Help, develop an Organisational Governance Framework for ERONet

Host entity: Agoro Community Development Association (ACDA)

Areas of expertise: Governance, elections, Project management, programme development, strategy, Audit, risk, compliance, investigation

Application deadline: 04/11/2026

Mission and objectives

Agoro Community Development Association (ACDA), now known as Enabling Rural Opportunity Network (ERONet), is a community-based organisation founded in 2001 by women affected by conflict and displacement in Northern Uganda. The organisation works with rural, post-conflict and refugee-hosting communities to keep girls in school, protect women and girls, strengthen livelihoods and build community resilience.

The objective of this assignment is to strengthen ERONet’s organisational governance by developing a clear, practical governance framework that defines the roles and responsibilities of the General Assembly, Board of Trustees, Executive Director and staff. The framework will clarify decision-making authority, strengthen oversight and accountability, and provide guidance on transparent and responsible organisational management.

The assignment aims to support ERONet in establishing effective governance systems that promote sound leadership, accountability, organisational effectiveness and long-term sustainability.

Assignment context

ERONet is a community-based organisation founded by women affected by the conflict in Northern Uganda. Formerly known as Agoro Community Development Association (ACDA), the organisation works in rural communities in Lamwo and Kitgum districts, including refugee-hosting areas.

Its programmes focus on gender equality and women’s empowerment, health and WASH, education and child and youth empowerment, sustainable livelihoods, and humanitarian response.

As ERONet continues to strengthen its institutional capacity and partnerships, it recognises the importance of having a clear and practical governance framework that guides organisational leadership, decision-making, management oversight and accountability.

Although the organisation has an existing governance structure and related documents, it seeks additional technical support to consolidate these arrangements, clarify the responsibilities and authority of its governing and management bodies, strengthen internal accountability, and identify gaps in its governance policies and procedures.

The online volunteer will contribute specialist knowledge in organisational governance and development by helping ERONet establish a coherent framework that reflects its size, available resources, community-based nature and operational context.

The assignment will contribute to ERONet’s long-term institutional sustainability, organisational effectiveness and ability to demonstrate sound governance to communities, partners and prospective donors.

Task description

ERONet is seeking one online volunteer to support the development of a practical organisational governance framework that strengthens its leadership, oversight, accountability and internal management systems.

The volunteer will work remotely with ERONet’s Executive Director and designated representatives to review the organisation’s existing governance documents, identify institutional gaps and develop a draft governance framework suited to a small, community-based organisation operating in Northern Uganda.

The volunteer will undertake the following tasks:

Review available organisational documents, including the constitution, governance structure, Board and management information, organisational policies and Project Responsibility Matrix.
Assess existing governance arrangements and identify gaps, overlaps and areas requiring clarification.
Develop a clear governance structure showing the relationships between the General Assembly, Board of Directors, Executive Director, management and programme staff.
Define the roles, responsibilities, authority and accountability of governing bodies, office bearers, management and staff, including the separation between Board oversight and day-to-day executive management.
Propose practical procedures for decision-making, delegation of authority, meetings and documentation, reporting lines, conflict-of-interest management, financial oversight, risk management and accountability.
Identify relevant organisational policies and procedures that should support the framework and highlight areas requiring further development or review.
Ensure that the proposed framework reflects ERONet’s operational realities and is consistent with applicable Ugandan legal requirements and relevant donor accountability expectations. The volunteer will flag issues requiring local legal verification rather than provide formal legal advice.
Prepare a complete draft governance framework and present the main findings and recommendations to ERONet for feedback and validation.

Expected deliverables:

A brief assessment of existing governance arrangements and priority gaps.
A draft organisational governance framework with clearly defined structures, roles, responsibilities, decision-making processes and accountability mechanisms.
A practical implementation action plan identifying priority improvements and suggested next steps.

The assignment will be conducted entirely online through email, document sharing and virtual meetings where necessary. The volunteer will coordinate primarily with the Executive Director and designated organisational representatives, provide periodic progress updates and incorporate consolidated feedback into the final draft.

The framework will be reviewed by ERONet’s leadership and submitted to the appropriate organisational governing body for consideration and approval. The volunteer is expected to work collaboratively, respect confidentiality and produce clear, practical documents that the organisation can use after the assignment ends.

Skills and experience

Demonstrated experience in organisational governance, institutional development or strengthening governance systems for NGOs, civil society organisations or community-based organisations.
Knowledge of governance structures, Board roles and responsibilities, executive management, accountability mechanisms and decision-making procedures.
Experience reviewing organisational documents and developing governance frameworks, governance manuals, policies or institutional guidelines.
Ability to analyse existing systems, identify gaps and translate recommendations into practical, clearly written documents.
Strong English writing, analytical, communication and organisational skills.
Ability to work independently, meet agreed deadlines and collaborate remotely with a small team.
Understanding of community-based organisations and the operational realities of resource-constrained NGOs is an advantage.
Familiarity with NGO governance and regulatory requirements in Uganda or comparable contexts is desirable.
Commitment to confidentiality, ethical conduct, inclusion and respect for the dignity and rights of all people.

Full eligibility requirements, conditions of service and application instructions are available on the official UNV platform.