Technical Lead - Climate Smart Land Management and Services (CSLMS) - Gulu

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.

Programme Summary

Present in Uganda since 2006, Mercy Corps Uganda’s aim is to catalyse change through the Ugandan private sector, civil society, and government to create resilient, economically inclusive, healthy, and secure communities.

We have 15 programmes across Uganda with a total portfolio value of $80m, including support from FCDO, USAID, US State Department, French Development Agency, Conrad Hilton Foundation and other private sector foundations. With a strong presence across the country, we have offices in Kampala, Rhino Camp, Yumbe, Moroto, Kotido, Amudat, Kaabong, Karita, and Karenga.

The Climate Smart Jobs Programme (CSJP) is a £39 million four year FCDO funded programme that seeks to grow climate smart agribusinesses to create jobs, support climate smart land management and services, as well as innovation on climate adaptation and mitigation, and remove barriers that stop businesses from getting deals done. Under Component (4) of the CSJP: Climate Smart Land Management Services, (worth approx. £8.5m) Mercy Corps will lead a consortium of partners to implement this component, which we will call the ‘REVIVE’ programme. The objective of this component is to preserve, restore and maximise the value of landscape ecosystem services in northern Uganda sustainably and at scale”. This is to be done through “Interventions (that) provide technical assistance and small start-up grants for individuals, community groups and private sector to pilot innovative, adaptive and resilient land management practices and nature-based solutions., focusing on stimulation of supply, demand, and a supportive enabling environment for improved ecosystem services across Northern Uganda. 

General Position Summary

The Technical Lead - Climate Smart Land Management and Services (CSL Lead) will have responsibility for successful delivery of the REVIVE programme in close collaboration with the Team Leader. They will have responsibility for ensuring all approaches and activities will be technically robust and are in line with the overall objective of REVIVE/Component 4 of CSJP. They will provide overall technical leadership in collaboration with all other technical leads (Monitoring, Results and Learning Lead, Economic Development Lead and the Gender and Social Inclusion Advisor). They will serve as technical focal point for the programme and will provide FCDO and other stakeholder representation on all climate related aspects.

The Technical Lead is expected to have strong expertise in the fields of Sustainable Land Management, Climate Smart Agriculture, ecosystem-based adaptation/ecosystem services, climate finance/carbon credits and have some understanding of market systems.

Essential Job Responsibilities

Programme Management & Technical Oversight

• Support in the develop and implement the overall programme strategy and design, taking technical lead on specific climate-based activities, ensuring all activities in the programme are designed and implemented in a climate-sensitive manner;
• Provide technical leadership and strategic support on climate activities in cooperation with key project stakeholders, including national and international partner organisations, local civil society organisations, local and national government officials, other international agencies on the ground, and key donors.
• Provide oversight of all Inception Phase technical assessments; specifically on the co-ordination of the ecosystem service valuation (whilst supporting team members in conducting this valuation)
• Provide technical leadership and guidance to programme and partners staff, ensuring best practice approaches are used in fields of ecosystem services and climate smart agriculture.
• Ensure climate smart principles are adhered to throughout the entirety of the REVIVE component, whilst working with the Gender Technical Lead to support on gender and social inclusion and the Economic Development lead to support on market systems change and economic growth.
• Provide Technical Leadership in expertise area on lessons learning and influence/coordination with other CSJP components
• Provide guidance on best practices around market systems approaches and linkages with resources and land management
• Provide technical oversight specific to the different stages of community resilience.
• Supervise and/or review the work of programme consultants upon request of the Team Leader.
• Coordinate with procurement, logistics, security, administration, infrastructure and human resources teams to ensure operational systems support field activities.

Research and Monitoring and Evaluation and Learning:

• Support relevant team members and/or consultants during inception phase technical assessments;
• Drive a cutting-edge research agenda to inform programme strategy, adaptive management and promote internal and external learning as it relates to technical expertise;
• Provide on-going support to teams on data collection processes for completeness, accuracy, and timely submission;
• Work closely with the Team Leader and the MEL team to ensure monitoring and evaluation is practical and reflects best practices for measuring climate smart agriculture and sustainable land management and services;
• Ensure the relevant component activities, outputs and outcomes adhere to the wider political/policy priorities as it relates to climate smart/sustainable land management;
• Nurture partnerships with universities, research institutions, and other organizations to produce case studies, assessments, and other learning documentation, and influence them to drive innovation and positive change.

Ethics and Integrity

• All Mercy Corps staff are expected to behave ethically and demonstrate highest integrity in their professional and personal life. Mercy Corps has zero tolerance to any form of fraud, corruption, abuse, harassment, or exploitation. Any breach of our policies or misconduct will lead to disciplinary action or may lead to termination.

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 Programme Participants

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: None.

Accountability

Reports Directly To: Team Lead

Works Directly With: All team members of the REVIVE programme, including partners, PaQ team, Technical Support Unit, Operations and Finance Teams. Will also support any consultants or team members leading technical assessments, including the ecosystem service valuation.

Knowledge and Experience

• Master’s degree in Climate Adaptation, Resilience, social sciences, international relations or other relevant fields.
• Minimum 5 years’ relevant professional experience implementing Climate Adaptation & Resilience programmes in East Africa, with experience in implementing climate smart/sustainable land management programmes in Uganda.
• Experience with Market Systems Development and as it related to climate smart agriculture/agroforestry and sustainable land management
• Experience and knowledge of best practice in ecosystem service valuations
• Technical expertise and understanding of climate finance and carbon credits - particularly in the Ugandan context
• Proven understanding of climate change adaptation strategies, and resilience programming
• Experience of FCDO-funded grants will be preferable
• Demonstrated experience with adaptive management, integration of research into programme design and strategy, and innovative approaches to program monitoring and evaluation.
• Demonstrated experience in managing effective relationships with external stakeholders, including government entities, research institutes, donors and peer agencies.
• Knowledge of systems approaches and resilience principles is a plus.
• Strong facilitation and consensus-building skills.
• Must be able to work independently while being a strong team player.
• Fluency in written and spoken English

Success Factors

The successful Team Leader candidate will demonstrate the capacity to lead a multi-dimensional effort in a complex and fluid security environment.  (S)he will employ excellent judgment, strong interpersonal and cross-cultural communication skills, and be committed to the values and mission of Mercy Corps.  (S)he will take initiative, calculate risks and benefits of various courses of action, lead others to achieve to the highest level possible, and demonstrate solid decision-making while working in concert with diverse partners.

Competencies

• Strategic Thinking
• Results-oriented
• Impact and Influence
• Collaboration/Teamwork
• Adaptability/Change Management

 Living Conditions/Environmental Conditions

The CSL Lead position will be based in Gulu, Uganda with at least 40% travel to domestic sites. Travel to other locations for regional representation may be required. At times evening and weekend work may be required to meet deadlines and at times of shocks and stresses.

Mercy Corps team members represent the agency both during and outside of work hours when deployed in a field posting or on a visit/STA 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. 

Ongoing Learning

In support of our belief that learning organisations 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.

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.

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.

Please note that this position is contingent upon donor approval and funding.

Closing date for applications: March 18th 2022.