Summary
Overview
Work History
Education
Skills
Websites
Certification
Sex
Linkedinprofile
Personal Information
Employmenthistorydetails
References
Training
Timeline
Hi, I’m

Sarah Jesca Agwang

Summary

I am a human rights activist with extensive expertise in program development, design, and management. My specialties include gender and social inclusion, environment and climate change, conflict early warning, and emergency response. As a seasoned trainer, I have a longstanding commitment to promoting fairness, equality, and sustainable social change, particularly for vulnerable, marginalized, and oppressed groups. With fifteen years of experience in programming (including emergency contexts), I have coordinated and managed the implementation of multiple projects simultaneously, ensuring adherence to deadlines, donor compliance, and alignment with strategic plans. I actively participate in networks, platforms, regional and international clusters, and excel in quality report writing, documentation, and learning coordination. Additionally, I provide technical support to project teams and assist with onboarding new staff. My expertise extends to resource mobilization, grants management, advisory services, project and financial management, and partner coordination. I am proficient in Planning, Management, Evaluation, and Reporting (PMER), and gender and humanitarian programming. I have successfully managed country programs and projects funded by various international donors, including UN Women, UNFPA, USAID, US and EKN Embassies, the EU, GIZ, SIDA-Diakonia, Irish Aid, ADA, and more. My experience spans partnerships with other NGOs, NGO networks, Women’s Rights Organizations (WROs), and government agencies in both stable and crisis-affected environments. I hold a Master’s degree in Peace and Conflict Studies and a Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Management, both from Makerere University Kampala. Additionally, I have a certificate in Rapid Gender Analysis (RGA) in emergencies from the Geneva Learning Foundation. My deep understanding of emergency and crisis contexts in Africa has enabled me to design specific response projects, particularly in Uganda.

Overview

19
years of professional experience
1
Certification

Work History

Uganda Women’s Network (UWONET)

Director of Programmes
1 2021 - Current

Job overview

  • Supervised 28 programme staff and coordinated/managed over 20 programmes and projects including 5 livelihood, agriculture, and economic empowerment projects
  • Led the development/design of programmes and plans, provided effective leadership and oversight support, developed and maintained project documentation, ensured adherence to financial and procurement policies, conducted audits and financial reviews, managed project team, coordinated project activities, implemented teaching and learning strategies, facilitated orientation mechanisms and lessons learned workshops, ensured effective knowledge management, facilitated communication among stakeholders, oversaw program implementation, developed monitoring and evaluation frameworks, provided technical advice, identified risks and challenges, ensured compliance, prepared reports, coordinated advocacy initiatives, facilitated meetings, provided liaison between the secretariat and the Board of Directors, managed grants, assessed NGO operating environment, provided updates to the Executive Director, and represented the organization at different platforms and forums.

Uganda Women’s Network (UWONET)

Programme Coordinator Women’s Economic Justice and Empowerment
01.2014 - 01.2020

Job overview

  • Mobilized resources for the organization, managed and coordinated grants, developed work plans and reports, supported monitoring and evaluation system, provided training and capacity-building programs, facilitated mentorship and networking opportunities, supported the development of women-led green businesses and enterprises, fostered networks and partnerships, facilitated learning opportunities, conducted research, organized and chaired meetings, initiated thematic coordination, generated information and documentation, conducted advocacy, supported policy review and analysis process, liaised with stakeholders, established district women networks and partnerships, prepared and presented papers, monitored and evaluated programs, developed budgets and work plans, organized workshops, and stood in for the Director of Programmes.

Uganda Women’s Network (UWONET)

Programme Officer- Women, Peace, Security, Recovery and Livelihood
01.2010 - 01.2013

Job overview

  • Implemented, monitored, and reported on activities, documented change stories, coordinated district women’s rights networks, conducted research, developed policy analysis and briefs, participated in resource mobilization, coordinated grants, took part in advocacy, compiled work plans and reports, provided support in research and advocacy, supported policy review and analysis process, liaised with stakeholders, established district women networks and partnerships, prepared and presented papers, monitored and evaluated programs, developed budgets and work plans, developed reporting formats and project monitoring tools, organized and facilitated workshops, and stood in for the Director of Programmes.

