Partnership Officer

Job Title: Partnership Officer
Location: Soroti, Uganda
Reports to: Finance & Partnership Specialist

Application Deadline: 30th September 2026

Direct Reports: N/A

Program Background

The Green Resilient Enterprise for Empowered NTFP Development Project (GREEN Project) is a 28-month initiative implemented under the ReForEst Uganda Programme with funding from Italian Agency for Development Cooperation (AICS) and the European Union. The project seeks to enhance livelihoods, jobs and ecological resilience through sustainable Non-Timber Forest Product (NTFP) enterprises while contributing to forest conservation, restoration and climate resilience across 16 districts in Eastern Uganda and Napak District in Karamoja. The project focuses on five priority NTFP value chains: bamboo, honey/apiculture, shea, cashew, and wild mango. Through a Green Entrepreneurship Platform (GEP), incubation services, acceleration support, cottage industry, access to finance and market linkages, the project will strengthen 140 enterprises, 50 producer groups and support 10,000 households along these NTFP value chains.

Job summary

The Partnership Officer reports directly to the Finance & Partnership Specialist. The position holder will support the Finance Team in management of Civil Society Organizations (CSO) and Private Sector partners/Actors (PSAs). The team assists with the approval of partner Proposals, oversight of the use of partner funds and building the capacity of partner organizations to achieve programme objectives. The Partnership Officer will work closely with the Finance Specialist when assessing partners’ operational capacity, developing capacity building plans jointly with the partners, and supporting the partners to achieve programme objectives. Overall, the role will contribute to ensuring partners understanding and use of accountability frameworks including maintaining compliance with donor regulations and requirements.

To be successful in this role, you will need:

Essential 

• A university degree in BBA–Accounting, BA Finance/Accounting from a recognized institution.
• ACCA/CPA at least level 2.
•  Minimum 2-3 years’ INGO experience in a similar role.

Desirable

• Experience in collaborating and working with both private and public sectors.
•  Strong analytical skills
• Strong communication, presentation, and training skills
• Excellent interpersonal skills
• Proficient computer skills (MS Word, PowerPoint and Excel)
• Ability to travel up to 70% of time from base

The key responsibilities of the role will be:

Support the capacity building of partner organization financial systems

• Carry out pre-award financial capacity assessments of new and existing partners
• Conduct visits to all partners and produce reports of all findings in line with GOAL Policies and Procedures.
• Review partner budgets for project applications and ensure they comply with donor rules
• Carry out post award assessment reviews ensuring partners are operating in compliance with donor and GOAL requirements and produce visit reports of all findings.
• Ensure all partner contracts are reviewed by the Finance Specialist prior to being issued and signed
• Monitor and facilitate partner tranche payments to ensure timely payment, including making sure that all required supporting evidence accompanies each payment request.

Provide overall support to partner grant management

• Ensure all partners’ proposal/budgets are reviewed before forwarding to the Finance Specialist for further reviews
• Review all partners’ finance reports and highlight any issues for the Finance Specialist to follow up
• Ensure final check list is completed for all partners whose grants are ending

Coordinate the forum for management decisions on partners funding

• Facilitate a routine partner assessment meeting with the Finance Specialist, ensure minutes are taken, accurately, shared and approved.
• Document /share decisions formally to partners (in writing)

Others

• Ensure timely processing of payment requests for both partners and for remote field office
• Support the payment process for stakeholders if requested to

Reporting and documentation

• Ensure that a back-up of this information is kept in the office
• Review partner expenditure reports and ensure all transactions are accurately recorded and that expenditure is in compliance with Donor and GOAL rules, and produce reports of all findings
• Ensure partner reports are received in line with contractual deadlines.

General Terms and Conditions

At GOAL we welcome people of all abilities and want to ensure that our hiring and interview process meets the needs of all applicants. If you require a reasonable accommodation to make your application or interview experience a great one, please just contact our Recruitment Team at [email protected]

GOAL Commitment to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion:
GOAL is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to building an inclusive environment for all employees. We foster an inclusive culture where all voices are heard and valued. We know that the more inclusive we are, the better our work will be.

All employees share in the responsibility for fulfilling GOAL’s commitment to equal employment opportunity and equal treatment. GOAL does not discriminate against any employee on the basis of sex, race, color, ethnic background, tribe, birth, creed or religion or social or economic standing, political opinion, disability.

Code of Conduct and Accountability within GOAL

GOAL is an equal opportunities employer and has values and behaviours framework which defines our code of conduct. Any candidate offered a job with GOAL will be expected to adhere to the following key areas of accountability.

• Comply with GOAL’s policies and procedures with respect to safeguarding, Code of Conduct, health and safety, data protection and confidentiality, do no harm principles and unacceptable behaviour protocols.
• Report any concerns about the welfare of a child or vulnerable adult or any wrongdoings within our programming area.
• Report any concerns about inappropriate behaviour of a GOAL staff or partner.

Safeguarding

Children and vulnerable adults a must be safeguarded to the maximum extent from deliberate or inadvertent actions and failings that place them at risk of abuse, sexual exploitation, injury, and any other harm. One of the ways that GOAL shows this on-going commitment to safeguarding is to include rigorous background and reference checks in the selection process for all candidates.

GOAL

Established in 1977, GOAL is an international humanitarian agency and works with the most vulnerable communities to help them respond to and overcome humanitarian crises, and to assist those facing poverty and exclusion achieve greater resilience and well-being. GOAL envisions a world beyond humanitarian crises where poverty no longer exists, where vulnerable communities exposed to shocks and stresses are resilient, where barriers to well-being are removed and where everyone has equal rights and opportunities.

General Description of the Country Programme

First operational in Uganda in 1979, the current GOAL Uganda country programme focuses on Health, (including WASH, Health Accountability and Nutrition); and a market-based systems approach to improving agricultural livelihoods and WASH. GOAL Uganda mainstreams gender, child protection, social behavior changes and resilience strategies across all programming. GOAL uses a mixture of direct implementation and partnerships with national and international civil society organizations, local government, the private sector and communities to give effect to our mission.

GOAL Uganda has a skilled team of over 110 personnel and has a head office in Kampala and field offices in 7 locations across Northern, Southwestern and Eastern regions of Uganda.  GOAL Uganda’s donors include the Mastercard Foundation, charity: water, Irish Aid, The Kingdom of Netherland Embassy in Uganda (EKN) and other private donors.

Interested applicants who meet the requirements should apply through the link with at least 3 professional referees (current or former Line Manager) from the last three employers and daytime contact number by 30th September 2026.