About this role
Programme Coordinator - Youth Engagement
Apply by 10th September 2026 at 5:00 PM (E.A.T)
About Restless Development
Restless Development Uganda is an agency for youth-led change; we support the collective power of young leaders to create a better world. We make sure that young people’s voices are heard and that they have the power to mobilise action in their communities to respond to long-standing challenges. Across Karamoja, West Nile, Eastern and Central Uganda, we support young people to influence the decisions that affect their lives while strengthening the systems and institutions that enable them to realise their full potential. We also coordinate the Uganda Youth Collective, a national platform of over 600 youth-led organisations working together to amplify youth voices and influence policies through the National Youth Working Group. We are committed to creating an organisation that walks the talk on power shifting, using the power shifting checklist, both internally and externally.
Our approach to safeguarding:
Restless Development considers the welfare and protection of children, young people and vulnerable adults to be an organisational imperative with primacy over the success of programmes or strategic objectives. We recognise that safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility and we expect all of our staff, young leaders and partners to ensure we protect the communities in which we operate from harm and abide by our Safeguarding Policy.
About our Youth Employment Work:
Restless Development is implementing an inspiring youth employment portfolio designed to improve the economic resilience and livelihoods of young people by expanding their access to dignified and fulfilling work, entrepreneurship opportunities and inclusive financial services. Working across 13 Districts in Karamoja sub region, Eastern, West Nile, Western Uganda, and in central region. Our approach places young people at the center of programme design and delivery while strengthening the local systems that support dignified and fulfilling work. Our work equips young women and men with market relevant technical, entrepreneurial, and financial capabilities while connecting them to employers, markets, business development services and affordable financial products. We work through youth-led organisations to create coordinated pathways that support young people to transition successfully into employment, self-employment and enterprise growth.
Beyond supporting individual young people, we invest in strengthening the capacity of youth-led organisations and youth-led enterprises to deliver high quality employment pathways, promote youth leadership, and influence policies and systems that shape youth economic opportunities.Through this integrated approach, we are building stronger inclusive employment eco-systems that enable young people, particularly young women, refugees and young people with disabilities to access dignified and fulfilling work
About the Role
The Programme Coordinator Youth Engagement, will lead the implementation of Restless Development Uganda’s youth employment and market systems portfolio by ensuring young people are meaningfully engaged throughout the programme design, delivery and learning processes. Working closely with the programme manager, programme partners, and internal teams, the role will coordinate youth engagement approaches that strengthen young people’s agency, participation and ownership of employment and enterprise pathways.
The role will support the delivery of youth-centered interventions that enable young people, particularly young women, refugees and young people with disabilities, to access relevant skills, opportunities and support systems that contribute to dignified and fulfilling work.
The programme coordinator will provide day to day coordination of youth engagement activities, strengthen the capacity of youth-led organisations and structures, support monitoring and learning, and ensure that youth perspectives inform programme decisions and adaptive management.
Job title: Programme Coordinator - Youth Engagement
Location: Kampala, Uganda
Salary: UGX 73,299,474 Gross Per Annum
Preferred start date: October 2026
Length of contract: 2 years
Reports to: Programme manager youth employment and market systems.
Expected travel: Fairly regular international and domestic travel
Key responsibilities
1. Youth engagement and Programme Implementation
• Coordinate the implementation of youth engagement approaches across youth employment and market systems programmes in line with approved workplans, budgets and programme objectives.
• Support the integration of meaningful youth engagement (MYE) principles across programme interventions, ensuring young people actively participate in shaping employment and enterprise pathways.
• Coordinate youth focused activities including training, dialogues, mentorship, learning events and youth feedback mechanisms.
• Support the design and delivery of youth centered approaches that strengthen young people’s agency, decision making and leadership.
• Ensure youth perspectives, aspirations and lived experiences inform programme adaptation and implementation.
2. Capacity strengthening and partnerships
• Work closely with Youth-Led Organisations (YLOs), and consortium partners, to strengthen youth participation and delivery capacity.
