ECS-HUB- CAPACITY BUILDING ADVISOR (Internal)

Location: Addis Ababa

Organization: Mercy Corps

Deadline: Feb 17, 2025

Job Description

About Mercy Corps

Mercy Corps is a leading global organization powered by the belief that a better world is possible.

In disaster, in hardship, in more than 40 countries around the world, we partner to put bold solutions into action — helping people triumph over adversity and build stronger communities from within.

Now, and for the future.

Mercy Corps has been operating in Ethiopia since 2004. In partnership with civil society organizations, academic institutions, private sector, and the government, Mercy Corps Ethiopia has reached more than five million Ethiopians with interventions to save lives and build secure livelihoods. Our programs emphasize market-driven solutions, reinforce social bonds, and help communities build resilience to the impacts of climate change. Currently in six regional states – Afar, Amhara, Gambella, Oromia, Somali, and South Nations, Nationalities and People’s Region (SNNPR), and in Dire Dawa Administration and the capital city of Ethiopia, Addis Ababa – Mercy Corps Ethiopia is driven by the mission to contribute the emergence of a peaceful, resilient, and prosperous Ethiopia which is inclusive of youth and women. Our strategic directions focus in promoting inclusive and dynamic markets; promoting peace and social cohesion through strengthening formal/informal governance structures and citizen engagement; improved natural resource governance; and integrated humanitarian response.

Program / Department Summary

The Ethiopia Conflict Sensitivity Hub (ECSH) is a platform designed to support humanitarian, peacebuilding, and development (HDP) actors in Ethiopia to adopt conflict-sensitive approaches and contribute to peacebuilding outcomes. By improving awareness of existing conflict dynamics and conflict risks while enhancing HDP contributions to peacebuilding outcomes through better policies and operations, the Hub aims to play a critical role in supporting sustainable peace and development in the country. Building on best practices from other conflict sensitivity hubs globally while adapting to the Ethiopian context, the ECSH will focus on three foundational pillars: generating high-quality research and analysis to inform programming, building capacity among stakeholders to integrate conflict sensitivity into organizational practices, and convening diverse actors to enhance collaboration and coherence. The CSH is an impartial entity that will be hosted by Mercy Corps with support from a consortium of partners, including Rift Valley Institute. Its work will be guided by a collaborative governance structure and multi-donor funding to ensure inclusivity and alignment with Ethiopia’s peacebuilding needs.

Joining this team is an exciting opportunity to be part of the setup of an innovative initiative that will address conflict risks and strengthen peacebuilding efforts across Ethiopia.

General Position Summary

The Capacity Building Advisor leads the Hub’s efforts to enhance the technical capacity of Humanitarian, Development, and Peacebuilding (HDP) actors in conflict-sensitive programming. This role involves designing and delivering tailored training programs informed by the knowledge products of the Hub, providing mentoring and organizational accompaniment, and fostering a community of practice. By integrating conflict sensitivity into organizational systems and workflows, the Advisor ensures sustainable capacity development. Additionally, the role includes convening workshops, peer-learning sessions, and stakeholder forums to improve coordination and coherence among HDP actors, ensuring the Hub’s training and convening activities contribute to more effective and conflict-sensitive programming in Ethiopia. The Advisor collaborates closely with the consortium partner Adapt Peacebuilding.

Position Description

Location: Addis Ababa
Position Status: Full-time
Salary Level: (Refer to Country Salary Guidelines)
Current Team Member: List the name of the Staff member currently in this position
Safeguarding Risk Level: Low

Essential Job Responsibilities

CAPACITY DEVELOPMENT

• INITIALLY SUPPORTING AND PROGRESSIVELY LEADING ON THE DESIGN AND ADAPTATION OF CONFLICT SENSITIVITY TRAINING MODULES AND TOOLS, ALIGNING WITH LOCAL CONTEXTS AND GLOBAL BEST PRACTICES.
• DELIVER CONFLICT SENSITIVITY TRAINING SESSIONS, TAILORED WORKSHOPS, AND MENTORING PROGRAMS FOR A DIVERSE RANGE OF STAKEHOLDERS.
• SUPPORT HDP ACTORS IN INTEGRATING CONFLICT-SENSITIVE APPROACHES INTO THEIR ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURES AND WORKFLOWS.