Conflict Early Warning and Response Mechanism (CEWARN) IGAD project

Assistant Country Coordinator Uganda
01.2008 - 01.2009

Job overview

  • Handled daily coding of data, compiled situational analytical reports, developed country analytical reports, developed conflict early warning and early response briefs, generated policy analysis briefs, coordinated and monitored activities, designed conflict early response strategies, coordinated stakeholder meetings, supported the Rapid Response Fund, and ensured projects are feasible and sustainable.

Arbiter Samaritan Bund Germany-ASB

Field Monitoring and Coordinating Officer
01.2005 - 01.2006

Job overview

  • Coordinated mapping of beneficiaries in IDP camps, coordinated distribution of items, supported construction of WASH facilities, achieved timely submission of activity reporting, conducted community awareness sessions.

Education

Makerere University-Kampala

Master of Arts in Peace and Conflict Studies

University Overview

Makerere University- Kampala

Bachelor of Arts in Environmental Management

University Overview

Stella Maris College Nsuube- Uganda

Advanced Certificate of Education

University Overview

Ngora High School- Uganda

Uganda Certificate of Education

University Overview

Skills

Project Management

Websites

Certification

I the undersigned, certify that to the best of my knowledge and belief, this CV correctly describes myself, my qualifications, and my experience.

Sex

Sex
Female

Linkedinprofile

Linkedinprofile
https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarah-jesca-agwang-o-86704b2a9/

