Mission Alliance Uganda
1. Introduction to Mission Alliance
Mission Alliance is an international faith-based development organization working to uphold human dignity and promote empowered and resilient communities. We work primarily through long-term partnerships with local civil society organizations, churches, and other actors, based on the conviction that sustainable change is best achieved when communities take ownership of their own development. Our partnerships emphasize locally led development, mutual accountability, complementarity of roles, and continuous learning.
Mission Alliance’s approach to partnership is guided by clearly defined principles of complementarity, mutual respect, accountability, and learning, as articulated in our Partner Policy. Partnerships are understood as collaborative relationships where roles, responsibilities, and resources are jointly agreed, and where both parties contribute to and benefit from the partnership. The core objective of Mission Alliance’s partnership model is to contribute to the strengthening of independent and capable civil society organizations over the long term.
In Uganda, Mission Alliance has a long-standing engagement focused on economic inclusion, resilient livelihoods, and strengthening civil society, and safeguarding and protection in alignment with national development priorities and community-identified Needs.
2. Background to the SKILLS Project
The project Strengthening Knowledge Integration, Learning and Localization for Scale (SKILLS) is a joint learning and capacity-building initiative implemented by Mission Alliance in collaboration with Village Enterprise and Digni. The project aims to strengthen the capacity of a local civil society organisation in Uganda to design, implement, and sustain high-quality Poverty Graduation interventions with fidelity.
The Poverty Graduation Approach is an evidence-based model combining targeted household selection, entrepreneurship and business development training, mentoring and coaching, seed capital, and participation in savings groups to support ultra-poor households in building sustainable livelihoods. Within the SKILLS Project, Village Enterprise will provide intensive technical assistance to the selected CSO partner, while Mission Alliance and Digni will facilitate structured learning, peer exchange, and knowledge-sharing activities.
Uganda will serve as a learning hub within the project, where practical implementation experience is intentionally linked to learning processes that help translate existing evidence into improvements in livelihood programming.
3. Purpose of this Expression of Interest
Mission Alliance invites Expressions of Interest from eligible Ugandan civil society organizations to be considered for selection as the local implementing partner for the SKILLS Project.
The purpose of this EOI is to identify a partner organization with demonstrated legitimacy, relevant thematic experience, and a clear commitment to learning and organizational development, and which seeks to strengthen its capacity to implement the Poverty Graduation Approach in close collaboration with Village Enterprise in Uganda.
4. Expected Role of the Selected CSO Partner
The selected CSO partner will serve as the primary implementing partner in Uganda and is expected to:
Lead implementation of at least one full cohort of the Poverty Graduation program, including community sensitization, household targeting, entrepreneurship and financial literacy training, support to savings and business groups, and ongoing mentoring and coaching.
Establish, use, and strengthen institutional systems related to safeguarding, financial management, human resources, and monitoring, evaluation, and learning.
Participate actively in capacity-building activities, technical trainings, mentoring, and reflection processes provided under the project.
Contribute to learning activities, including learning exchanges and Research to Action workshops.
Engage transparently with Mission Alliance on reporting, accountability, compliance, and safeguarding requirements.
The partnership is designed as a capacity-strengthening journey, with the explicit aim of supporting the CSO to independently implement and adapt Poverty Graduation interventions beyond the project period.
5. Support Provided to the Selected Partner Mission Alliance, together with Village Enterprise, will provide:
Technical assistance and mentoring on the Poverty Graduation methodology
Training project and field staff.
Support to strengthen organizational systems for finance, safeguarding, HR, and monitoring and learning.
Project funding to support implementation of the pilot cohort.
Ongoing technical backstopping and joint learning reviews.
Access to peer learning, learning exchanges, and regional knowledge-sharing platforms.
6. Eligibility and Selection Criteria
Selection of the CSO partner will be guided by Mission Alliance’s Partner Policy and will prioritize organizations that demonstrate:
Values and purpose aligned with Mission Alliance’s Christian ethos and holistic development approach.
Clear strategic focus aligned with livelihoods, economic inclusion, or related thematic areas.
Legitimacy demonstrated through community presence, trusted relationships, and contextual knowledge.
Track record and impact in implementing development programmes with evidence of results.
Organizational and funding capacity, including basic systems for financial management and accountability.
Commitment to learning, reflection, evaluation, and continuous organizational improvement.
Where one or more criteria are partially met, Mission Alliance may consider strategic justification, particularly where strong learning potential and alignment are evident.
7. Contents of the Expression of Interest
Interested organizations are requested to submit a brief Expression of Interest (maximum 5 pages) including:
Organizational profile and legal registration details.
Description of strategic focus and core programmes.
Relevant experience in livelihoods or economic inclusion interventions.
Geographic areas of operation and target groups.
Overview of organizational systems (finance, safeguarding, monitoring and learning).
Motivation for participating in the SKILLS Project and interest in the Poverty Graduation Approach.
Confirmation of willingness to engage in a long-term, capacity-strengthening partnership.
8. Selection Process
Shortlisted organizations will be invited to participate in a second-stage assessment process, which may include organizational due diligence, capacity assessments, and consultations with Mission Alliance and Village Enterprise. Final partner selection will follow Mission Alliance’s internal approval procedures for new partnerships.
9. Timeline and Submission
The selected partner is expected to engage in project inception by July 2026.
Expressions of Interest should be submitted electronically to Mission Alliance via the e-mails below by the 15th of May 2026.
10. Contact Information
For questions related to this Expression of Interest, please contact the Mission Alliance
Uganda Country Office, through the Country Director – Andrew Thomas Bagoole.
E-mail: info.uganda@missionalliance.org
Tel.: +256 772 497595
The Senior Advisor for Economic Inclusion, Jonathan Timothy Telfer, should also be
copied on EOI submissions.
E-mail: jonathan.telfer@misjonsalliansen.no
