Project Officer (Internal)

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

Mercy Corps with funding from WFP is currently implementing the “Climate-Proofing Food Security in Ethiopia’s drought-prone lowland areas” in Dollo Ado and Dollo Bay woredas.  This project is intended as a scalable solution to address present and anticipated future impacts of climate change on the livelihoods and food security of vulnerable smallholder farmer, agropastoral, and pastoral communities in drought-prone and drought-affected areas of Ethiopia. While the project initially focuses on the Somali region, it is designed to be extendable to other regions through continuous lesson learning, active engagement of government and other partners. The project aims to improve food security through an integrated approach that addresses root causes of displacement, poverty, and food insecurity, by strengthening livelihoods and increasing resilience at three levels: a) individuals and households, b) communities and ecosystems, and c) systems level. Overarching objectives of this project – defined in more detail in the theory of change and the results framework – are as follows:

• Enhance livelihood, resilience, and food security of vulnerable communities.
• Strengthen adaptive capacities of communities, ecosystems, and systems.
• Reduce aid-dependency by enabling beneficiaries to become more self-reliant.
• Demonstrate the effectiveness and impact of this integrated approach to bring it to scale.

The objective of the project supports joint efforts of the Government, UN, and other partners to address the increasing necessity for climate resilient, environmentally friendly, and socio-economically sustainable development, while continuing to work across the Humanitarian–Development–Peace nexus towards achieving collective outcomes that reduce needs, risks, and vulnerabilities at the various levels. Activities implemented under this project are expected to contribute positively to stability by reducing intercommunal sources of conflict through active engagement of different clans and communities in the development and implementation of rangeland management and agricultural development strategies, reduced pressure on natural resources, improved livelihoods, and diversified sources of income. Synergies with the humanitarian sector will be enabled by shifting away from unconditional humanitarian assistance and using the conditionality of cash/voucher transfers to enable asset creation and rehabilitation activities.

General Position Summary

The project officer will be based in Dollo Bay, Dollo Ado & Bokolmayo woredas and works under the direction and guidance of the Project Coordinator and field team. The PO will be responsible for the planning, implementation, monitoring and reporting of IFTIIN programme activities at the community level.

He/she bridges the link between the project field team and the communities and local government representatives and engage in community/institutional capacity building activities.

In collaboration with local level government stakeholders, community members the PO is responsible for the day-to-day planning and implementation of project activities at community level.

Essential Job Responsibilities

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:

STRATEGY & VISION

• Work together with the IFTIIN project team and government partners to achieve the programme objectives and results at his/her specific area of operation
• Take part in the planning, implementation, monitoring, review and reporting tasks.
• Facilitate the targeting of project intervention areas and beneficiaries.
• Facilitate the establishment of various Cooperatives, enterprises, Participatory Forest Management (PFM), Participatory Rangeland Management Cooperatives (PRMs), VSLA groups, and other CBOs to engage in the programme interventions.
• Facilitate the legalization process of the established Cooperatives, enterprises, Participatory Forest Management (PFM), Participatory Rangeland Management Cooperatives (PRMs), Bamboo enterprises, VSLA groups, and other CBOs in collaboration with the concerned government organizations.
• Provide training, technical back stopping to beneficiary community members and government staffs.
• Participate in the assessments, studies, surveys, monitoring, review and evaluation activities at the community level.
• Facilitate field visits and experience sharing visits at the community level.
• Support to identify training needs, prepare training materials, and deliver training, business plan development and other services to CBOs and unions.
• Ensure adequate consultation and participation of kebele and village/community level stakeholders ensuring active participation of women.
• With support of the field technical team, provide expertise and advice for community institutions/Organizations on gender mainstreaming and gender equality.
• Facilitate community meetings, discussions, dialogues among others on the management of the programme at the community level.
• Prepare and submit progress reports and updates timely.
•  Support and Facilitate Community/institutional Capacity Building Activities

• Act as an active member of the project team by identifying and exploring opportunities to improve project implementation and guarantee its sustainability.

SECURITY

• Ensure compliance with security procedures and policies as determined by country leadership.
• Proactively ensure that team members operate in a secure environment and are aware of policies.

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.
• 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.

ACCOUNTABILITY:

REPORTS DIRECTLY TO:  The Agri Coordinator   

WORKS DIRECTLY WITH:  The Project implementation team.

 Knowledge and Experience

• BSc in NRM, Agriculture, Forestry, rural development or related fields
• Knowledge of watershed management, Soil and water conservation, Participatory Forest and rangeland Management (PFM/PRM), landscape management, Financial Inclusion and livelihood development.
• Three Years work experience in watershed management, NRM, landscape management Participatory Forest and rangeland Management (PFM/PRM), livelihood development in similar organizations Prior experience working with pastoralist communities, in Ethiopia especially in the Somali region.
• Effective verbal and written communication, multi-tasking, organizational, prioritization skills.
•  Ability to work comfortably, effectively and creatively in areas of variable security.
• Multi-tasking, organization, and prioritization skills

Success Factors

• Fluent in English and Somali languages (capable in all require basic skills: reading, listening, speaking and writing);
• Business minded, entrepreneurial, adaptive, curious, 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.
• Computer literate especially in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook)

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.