Program Officers (2 Positions) At Reach A Hand Uganda

Program Officers (2 Positions)

Uganda * Full-time

Reach A Hand Uganda

Position: Program Officer, Water Safety And Drowning Prevention.

Reach A Hand Uganda (RAHU) is a youth-centered non-profit organization focused on youth empowerment programs with an emphasis on Sexual Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR), HIV/AIDS awareness and prevention and livelihoods for young people aged 10 to 30 years. RAHU works towards a world where young people make informed life choices.

RAHU works through a multifaceted approach, targeting to influence knowledge, skills, and resources necessary to make informed decisions about their lives, nurturing their potential as change makers within their communities. The organisation fosters grassroots advocacy, awareness creation, peer education, community engagement, and effective communication through various media channels, RAHU aims to create a supportive environment that empowers Uganda’s youth to lead healthier and more informed lives.

The Drowning Prevention Project

Drowning prevention is an urgent yet neglected area of public health concern in Uganda, marked by underreported fatalities. Several studies have confirmed water drowning in both open and shallow water as a major silent cause of premature death in Uganda, especially among young adults whose livelihoods are derived from activities on or around water.

The project has been designed to contribute to the national goal of reducing drowning deaths in Uganda by 25% by the year 2028 where the death rate due to drowning is estimated at 502/100,000 population in the lakeside communities. The project will primarily focus on strong public awareness campaigns, strengthening existing community response systems and exploring innovative prevention initiatives and efficient emergency response strategies as well as building robust reporting systems within this field.

The project recognizes the importance of other actors within the field and will seek partnerships with non-state actors in the field of drowning prevention and water safety in the medium and long term. In its first phase, the project shall implement three high-risk lakeside districts (Rakai, Masaka & Mayuge) with elevated incidences and case fatality rates of drowning and be expanded to two additional districts-Soroti & Serere. RAHU shall work with established community water safety and drowning prevention structures including Fisheries Protection Unit, beach management units, lifeguards at beaches, local leaders, and other established organisations to further strengthen prevention, documentation, and reporting efforts in the proposed intervention. Together, through this project, the project aims to make a lasting impact on water safety initiatives in not only the targeted districts directly but also nationally through advocacy efforts for an enabling legal and policy environment.

Job Title: PROGRAM OFFICER, WATER SAFETY AND DROWNING PREVENTION. Department/Unit: PROGRAMMES DEPARTMENT

Reports To: PROGRAM MANAGER

Direct Supervisees: VOLUNTEERS, COMMUNITY MOBILISERS, and PROGRAM ASSISTANTS.

Duty Stations: Soroti & Serere

Job Purpose

Under the direct supervision of The Programmes Manager; The Program Officer, water safety and drowning prevention will execute day to day tasks for the RAHU water safety and drowning prevention programme.

The job holder may supervise volunteers, community mobilisers, and program assistants based in the field, work directly with the communications officers assigned to the project as well as attend routine learning opportunities for other members of the RAHU team to provide an overall platform for institutional capacity development.

They will execute cost-effective operations, reporting, and accountability processes. They shall work with other respective Program Officers to ensure that RAHU’s programmes remain functional, innovative, responsive to the Vision and Mission of RAHU, and competitive at all times.

Summary of Key Result Areas and Responsibilities

Programs Implementation
Capacity Building & Training
Risk Management & Safety Compliance
Monitoring & Evaluation
Communication & Advocacy
Financial & Resource Accountability
Community Engagement & Mobilization

Category: Health and Medical Total Positions: 2 Location: Uganda Full-time Salary: not mentioned Posted 2 days ago

KEY DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Details of the Key Result Areas and Responsibilities

Execute work plans, activity schedules, and budgets for water safety and drowning prevention initiatives.
Coordinate awareness campaigns, training sessions, and community outreach activities in schools, beaches, fishing communities, and recreation centers.

iii. Organize and facilitate training for youth, community leaders, lifeguards, and volunteers on water safety, lifesaving skills, and first aid.

Support peer educators and ambassadors to deliver consistent and accurate messages on drowning prevention.
Work closely with local leaders, schools, and community-based organizations to promote safe water practices.
Mobilize and supervise volunteers during community activities, water safety demonstrations, and awareness drives.

vii. Collect data on program activities, participation, and impact.

viii. Document all lessons learned, success stories, and challenges for continuous program improvement.

Prepare and submit timely progress reports to the Programs Coordinator/Manager. x. Support the communications team to create Information, Education, and Communication materials on water safety.
Contribute to social media campaigns, radio talks, and school debates promoting safe water practices.

xii. Advocate for safe infrastructure (life jackets, warning signs, swimming lessons) in high-risk communities.

xiii. Ensure proper use of program funds, logistics, and equipment in line with RAHU policies. xiv. Account for expenses and contribute to budget management.

Identify risks during field activities and ensure compliance with safety protocols. xvi. Promote the use of life-saving equipment and safe boating/swimming practices during activities.

In addition to individual respective tasks, the Programs Officer water safety and drowning prevention is expected:

To participate in water safety trainings, awareness campaigns, and community outreach sessions.
To train youth, peer educators, community leaders, and volunteers equipping them with knowledge and skills in water safety, lifesaving, and first aid.
To enhance public knowledge on drowning risks and prevention practices, demonstrated through active participation in campaigns and local adoption of safe practices. d. To strongly collaborate with government bodies, schools, marine authorities, and local organizations to support water safety interventions.
To prepare regular reports, success stories, data sets, and lessons learned produced and shared with RAHU management and stakeholders.
To ensure funds allocated to him /her are utilized effectively, with adherence to safety and accountability standards.

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QUALIFICATIONS / SKILLS

Bachelor’s degree in a related field such as Public Health, Recreation Management, Education, Social Sciences, Environmental Science.
Minimum of 3 years of experience in water safety, lifeguarding, aquatics management, or a related field.
Certification in lifeguarding, CPR, first aid, and water safety instructor
Strong knowledge of water safety principles, drowning prevention strategies, and emergency response protocols.
Excellent communication, presentation, and interpersonal skills, with the ability to engage diverse audiences and stakeholders.
Proficiency in data analysis and reporting, with experience using software applications such as Microsoft Office Suite or equivalent.