• Lead the implementation of capacity strengthening initiatives for youth-led organisations, including approaches related to: meaningful youth engagement, youth leadership, programme delivery, safeguarding and inclusive programming.
• Support the implementation of youth pathway approaches that enable young people to transition from skills development into employment, and entrepreneurship.
• Facilitate collaboration, peer learning and knowledge sharing among youth organisations and programme stakeholders.
• Build and maintain positive relationships with youth structures, ensuring effective communication and coordination.
3.Cost-effective and transparent financial management
• Help prepare and manage annual programme budgets and work plans.
• Adhere to Restless Development Uganda financial policies in all aspects of work.
• Manage programme officers and young leaders to ensure appropriate use of funds.
• Support the finance & admin unit in the development of financial reports.
• Provide accurate narrative reports of funds spent to allow prompt reporting.
• Ensure timely requisitioning and accountability for activity funds as required.
• Ensure value for money in all finance transactions.
4. Monitoring and Reporting.
• Track implementation of youth engagement activities and track progress against programme targets and indicators.
• Lead preparation of quality technical reports, success stories, and lessons learned to support programme learning and donor reporting.
• Ensure youth feedback and emerging lessons inform adaptive programming.
• Line manage and support the Programme Officer – Youth Engagement, providing coaching, performance management, and technical guidance.
5. People Management.
• Line manage and provide coaching and technical support to the programme officer - youth engagement.
• Support a collaborative, learning focused and values-driven team culture.
• Lead team planning, reflection and performance discussions
• Support efficient use of programme resources in collaboration with the programme manager and operational teams.
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6. Safeguarding, Compliance and Organisational Responsibilities
• Promote and uphold Restless Development's safeguarding, diversity, equity and inclusion, and code of conduct commitments.
• Ensure compliance with organisational policies, donor requirements, and financial procedures in all programme activities.
• Lead identification and management of implementation risks related to youth participation and programme delivery.
5. Others responsibilities
• Other duties as required, including occasional work on weekends for which time off in lieu (TOIL) can be taken.
Restless Development is an Equal Opportunities employer and welcomes applications from all sectors of the community. Restless Development will ensure that no applicant or staff member receives less favorable treatment on the grounds of gender, sexual orientation, marital status, social status, caste, race, ethnic origin, religious belief, age, HIV status, disability, or any other factor that cannot be shown to be relevant to performance.
Skills and Experience
Essential
• Bachelor's degree in Development Studies, Social Sciences, Community Development, Youth Development, Education, Project Management, or a related field.
• At least 3 years' experience coordinating or implementing youth-focused development programmes in Uganda.
• Experience working with Youth-Led Organisations (YLOs), Community-Based Organisations (CBOs), and community stakeholders.
• Demonstrated experience in meaningful youth engagement, capacity strengthening, or skills development initiatives.
• Strong programme coordination skills, including planning, implementation, monitoring, reporting, and budget tracking.
• Experience supervising or mentoring staff and supporting high-quality programme delivery.
• Strong facilitation, communication, stakeholder engagement, and relationship management skills.
• Good understanding of safeguarding, gender equality, diversity, equity, and inclusion in development programming.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications and programme reporting tools.
• Excellent written and spoken English.
Desirable
• Experience working on youth employment programmes, particularly those focused on youth livelihoods, entrepreneurship, skills development, or economic inclusion.
• Experience working with consortiums and multi-stakeholder partnerships.
• Knowledge of Uganda's youth development and employment landscape.
• Postgraduate qualification in a relevant field.
Remuneration
We are proud to commit to a transparent global salary scale, ensuring a fair and comparable system of pay across all global locations.
Please note: This position is contingent upon the availability of funding.
To Apply
Please submit your CV and a cover letter that provides tangible examples of how your skills, knowledge and experience will support your ability to perform the key priorities outlined in the above job description (using no more than 750 words)
Click here to return to Restless Development’s website. UGX 73,299,474 Gross Per Annum