RONALD ODIDA
Kampala
Summary
Dynamic professional with extensive experience at the Refugee Law Project, excelling in project planning and stakeholder engagement. Proven track record in gender-based violence prevention and peace building initiatives, successfully coordinating support for over 5,000 refugees. Adept at research and analysis, fostering collaboration, and driving impactful community programs. Experienced office manager and administration professional with several years of experience in overseeing wide variety of essential functions in bustling business. Analytical in optimizing productivity, efficiency and service quality across various offices within diverse environments. Highly organized with strengths in prioritizing tasks and managing deadlines. Organized Office Coordinator with experience in managing administrative tasks, overseeing office operations, and coordinating staff. Strengths include problem-solving skills, ability to prioritize workloads, and effective communication skills. Previous roles involved improving office systems efficiency and fostering positive relationships with team members and clients.
Overview
19
19
years of professional experience
3
3
Certifications
Work History
Field Office Coordinator
Refugee Law Project School of Law, Makerere University
Adjumani & Kiryandongo districts
03.2024 - 10.2025
- As the Field Office Coordinator, I ensured that all the daily activities and duties at the field office runs smoothly, line manages and coordinated a team of 42 well motivated field staff, handled operational and financial matters to provide an excellent service and further developed relationships with related institutions, including the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM), United Nation High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), Non-Governmental Organizations, Community Based Organizations/Civil Society Organizations, State and None-state actors; Rule of Law stakeholders such as Justice, Law and Order sector, as well as the Cultural and Faith Based Institutions, Conflict Related Sexual Violence Victims and Survivors of Gender Based Violence Groups and Educational communities.
- Provided technical mental health psychosocial support to project community including women and girls, youth and marginalized groups by deploying gender-transformative approaches and methodologies in all project’s components right from design stage, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of the project.
- Continuously advocated on issues affecting refugees, asylum seekers and other forced migrants using different advocacy strategies like the media, community and public dialogues, and video documentaries, among others and ensured weekly Social Media content is created and submitted for publication as blog pieces, briefing notes, working papers, quarterly special report etc.
- Ensured close coordination and linkages of the Gender Based Violent Survivor led groups and other community based local partners such as the refugee welfare councils, Local Council, community-based paralegals, Village Health Teams, sub county authority among others.
- Established new, maintained and strengthened existing working relations and partnerships with different stakeholders for the programme including the office of the prime minister, United Nation High Commissioner for Refugees, District Local Government.
- Closely worked with the peacebuilding and transitional justice colleagues to engage the refugee welfare committee leaders, local council leaders, religious & cultural leaders alongside other peace building actors to address conflict emerging issues in and within the refugee settlement by conducting conflict sensitivity studies, awareness raising, conflict prevention and mitigation activities, formation of peace clubs/committees, capacity building of peace committees, intergenerational dialogues and debates with the youth in schools to promote peaceful coexistence.
- Led the programme staff in preparation of quarterly work plans (Programme and Individual) and consolidated quarterly reports into Field Office quarterly, bi-annual and annual reports as well as the provision of continuous leadership, supervision, training and development of programme staff, ensuring an effective and motivated team and ensured appropriate workload for programme staff to deliver effectively.
- In liaison with the Human Resources unit conducted performance management including; target setting, continuous mentorship/coaching and appraisals and ensured competency and training gaps are addressed and all institutional policies are adhered to, any anomalies are reported timely and professionally. I equally, ensured that periodic programme reviews are executed and that all programme staff account for funds advanced to them for activity implementation.
- Managed the project budget and periodically conducted budget variance analysis (BVA); received funds on behalf of the field office and disburse them to staff for activity implementation and a thorough review of all activity requisitions before submitting them to the programme manager for sign-off, ensuring they are within the approved budget.
- Ensured that project embraced different approaches to engage the project beneficiaries including; promotion of woodlot tree growing as opposed to the tree planting; establishment of fruits orchards, conservation and protection of the environment covers as well as advocacy for alternative use of fuel for both refugee and host communities such as modern eco-friendly cooking stoves, gas among others all these were done in line with European Union Regulation on Deforestation Regulations (EU-DR).
- Jointly worked with the livelihood project team to ensure that youth, women and persons with disability are empowered with tailored livelihood interventions to addressed the dire economic needs of both the refugees and host community beneficiaries. Oversaw the establishment/roll out of both on farm/agronomic and off farm livelihood ventures in and within refugee hosting areas and closely monitored their performance to ensure success.
