Subscribe to Job Alert
Join our happy subscribers
Never pay for any CBT, test or assessment as part of any recruitment process. When in doubt, contact us
Mercy Corps is a global humanitarian aid agency engaged in transitional environments that have experienced some sort of shock: natural disaster, economic collapse, or conflict.
Program Department / Summary
Across eastern and southern Africa, Mercy Corps is a recognized leader in resilience. Our innovative programming and commitment to growing evidence and learning on what works for building resilience in fragile and complex environments are widely recognized by donors and policy makers for solutions that have lasting impact. Mercy Corps recognizes that the interconnected and complex shocks and stresses affecting the East Africa region, especially in the Horn of Africa, must be met with sophisticated approaches that span sectors and strategically bridge all forms of aid. With a distinct agency-wide resilience framework, global expertise in resilience measurement and research, and our Africa Regional Resilience Hub, Mercy Corps is well placed to work differently and play a meaningful role in supporting and growing the capacities of people, institutions and systems across eastern and southern Africa to achieve and maintain long-term wellbeing through a comprehensive resilience approach.
General Position Summary
Reporting to the Africa Regional Resilience Director, and working closely with program teams, Country Directors as well as regional and global technical team members, the Regional Resilience Advisor will support Mercy Corps' resilience portfolio in the Horn of Africa and other countries in eastern and southern Africa. S/he will collaborate closely with country teams to advance program and country-level resilience objectives through dedicated support on a portfolio of resilience-focused programming and strategic initiatives focused on building resilience in fragile and complex crisis contexts, while contributing to expanding and advancing Mercy Corps' regional resilience program platform and influence through supporting thought leadership, representation and program development.
The Regional Resilience Advisor (RRA) will focus primarily on strengthening technical capacity and supporting programming in Zimbabwe, Somalia, Sudan, Kenya and Ethiopia, where a great deal of work is underway and learning is relevant for the broader region. Programming under the RRA's portfolio includes the application of resilience in a number of sectors, such as market systems development for agricultural systems, urban/rural livelihoods and economic recovery; food and nutrition security; natural resource management and climate change adaptation; peacebuilding; gender and social inclusion and other sectors. The role also includes a significant focus on supporting cutting-edge programming that oversees the application of a resilience approach for coordinating a shared agenda for collective learning, capacity building and cross-stakeholder strategy and coordination, including on the humanitarian/development/peacebuilding nexus. The RRA will provide strategic program support on critical assessment, design and learning processes at different phases of the program cycle; coordinate and implement capacity building for teams working on resilience in fragile contexts across the region; guide evidence generation, synthesis and dissemination to advance learning; and provide technical expertise on strategic program development.
Essential Job Functions
PROGRAM QUALITY, TECHNICAL SUPPORT AND CAPACITY BUILDING (65%)
REGIONAL LEARNING, THOUGHT LEADERSHIP AND REPRESENTATION (20%)
STRATEGIC PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT (15%)
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 PARTICIPANTS
Mercy Corps team members are expected to support all efforts towards 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: None
Accountability
Reports Directly To: Regional Resilience Director – Africa.
Works Directly With: Country Directors/Directors of Program; program managers and country program teams; regional and HQ technical staff; Resilience TSU
Knowledge And Experience
Success Factors
The successful candidate will apply a strong combination of program leadership and relationship-building abilities with an outstanding ability to work independently and contribute to innovation, influence and impact across a set of complex contexts and multi-sector programs. Deep curiosity, commitment and openness to new practices, concepts, ideas and change for continuous improvement will serve the candidate well. Flexibility and public relations skills are integral success factors in this position.
The successful Advisor will have a sincere interest to see big picture trends through various systems lenses, and roll up his/her sleeves to put theory into practice in partnership with program teams. S/he will have interest and ability to travel and work in remote environments and awareness of and sensitivity to multicultural international development/humanitarian work. Finally, s/he will have an ability to train and facilitate dialogue among a diverse group of individuals with various skill sets and working styles through innovative capacity building and facilitative techniques.
Living Conditions/Environmental Conditions
The position is based in Harare, Zimbabwe or Nairobi, Kenya or other East Africa locations of Mercy Corps. It requires frequent travel (approximately 35%-40%) to multiple project sites, at times over extended periods (2-3 weeks). When in the field the team member will need to able to work in remote settings and possibly over weekends and/or evening as required by the schedule. In the region, secure residences are available and public services (water, electricity, healthcare) are adequate. This is an accompanied post with international schooling available for children.
Mercy Corps Team members represent the agency both during and outside of work hours when deployed in a field posting or on a visit/TDY to a field posting. Team members are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner and respect local laws, customs and MC's policies, procedures, and values at all times and in all in-country venues.
Fostering a diverse and open workplace is an important part of Mercy Corps' vision. Mercy Corps is an Equal Opportunity Employer regardless of background. We are committed to creating an inclusive environment.
Build your CV for free. Download in different templates.
Join our happy subscribers