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, working in rural, peri-urban and urban areas in five regional states - Somali, Oromia, Afar, Southern Nations Nationalities and Peoples, Amhara - and the capital city of Addis Ababa. We engage in both development and humanitarian work, and seek to integrate approaches, programs and geographies as much as possible.  Our partners include government, academic institutions, development and private sector actors, civil societies and communities. Mercy Corps Ethiopia invites motivated and qualified candidates to apply for the following vacant position.

 Position Title: Field Officers

Location: Gambella

Number of Positions: Two

 Program / Department Summary

Mercy corps is a global leader in governance strengthening and peace building. Between 2004 and 2012 Mercy corps was primarily a peace building organization in Ethiopia with a strong track record of partnerships and impact. With the revised proclamation to contribute working in the area Mc has started a small trade4peace pilot intervention (under its RISING program) to demonstrate the importance and potential impact of this approach.  Complimentary to this we are about to implement a 2 million dollar program through the funding of the Hilton foundation that will be implemented for one year. The program will focus on creating community governance institutions that promote peace and social cohesion between refugees and host communities and which fosters mutually beneficial economic interactions and opportunities. The proposed trade 4 peace program will consist of two objectives

1. Trade 4 peace governance institutions become drivers of cooperation and peace between refugee and host communities
2. Improve livelihood and Market opportunities for refugee and host communities

General Position Summary

The field officers will be responsible for participating in designing and implementing related activities of the project objectives from assessment validation and activities selection and planning to implementation of activities to providing recommendations to scaling up and rolling out activities in the project sites. They will be responsibility for the implementation of the project in respect to peace building activities,

development of infrastructures like irrigation and Natural resource management , water harvesting and rangeland management to improve the livelihood and opportunities of host and refugee communities in the region.

Essential Job Responsibilities

STRATEGY & VISION

●       Recognizes opportunities for innovative action and create an environment where project teams work together, exchange information, coordinate activities and develop team spirit in project management

●       Works closely with project management other team members to contribute to a vision and strategy development

PROGRAM MANAGEMENT

●       Coordinates, participate and organizes assessment validation and activities planning workshop, which will involve all key stakeholders.

●       Provide systematic technical support to ensure quality and impactful implementation of all NRM related activities in the area of operation,

●       Propose appropriate natural resource enhancement activities and plans based on technical surveys and community assessments, considering indigenous knowledge, social criteria and multi-community needs

●       Provide technical support and oversee sound, quality implementation of community-based NRM/CCA activities as per community plans and agreements, including soil and water conservation, rangeland rehabilitation, water harvesting and conservation where appropriate, timely development and communication of early warning information and advisories

●       Design and develop activities and corresponding work plans specific to peace and conflict; facilitate co-design sessions across sectors to ensure peace-building and conflict sensitivity are integrated across all sector activities and work plans; review and sign off on each work plan and concept note

●       Provide direct technical support for critical peace-building and conflict management activities; develop facilitation plans for inter-group dialogue sessions, and provide onsite mentorship to negotiation and mediation processes.

●       Regularly visits field activities to assess progress and provide formal and informal feedback.

●       Develops key monitoring and measuring indicators, milestones and plans in close collaboration with supervisor and M&E team, and solely responsible for monitoring and reporting all output, outcome and impact indicators for respective market system(s).

●       Builds and maintains close relationships with key government partners

●       Develops monthly , quarterly and final report providing summary of activities and recommendations and share with his/her supervisor and other team members and stakeholders.

●       Works closely with the program team and partners ensuring we adhere to humanitarian principles, Mercy Corps’ gender policies, Do No Harm principles and beneficiary accountability standards;

●       Integrates community approaches, gender sensitivity and capacity building into all activities;

●       Fulfill Mercy Corps Program Management Minimum Standards based on the organization-wide guide

TEAM MANAGEMENT

●       Assist team members with information, tools and resources to improve performance & reach objectives.

●       Create and sustain a work environment of mutual respect where team members strive to achieve excellence.

●       Organize and provide technical programmatic inputs and training to field team, government partners and  community partners on natural resource planning and implementation techniques

FINANCE & COMPLIANCE MANAGEMENT

●       Ensure compliance with donor and Mercy Corps regulations related to programming.

●       Draft and/or review scope of work to hire and manage any technical consultants, including review for technical efficacy and contract budget.

INFLUENCE & REPRESENTATION

●       Identify, build and manage collaborative partnerships with consortium partners, sub-grantees, donors, local governments and other stakeholders.

●       Communicate effectively to ensure overall project targets and donor obligations are met.

Knowledge and Experience

.Bachelor’s degree in one of the following subjects:  Natural Resource Management, Irrigation , Plant Science, Agriculture extension, Cooperative, livestock Management, development studies,  Environmental Science, Disaster Risk management social science/s, peacebuilding and conflict mitigation, international development, humanitarian response, , international relations

●       Three to five years of experience in the related activities.

●       Experience in practical field-based activity implementation

●       Willingness and ability to perform field work and spend extensive time in remote areas

●       Ability to engage with communities and various traditional institutions, women’s and youth groups

●       Ability to effectively with diverse ethnic groups within the target area

●       Knowledge of participatory analyses, action and results processes;

●       Experience in the region is required;

●        Ability to speak at least one of the local languages spoken in the area of target.

Success Factors

●       Fluent in English and one of the local languages in Gambella

●       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)

●       Ability to write clear and concise reports in English. Strong written and spoken English skills a definite advantage.