Project Assistant, Shame to Action (S2A) Project

Contract type: Fixed, Renewable based on performance and funding

Location: Fort Portal, Uganda

Salary and Benefits:  Competitive salaries with excellent benefits

About WaterAid

We are a global federation driven by one vision: a world where everyone, everywhere has clean water, sanitation and hygiene by 2030. Powered by our values of Respect, Accountability, Courage, Collaboration, Integrity and Innovation, we work alongside communities, partners and supporters to make change happen.

About the Team

WaterAid wants to use your skills in Uganda to play a vital role in making clean water, decent toilets and good hygiene for everyone everywhere?

We need passionate, creative and dedicated people. In return, we will encourage and empower you to be yourself at your very best. Together, we will make a bigger difference.

Join WaterAid as a Project Assistant to change the normal for millions of people, helping them unlock their potential, break free from poverty, and change their lives for good.

About the Role

As our Project Assistant for the Shame to Action (S2A) Project, you will be part of WaterAid Uganda’s Programme Department and will support the implementation of the Shame to Action (S2A) Project. The project is delivered through a consortium approach involving WaterAid Uganda, UWASNET, grassroots organisations, government institutions, and the Water Integrity Network (WIN). The team is responsible for project delivery, stakeholder engagement, monitoring, evidence generation, learning, advocacy, and reporting.

The role reports to the Head of Programmes and works closely with the MEAL Manager, Knowledge Management & Learning Officer, Director of Advocacy, Safeguarding Focal Person, GEDSI Focal Person, Communications for Development Officer, and implementing partners.

In this role, you will:

• Coordinate the planning, implementation, and monitoring of all project activities in line with approved workplans, budgets, donor requirements, and WaterAid standards.
• Coordinate project implementation with consortium partners including UWASNET, grassroots organisations, Water Integrity Network (WIN), district local governments, and other stakeholders.
• Support delivery of community awareness campaigns, dialogues, capacity-strengthening initiatives,policy engagement activities, and community oversight mechanisms.
• Support the establishment and strengthening of inclusive community accountability structures, including women WASH Watchdogs, enabling community members, specially women and marginalized groups to monitor WASH services, identify risks, raise concerns safely and engage duty bearers.
• Organise project meetings, trainings, workshops, monitoring visits, learning events, and stakeholder engagement activities.
• Monitor project progress against agreed targets and ensure timely collection, verification, and reporting of project data and results.
• Support baseline assessments, monitoring exercises, reviews, evaluations, and learning processes throughout the project lifecycle.
• Prepare high-quality donor reports, activity reports, success stories, case studies, briefing notes, and other project documentation.
• Coordinate day-to-day collaboration among consortium partners, ensuring clear roles, timely delivery of agreed activities, information sharing, quality assurance and follow-up of agreed actions.
• Support project budgeting, procurement, contract management, and financial tracking processes to ensure value for money and compliance.
• Coordinate documentation, communications, knowledge management, and dissemination of research findings and learning products.
• Support the establishment and strengthening of safe, confidential and accessible reporting and referral mechanisms for sextortion and other safeguarding concerns, ensuring that survivor-centred, do-no-harm and confidentiality principles are applied throughout project implementation.
• Represent WaterAid Uganda in technical working groups, district meetings, sector engagements, and relevant external forums as delegated.
• Monitor project risks and support timely identification and implementation of mitigation actions.
• Build and maintain constructive relationships with government institutions, civil society organisations, community structures, media actors, and development partners.
• Undertake any other duties reasonably assigned by the Programme Director to support successful project delivery.
• Champion WaterAid’s commitments to equity, inclusion and safeguarding

To be successful in this role, you will need:

• A bachelor’s degree in project/Programme Management, Social Sciences, Development Studies, Business Management/Administration, Public Health or related field.
• A minimum of 4 years of related experience implementing grassroots WASH projects, governance, accountability, safeguarding, gender equality, social accountability or community-based programming.  
• Demonstrated ability to coordinate complex development projects involving multiple stakeholders and partners.
• Experience applying safeguarding, GBV risk mitigation, survivor-centred approaches, protection principles or safe referral mechanisms is strongly desirable.
• Experience in project planning, implementation, monitoring, reporting, and budget tracking.
• Strong understanding of community development, governance, accountability, gender, safeguarding, or WASH programming.
• Ability to collect, analyse, and present information for decision-making and donor reporting.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including report writing and presentation skills.
• Commitment to WaterAid’s values and to principles of gender equality, disability and social inclusion, accountability, and safeguarding.

Although not essential, we’d prefer you to have:

• Understanding of integrity, accountability, anti-corruption, power dynamics and mechanisms for preventing exploitation and abuse in service delivery,   gender eguality social inclusion and  rights programming.
• Demonstrated understanding of confidentiality, informed consent, do-no-harm and survivor-centered principles when working with communities and sensitive information.
• Experience collaborating with international partners and managing relationships across organisations and countries.
• Familiarity with MEAL systems, evidence generation and knowledge management approaches.
• Knowledge of Uganda’s WASH, governance, gender, or local government systems.
• Knowledge of the local language of the Project area – Fortportal and Bunyangabo District.

View full job description here

Closing Date: Applications will close 12:00 GMT Time on Friday 6th November 2026.

How to Apply: Click ‘Apply’ to complete the pre-screening questions and upload your CV and an essential cover letter which should also be in English.

Can I use Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology in my application? At WaterAid, we strongly advise against using AI technology at any stage of the recruitment process. Our goal is to ensure a fair and transparent process that provides every applicant with an equal opportunity to succeed. We value hearing about your unique experiences and perspectives in your application, and, if shortlisted, during the interview as well.

Pre-employment screening:

To apply for this post, you must be able to demonstrate your eligibility to work in Uganda. All pre-employment checks will be carried out according to the Ugandan laws.

Our Benefits:

As an organisation WaterAid is committed to creating an environment where you can thrive and be yourself at your very best. So, in addition to our inspiring global mission and engaging work environment, we have a generous benefit package to help you take care of your health, happiness and wellbeing.

Our Global Commitment:

Our People Promise:

We will work with passion and focus to ensure safe and sustainable water, toilets and hygiene are available to everyone, everywhere. WaterAid is a place of purpose – where people have a real commitment and shared responsibility for the impact we have.  We are a global community with diverse backgrounds and perspectives, motivated by inspiring, stimulating work. We are determined to put the wellbeing of our people first, to be a place where people feel safe and able to contribute their voice and truly live our values.    

Equal opportunities:

We are an equal opportunity, disability-confident employer and are dedicated to achieving the highest standards of diversity, equity and inclusion. We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds, beliefs, customs, traditions and ways of life. This includes, but is not limited to, race, gender, disability, age, sexual orientation, religion, national or social origin, health status, and economic or social situation.

Safeguarding:

We are also committed to protecting everyone we come into contact with. We have a zero-tolerance approach to abuse of power, privilege or trust across our global work, and any form of inappropriate behaviour, discrimination, abuse, bullying, harassment, or exploitation. Safeguarding the people and communities we work with, our staff, volunteers and anyone working on our behalf is our top priority, and we take our responsibilities extremely seriously. As a safeguarding measure, WaterAid conducts background checks on all potential employees. This is done following the conclusion of recruitment and prior to assuming full employment.