Post New Job

Karen Saidi

Program Consultant

Phone: +256 779328579

  • Location:
  • Eastern Region, Uganda
  • Sector:
  • Advocacy
  • Profile Created:
  • 2 weeks ago

About me

  • Relevant Academic Background: Master of Science (MS) inSecurity Studies and Criminology, Bachelor of Laws (LLB) in Law, Post-Graduate Diploma in Law, along with a Diploma in Community Development and Social Studies.
  • Senior Program Managerand Consultant with over a decade of experience in protection, safeguarding, legal aid, and psychosocial support for diverse populations, including refugees, prisoners, women, girls, and children in conflict with the law.
  • Legal professionalwith expertise in civil, criminal, and labor law, including navigating complex clearance processes and securing operational permits.
  • Expertise in program management, including strategic planning, budgeting, implementation, evaluation, and design of protection and safeguarding programs.
  • Experienced in risk assessmentand case management, ensuring alignment with organizational priorities and donor requirements throughout the program’s development and execution.
  • Strong relationship management skills, building and maintaining partnershipswith government agencies, donors, legal institutions, and civil society organizations.
  • Proven ability to lead strategy developmentand execution in complex, multi-stakeholder environments.
  • Experience managing teamsin cross-cultural settings, including capacity building and conflict resolution.
  • Strong leadershipand strategic direction capabilities, with experience chairing board meetings, overseeing organizational growth, and leading high-level international advocacy events.
  • Experienced in policy design, advocacy, research, case analysis, and negotiation, including corporateand contract management.
  • In-depth knowledge of criminal justice, human rights, and prison reform, with a focus on rehabilitation, reintegration, and the rights of detainees.
  • Competency in advocacy, policy analysis, and partnership building, influencing legislative changeand fostering collaboration across multiple sectors.
  • Strong monitoringand evaluation (M&E) skills, with a track record of improving program effectiveness and operational efficiency.
  • Experienced in fundraisingand grants management, with expertise in proposal writing, donor relations, financial management, and securing significant funding through diverse strategies and partnerships, including a strong knowledge of the African context
  • Passionate about enhancing access to justicefor marginalized communities through sponsorship, fundraising, and partnerships.
  • Proficiency in developing and delivering training materialsand workshops, enhancing the capacity of individuals and organizations involved in legal aid and justice reform.
  • Strong operational managementskills, including risk management and donor compliance.
  • Knowledge of digital transformation initiatives, with experience implementing case management systems, financial systems, and virtual legal education tools.
  • High level of initiative, collaborative mindset, and ability to thrive in dynamic, diverse, and fast-paced environments.
  • Team-oriented personality with the ability to build good relationships and work collaboratively with multi-disciplinary and multi-cultural teams in a respectful, participatory manner.
  • Able to work under pressure and in demanding and complex environments; results-oriented, agile, and adaptable in conflict, crisis, or changing priorities.
  • Excellent time management skills and the ability to delegate duties to increase efficiency.
  • Ability to reach an understanding, persuade others, resolve points of difference, gain an advantage in the outcome of dialogue, negotiate mutually acceptable solutions through compromise, and create ‘win-win’ situations.
  • Proficient in Microsoft Office(Excel, Word, PowerPoint) and skilled in technical tools like G-Suite, Slack, Asana, Clio, iManage, and BloombergLaw to facilitate legal operations and client service delivery.

Experience

  • Legal Aid Service Providers Network/ United Nations Drug and Crime Office 2024 - Present

    Trainer

    Delivered training on rehabilitation and reintegration concepts, blending legal aid with psychosocial support for prisoners and ex-prisoners, with 56 participants in attendance. Designed and facilitated interactive role plays to demonstrate effective strategies for managing drug abuse convicts throughout their journey from incarceration to rehabilitation and reintegration. Enhanced participants' understanding of the roles of key actors in the rehabilitation process and the essential services required for successful reintegration into society. Developed training materials that fostered critical thinking and practical skills among participants, ensuring they could apply learned concepts in real-world scenarios.

