About CESVI

CESVI is an international humanitarian organisation founded in Italy in 1985. CESVI operates in Africa, Asia, Latin America and Europe, working in emergency and development contexts to support vulnerable populations and promote sustainable development, environmental protection and resilience.

CESVI has been operational in Uganda since 2001, implementing programmes in livelihoods, food security, nutrition and community resilience in both development and refugee response.

Project Background

The COMMON ROOTS project is under the AICS (Italian Agency for Cooperation and Development) ReForest Project implemented with resources from the European Union. The project aims to increase and conserve the national forest cover and promote the environmental sustainability and economic growth of the targeted areas. The project is implemented in 16 districts of the Eastern region through a consortium approach.

Job Purpose

The Project Manager will be responsible for the overall management and coordination of the project, ensuring effective implementation, financial oversight, compliance with donor regulations, and coordination among consortium partners.

Key Responsibilities

Project Management and Compliance

• Ensure overall implementation of project activities in line with the Grant Agreement, approved workplan and budget.
• Monitor progress against indicators and ensure achievement of results.
• Ensure timely preparation of narrative and financial reports in compliance with donor requirements.
• Guarantee adherence to CESVI internal procedures and donor regulations.
• Monitor project expenditure and budget forecasts.
• Coordinate with MEAL and Programme Teams to ensure grant MEAL obligations are met timely and in line with donor/consortium requirements.
• Collaborate with programme teams to ensure contractual visibility and communication obligations are met.
• Lead coordination among consortium partners, ensuring alignment of activities, timelines and deliverables.
• Organise and chair regular coordination meetings and Project Advisory Committee meetings.
• Provide technical and managerial guidance to staff and partners as needed.
• Ensure effective performance management and capacity building of the project team.

Representation, Partnerships and Strategic Development

• Represent CESVI and the consortium with relevant government institutions at Ministry and local levels.
• Strengthen collaboration with district authorities and community structures.
• Ensure CESVI’s participation in relevant local government initiatives and working groups.
• Identify potential partners and establish collaborations with community structures, national NGOs and private sector actors.
• Identify gaps and opportunities to expand the project scope and strengthen CESVI’s strategic positioning in the country.

Essential requirements

• University degree in Project Management, Economics, Social Sciences, Public Administration, Environmental Studies, or a related field.
• A Master’s degree is considered an asset.
• Minimum 7 years of relevant professional experience in managing donor-funded development projects.
• Proven experience in EU-funded or similarly structured donor projects (strong asset).
• Demonstrated experience in consortium coordination and multi-partner project management.
• Proven experience in budget management, financial monitoring and donor reporting.
• Experience working with Government institutions, district authorities and civil society organisations in Uganda.
• Excellent organisational, leadership and communication skills.
• Solid diplomatic skills with the ability to manage a variety of internal and external relationships
• Self-motivated, proactive, resilient and able to work independently.
• Highly result-oriented with the ability to manage workload and stress
• Fluency in English (written and spoken).
• Strong computer literacy (MS Office and reporting tools).
• High level of integrity and adherence to safeguarding standards.

Desirable

• Experience in forest landscape restoration, climate resilience or community-based natural resource management projects.
• Knowledge of Ugandan environmental and forestry policy frameworks.
• Experience working with government institutions and multi-stakeholder platforms.

Safeguarding

CESVI has a zero-tolerance approach towards sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment and all forms of misconduct. The selected candidate will be required to adhere to CESVI’s Code of Conduct and Safeguarding policies.

• Ensure overall implementation of project activities in line with the Grant Agreement, approved workplan and budget.
• Monitor progress against indicators and ensure achievement of results.
• Ensure timely preparation of narrative and financial reports in compliance with donor requirements.
• Guarantee adherence to CESVI internal procedures and donor regulations.
• Monitor project expenditure and budget forecasts.
• Coordinate with MEAL and Programme Teams to ensure grant MEAL obligations are met timely and in line with donor/consortium requirements.
• Collaborate with programme teams to ensure contractual visibility and communication obligations are met.
• Lead coordination among consortium partners, ensuring alignment of activities, timelines and deliverables.
• Organise and chair regular coordination meetings and Project Advisory Committee meetings.
• Provide technical and managerial guidance to staff and partners as needed.
• Ensure effective performance management and capacity building of the project team.
• Represent CESVI and the consortium with relevant government institutions at Ministry and local levels.
• Strengthen collaboration with district authorities and community structures.
• Ensure CESVI’s participation in relevant local government initiatives and working groups.
• Identify potential partners and establish collaborations with community structures, national NGOs and private sector actors.
• Identify gaps and opportunities to expand the project scope and strengthen CESVI’s strategic positioning in the country.

• Excellent organisational, leadership and communication skills.
• Solid diplomatic skills with the ability to manage a variety of internal and external relationships
• Self-motivated, proactive, resilient and able to work independently.
• Highly result-oriented with the ability to manage workload and stress
• Fluency in English (written and spoken).
• Strong computer literacy (MS Office and reporting tools).
• High level of integrity and adherence to safeguarding standards.

• University degree in Project Management, Economics, Social Sciences, Public Administration, Environmental Studies, or a related field.
• A Master’s degree is considered an asset.
• Minimum 7 years of relevant professional experience in managing donor-funded development projects.
• Proven experience in EU-funded or similarly structured donor projects (strong asset).
• Demonstrated experience in consortium coordination and multi-partner project management.
• Proven experience in budget management, financial monitoring and donor reporting.
• Experience working with Government institutions, district authorities and civil society organisations in Uganda.
• Experience in forest landscape restoration, climate resilience or community-based natural resource management projects.
• Knowledge of Ugandan environmental and forestry policy frameworks.
• Experience working with government institutions and multi-stakeholder platforms.