Program manager, Economic Recovery-Conflicted Affected Population

Position:- Program manager, Economic Recovery-Conflicted Affected Population

Location:- Addis Ababa, 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
The ER-CAP Program Manager is responsible for the overall management of ER-CAP. He/she is responsible for providing strategic and technical guidance, providing guidance on program planning and implementation, ensuring effective implementation of all activities and being proactive to address challenges, monitor and analyze the program environment and progress, using applicable monitoring and evaluation and risk management tools and advise on timely adjustments and corrective measures as necessary.
The Program Manager is responsible for the strategic planning and overall management of the program and reports to the Director of Inclusive Economic Growth.

Essential Job Responsibilities
Strategy and Vision

Lead the development of the ER-CAP detailed implementation strategy.
Ensure all ER-CAP team members have a clear understanding of the program strategy and their role in contributing towards its delivery.

Coordination and Collaboration
Builds strategic partnership with stakeholders and partners to advocate, promote and advance organizational issues, priorities, interests and competencies for a successful program and program delivery.
Coordinate and collaborate with clients, partners, and stakeholders to link and harmonize approaches and to promote common interests and achievement of results.
Provide direction and guidance to the ER-CAP program team(s)/responsible parties.
Advise the Country Offices on new proposal development which have components on inclusive and innovative financial services
Enhance and maintain donor relationship and ensure timely reporting on the agreed deliverables

Program Management
Establish the work plan, activities, targets, budget, standards for measuring progress and results and determine the processes, tools, and methodologies to be used to ensure effective and efficient program implementation and operations.
Ensure gender integration and mainstreaming are incorporated into mission level strategic and annual planning efforts.
Lead and support the gender analysis process to determine the needs of men, women, boys, and girls in a community to inform program design.
Closely work with the MEL team to integrate gender in the program M&E system.
Monitor progress and identify risks for timely action and early resolution.
Advise Mercy Corps senior management and senior national government officials on the direction, strategies and technical issues of the program and lead discussion on innovative solutions.
Responsible for the full compliance with Mercy Corps rules and regulations and policies on financial activities, financial recording/reporting system and follow-up on audit recommendations.
Responsible for donor reporting and any other additional reporting required
Responsible for financial management of the program and financial reporting.
Introduce innovation and best practices, access to knowledge and expertise and promote its application.
Actively support knowledge building, sharing, and applying in the program.
Closely engage with wide range of public and private actors like businesses or financial service providers (MFIs, Banks, VSLA groups) in establishing partnership and managing relationship on regular basis

Leadership and Team management
Ability to plan own work, manage conflicting priorities and work under pressure of tight and conflicting deadlines.
Work closely with team members and partners, to support capacity-building and gender integration into the programs.
Very good interpersonal skills and ability to establish and maintain effective partnerships and working relations.
Very strong leadership capacities to guide a multi-cultural team in difficult circumstances.
Lead the identification of program issues, challenges and risks, appropriate recommendations and implement them.
Mentor and coach team members as they perform their duties.

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.

Supervisory Responsibility
REPORTS DIRECTLY TO: I) Director of Inclusive Economic Growth (Line Manager)
WORKS DIRECTLY WITH: ER-CAP team in Addis and in Amhara, Tigray and Afar regions; Operations and Finance Teams.
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 programs.

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.

Knowledge and Experience
BA degree in business, economics, finance and development, agricultural economics, agribusiness management or related social science fields.
At least 8 years of work experience, preferably in MSD programs, especially output and input services, business development services, technical skills training agricultural value chains, inclusive financial services, product & strategy development.
Managerial and supervisory experience and demonstrated partnership management skills are preferred.
Previous work experience in the private sector, particularly financial sector, and international development organization is an advantage.
Understanding of Markets Systems Development Approach (MSD) approach is needed.
Willingness and ability to travel frequently to Mercy Corps project sites and field locations, including traveling to insecure environments, is required.

Success Factors
A successful Program Manager will have a demonstrated ability to lead and communicate effectively with team members of varied work styles, follow procedures, communicate timely and responsibly with donors and meet deadlines with flexibility and creativity in planning and problem solving. S/he will have a proven ability to learn quickly, take initiative, and be accountable for results, understand the larger picture while remaining focused on the details, work within a complex security and political situation and to follow strict security protocols. A willingness to relocate for short-term as necessary within coverage regions, based on programmatic needs, work independently and as part of a team are essential Computer literate especially in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook)

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.

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: 14 December 2023/ 4:00 PM