TECHNICAL SUPPORT

• COLLABORATE WITH PARTNERS TO CO-DEVELOP CONFLICT SENSITIVITY STRATEGIES, CONCEPT NOTES, AND PROGRAM INTERVENTIONS AND ADAPTATIONS.
• PROVIDE TECHNICAL ADVICE ON INTEGRATING CONFLICT-SENSITIVE PRINCIPLES THROUGHOUT THE PROGRAM MANAGEMENT CYCLE.
• OFFER HANDS-ON ACCOMPANIMENT TO ORGANIZATIONS IMPLEMENTING CONFLICT SENSITIVITY IN THEIR OPERATIONS.

RESEARCH AND KNOWLEDGE SHARING

• CONTRIBUTE TO CONFLICT ANALYSIS CONDUCTED BY HUB RESEARCHERS AND GENERATE PRACTICAL INSIGHTS TO INFORM CAPACITY DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVES.
• IN COLLABORATION WITH THE RESEARCH ADVISOR AND RESEARCH OFFICERS, DEVELOP KNOWLEDGE PRODUCTS, SUCH AS CASE STUDIES AND OPERATIONAL GUIDES, TO SUPPORT INSTITUTIONAL LEARNING.
• ANALYZE FEEDBACK FROM CAPACITY-BUILDING EFFORTS AND INCORPORATE LESSONS INTO PROGRAM IMPROVEMENTS.

CONVENING AND PARTNERSHIP BUILDING

• FACILITATE MULTI-STAKEHOLDER WORKSHOPS AND PEER LEARNING SESSIONS TO PROMOTE COLLABORATIVE APPROACHES.
• STRENGTHEN NETWORKS AMONG INGOS, CSOS, AND GOVERNMENT STAKEHOLDERS TO ENHANCE THE COLLECTIVE CAPACITY FOR CONFLICT-SENSITIVE PROGRAMMING.
• CONVENE FORUMS TO ALIGN CONFLICT-SENSITIVE STRATEGIES ACROSS HDP ACTORS FOR IMPROVED COHERENCE AND IMPACT.

INNOVATION AND IMPLEMENTATION

• LEAD THE DESIGN AND IMPLEMENTATION OF INNOVATIVE CONFLICT-SENSITIVE APPROACHES, ENSURING ALIGNMENT WITH THE HUB’S PRIORITIES.
• DOCUMENT SUCCESSES, CHALLENGES, AND LESSONS LEARNED FROM CAPACITY-BUILDING AND CONVENING ACTIVITIES TO INFORM FUTURE PROGRAMMING AND IMPROVE INSTITUTIONAL PRACTICES.
• COLLABORATE WITH PARTNERS AND STAKEHOLDERS TO IDENTIFY OPPORTUNITIES FOR INTEGRATING CONFLICT-SENSITIVE INNOVATIONS INTO TRAINING MODULES AND CONVENING SESSIONS.
• PROMOTE THE ADOPTION OF CONFLICT-SENSITIVE PRACTICES THROUGH KNOWLEDGE-SHARING PLATFORMS AND REGULAR CONVENINGS WITH HDP ACTORS.

● Recognize opportunities for innovative action and create an environment where alternative viewpoints are welcomed.
● Set direction by prioritizing and organizing actions & resources to achieve objectives and contribute to countrywide strategy development.
● Develop and organize activities to secure resources for programs and convince stakeholders to provide support.

GEDSI (GENDER, EQUALITY, DIVERSITY AND SOCIAL INCLUSION)

● Adherence of gender minimum standards
● Allocate budget for GESI related activities and staff capacity building on GESI
● Make sure GESI issues are properly reflected during program management
● Support the organization’s commitment to age and gender inclusive team building process
● Promote an inclusive and equitable workplace culture
● Support Staff Capacity Building on Increase staff knowledge of GEDSI
● Coordinate with GEDSI Technical Team Improve gender-responsiveness of program /Project MEAL system
● Increased commitment to Gender Equality Diversity and Social inclusion

Supervisory Responsibility

No Supervisory Responsibility
Accountability
Reports Directly To: The Hub Director
Technical Line Report To: The Hub Director
Works Directly With: The Hub Team

Accountability to Participants and Stakeholders

Mercy Corps team members are expected to support all efforts toward accountability, specifically to our program participants, community partners, other stakeholders, and to international standards guiding international relief and development work. We are committed to actively engaging communities as equal partners in the design, monitoring and evaluation of our field projects.

