UGANDA CITIES AND MUNICIPALITIES INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT (UCMID) OPERATION -
RECRUITMENT OF THE OPERATION SUPPORT TEAM (OST)
UCMID ADVERT
The Government of Uganda (GoU), represented by the Ministry of Lands, Housing and Urban Development (MLHUD), is planning to launch a new program to support special urban needs for infrastructure improvement – the Uganda Cities and Municipalities Infrastructure Development (UCMID) Operation, which will be supported by a World Bank International Development Agency (IDA) Credit to the tune of US$540 million. The Operation will be for 6 years, (FY 2026/27-2031/32), and will encompass support to climate-smart urban infrastructure development, institutional strengthening and capacity enhancement, support to core Ministries related to these activities, as well as to program management arrangements and institutional strengthening.
The UCMID is designed using the Bank’s hybrid lending instruments – Investment Project Financing (IPF) and Program for Results (PforR), whereby disbursement is linked to actual results agreed upon and realized on the ground. To mitigate any capacity risks, the Government has decided to recruit an Operation Support Team (OST), which will assist the MLHUD and the participating sub-National entities in the implementation of the operation.
The OST within MoLHUD with a composition, mandate and terms of reference and resources satisfactory to the World Bank will include , a Finance and Accounting Specialist, a Procurement Specialist, a Local Economic Development Specialist, Engineering Specialists, a Social Development Specialist, an Environment Specialist, a Health and Safety Specialist, and a GIS Specialist. Administrative Secretary (1) , Accountant Assistant (1), ICT officer (1), Monitoring and Evaluation Officer (1).
These professionals will work alongside their departmental counterparts and report to the Commissioner for Urban Development/ Operation Coordinator, provide technical backstopping to Local Governments, and support the Ministry in fulfilling its coordination and oversight functions. The OST’s role will be transitional, with its functions gradually absorbed by MoLHUD staff as institutional capacity is strengthened through training, mentoring, and staffing adjustments. Members of OST who are recruited as contract staff will be placed on a two-year contract which is renewable only twice upon satisfactory performance.
The Operation Support Team (OST) for the Uganda Cities and Municipalities Infrastructure Development (UCMID) Operation utilizes a blended staffing structure that integrates recruited technical experts with existing government personnel. This institutional arrangement is designed to provide high-level technical backstopping while ensuring deep alignment with Ministry protocols and long-term sustainability.
Only Candidates with experience in externally funded specifically World bank Funded Projects will be shortlisted.
1. Review project planning and procurement procedures to ensure social safeguard requirements are accurately reflected and adequately costed within contract documents: (i) the social requirements are properly reflected and costed in contract documents, (ii) social risk management milestones are included in the contractor’s certificates for payment, and (iii) conditions of approval on the NEMA certificate and coordination with MoGLSD and other statutory approvals are well considered and advise MLHUD and sub-national entities accordingly.
2. Provide recommendations to mitigate risks related to land acquisition including proper implementation of Resettlement Action Plan and related grievance management
3. Embed explicit social risk management milestones into contractor payment certificate approvals. Partner with project managers to evaluate the performance of the Supervising Engineer in enforcing social contractual compliance prior to clearing payments.
4. Evaluate social impact reports and design aspects for infrastructure sub-projects under the UCMID operation to ensure all potential social risks are identified and fully integrated into robust mitigation plans.
5. Provide strategic recommendations and oversight to mitigate risks associated with land acquisition, ensuring the proper implementation of Resettlement Action Plans (RAPs).
6. Supervise the preparation, implementation, and operationalization of a comprehensive Grievance Management Plan. This includes assisting sub-national entities in establishing functioning complaints handling mechanisms—including worker-specific GRMs—to track and resolve grievances related to involuntary resettlement, injurious affection, and environmental issues.
7. Partner closely with the Environmental Safeguards Consultant to supervise social impact assessments and oversee the preparation and execution of the Contractor’s Social Management Plan (C-SMP).
8. Work closely with the Environmental Safeguards Consultant and Supervise the social impact assessments as well as preparation, and implementation of the Contractor’s Social Management Plan, including the STD/ HIV/ AIDS prevention and mitigation plans. The latter will include support to the development of Terms of Reference for service providers, ensure input to ToR from the Uganda AIDS Commission and support to the establishment of necessary linkages to relevant Local Government units and related HIV/AIDS points of care.
9. Lead the development of ToRs for HIV/AIDS/STI prevention service providers, incorporating technical inputs from the Uganda AIDS Commission and establishing direct linkages to Local Government units and points of care.
10. Monitor the social impacts of program activities to actively promote social inclusion, gender equity, child protection, and the protection of vulnerable or minority groups.
11. Participate in regular site inspections and supervision of works to verify contractor compliance with statutory Ugandan labour laws, occupational safety and health (OSH) policies, and MLHUD guidelines.
12. Collaborate with key government actors to enforce a zero-tolerance workplace policy against sexual harassment, exploitation, and abuse. Ensure contractors comply with the Uganda Employment Act by educating workers on their rights, displaying key policy provisions, and maintaining operational prevention programs.
13. Ensure seamless alignment with NEMA certificate conditions, the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development (MoGLSD), and other statutory approval bodies.
14. Design and deliver training and awareness campaigns for ministry staff, sub-national entities, contractors, and local communities on the World Bank Environmental and Social Framework (ESF) requirements, project rights, obligations, and the prevention of negative socio-economic externalities.
15. Provide hands-on technical support to program sub-national entities to maintain compliance with the Operation Implementation Manual and fulfill the social management Minimum Access Conditions during annual performance assessments.
16. Review progress reports from safeguards service providers, compile regular monthly and quarterly social risk monitoring updates, and contribute to developing new tools or methodologies for addressing social risks in infrastructure projects. Provide ad-hoc support to the broader Project Implementation Unit (PIU) and Ministry projects as required.
