Coordinator, Church Partnerships

Who We Are

International Justice Mission (IJM) is the global leader in protecting vulnerable people from violence around the world. Our team of over 1,200 professionals are at work worldwide in over 30 offices. Together we are on a mission to rescue millions, protect half a billion, and make justice unstoppable.

We are a global community that cares for one another. We believe that the way we work is as important as the results we achieve. We provide professional excellence with joy and celebration to all those we serve.

The Need

For over 25 years, IJM has pioneered the work to protect vulnerable people from violence. 9 out of 9 times in the last decade, IJM’s Justice System Strengthening Projects have reduced slavery and violence between 50 and 85% for very large populations of people in poverty. As we grow to expand our impact to protect 500 million people from violence, we are seeking a Coordinator, Church Partnerships to play a key role in developing partnerships with churches, faith-based institutions, interfaith networks and develop strategy in the engagement of religious leaders’ platform in the protection of women and children. The Coordinator, Church Partnership will also play a key role in mobilizing faith leaders to speak out against practices that promote Violence Against Women and Children (VAWC) and equip them to become first responders for violence against women and children. The Coordinator, Church Partnership is responsible for building, deepening and maintaining relationships with the church and other religious institutions to combat violence against women and children. The Coordinator, Church Partnership is also responsible for building capacities of church and other religious leaders on trauma informed care and criminal justice response in cases of violence against women and children. In collaboration with church leaders and other religious institutions, develop thought leadership knowledge pieces, campaigns and action plans that protect women and children from violence. The Coordinator, Church Partnership will lead and annual advocacy campaign for church and other religious institutions that creates awareness on the experiences of violence against women and children and is a call for action for congregation to come together for the protection of women and children.

This position is based in Kampala and reports to the Senior Manager, Advocacy and Community Engagement and is only available for candidates with the right to work in Uganda.

Responsibilities:

• Manage all church partnerships initiatives ensuring strict adherence to the local program concept plan and strategic alignment to global program standards.
• Ensure high quality programme implementation while overseeing efficient management of partner relationships, strategic prioritization and allocation of resources to deliver on IJM Uganda’s advocacy goals and church partnerships strategy.
• Lead the creation of the church partnership detailed implementation plans and regularly revise in accordance with program progress and decisions.
• Ensure efficient and successful implementation of all grant-funded projects, including compliance with all grantor regulations.
• Demonstrate and model IJM values in all decisions.
• Foster a team mindset and culture in the office and inspire the team to be effective and efficient and to pursue excellence.
• Cultivate IJM’s brand and culture by celebrating and promoting organizational rhythms and core values.
• Manage church partnership interns and volunteers’, including workload, coaching, and feedback.
• Train and supervise staff and interns involved in church engagements, while overseeing all church related speaking engagements, activities and campaigns.
• Develop and implement a strategy that grows engagement of churches and other religious institutions to protect women and children from violence.
• Partner with the inter-denominational bodies to develop strategies to change harmful practices that perpetrate violence against women and children.
• Develop and disseminate a training tool for religious leaders on how to respond to violence against women and children including best practices on trauma informed care.
• Work with the church leaders and theological schools to develop knowledge pieces on Biblical Justice and the role of church leaders and congregations to prevent and respond to violence against women and children.
• Strategically expand church relationships which align with IJM mission and casework types and widen the network of churches that IJM speak to and partner with. This includes increasing the number of churches but also widening the denominations.
• Adopt innovative ways to engage with church leaders and congregations ensuring activities that engage women, men, the youth and children.
• Work with the church and other religious leaders to develop and disseminate clear policies on VAWC case management; how the church handles the topic of abuses, accessibility of safe spaces and shelters, the roles, and a chain of command for reporting and response within a church setting.
• Build IJM Uganda’s church partners network by recruiting, managing and growing high- impact relationships with churches and other faith-based groups at the national and local level to build a faith-based movement to combat VAWC.
• Build a coalition from various denominations to develop strategies across the various religious bodies to end violence against women and children.
• Convene meetings with religious leaders from various denominations to consult and build consensus on strategies to prevent and respond to violence against women and children.
• Set out annual plans for church relationships /partnerships at all stages i.e. acquisition, partnership, retention.
• In line with the Advocacy strategy, attend, participate and speak at strategic networks, conferences or church events to widen IJM church networks for relationships.
• Manage the creation of documented best practices and intervention models that can be scaled through partners and adopted by other IJM programmes.
• Participate in the development of formal agreements with identified institutions and organizations aimed at replicating, scaling, and sustaining program gains.
• Lead the collection of feedback and suggestions on the need to revise church partnership goals and advocacy strategies and plans to meet the current need.
• Ensure strict compliance to all IJM human resource, safeguarding, finance, security and operations policies.
• Represent IJM with inspiration and excellence as a high-level spokesperson for the mission through speaking engagements, print media, radio, and other marketing channels.
• Champion strategic campaigns and programs, including Freedom Sunday.
• Contribute to the development and distribution of church engagement tools and content, empowering churches to become effective agents of change.
• Support IJMs strategic communication relating to churches and other religious institutions and the Freedom Sunday Campaign.
• Support the production of effective communication, story-telling and advocacy materials for national and international audiences.
• Lead on media engagements involving church and other religious leaders across the different regions of IJMs operation including designing messages, talking points inter alia.
• Respond to church partnership requests and opportunities in a timely manner.
• Develop resources and materials for outreach to churches, interfaith networks and congregations across Uganda on VAWC.
• Train religious leaders on their first responder role, referral pathway and trauma informed way of handling the survivors within the IJM programme locations.
• Lead the mapping of churches, faith institutions and interfaith networks to inform the strategic direction of IJM church partnership and advocacy.
• In collaboration with the MERL Team, support in designing and implementing monitoring and evaluation frameworks for the Church Partnership component to ensure achievement of results.
• Perform budget management for the church component including analysis and gap identification and ensuring component budget is fully spent.
• Identifying and documenting best practices, stories of significant change on VAWC being implemented by the church and other religious faiths.
• Develop referral networks and link the church with the National GBV actors including the Sauti Helpline for ease of reporting.
• Equip trained church and religious networks/structures with tools for recording and referring cases of VAWC.
• Maintain up to date statistics on cases received and referred by church structures.
• Ensure highlighting of survivor experiences and casework processes in all IJM church engagements.
• Collate campaign reports and communicate outcomes for large speaking engagements, conferences and Freedom Sunday campaigns.
• Ensure proper documentation of Church Partnership related activities and services on IJM programme management reporting system, JDS, in a timely manner.
• Keep record of departmental meeting actions and ensure follow-up on the agreed plans of action.
• Provide weekly, monthly and quarterly reports/dashboards for submission to the Senior Manager Advocacy and Community engagement according to internal and external requirements and timelines.
• Ensure qualitative and quantitative information from relationship management to be fed back to the Senior Manager Advocacy and Community Engagement for use in decision making.
• Capitalize on relevant organizational events to cultivate relationships with churches.
• Recruit & manage church relationships for Freedom Sunday and any other church related events throughout the year.
• Supports the church engagement representatives in strategically fulfilling speaking engagements to maximize response rates. Acts as an audience and brand expert for the team.
• Participate in the planning and coordination of Advocacy and Community engagement events and activities.
• Develop concepts, work plans and budgets and conduct procurement activities for Church Partnership related activities.
• Nurture relationships via phone, email, and in-person with churches, growing their overall brand loyalty and further embedding the biblical call to justice in their congregation.
• Send out quarterly email updates to churches, keeping them up to date and informed.
• Liaise with local, regional and global colleagues on church outreach activities.
• Develop internal knowledge and awareness across IJM Uganda on how church and faith- based groups can lead the protection of women and children.
• Participate in IJM programs of professionalism and Christian spiritual formation.
• Ensure to use staff-care resources and tools provided by the office to take good care of physical, emotional and psychological health.
• Ensure compliance with IJM core commitments and values.
• Ensure compliance of budget implementation as per donor requirements.
• Ensure strict adherence to IJM and grant operational, finance, program and human resources policies.
• Ensure strict compliance with all security guidance and tactical plans in all casework and field work operations.
• Ensure commitment to Safeguarding, Zero tolerance to Sexual Exploitation, Abuse and Harassment, Child abuse and whistleblowing information.
• Adhere to IJM safeguarding code of conduct towards a safe work environment for all.