Personal Information

Personal Information
Nationality: Ugandan

Employmenthistorydetails

Employmenthistorydetails
  • Uganda Women’s Network (UWONET), Director of Programmes, January 2021, Present, UWONET is a women’s rights policy advocacy network organization that exists to coordinate collective action towards addressing gender inequalities in social, economic and political spheres. UWONET works in over 80 districts in Uganda with and through various members, partners and allies. UWONET is key in international advocacy for GEWE. As a Director of Programmes, I supervise 28 programme staff and I have coordinated/ managed over 20 programmes and projects including 5 livelihood, agriculture and economic empowerment projects., Lead the development/design of programmes and plans that align with the organization's overall goals, priorities and thematic areas., Providing effective leadership, overall programme advisory and oversight support to all the four programmatic areas and other departments and Implementing Partners., Develop and maintain essential project documentation including procurement plans, monitoring and evaluation (M&E) plans, quarterly internal reports, and comprehensive reports for donors., Ensure timely submission and accuracy of all project-related documents, aligning with organizational and donor requirements., Oversee project expenditures, ensuring all spending adhered to UWONET’s financial and procurement policies and procedures., Conduct regular audits and financial reviews to maintain compliance and optimize resource allocation., Lead and manage a diverse project team, fostering a collaborative and productive work environment., Coordinate all project activities, ensuring they are executed on time, within scope, and budget., Implement appropriate teaching and learning strategies tailored to target audiences, enhancing the delivery and effectiveness of project content., Develop and conducted orientation mechanisms and lessons learned workshops, creating work plans to improve future project phases. Ensure effective knowledge management by capturing, storing, and disseminating project information and best practices., Facilitate clear and consistent communication among stakeholders, enhancing transparency and stakeholder engagement., Oversee the effective and efficient implementation of programs, ensuring that activities are executed according to plans, timelines, and budgets. Provide guidance and support to program staff to ensure high-quality program delivery and adherence to best practices and ethical standards., Development of annual workplan/ implementation plan, monitor progress and timely/ quality reporting. Review and align budgets and workplans., Coordinating development of timely and quality donor quarterly, half year and annual reports in line with donor standards and procedures across all thematic areas; reviewing all reports and submission., Managing multiple donor contracts and adherence and ensure Quality Assurance of programmes., Establish robust monitoring and evaluation frameworks to track the progress and impact of programs. Collect and analyze data to measure program outcomes and effectiveness, identify areas for improvement, and make evidence-based decisions to optimize program performance., Provide leadership and support to program staff, fostering a culture of learning, innovation, and continuous improvement. Identify training and development needs and implement capacity-building initiatives to enhance the skills and competencies of program teams., Work closely with the finance team to develop and manage program budgets, ensuring financial sustainability and accountability. Monitor expenditure against budget allocations and identify opportunities to optimize resource utilization and maximize cost-effectiveness. Monitor and analyze financial situation on programmes to ensure adherence to delivery rates and utilization of resources to meet agreed upon targets and results., Provide technical advice on the development of key policies, practices and procedures that strengthened partners’ operations, programme planning, implementation, Grants making, quality assurance and safeguarding practices., Identify potential risks and challenges that may impact program implementation and develop strategies to mitigate them. Ensure compliance with relevant regulations, policies, and ethical standards, and address any issues or concerns in a timely and transparent manner. Review programme plans to assure compliance with all donor financial and reporting requirements, donor/project goals and results-based indicators., Prepare regular reports on program progress, achievements, and challenges for internal and external stakeholders. Communicate effectively with senior management, board members, donors, and other stakeholders to keep them informed and engaged in programmatic activities., Coordinating and take lead in advocacy initiatives with partner organizations., Coordinated meetings with implementing partners, WROs reflecting on the overall projects’ outputs, activities and to inform future programming adaptations and cross-organizational learning., Developing inclusive or transformative strategies that respond to the context, Coordinate 24 UWONET member organizations and 20 allies (organizations) on specific activities and projects under the thematic areas., Being the chair of departmental think-tank meeting., Providing liaison between the secretariat and the Board of Directors of the UWONET;, Being the Grants Manager or the organization, and communicating with the donors;, Coordinating implementation of management decisions, Staff annual appraisals, Coordinating audit processes in Liasson with finance team, Continuously assessing NGO operating environment and provide analysis (legal, policy, security, social, political, economic)., Providing regular updates to the Executive Director on all the programmes for timely decision making; and Deputizing the Executive Director and representing the organization at different platforms, forums, including donor organizations.
  • Uganda Women’s Network (UWONET), Programme Coordinator Women’s Economic Justice and Empowerment, January 2014, 2020, Key achievements: Successfully mobilized resource for the organization through projects, concept notes and proposals in line with UWONET’s strategy, and collaboration with like-minded partners; Effectively managed and coordinated grants on behalf of the organization and alongside other partners; Timely developed annual work plans and annual reports for the departments and donors; Supported the development and implementation of monitoring and evaluation system for the organization; Providing training and capacity-building programs to enhance the skills and knowledge of women in green sectors, such as sustainable agriculture; Facilitating mentorship, and networking opportunities for women to thrive in green jobs and innovation sectors; Supporting the development of women-led green businesses and enterprises through targeted support programs, access to finance, and business incubation services.; Fostering networks and partnerships to connect women entrepreneurs with markets, suppliers, and investors in the green economy; Fostered learning opportunities for women in the green economy to institutions of excellency such as National Crops Resources Research Institute (NaCRRI), Makerere University School of Agriculture and School of Food Science and Technology; Providing guidance and mentorship to aspiring women entrepreneurs to navigate the challenges and opportunities in the green business landscape; Conducted research for green enterprises for women and innovation to generate evidence-based insights and best practices; Successfully organized and chaired weekly programme meetings, quarterly and half year reflection meetings, and peer reviews; Initiated thematic coordination for members and allies on specific activities and projects under the thematic area. Information generation, documentation for example policy briefs, training manuals; Conducted advocacy on issues relating to the women’s rights broadly in social, economic and political spheres. Conducted joint finance and progaramme meetings to track progress and absorption of different projects. Provided support to all the thematic areas in research, advocacy and related functions. Supported UWONET’s policy review and analysis process (developed position papers, policy briefs, flyers, leaflets) on gender issues with a focus on women’s rights. Liaised with the Director of Programmes to lobby members of parliament, sectors, and local government leaders, to prioritize women’s rights concerns in all programmes, plans and budgets. Liaised with the Director of Programmes and Executive Director to design, plan, implement and fundraise for UWONET programmes Established successful district women networks, partnerships and community structures with UWONET’s program beneficiaries thereby realizing outcomes and impact for the gender and women’s rights related programmes in challenging contexts. Prepared and presented papers at workshops on behalf of UWONET Prepared statements on behalf of UWONET for press release. Wrote quarterly and annual reports for UWONET programs in Uganda Monitored and evaluated UWONET programs in Uganda. Developed budgets for the program and annual and quarterly work plans. Developed reporting formats and project monitoring tools for gender and women’s rights related programs. Organized and facilitated workshops on gender and women’s rights topics. Stood in for the Director of Programmes when absent
  • Uganda Women’s Network (UWONET), Programme Officer- Women Peace and Security and livelihood, January 2010, December 2013, Key achievements: Successfully implemented, monitored and reported on activities and submitted project reports Documenting change stories from initiatives undertaken Coordinated district women’s rights networks towards peace and recovery initiatives in northern Uganda Took lead in departmental research Development of departmental policy analysis, policy and issue briefs Participated in resource mobilization Coordinated grants advanced to the district women’s rights networks Took part in advocacy Compiled departmental annual workplans and reports Resource mobilization, Coordination
  • Conflict Early Warning and Response Mechanism (CEWARN) IGAD project, Assistant Country Coordinator Uganda, 2008, 2009, CEWARN is a pioneer African Early Warning and Response Mechanism that is based on insights and analysis from field data to prevent violent conflicts. Its concept of operations successfully combines use of the latest in social science methodology and ICT as well as multi-level regional diplomacy. The focus was on food stressed cattle corridors in the horn of Africa. Key Achievements/ accomplishments; Successfully handled daily codding of data from the conflict early warning tools, Compiled of weekly, monthly, quarterly, half year and annual CEWARN situational analytical reports, Developed Uganda annual country analytical reports, Developed of situation conflict early warning and early response briefs for Conflict Early Warning and Early Response Unit (CEWERU), Generated country policy analysis briefs, Coordinated and monitoring activities of field monitors, Designed conflict early response strategies, Coordinate national and regional CEWARN stakeholder meetings, Supported the Rapid Response Fund to ensure projects are feasible and impact is sustainable.
  • Arbiter Samaritan Bund Germany-ASB, Field Monitoring and Coordinating Officer, 2005, 2006, Major accomplishments: Coordinated mapping of beneficiaries in the Internally Displaced Peoples camps (IDPs) in northern Uganda; Successfully coordinated distribution of items to selected beneficiaries and monitored their usage; Supported construction of Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) facilities e.g., latrines and develop a monitoring of their usage; Achieved timely submission of activity reporting, Conducted community awareness sessions