Knowledge and Experience

• At least a Master’s degree in political science, Peace and/or Conflict/Security Studies, Development Studies, or related fields.
• Minimum of 7 years of experience in managing capacity development initiatives and/or conflict sensitivity programs, preferably in Ethiopia or similar conflict-affected contexts.
• Demonstrated expertise in designing and delivering training programs, workshops, and mentoring activities tailored to diverse stakeholders, including INGOs, CSOs, and government entities.
• Excellent facilitation skills and experience producing engaging and intuitive learning materials
• Proven ability to lead and facilitate knowledge-sharing and collaboration within consortium-based initiatives.
• Strong knowledge of conflict sensitivity principles, conflict analysis tools, and methodologies.
• Demonstrated ability to integrate conflict-sensitive practices into program cycles and organizational strategies.
• Advanced skills in program implementation, including monitoring, evaluation, and learning (MEL) frameworks related to capacity building.
• Strong leadership, team management, and networking skills with the ability to build and maintain partnerships across humanitarian, peacebuilding, and development sectors.
• Excellent analytical, communication, and stakeholder engagement skills.
• Fluency in English and proficiency in local languages is highly desirable.

Success Factors

Success in this role requires strong interpersonal and communication skills to engage effectively with diverse stakeholders, fostering collaboration and trust among INGOs, CSOs, and government entities. At the time of hire, the Capacity Building Advisor must demonstrate adaptability, cultural sensitivity, and a proactive attitude to navigate complex conflict dynamics and organizational structures. Critical thinking, problem-solving, and the ability to synthesize and convey complex concepts in accessible ways are essential. Over time, the role demands increasing leadership, strategic foresight, and the ability to influence policies and practices, ensuring conflict sensitivity is deeply embedded in institutional frameworks. A commitment to continuous learning, patience, and resilience will be crucial in driving long-term impact in Ethiopia’s peacebuilding landscape.

Accountability to Participants and Stakeholders

Mercy Corps team members are expected to support all efforts toward accountability, specifically to our program participants, community partners, other stakeholders, and to international standards guiding international relief and development work. We are committed to actively engaging communities as equal partners in the design, monitoring and evaluation of our field projects.

Ongoing Learning

In support of our belief that learning organizations are more effective, efficient and relevant to the communities we serve, we empower all team members to dedicate 5% of their time to learning activities that further their personal and/or professional growth and development

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

Achieving our mission begins with how we build our team and work together. Through our commitment to enriching our organization with people of different origins, beliefs, backgrounds, and ways of thinking, we are better able to leverage the collective power of our teams and solve the world’s most complex challenges. We strive for a culture of trust and respect, where everyone contributes their perspectives and authentic selves, reaches their potential as individuals and teams, and collaborates to do the best work of their lives.

We recognize that diversity and inclusion is a journey, and we are committed to learning, listening and evolving to become more diverse, equitable and inclusive than we are today.

Equal Employment Opportunity

Mercy Corps is an equal opportunity employer that does not tolerate discrimination on any basis. We actively seek out diverse backgrounds, perspectives, and skills so that we can be collectively stronger and have sustained global impact.

We are committed to providing an environment of respect and psychological safety where equal employment opportunities are available to all. We do not engage in or tolerate discrimination on the basis of race, color, gender identity, gender expression, religion, age, sexual orientation, national or ethnic origin, disability (including HIV/AIDS status), marital status, military veteran status or any other protected group in the locations where we work.

Safeguarding & Ethics

Mercy Corps is committed to ensuring that all individuals we come into contact with through our work, whether team members, community members, program participants or others, are treated with respect and dignity. We are committed to the core principles regarding prevention of sexual exploitation and abuse laid out by the UN Secretary-General and IASC and have signed on to the Interagency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme. We will not tolerate child abuse, sexual exploitation, abuse, or harassment by or of our team members. As part of our commitment to a safe and inclusive work environment, team members are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner, respect local laws and customs, and to adhere to Mercy Corps Code of Conduct Policies and values at all times. Team members are required to complete mandatory Code of Conduct e-learning courses upon hire and on an annual basis.

HOW TO APPLY

All qualified individuals are invited to apply for the advertised position. All applications, including a CV, three references, and all applicable official papers, must be sent electronically through this: LINK.

Only candidates that are short-listed will be acknowledged and called for interviews.

“Mercy Corps is an equal opportunity employer promoting gender, equity, and diversity. Qualified female and young candidates are strongly encouraged to apply. We are committed to empowering women and youth.”

DEADLINE FOR ALL APPLICATIONS:  17 February 2025/ 4:00 PM