Finance and Logistics on procurement, transport, venues and supplies. Submit requests early enough to meet the planned delivery schedule and required approvals.
• Check that activities remain within approved budgets and that staff prepare complete financial accountabilities and supporting records. Raise gaps or proposed changes through the appropriate management and finance channels.
• Maintain organised programme files, schedules, meeting minutes and activity documentation. Support asset tracking and safe use of equipment through the responsible operations staff.
• Coordinate field travel and activity arrangements with staff and partners, taking account of safety, accessibility and welfare. Resolve routine logistical problems and escalate risks that could affect delivery.

6.Team coordination and support

• Provide day-to-day supervision and coaching to Programme Officers within the documented management arrangements. Agree tasks and deadlines, review delivery and identify support or training needs.
• Maintain regular information sharing between field staff, the Programme Coordinator and technical colleagues. Ensure staff understand programme decisions and know where to seek clarification or support.
• Help young leaders and field teams prepare for activities, manage competing priorities and complete follow-up. Promote respectful teamwork and encourage staff and participants to raise concerns early.

7.Safeguarding, inclusion and risk management

• Check that safeguarding, prevention of sexual exploitation and abuse, and non-partisan engagement are built into activity plans and explained to staff, young leaders and partners before implementation.
• Monitor practical risks affecting West Nile delivery, including participation barriers, civic sensitivities, weather, travel and operational delays. Maintain risk updates and follow up agreed mitigation actions.
• Ensure that participants know safe ways to provide feedback or report concerns. Refer safeguarding concerns promptly through designated channels and protect personal information in programme records and communications.
• Support compliance with organisational policies and donor requirements. Work with staff and partners to address identified gaps and keep the Programme Coordinator informed of issues requiring management action.

8.Other responsibilities

• Other duties as required, including occasional work on weekends for which time off in lieu (TOIL) can be taken.

Skills and experience

Essential

• Bachelor's degree in Development Studies, Social Sciences, Public Administration, Project Management or a related field.
• At least 3 years of relevant experience in programme coordination, project implementation or a similar role, preferably in the development sector.
• Experience coordinating workshops, training, meetings and field activities, and working with young people, community structures, local governments, civil society organisations or other development stakeholders.
• Strong organisational and coordination skills, including managing multiple activities, timelines and deliverables.
• Good report writing, documentation and communication skills, with experience tracking activities, following up actions and supporting programme reporting.
• Ability to work collaboratively with programme, MEL, finance and other teams.

Desirable

• Experience in youth participation, governance, accountability, civic engagement or community development programmes.
• Experience supporting donor-funded programmes and donor reporting.
• Experience using programme management, data collection or reporting tools.
• Experience working in Karamoja, West Nile or other rural or underserved contexts.
• Knowledge of safeguarding, prevention of sexual exploitation and abuse, inclusion and youth-centred programming.

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 cover letter that provides tangible examples of how your skills, knowledge and experience will support your ability to perform the key priorities outlined in the above job description (using no more than 750 words)

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