- Participate in 4 major Mental Health and psychosocial support research projects within the programme including a baseline study, midterm evaluation, end line evaluation and situational analysis on refugees and forced migration issues in Kiryandongo, Lamwo and west Nile sub region (Project Sites).
- Represented the organization (RLP) in stakeholder and partner coordination and sub-regional meetings including the interagency coordination meeting, Gender based Violence and child protection working group meeting, Mental health and psychosocial sub sector working group meeting, regional conferences on forced migration issues among others.
Senior Gender & Sexual Reproductive Health Right Officer
Refugee Law Project School of Law, Makerere University
Lamwo & Adjumani districts
11.2017 - 03.2024
- Successfully coordinated the assessment/data collection as well as analysis for over 5,316 (1,474 Males, 3,822 Female, 20 Gender Non-Conforming) recently arrived south Sudanese refugees for experiences of violence and established the resultant medical, psychological and legal needs that they require for their physical and mental wellbeing.
- Conducted regular field monitoring visits and follow-up for the refugee in the different refugee settlements across the region and provided professional psychosocial support and referrals advice to persons of concerns exposed to sexual and gender-based violence especially to the approved medical partners for urgent medical support.
- Ensured the provision of a cross range of Gender based Violence prevention and response as well as conducted gender analysis to inform programming and Sexual, Reproductive Health & Rights related assessments to refugee living in the refugee settlements by ensuring gender equality and survivor centered approaches are directly and indirectly mainstreamed and integrated throughout in implementation.
- Mainstreamed gender concerns throughout the project implementation by ensuring that Age, Gender & Diversity lenes are incorporated in the project including the participation of people with special needs/people with Disability and youth.
- Established and mentored 28 Survivor-led support groups/peer groups (Victims of Sexual and Gender Based Violence) engaged in different livelihood initiatives such as; Green vegetables backyard gardening, micro-grant for small scale enterprises, establishment of Village Savings & Loans Association, financial institutions linkages & digital saving to improve on accurate record keeping and members saving scheme.
- Planned, organized and facilitated periodic capacity building trainings for the forced migrants including the refugees' welfare councils/local council leaders, church and cultural leaders, Rule of Law Stakeholders such as the Uganda Police Officers, Uganda Peoples' Defense Forces and other Camp/settlement authorities and staff of implementing agencies operating within the project catchment areas on community based protection mechanisms and economic empowerment skills targeting both the refugees and the host communities.
- Coordinated the project team in development of the sector detailed implementation plan, projects' specific activity implementation and ensuring periodic reporting on such protection related activities in refugees' camp/settlement.
- Offered technical capacity building to project staffs and protection implementing partners on Gender mainstreaming, protection case management related concepts and livelihood initiatives including village savings & loans association methodology, business management skills, enterprise development, gender integrated cash for work and financial literacy in all the project districts in Northern Uganda.
- Ensured proper documentation of project impact using the different monitoring and evaluation tools and frameworks embracing both qualitative and quantitative data collections approaches.
District Coordinator
Coalition for Health Promotion & Social Development
Gulu & Omoro District
01.2015 - 10.2017
- Positively influenced social & behavioral changes for adolescent youths, women and men across all the intervention districts on awareness & uptake of Sexual Reproductive health by encouraging them to take up responsibility and ensure healthy and dignified life.
- Contributed to the health system strengthening activities in the districts of operation by shaping discussions around adolescent youth engagements, HIV/AIDs counseling and testing, health sector accountability and advocacy for increase health financing.
- Built capacities of 512 stakeholders including; District Health Teams, Village Health Teams, Health Unit Management Committees, Local Councils and Health Assistants across 29 health facilities across the district of operation.
- Effectively managed the project budget in the designated field office by ensuring high-quality and timely accountabilities, concept notes, purchase request approvals, budget revisions, variance analysis and burn rates monitoring as per the financial policy of the organization.
- Successfully tracked project indicators against set project targets and provided timely quantitative data for reporting purposes to management and the donor and ensured optimal use of project funds.
- Successfully guided 145 community advocates drawn from the districts of Gulu and Omoro in identifying health related issues/challenges and guided them in developing their advocacy strategy and petition duty bearers at district, ministerial agencies and the parliament of the republic of Uganda.
- Successfully coordinated the dissemination of the Citizen Report Cards (CRCs) in the district health sector working group meetings and to the District Health Teams, DHTs) as well as across the 29 health facilities in Gulu and Omoro district.