References

References
  • Rita Aciro Lakor, Executive Director, Uganda Women’s Network, raciro@uwonet.or.ug, +256 759330002
  • Dr. Josephine Bweyale, Lecturer, Makerere University, jbweyale01@qub.ac.uk, +256 752011126
  • Cecilia Anyakoit, Chairperson, Women’s Democracy Network (WDN) Uganda Chapter, ceciliaanyakoit@gmail.com, +256 782187223

Training

Training
  • Social Enterprise Ideation/ Development training by Capital Solutions LTD., 2022
  • Certificate in Rapid Gender Analysis (RGA) in emergencies by the Geneva Learning Foundation., 2020
  • Policy dialogue training by HorizonT3000, 2017, October
  • Do No Harm training by HorizonT3000, Kampala., 2017, May
  • Training on Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) by GAPP/USAID, August 2016
  • Gender mainstreaming and application by Makerere University, School of Women and Gender Studies, 2014
  • Gender and Advocacy training by Inclusive Security by ISIS WICCE., 2010
  • Horn of Africa Women in Peace Leadership Programme by Coalition for Peace in Africa (COPA), Nairobi Kenya., December 2010
  • Training on alternatives to violence project stages. Trainer of Trainees (T.O.T). Advanced course., 18th –20th April 2007
  • Training workshop on International Diplomacy and Negotiation skills by Dr. Alexander Muhlen German Ambassador to Uganda, 20th –21st October 2006
  • Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA) training at VI agro-forestry Masaka Uganda., 2004 August

Timeline

Programme Coordinator Women’s Economic Justice and Empowerment
Uganda Women’s Network (UWONET)
01.2014 - 01.2020
Programme Officer- Women, Peace, Security, Recovery and Livelihood
Uganda Women’s Network (UWONET)
01.2010 - 01.2013
Assistant Country Coordinator Uganda
Conflict Early Warning and Response Mechanism (CEWARN) IGAD project
01.2008 - 01.2009
Field Monitoring and Coordinating Officer
Arbiter Samaritan Bund Germany-ASB
01.2005 - 01.2006
Director of Programmes
Uganda Women’s Network (UWONET)
1 2021 - Current
Makerere University-Kampala
Master of Arts in Peace and Conflict Studies
Makerere University- Kampala
Bachelor of Arts in Environmental Management
Stella Maris College Nsuube- Uganda
Advanced Certificate of Education
Ngora High School- Uganda
Uganda Certificate of Education

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