Mission and objectives

Enabling Rural Opportunity Network (ERONet) — formerly known as Agoro Community Development Association (ACDA) — is a women-centered, community-based organization located in Northern Uganda, near the South Sudan border. Established in 2001, ERONet has evolved from a grassroots movement in Agoro Sub-County, Lamwo District, into a regional network dedicated to empowering vulnerable and displaced populations, especially women, adolescent girls, and children. ERONet’s mission is to build resilient, inclusive, and self-reliant rural communities through integrated interventions in education, health, WASH, livelihoods, gender equality, and disaster preparedness. The organization works primarily in Lamwo, Kitgum, Pader, and Agago districts of the Acholi sub-region — areas that have experienced conflict, displacement, and recurrent natural disasters such as floods, droughts, and crop failures. Under its Strategic Goal 6: Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) and Humanitarian Assistance, ERONet seeks to enhance the resilience of women, children, persons with disabilities, refugees, and internally displaced persons (IDPs) by: Raising community awareness about disaster risks and local coping capacities; Facilitating community-led hazard mapping and risk assessments; Strengthening partnerships with local and international humanitarian actors; and Supporting emergency response and recovery through inclusive, gender-sensitive interventions. Through these efforts, ERONet ensures that communities in Northern Uganda are better equipped to anticipate, withstand, and recover from disasters and humanitarian crises, while promoting social cohesion and environmental sustainability.

Context

Lamwo and Kitgum districts, located in Northern Uganda’s Acholi sub-region, are among the areas most affected by decades of conflict, displacement, and recurrent climate shocks. The region shares a long border with South Sudan, making it a primary entry point for refugees fleeing insecurity and food shortages. Lamwo District hosts the Palabek Refugee Settlement, one of Uganda’s largest, accommodating over 60,000 South Sudanese refugees alongside vulnerable host communities. Both districts face increasing exposure to floods, droughts, and crop failures due to climate change, which strain livelihoods, destroy infrastructure, and increase food insecurity. Limited access to clean water, weak early-warning systems, and overstretched social services make communities—especially women, children, and persons with disabilities—highly vulnerable to disasters and disease outbreaks. While humanitarian partners operate in the area, funding gaps persist for community-led disaster preparedness, resilience building, and humanitarian coordination. ERONet, with its deep roots in Lamwo and Kitgum since its founding as Agoro Community Development Association (ACDA), continues to empower communities through locally driven solutions that strengthen resilience and protect livelihoods. Through this online volunteering assignment, ERONet seeks support to mobilize resources for Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) and Humanitarian Assistance programs that reduce vulnerabilities, enhance preparedness, and improve recovery capacity for both refugees and host populations.

Task Description

ERONet is seeking a motivated online volunteer to strengthen its fundraising and proposal development capacity under the Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) and Humanitarian Assistance thematic area. Working closely with ERONet’s Programs and Resource Mobilization teams, the volunteer will support the design of donor-ready proposals, help identify new funding partners, and enhance the organization’s visibility among humanitarian actors. The volunteer will contribute to ERONet’s ongoing work in Lamwo and Kitgum Districts, where communities face frequent floods, droughts, and displacement. The assignment directly supports Strategic Goal 6 of ERONet’s 2025–2030 Plan: strengthening resilience and preparedness of women, children, adolescents, and persons with disabilities in disaster-prone and conflict-affected areas. Key Responsibilities: Donor Mapping: Research and identify donors, foundations, and humanitarian agencies funding DRR, climate resilience, and emergency response in East Africa. Proposal Development: Draft and refine high-quality project concept notes, funding proposals, and cover letters tailored to donor priorities. Partnership Development: Support mapping and engagement of potential partners including NGOs, UN agencies, and local authorities active in humanitarian coordination. Strategic Input: Recommend strategies for building ERONet’s DRR and humanitarian funding pipeline and strengthening donor relations. Knowledge Sharing: Compile a short database summarizing relevant funding opportunities and submission timelines. Collaboration: Participate in online planning meetings, share regular progress updates, and coordinate closely with ERONet’s management and communications teams. Expected Outputs: At least two complete draft proposals or concept notes aligned with ERONet’s DRR objectives. A donor and partner mapping report for humanitarian and resilience funding sources. Short recommendations for improving ERONet’s resource-mobilization approach within the DRR sector.

Competencies and values

Living conditions and remarks