Deadline: Jan 7, 2024
Job Description
Position:- PROJECT COORDINATOR/TECHNICAL LEAD – ER-CAP PROGRAM
Location:- Mekelle, Ethiopia
Position Status: Full Time
About Mercy Corps
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.
Program / Department Summary
ER-CAP is a 5-year project by Mercy Corps, DRC, and First Consult Development. It aims to improve the economic adaptation, protection, and recovery of conflict-affected populations in three regions: Afar (Abaala), Tigray (Mekelle), and Amhara (Woldiya). The program will benefit 43,540 individuals, focusing on IDPs, returnee women, youth and marginalized groups. It uses a conflict-sensitive, systems-strengthening, climate-smart and inclusive approach to enhance systems that support economic recovery. The expected outcomes include resilient livelihoods, improved access to financial products and services, and enhanced capacity to mitigate protection risks.
ER-CAP aims to improve the economic condition of conflict-affected communities by strengthening MSMEs, improving crop and livestock value chains, and providing income-generating opportunities. It includes providing affordable financial products and technology through partnerships with financial service providers, conducting GESI dialogues, and identifying business ideas for economic activities in displacement settings.
General Position Summary
Mercy Corps is looking for an experienced, qualified Project Coordinator to support the implementation of the RE-CAP Project, including leading the field activities of the project. This is an exciting opportunity to combine Economic Recovery, financial inclusion & MSD programming, and a unique opportunity to become a leading expert in the economic recovery sector in conflict affected context
Essential Job Responsibilities
Strategy and vision
- Work closely with the Program Manager and program team members to develop a strategy for achieving the objectives and KPIs of the ER-CAP program
- Recognize opportunities for innovative action and create an environment where alternative viewpoints are welcome
Program management
- In coordination with Program Manager and program team members, lead program start-up, management, administration and closeout of programme. Ensure implementation is on time, target and budget.
- Lead assessments and analysis across all target locations (including needs, markets and conflict), drawing on external technical expertise as needed;
- Lead the process of developing partnership frameworks to support program implementation, partner agreements and ensure partner capacity building;
- Coordinate, manage and motivate program teams across all implementation locations, ensuring they have clear objectives / individual work plans as part of performance management, and receive meaningful feedback on their performance;
- Mentor program team members (program and M&E) reporting directly to this position, ensuring their ability to manage across programs in each of the target geographies;
- Prepare quarterly, annual and other timely reports as part of the donor and government reporting requirements
- Work with the program teams to ensure close relationships with key government partners, at all levels;
- Monitor work and targets closely to ensure that programs are able to provide maximum benefit to our beneficiaries within program timeframes;
- Work closely with team and partners ensuring we adhere to humanitarian principles, Mercy Corps’ gender policies, Do No Harm principles and beneficiary accountability standards;
- Integrate community approaches, gender sensitivity and capacity building into all activities;
- Fulfill Mercy Corps Program Management Minimum Standards based on the organization-wide guide.
Team Building and Management
- Lead and manage recruitment and training of all team members working in the portfolio, including on MSD programming working closely with the Program Manager;
- Oversee the documentation and filing systems for all programs in the portfolio, and ensure that information is organized according to MC, Donor and government reporting requirements.. Ensure required levels of confidentiality;
- Work closely with the country team’s security focal point to develop and maintain systems that ensure the safety and security of the team in all aspects of its work;
- Develop the capacity of the program team, deepen understanding of their roles and assist with career development;
- Promote accountability, communicate expectations and provide constructive feedback
- Create and sustain a work environment of mutual respect where team members strive to achieve excellence.
Finance and Operations Management
- Ensure compliance with donor and Mercy Corps’ regulations related to programming and operations.
- With support of the Operations Manager, ensure adequate operational systems are in place to provide for programs implementation;
- Ensure proper logistics, administration, human resources and transport needs of the programs are conducted within Mercy Corps policy;
- Manage program budgets as the primary budget holder;
- Exercise sound judgment to ensure projects’ expenses are reasonable, allocable and prudent. Ensure all projects’ funds are spent in accordance with donor rules and regulations. Work with Director of Programs to forecast expenditure surpluses and deficits to enable adjustments;
- Strictly follow Mercy Corps’ Fraud and Prevention guidelines.
Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning
- Ensure that program teams are continually gathering and digesting operating environment data and activity reports, and that teams are holding frequent activity review sessions to continually re-examine the relevance and impact of their programming;
- Coordinate and share information with the Program Manager to ensure overall project targets and donor obligations are being achieved. Advise on suggested improvements, as required;
- Ensure program teams have community complaint and feedback mechanisms in place and that complaints and feedback being received are responded to within a timely manner.
policy, advocacy, Representation
- Represent Mercy Corps at related events and contribute to thought leadership on Development, Humanitarian and Early recovery programs in Ethiopia and globally;
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 Beneficiaries
- Mercy Corps team members are expected to support all efforts toward accountability, specifically
to our beneficiaries and to international standards guiding international relief and development work, while actively engaging beneficiary communities as equal partners in the design, monitoring and evaluation of our field projects.
Supervisory Responsibility
One Program Specialist, one MEL and CARM Specialist and Gender Specialist
Accountability
Reports Directly To: ER-CAP Program Manager
Works Directly With: All program team members working on the ER-CAP program, field-level Finance, Operations and HR Managers; Country MEL Manager
Knowledge and Experience
- A degree in development studies, agricultural economics, agriculture and related field of studies ; a master’s in development studies or agricultural economics, agriculture and related fields studies is a plus. Specific education and training in minimum economic recovery and standards(MERS) , especially on MSD facilitation and coordination in conflict affected contexts , will be an advantage.
- 3+ years of experience in economic development such as , minimum economic recovery and standards , market analysis , value chain development , livelihoods recovery, entrepreneurship, employment and financial inclusion in Ethiopia
- Experience in providing technical support MSD projects with accountability for project performance and design. Experience with agriculture and alternative livelihoods in conflict prone areas is required.
- At least five years of experience designing, implementing and managing similar MSD and livelihood initiatives (private sector partnership, economic strengthening, and market systems development) is necessary.
- Experience in building and maintaining strong/productive relations with implementing and strategic partners is required.
- Strong interpersonal, writing and oral presentation skills in English are required.
- Strong leadership and proven team building experience is necessary.
- Demonstrated attention to detail, ability to follow procedures, meet deadlines and work independently and cooperatively with team members.
- Excellent coordination and representation experience is needed, especially in building and maintaining strong/productive relations with implementing and strategic partner agencies and government agencies;
- Excellent MEL, data analytics and quantitative skills are strongly preferred;
- Willingness and ability to travel frequently to Mercy Corps project sites and field locations, including traveling to insecure environments, is required. Experience in working in refugee settlements especially in the Tigray Region is preferred.
Success Factors
The ideal candidate will have the ability and curiosity to work comfortably and effectively in the cultural, relatively limited infrastructure of Tigray Region. S/he will be an excellent communicator, have a strong sense of humor, multi-tasker, and be able to work in difficult and often stressful environments. S/he will be committed to the work of Mercy Corps and the objectives of this program. They will demonstrate their dedication with a strong work ethic, attention to detail and creative problem solving. The ideal candidate will have a strong curiosity for understanding and working effectively within the complex cultural, political, security and social environment of Ethiopia.
Ongoing Learning
This project will be adaptive based on learning and evidence emerging from program interventions and research.
Additionally, 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. 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.
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 empower women and youth.”