US PSC Offshore, Supervisory Development Outreach & Communications (S/DOC) Specialist

USAID/Uganda is seeking qualified candidates for the position of US Personal Services Contractor (USPSC) – Supervisory Development Outreach & Communications (S/DOC) Specialist. The S/DOC position is part of the Program Office at USAID/Uganda. The S/DOC reports directly to the USAID/Uganda Supervisory Program Officer. USAID Uganda is one of Africa Bureau’s largest missions, with a multi-year portfolio valued at $1.5 billion. In Fiscal Year (FY) 2023, the Mission’s program budget stood at $458 million including emergency assistance. USAID Uganda implements a Country Development Cooperation Strategy (CDCS) with the goal of partnership with the Ugandan people to put Uganda on a path to achieve its Vision 2040. Uganda is a priority country for USAID across all global health initiatives, as well as Feed the Future and Power Africa. USAID implements programs to boost agricultural productivity, increase access to electricity, support financial inclusion, protect Uganda’s threatened biodiversity and wildlife, and bolster educational outcomes and democratic governance. USAID Uganda directs most of its programs through cooperative agreements and contracts to a wide range of international and local non-governmental organizations.

The United States Government (USG) has a complicated relationship with Uganda. As a major contributor to peacekeeping operations on the continent, Uganda is a key security partner. However, the country’s ability to play a positive regional role is eroding due to deteriorating democratic and civic space, worsening human rights violations, declining economic growth, and increasing debt fueled by corruption. The Government of Uganda exhibits an increasingly restrictive posture towards civil society and aversion to foreign influence, although it relies heavily on foreign assistance.

The human rights environment declined precipitously in 2023, with increasing anti-LGBTQI+ fervor across Uganda fueled by hateful narratives about recruitment of primary school children into homosexuality propagated by political and religious leaders. In late May, Parliament passed and the President signed the Anti-Homosexuality Act (AHA). Immediately there was a significant uptick in human rights violations against the LGBTQI+ community including attacks, arrests, and forced evictions.

Exceptional efforts to communicate USAID and USG objectives and impact are vital to USAID Uganda’s ability to be successful in achieving its foreign policy and development objectives in the region. The Mission seeks to improve the quality and availability of information about U.S. foreign assistance and its benefits in the region to a broader audience. Strong communications and outreach policies and strategies, and forward-leaning implementation is essential to USAID’s and the USG’s ability to build foreign relations in support of U.S. national interests.

For these purposes, USAID established the Senior Development Outreach and Communications (S/DOC) position, an off-shore U.S. Personal Services Contract position. This position will be located in the Program Office of USAID Uganda and reports directly to Program Office leadership.

USAID Uganda’s Program Office (PRO) provides guidance, analysis, and leadership in the formulation and management of USAID Uganda’s overall development assistance program across all technical offices. The Program Office facilitates and supports other offices in strategy and project/activity design, development, and implementation; strategic partnerships and Agency initiatives; monitoring, evaluation, and learning (MEL); public communications; programmatic budgeting; and a wide range of reporting to USAID Washington. The office manages a $46 million MEL contract.

The Supervisory Development Outreach and Communications Officer (S/DOC) works closely with USAID Uganda’s technical offices and implementing partners to develop and implement the Mission’s overall communication strategy. The S/DOC serves as the Mission’s primary liaison with the U.S. Embassy Public Diplomacy Section (PDS) to ensure coordination and collaboration on USAID public activities and projects. S/he will also serve as the USAID Uganda’s principal liaison with USAID’s Bureau for Legislative and Public Affairs in Washington.

EDUCATION

A Master’s degree is required, preferably in the field of journalism, communications, international relations, international development, public administration, development/area studies, social studies, public relations or a related area.

PRIOR WORK EXPERIENCE

A minimum of eight years of progressively responsible professional experience in public relations, preferably in an international setting, is required (work performed internationally would ideally be in an international organization, corporation, donor, foreign government, or NGO). Experience managing a team of communicators is required. Overseas experience in a less developed/developing country for longer time periods is desirable, preferably in conjunction with development and/or economic assistance activities. Proven experience in innovatively disseminating information to a variety of target audiences is required, as is demonstrated expertise in designing and implementing effective public relations/communications campaigns directed at both closely targeted audiences and the general public. Experience in disseminating information on USAID programs/projects/activities is desirable.