Child Protection Officer
AVSI Foundation - Uganda
Gulu District
03.2011 - 12.2014
- Contributed to the establishment of 15 community-based Child protection structures bring on board the local authorities and other partners operating within the project.
- Successfully carried out the needs best interest determination (BID) assessment and vulnerability assessment for 1,253 children, youth and their families within the project areas.
- Developed and rolled out monthly community dialogue initiative bringing out all key stakeholders in the sub-county to dialogue on child protection issues relating to Child abuses and safe guarding in the sub county and jointly (with both the local leaders and community members) developing social contracts/strategies of addressing such challenges raised.
- As Child protection officer, actively engaged in conducting advocacy and sensitization programs to both the community members and civil society members to help avert negative vices such as child abuse and neglects within the community.
Volunteer Distribution Point Supervisor (VDPS)
Norwegian Refugee Council-Kitgum Branch
Kitgum
01.2007 - 12.2008
- Tracing/Identifying the Eligible beneficiaries and the Extremely Vulnerable Individuals (EVIs) households in the fields.
- Managed General Food Distribution System and rations in the field by handling Stacked Food, Monitoring and Documentation as per the truck weigh bills.
- Drafted field operation reports and recorded complaints and developed the master list of eligible household beneficiaries in the camps.
- Carried out post distribution monitoring assessment entailing collection of beneficiaries feed on general food distributions in the 29 camps in Kitgum district.
- Writing monthly report on the post distribution monitoring exercises and submits them to the project officer Livelihoods.
Education
Masters in Management Studies -
Uganda Management Institute
01.2025
Post Graduate Diploma in Monitoring & Evaluation -
Uganda Management Institute
01.2017
Bachelor of Public Administration -
Gulu University
01.2010
Uganda Advanced Certificate of Education -
Gulu Central High School
01.2006
Uganda Certificate of Education -
Kitgum High School
01.2004
Skills
- Project planning and management
- Proposal and grant writing
- Research and analysis
- Monitoring and evaluation
- Stakeholder engagement
- Conflict sensitivity
- Mitigation strategies
- Peace building initiatives
- Networking and collaboration
- Gender mainstreaming
- Gender-based violence prevention
References
- Ms. Atim Esther, Program Manager - Gender & Sexuality Program, Refugee Law Project, School of Law, Makerere University, P. Box 33903, Kampala, Uganda, +256-0773304772, esthergrace40@gmail.com
- Ms. Betty Achola, (Supervisor) Regional ACT - Health Manager, HEPS-Uganda, +256-0791553947, bettyachola85@gmail.com
- Ms. Okwir Joyce Patricia, Deputy Program Manager, ZOA, Uganda, +256-0777073464, j.okwir@zoa.ngo/okwirpatricia@yahoo.com
Community Service
Norwegian Refugee Council-Kitgum Branch, Volunteer Distribution Point Supervisor (VDPS), 01/01/07 - 12/01/08, Tracing/Identifying the Eligible beneficiaries and the Extremely Vulnerable Individuals., Managed General Food Distribution System and rations in the field., Drafted field operation reports and recorded complaints., Carried out post distribution monitoring assessment., Writing monthly report on the post distribution monitoring exercises.
Languages
English
Proficient (C2)
C2
LUO/Acholi
Native
Native
Certification
I Know Gender 1-2-3: Gender Concepts to get Started; International Frameworks for Gender Equality; and Promoting Gender Equality throughout the UN System
Timeline
Field Office Coordinator
Refugee Law Project School of Law, Makerere University
03.2024 - 10.2025
Senior Gender & Sexual Reproductive Health Right Officer
Refugee Law Project School of Law, Makerere University
11.2017 - 03.2024
District Coordinator
Coalition for Health Promotion & Social Development
01.2015 - 10.2017
Child Protection Officer
AVSI Foundation - Uganda
03.2011 - 12.2014
Volunteer Distribution Point Supervisor (VDPS)
Norwegian Refugee Council-Kitgum Branch
01.2007 - 12.2008
Masters in Management Studies -
Uganda Management Institute
Post Graduate Diploma in Monitoring & Evaluation -
Uganda Management Institute
Bachelor of Public Administration -
Gulu University
Uganda Advanced Certificate of Education -
Gulu Central High School
Uganda Certificate of Education -
Kitgum High School