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.

Program / Department Summary

Mercy Corps has been present in Ethiopia since 2004, and acts on behalf of people who have become disenfranchised and poor. We stand with Ethiopia to find and access opportunities, and to be part of lasting and meaningful transformation in the country. Mercy Corps seeks to be influential with government and development actors towards a more resilient country where poverty is tackled through the eyes of those who understand it best. This translates into ensuring that the population is financially stable, healthy & nourished, educated & informed, and that natural resources are accessible, shared and utilized sustainably.

Specifically, the program manager is expected to oversee the following components within the program which are to be led by Mercy Corps:

Climate proofing food security in Ethiopia’s Drought-Prone Lowland Areas project – the objective of this project is to enhance the livelihood, resilience, and food security of vulnerable communities, strengthen the adaptive capacities of communities, ecosystems, and systems, to reduce aid dependency by enabling program participants to become more self-reliant; and to demonstrate the effectiveness and impact of this integrated approach to bring it to scale. this project funded by World Food Program (WFP), with duration of one year in the inception period.

The Women Economic Empowerment – under this component, will carry out activities aimed at promoting women’s economic empowerment through capacity building and skills training, mobilizing, and supporting women to form business cooperatives in which women will engage in various socio-economic activities as outlined in the technical proposal.

ESSENTIAL Responsibilities:

The Program Manager is responsible for management and implementation of MC’s WFP livelihood projects in Dollo Ado and Dollo Bay Districts.  Key job functions include the following:

Overall Program Management

• Organize market assessment, community participatory planning, validation and activities planning workshop involving all key stakeholders.
• Advise/guide the project team to develop detailed plan for implementation of selected activities, including roles, timeframe, desired outcomes.
• Develop, implement, monitor progress of work plans that can be adaptively managed.
• Facilitate key relationships across a wide range of market actors, community groups, civil society and other potential partners.
• Ensure that market systems work captures and responds to up-to-date information about market developments within respective market systems and global best practices for Economic & Markets Development.
• Manage all required documentation and reporting required by the donor and head office team.
• Regularly visit field activities to assess progress and provide formal and informal feedback.

Team Management

• Develop the capacity of the team, deepen understanding of their roles and assist with career development.
• Assist team members with information, tools and resources to improve performance & reach objectives.
• Promote accountability, communicate expectations and provide constructive feedback informally and formally via regular one on ones and performance reviews.
• Create and sustain a work environment of mutual respect where team members strive to achieve excellence.
• Hire, orient and lead team members as necessary.

 Finance & Compliance Management

• Ensure compliance with donor and Mercy Corps regulations related to development and emergency 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 government partners, other stakeholders.
• Communicate effectively to ensure overall project targets and donor obligations are met.

 Accountability

Reports Directly To: Inclusive Economic Growth Director

Works Directly With:  Program Managers, Area Managers, Field level implementers including advisors and MSD Project officers/specialists, MEL manager/officers

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.

 Minimum qualification and Transferrable Skills

• MA/S or BA in Business, Economics, Finance, Agriculture, Agribusiness, Agricultural economics, or related field
• Minimum three to five years’ mid to senior-level field leadership experience.
• Deep understanding and mastery of Economic & Markets Development facilitation including coaching, relationship building, communicating, entrepreneurialism/business understanding and innovating.
• Familiar with all aspects of the relevant market systems including key actors, micro-financial institutions (MFIs), banks, Insurances, information service providers, inputs suppliers, producers, traders, intermediary and terminal markets governance frameworks (formal and informal); and all support markets and functions.
• Demonstrated success in programs related to market systems strengthening, financial inclusion, private sector development, marketing and value chain programming.
• Prior experience working with pastoralist communities, in the Horn of Africa or elsewhere, required.
• Demonstrated ability to function as a social entrepreneur and proven success with building, managing and leading a team of professionals and the ability to function as a team player among peers.
• Proven ability for project and financial management.
• Effective verbal and written communication, multi-tasking, organizational, prioritization skills.
• Ability to work comfortably, effectively and creatively in areas of variable security.
• History of working effectively and respectfully with host country government, private sector, INGO and NGO partners in complex environments.
• A dynamic, “outside-the-box” attitude is required, with proven ability to think and act creatively in challenging environments.
• Effective English language verbal and written communication skills.
• Multi-tasking, organization, and prioritization skills
• Fluency in Somali is required.

 Success Factors

A successful candidate will have a demonstrated ability to lead and communicate effectively with team members of varied work styles and cultures, follow procedures, and meet deadlines with flexibility and creativity in planning and problem solving. S/he will have a proven ability to learn quickly, multi-task, prioritize, take initiative, and be accountable for results, understand the larger picture while remaining focused on the details, problem solving, work within a complex and sensitive setting and to follow laws and security protocols. The most successful Mercy Corps team members have a strong commitment to teamwork and accountability, thrive in evolving and changing environments and make effective written and verbal communication a priority in all situations.