Earn 86m as Political Assistant at United States US Embassy Mission in Uganda
Job Title: Political Assistant
Organisation: United States US Embassy, US Mission in Uganda
Duty Station: Kampala, Uganda
Salary: UGX 86,951,739/= p.a
Position Number: Kampala-2024-016
About US Embassy:
The United States Embassy in Kampala, Uganda has enjoyed diplomatic relations with Uganda for over 30 years. Ambassador Natalie E. Brown currently heads the U.S Mission to Uganda. The Mission is composed of several offices and organizations all working under the auspices of the Embassy and at the direction of the Ambassador.
Among the offices operating under the U.S Mission to Uganda are:
- United States Agency for International Development (USAID)
- Centers for Disease Control (CDC)
- Peace Corps
Job Summary: The incumbent, under the direct supervision of the Political Specialist is a political assistant at U.S. Embassy Kampala who serves as the Foreign Service National (FSN) handling a portfolio that includes political and economic reporting support with a focus on human rights and civil society, religion, environment, science, technology and health (ESTH), entrepreneurship, government accountability and transparency, and providing assistance to the Small Grants office. The incumbent, who must have detailed knowledge of U.S. interests and objectives, as well as Uganda’s political landscape, is a member of the U.S. Mission’s interagency democracy working group and must cultivate and maintain contacts in the Ugandan government and in civil society at the senior-most levels. He/she is the primary Ugandan advisor to the Embassy’s interagency Small Grants selection committees, which is managed by the Political/Economic Section, and serves as the primary expert and drafter of Congressionally-mandated reports on human rights and religious freedom.
Key Duties and Responsibilities:
Democracy and Human Rights (30%)
- Democracy and human rights developments are significant components of the bilateral relationship and these issues receive high-level attention from officials in the State Department, National Security Council Staff, and the White House. Both issues are sensitive, particularly when researching human rights violations allegations against the Ugandan government and require the incumbent to exercise discretion, tact, and keen judgment. Due to the difficult democratic environment, the incumbent must coordinate closely with American officers to report on these complex issues while being conscious of misperceptions by some Ugandan officials that democracy and human rights inquiries and reporting threaten the sovereignty and stability of the Ugandan government.
- The incumbent is the primary drafter for the Congressionally-mandated Human Rights and Religious Freedom reports, and manages the Mission’s outreach activities with international and domestic civil society organizations engaged in the protection of human rights. Due to Uganda’s religious diversity, complex social and political issues, and poor human rights record, compiling the mandated reports requires an extraordinary amount of organization, effort, professionalism, and tact.
Governmental Accountability and Transparency (30%)
- Uganda suffers from corruption at all levels of government, which inevitably impacts U.S. interests and programs and domestic political stability.
- The incumbent monitors corruption and governance issues and their effects on society and the economy.
- The incumbent tracks and reports on corruption-related cases, maintains contact with anti-corruption civil society groups, and attends court proceedings for high profile cases.
- The incumbent is responsible for compiling and drafting an annual summary of corruption cases. The job requires tact and sound judgment to engage the various government ministries and institutions in the very sensitive area of corruption and poor governance.
- The incumbent needs to establish and maintain close contacts with senior-level officials in the judiciary, Directorate of Public Prosecution, Inspector General of Government and civil society organizations, which deal with governance issues and must demonstrate a high level of maturity and objectivity while interviewing and reporting on corruption cases.
- The incumbent will work closely with USAID’s Democracy, Human Rights & Governance Office.
Environment, Science, Technology, and Health (20%)
- With oil and gas finds, rising population, and one of the most diverse and delicate natural eco-systems in Africa, Uganda is now just beginning to face and balance the next generation of environmental challenges. In addition, with numerous epidemics, poor health delivery systems, and extensive pandemic disease research collaborations, health issues are a major U.S. interest in Uganda.
Develop and Maintain Contacts (10%)
- The incumbent must initiate and maintain a broad range of contacts in their portfolio at the highest level, which includes government, members of the legislature and the judiciary, the media, academia, businesses, and civil society. To maintain and expand these contacts, the incumbent attends civil society gatherings, legislative sessions, conferences and seminars relevant to their portfolio.
Travel and Operational Responsibilities (10%)
- The incumbent travels independently, including in Kampala and the surrounding districts and other parts of Uganda as the need arises, to keep up-to-date on political and social developments of importance to U.S. interests across the board.
- Through this travel, incumbent keeps the Political and Economic Section informed about democracy and human rights, domestic politics, accountability, and ESTH issues.
Qualifications, Skills and Experience:
NOTE: All applicants must address each selection criterion detailed below with specific and comprehensive information supporting each item.
- The applicants for the United States US Embassy Political Assistant job opportunity should hold a Bachelor’s degree in political science, economics, history, journalism or human rights is required.
- A minimum of five years of experience in foreign policy, political, social development, academia or journalism is required.
- Ability to interact with Uganda officials, civil society groups, scientists, academics, and political leaders at all levels. The incumbent must have astute judgment, quick decision-making skills and the ability to form thoughtful connections between different political and social developments. They must also demonstrate significantly high diplomatic and communications skills to be able to engage with career and elected government officials at the highest levels.
- Thorough knowledge of Uganda’s economic and political system, as well as a broad understanding of energy, environment, health, science and technology (ESTH) issues is required.
- Language: English Level 4 (fluent) speaking/reading/writing is required. “This may be tested”. Luganda/Swahili Level 3 (good working knowledge) speaking/understanding is required. This may be tested”
How to Apply:
All those interested in working with the United States Embassy, US Mission in Kampala should send their applications online at the link below.
Deadline: 2nd May 2024