  • Legal Aid Service Providers Network 2022 - Present

    Board Chairperson

    Led efforts to secure and maintain compliance with legal and regulatory requirements, including obtaining a 5-year operational permit from the NGO Bureau and an MOU with the Kampala City Council Authority (KCCA) for permit renewal. Successfully navigated complex clearance processes, such as approvals from the Internal Security Organization (ISO), ensuring the organization operated within the framework of established governance standards. Chaired 10 board meetings annually, leading discussions and securing approvals for key organizational documents, including the management report, Trustee Deed, Reserve Policy, and Annual Work Plans and Budgets for 2023 and 2024. Presided over three Annual General Meetings (AGMs), attended by 56 Legal Aid Institutions, 13 honorary members, and 14 individual associate members, to address annual plans, financial strategies, fundraising efforts, member networking, and capacity building. Facilitated critical decisions, such as the approval of the Board of Trustees (BOT) comprising Court of Appeal judges, prosecutors, and civil society leaders, processing new member admissions, and endorsing HR reports and related matters. Spearheaded the production of a socio-economic cost-benefit analysis report on state-funded legal aid in Uganda (2023) to support advocacy for the National Legal Aid Bill, accompanied by the development of an advocacy plan funded by UNDP to guide the Network's interventions. Led the research initiative Justice Needs of the People, funded by the Australian Development Cooperation, which assessed the state of legal aid service provision in Uganda and was presented during the National Court Open Day on April 15, 2024. Partnered with Avocats Sans Frontières (ASF) to produce a survey report assessing the Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices of key stakeholders regarding pre-trial detention within Uganda's criminal justice system. Oversaw the procurement of land and launched a fundraising campaign for the construction of the Legal Aid House, a hub for capacity building and networking among members. Provided visionary leadership and strategic direction to the board of directors of the Legal Aid Service Providers Network, comprising 43 member organizations. Represented the network at key forums and advocacy events, including six Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) sub-committee events organized by the Judiciary; the East African Legal Aid Network consultative meeting in Zanzibar (August 29, 2023); and the Inaugural Regional Conference on Access to Legal Aid in New Delhi, India (November 27-28, 2023). Participated in high-level international events such as the 33rd Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice (CCPCJ) in Vienna, Austria (May 13-17, 2024); the Justice and Rule of Law Global Forum in Washington, D.C. (June 25-26, 2024); and joint advocacy training by UGANET and LASPNET on promoting the human rights of People Living with HIV (PLWHIV) in Uganda. Collaborated with stakeholders such as the Evidence and Methods Lab in the production of IEC materials for the Linking and Learning project, showcased during the annual Linking and Learning event and the Voice Close-Out event held from May 29-31, 2024. Worked closely with network members, including FIDA Uganda, Uganda Law Society, the Foundation for Human Rights Initiative, and key judicial figures such as Court of Appeal judges, magistrates, and prosecutors, to review financial statements and assess organizational financial performance. Coordinated with auditors from KPMG East Africa, overseeing audits for the Democratic Governance Facility funds, UNDP Project Audit, IDLO Project Audit, and Oxfam Voice Project Audit, identifying areas for financial improvement. Successfully secured funding totaling UGX 3,479,572,096 (approximately USD 940,424) to support the network's mission and strategic priorities. Employed various fundraising strategies, including launching a GoFundMe campaign on the network's website, promoting membership subscriptions, developing and submitting grant bids and proposals, and securing in-kind contributions from supporters. Led the Anti-Corruption Committee, responsible for identifying, assessing, and mitigating corruption risks and implementing measures to prevent fraud, bribery, and unethical conduct. Fostered collaboration and partnerships among network members, government agencies, civil society organizations, and international donors to strengthen the impact and sustainability of legal aid services.

Expertise

Sponsorship & Fundraiser
Human Rights Activist
Stakeholder Management & Engagement
Non-Profit Executive
Policy Design & Implementation Expert
Legal Compliance

Languages

English
Proficient
Kiswahili
Proficient
French
Intermediate
Sign Language
Intermediate

Honors & awards

  • Bachelor of Laws 2024

    Bachelor of Laws

    I got this an LLB Honors Degree upon completion of my Law Degree

Leave Your Review

  • Overall Rating 0