Deadline: Oct 23, 2023
Job Description
Location Dollo Ado -Somali Region: Ethiopia
Position Status: Full Time
Mercy Corps has been present in Ethiopia since 2004 working to drive bold and transformative ideas, working closely with government, the private sector and civil society actors to build a more resilient country, ensuring that programs are responsive to and influenced by participants and stakeholders. Our vision is to enhance the resilience of climate and conflict-affected communities through market systems development for improved livelihoods, access to food, and safe and clean water to thrive in the face of crises. Our strategy focuses on the four outcome areas of: 1) Economically marginalized populations have improved and diversified livelihoods, income, and assets; 2) Pastoralists, farmers, and households have access to sustainably produced, safe, nutritious food; 3) Social cohesion and inclusive governance processes are built in crisis-affected communities; and 4) People have equitable, sustained access to clean water and sanitation for domestic and productive use. Currently we operate in the regional states of Afar, Amhara, Gambella, Oromia, Somali, Sidama, Southern Ethiopia, Tigray and Addis Ababa city administration working with a diverse base of donors that includes United States Agency for International Development (USAID), European Union, GAC, Hilton Foundation, United Nations (UN), JOA, Sweden, EKN, and other foundations.
Essential Job Responsibilities:
She/he will also be responsible to facilitate market assessments and/or research to be undertaken under the MSD approach and interrelated sectors, engaging in stakeholder analysis and identification partners.
PROGRAM MANAGEMENT
- Identify and analyze systematic constraints and opportunities within and between the value chains and design appropriate market-driven interventions to address the gaps and barriers in market systems, using the market systems development approach.
- Use an adaptive management approach to continuously reflect on the market systems development progress and integration with the overall DREAMS program, ensuring active learning and course correction where strategies and coordination are falling short.
- Ensure the market systems development activities are gender and youth sensitive with a focus on building resilience in vulnerable populations.
- Develop, implement, and monitor the progress of work plans within the priority and potential supporting functions that can be adaptively managed.
- Develops monitoring and measuring indicators, milestones, and plans; monitors and reports all output, outcome, and impact indicators for priority supporting functions in the Market development system in line with the Graduation model.
- Actively advance DREAMs market linkages to actors at local regional and national levels, seeking avenues for partnership, collaboration, and coordination of activities.
- Oversee the work of project teams during the preparatory works, assessments, technical requirements, selection of external entities in support of the grants/projects, and ensuring compliance with Mercy Corps agreements and with statutory and technical legislation issued by appropriate government authorities.
- Lead research and monitoring of market systems analysis, business cases, and intervention plans in the selected sectors to improve impact, particularly for the scale-up of value chains and financial inclusion.
- Conduct himself/herself both professionally and personally in such a manner as to bring credit to Mercy Corps and not jeopardize its operations in the target location.
- Develop and review technical content for training materials relevant to different stakeholders.
- Other duties assigned by supervisor.
TEAM MANAGEMENT
- Coordinate and closely collaborate with all consortium team members to conduct assessments across selected sectors/market systems with a special focus on the Graduation component, including understanding constraints related to the graduation model, technology to enhance smart subsidies and related functions.
- Work with the DREAMS project staff like project Officers Specialists, and GESI other team members of Mercy Corps, and consortium partners to identify areas in which the different sectors and/or intervention areas are integrated and have the most growth potential.
- Assist team members with information, tools, and resources to improve performance & reach objectives.
- Promote accountability, communicate expectations, and provide constructive feedback informally and formally.
- Create and sustain a work environment of mutual respect where team members strive to achieve excellence.
FINANCE & COMPLIANCE MANAGEMENT
- Ensure adherence to systems for ensuring effective and transparent use of financial resources for timely and informative reporting in line with donor and Mercy Corps policies and procedures.
- Ensure compliance with donor and Mercy Corps regulations related to the programming.
INFLUENCE & REPRESENTATION
- Identify, build, and manage collaborative partnerships with consortium partners, sub-grantees, donors, local governments, and other stakeholders.
- Comply with Mercy Corps approach at key government and advocacy platforms.
- Represent Mercy Corps at all relevant coordination meetings.
- Coordinate with other NGOs in Dollo Ado to consolidate Mercy Corps’ strategic niche and comparative advantages, while identifying strategic partnerships.
Represent Mercy Corps programs when needed.
- Demonstrate flexibility, resilience, and ability to maintain positive relationships and composure.
- Maintain high ethical standards and treat people with respect and dignity.
Organizational Learning
- As part of our commitment to organizational learning and in support of our understanding that learning organizations are more effective, efficient, and relevant to the communities they serve, we expect all team members to commit 5% of their time to learning activities that benefit Mercy Corps as well as themselves.
Accountability to Project participants
- Mercy Corps team members are expected to support all efforts toward accountability, specifically to our project participants and to international standards guiding international relief and development work, while actively engaging project participating communities as equal partners in the design, monitoring, and evaluation of our field projects.
Reports Directly To: DREAMS project manager.
Works Directly With all program teams and consortium partners,
Minimum Qualification and Transferable Skills
- Excellent communicator in English with demonstrated excellent report writing and speaking skills, knowledge of local languages very advantageous.
- Demonstrated critical thinking, problem-solving, and relationship management skills.
- 5 years experience in strategic planning and implementing programs.
- BA/BSc in Animal and rangeland science, Agr-Economics, Agro-business, environmental science, and relevant field, or equivalent experience
- Strong organizational and managerial skills
- Experience or working in the Somali region with strong contextual knowledge of local cultures and ways of working.
- Ability and experience (a plus) working in refugee and host communities in Dollo Ado,
- Knowledge of the Somali language
- Experience effectively initiating and maintaining productive relationships with private, public, civil society, and research sector partners.
- Excellent computer skills, including all Microsoft applications (Word, Excel, Outlook & Powerpoint)
Success Factors
- Fluent in English
- Knowledge of the local language is an asset (Somali)
- Business-minded, entrepreneurial, adaptive, curious, with great problem-solving skills, unafraid to ask questions, and results motivated.
- He /She will be a tolerant and flexible individual able to work in difficult and stressful environments and follow procedures.
- Excellent communication, facilitation, and networking skills with a wide range of private, partner, and NGO-sector actors
Computer literate especially in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook
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 elearning courses upon hire and on an annual basis.
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.
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 empower women and youth.”
DEADLINE FOR ALL APPLICATIONS: 23 October 2023/ 4:00 PM