ECS-HUB- CONFLICT SENSITIVITY AND GENDER 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 Conflict Sensitivity and Gender Advisor is responsible for mainstreaming conflict sensitivity and gender-responsive practices into all aspects of the Conflict Sensitivity Hub’s initiatives. The Advisor will work closely with the Hub Director, consortium partners, and external stakeholders to design and implement strategies that address the intersection of gender and conflict dynamics within humanitarian, peacebuilding, and development interventions. This role integrates gender and conflict-sensitive programming into research, capacity-building, and convening activities to enhance the overall impact and coherence of the Hub’s work.

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

CONFLICT SENSITIVITY PROGRAMMING

• LEAD THE INTEGRATION OF CONFLICT-SENSITIVE APPROACHES ACROSS ALL HUB ACTIVITIES, ENSURING ALIGNMENT WITH BEST PRACTICES AND GLOBAL STANDARDS.
• PROVIDE TECHNICAL GUIDANCE FOR HDP ACTORS ON EMBEDDING CONFLICT SENSITIVITY INTO PROGRAM DESIGN, IMPLEMENTATION, AND EVALUATION PROCESSES.
• DEVELOP TOOLS AND FRAMEWORKS TO GUIDE THE OPERATIONALIZATION OF CONFLICT-SENSITIVE PRACTICES FOR HDP ACTORS.

GENDER INTEGRATION

• DESIGN AND IMPLEMENT STRATEGIES TO ENSURE GENDER EQUALITY IS A CORE COMPONENT OF CONFLICT-SENSITIVE PROGRAMMING.
• DEVELOP, ADAPT, AND DELIVER GENDER-SENSITIVE TRAINING MODULES TAILORED TO LOCAL AND INTERNATIONAL STAKEHOLDERS THAT ARE INTEGRATED IN THE CS TRAINING.
• CONDUCT IN-DEPTH GENDER AND CONFLICT ANALYSES TO IDENTIFY RISKS AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR INTERVENTIONS, ENSURING INCLUSIVE PROGRAMMING.

CAPACITY BUILDING

• IN COLLABORATION WITH CONSORTIUM PARTNER AND CAPACITY BUILDING ADVISER FACILITATE TRAINING AND WORKSHOPS ON CONFLICT SENSITIVITY WHICH INTEGRATES GENDER.
• MENTOR HUB STAFF AND PARTNERS TO OPERATIONALIZE GENDER-SENSITIVE AND CONFLICT-RESPONSIVE APPROACHES.
• SUPPORT THE ORGANIZATIONAL ACCOMPANIMENT PROCESS, HELPING PARTNERS INTEGRATE THESE PRACTICES INTO THEIR OPERATIONAL CYCLES.

RESEARCH AND KNOWLEDGE MANAGEMENT

• CONTRIBUTE TO THEMATIC RESEARCH ON THE GENDERED DIMENSIONS OF CONFLICT AND PEACEBUILDING.
• ANALYZE LESSONS LEARNED FROM HUB ACTIVITIES AND DISSEMINATE FINDINGS THROUGH WORKSHOPS, REPORTS, AND FORUMS.

CONVENING AND PARTNERSHIPS

• ORGANIZE AND FACILITATE WORKSHOPS AND DIALOGUES TO IMPROVE COORDINATION AND LEARNING AMONG HDP ACTORS ON GENDER AND CONFLICT-SENSITIVE PROGRAMMING.
• STRENGTHEN PARTNERSHIPS WITH INGOS, CSOS, AND OTHER ORGANIZATIONS FOCUSED ON GENDER EQUALITY AND CONFLICT SENSITIVITY.
• ADVOCATE FOR GENDER-SENSITIVE CONFLICT APPROACHES AT NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL FORUMS TO INFLUENCE POLICY AND PRACTICE.

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, and 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 Gender Studies, Peace and Conflict Studies, Political Science, or a related field.
• Additional certifications in gender-sensitive programming, conflict sensitivity, or organizational change management are an advantage.
• At least 7 years of experience in gender integration and conflict sensitivity programming, including research, policy development, and training delivery.
• Extensive experience working on programs that address the intersection of gender and conflict dynamics in humanitarian, development, or peacebuilding contexts.
• Proven ability to lead politically sensitive and gender-responsive initiatives, with a strong track record of strategic relationship management and coalition-building.
• Experience engaging with high-level executives within the national government, UN systems, civil society, and donor communities.
• Strong understanding of gender-sensitive conflict analysis tools, methodologies, and frameworks.
• Expertise in designing and implementing capacity-building programs with a focus on gender and conflict sensitivity.
• Advanced knowledge of Ethiopia’s social, cultural, and political context, particularly related to gender and conflict dynamics.
• Exceptional leadership, coordination, and communication skills to work effectively with consortium partners, donors, and other stakeholders.
• Demonstrated ability to translate gender and conflict-sensitive approaches into practical recommendations and actions.
• Fluency in English, with proficiency in other local languages preferred.

Success Factors

The Conflict Sensitivity and Gender Advisor will need strong expertise in gender and conflict sensitivity at the start, with the ability to quickly integrate these practices into the Hub’s activities. Key to success will be effective communication, collaboration, and leadership skills for engaging diverse stakeholders. Over time, the role will require strategic thinking, partnership-building, and the ability to drive capacity-building and research initiatives to sustain and scale conflict-sensitive, gender-responsive programming. This will ensure the Hub’s long-term impact on peacebuilding in Ethiopia.

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