Job Summary: The National Stakeholder Engagement Officer will be responsible for delivering the strategic vision for national-level stakeholder engagement, leveraging the voices of stakeholders from villages to the national arena, and representing the project with external stakeholders and media. This position will also work in close collaboration with other members of Target Malaria to engage stakeholders beyond Uganda as well as at the continental and global level when relevant. The person will follow closely the policy developments related to gene drive research and field evaluation, including policy areas on stakeholder engagement issues. The incumbent will report directly to the Stakeholder Engagement Manager.

 

Key Duties and Responsibilities:

• Ensure adequate information for national level stakeholders on project activities (whether current or future).
• Ensure appropriate consultation of national stakeholders before the implementation of activities and feedback concerns, suggestions to the project for them to be considered.
• Ensure that the national level dialogue is inclusive by mapping key stakeholders.
• Support the regulatory process by advising on and managing potential stakeholder issues and coordinating stakeholder engagement activities with the regulatory team.
• Promote communication by supporting the development of culturally appropriate methods taking into account social and cultural contexts.
• Represent the project as required to high-profile, regional and national stakeholders, building constructive relationships across governmental, non-profit and private sector organisations.
• Participate in regional and Pan-African engagement activities according to the international stakeholder engagement plan and under the leadership of the stakeholder engagement manager.
• Monitor political debates and programmatic trends in the field of
• gene drive technology and malaria vector control.
• After appropriate training, respond to media as one of the project spokespersons.
• Participate in the formulation and the implementation of a stakeholder engagement strategy at national level in Uganda.
• Participate in the formulation of tools, procedures and policies for stakeholder engagement and documentation of activities.
• Contribute to consortium activities related to stakeholder engagement.
• Take part in risk management of this project on issues related to stakeholders’ acceptance of the project.
• Participate in the monitoring and evaluation of the engagement and stakeholders’ acceptance level for the project.
• Provide activity report and updates of support tools to facilitate follow-up.

 

Qualifications, Skills and Experience:

• Postgraduate qualification in International Development, Policy, Social Sciences (or similar), or an equivalent combination of relevant knowledge, extensive training and/ or experience.
• Extensive experience in policy engagement (at least 5- 7 years).
• Experience with co-developing and executing successful policy engagement and communications campaigns (3-5 years).
• Strong existing network of stakeholders contacts in Uganda.
• Experience mobilizing stakeholder networks from civil society.
• Experience working in a field in development, where the policy framework is evolving.
• Experience in a multi-disciplinary environment, ability to translate engagement perspective and technical aspects to non-practitioners/non-expert.

 

How to Apply:

All applications must be in English and include a Curriculum Vitae, a cover letter explaining why this position is attractive and why your profile fits, and three references.

Interested candidates should submit their applications in a sealed envelope indicating the position applied for to:

The Director,

Uganda Virus Research Institute P.O. Box 49 Entebbe. Uganda Email to: uvritargetmalaria@uvri.go.ug OR: hand-deliver to UVRI Office at Plot 51-59, Nakiwogo Road, Entebbe.

These Vacancies are Open to Nationals of Uganda.

Deadline: 2nd February 2026.

NB: We regret that only short-listed candidates will be contacted.