DG ECHO Programme Officer

About the role

DG ECHO is looking to hire one national staff member for its Kampala, Uganda office as a Programme Officer. The post sits within the European Commission’s Directorate-General for European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations, which supports relief efforts for people affected by natural disasters and conflicts outside the European Union. Its work is carried out with a wide network of partners, including UN agencies, the Red Cross/Red Crescent Movement, and NGOs, with assistance delivered impartially and without discrimination.

What you will do

The position focuses on ensuring that humanitarian response activities are effective and well coordinated. The Programme Officer will carry out assessments, help shape strategies, and represent DG ECHO at a technical level when needed. In some situations, the role may also require managing an antenna/office and supervising staff when a Technical Assistant is unavailable, or handling regional overview duties in a Regional Office setting.

• Support the development of DG ECHO’s overall strategy, policy direction, and thematic working groups.
• Review and assess partner funding requests, monitor projects against the agreed intervention strategy, and provide advice where needed.
• Prepare fiche-ops, when required, and send them to the relevant Head of Office or Technical Assistant.
• Check policy adherence together with policy specialists in the Regional Office or Headquarters.
• Work with partners to refine and complete proposals after DG ECHO headquarters has agreed to the appraisal.
• Assess interim and final reports from partners and provide recommendations to DG ECHO as appropriate.
• Take part in meetings, help coordinate them, and report on them when required.
• Closely track local and regional developments that could affect the humanitarian context and prepare written analysis covering political, economic, and security factors.
• Support the Head of Office or Technical Assistant during emergency responses.
• Provide backstopping and surge assistance when required.
• Advise on the operational capacity of implementing partners.
• Monitor DG ECHO visibility and maintain proactive communication with partners to ensure compliance with contractual guidelines.
• Manage and supervise the contracts/grants database.
• Carry out any other duties assigned by the Head of Office, Regional Office, or Headquarters.

Requirements

• A relevant university qualification at second-cycle level, or equivalent professional experience.
• At least 5 years of relevant experience at national or international level in programme or project operations, including a minimum of 2 years with an NGO, donor, or national/international organisation.
• Strong understanding of the EU humanitarian aid system.
• Good knowledge of international NGOs, UN aid agencies, and the Red Cross Movement.
• Solid grasp of humanitarian aid principles, policies, and standards.
• Experience working with DG ECHO will be considered an advantage.
• Strong written communication and drafting ability.
• Confident use of computers and office software such as MS Word and Excel.
• Excellent command of English, both written and spoken.
• Knowledge of a local language.

Competencies

• Ability to communicate well, collaborate effectively, and build strong working relationships with colleagues and partners.
• Commitment to delivering high-quality work and consistent results with strong attention to standards.
• Understanding of humanitarian principles and DG ECHO working methods, including the correct use of Key Results Indicators and visibility requirements.
• Behaviour aligned with DG ECHO and humanitarian values, with the professionalism expected in a field network environment.

Application and terms

This role is open to nationals of Uganda as well as other residents of Uganda who hold valid permanent residence permits. Candidates are expected to submit a cover letter, detailed CV, copies of education certificates/diplomas/degrees, and copies of relevant past employment certificates in PDF format. The deadline for applications is 28/06/2026 at 18:00.

The appointment is expected to be a one-year initial contract, with the possibility of renewal, subject to a 3-month probation period and a positive annual evaluation. The monthly basic salary starts from UGX 15,017,210, corresponding to 5 years of experience and subject to local tax law. Salary progression is adjusted according to verified relevant professional experience, with two years of relevant experience counting as one step in DG ECHO’s salary scale. In addition to the basic salary, the package includes disability/retirement allowance, a 13th month salary, and medical coverage.

DG ECHO follows equal opportunity principles and seeks to maintain diversity, gender balance, work-life balance, and access to training and development opportunities. Employees are bound by the National Staff Code of Conduct. Shortlisted applicants only will be contacted; if no contact is received by 31/08/2026, the application should be considered unsuccessful. Canvassing, soliciting, or attempting to influence the process will lead to disqualification. Candidates who pass the written and oral stages but are not selected may be placed on a reserve list and considered for a similar role that opens within the next 12 months. Personal data will be processed under applicable EU data-protection rules and the recruitment privacy statement published by DG ECHO.