• A bachelor's degree in social sciences from a well-recognized institution, Biblical studies and theology strongly preferred.
• At minimum of four (4) years proven experience in a position of church or church institution leadership, ordained congregational leader preferred.
• Knowledge and experience of global church–led justice initiatives and institutions preferred.
• Strong relationships with church institutions are an added advantage.
• Proficient in group facilitation, with demonstrated ability to communicate and collaborate effectively with congregations, partners, staff and colleagues with a high level of tact, diplomacy and confidentiality.
• Extensive knowledge and understanding of Biblical Justice and passion to teach and call to action diverse groups, including women, men, children and youth.
• A proven track record of compelling public speaking and presentation that moves people to action.
• Fluency in the English language both written and spoken is mandatory. Working knowledge of local languages preferred.
• Excellent Computer literacy with proficiency in MS Word, Outlook, Power Point and Excel. Should possess ability to quickly learn and consistently use other software systems for purposes of case management, M&E and documentation.
• Ability to connect with diverse churches and denominations in Uganda.
• Ability to mobilize communities, engage and manage partnerships.
• Ability to balance organizational needs and abilities with that of churches who are engaged and have their own approach to engagement
• Exceptional storyteller and public speaker.
• Excellent writing, documentation and reporting skills, including the ability to maintain digital records and generate high-quality reports on all interventions and stakeholder interactions, etc.

• Eager commitment to IJM's Core Values: Christian, Professional and Bridge-Building;
• Self-starter with strong initiative;
• Disciplined with priorities;
• Strong interpersonal skills and self-awareness;
• Exceptional verbal and written communication;
• Flexible, collaborative and eager to support others;
• Effective team player who fosters collaborative environment; and
• Adept at creative problem solving.

Application Process:

Please submit Resume/CV, Cover Letter, and Statement of Faith* in one PDF document to ugandarecruiting@ijm.org by close of business on Friday 2nd August 2024 with the subject line APPLICATION COORDINATOR, CHURCH PARTNERSHIPS. Applicants must have the legal right to work in Uganda. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

*What is a statement of faith?

A statement of faith should describe your Christian faith and how you see it as relevant to your involvement with IJM. The statement can either be incorporated into the cover letter or submitted as a separate document and should include, at a minimum, a description of your spiritual disciplines (prayer, study, etc.) and your current fellowship or place of worship.

What does IJM have to offer?

• Comprehensive GPA/GL and Medical benefits
• Competitive compensation package
• Retirement benefit options
• Paid leave starting at 21 days.
• Professional development opportunities
• Daily, quarterly, and annual community spiritual formation
• Robust staff care resources.

IJM holds strict safeguarding principles and a zero tolerance to violations of the Safeguarding Policy, Protection against Sexual Exploitation, Abuse and Harassment Policy, and Code of Ethics. Candidate selection is based on technical competence, recruitment, selection and hiring criteria subject to assessing the candidates value congruence and thorough background, police clearance, and reference check processes.

IJM requires a background check, police clearance and thorough review of references with an employment offer and/or employment contract.