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

Mercy Corps is currently implementing a WFP funded “Building Self-sustaining Farmer-Managed solar Irrigation Models for resilience Project” in Bokolmayo woreda specifically in Kobe, Melkadida and Sablale.  The project will take an integrated approach to enable improved nutrition, livelihoods, and resilience of vulnerable (agro)pastoralist host and refugee communities in drought-affected areas, with a focus on scaling up support to maximise the impact and sustainability of irrigation systems in Bokolmayo woreda. The action will contribute to food security, resilience, and social cohesion. Beneficiaries will receive inputs and training to facilitate improved agricultural production, post-harvest management, value-adding, market linkages, and entrepreneurship while accessing financial services for improved, diversified, and resilient livelihoods and transformed local food systems. The project aims to build on previous investments funded with support from Sida and Danida  and Mercy Corps seeks to scale-up the successful approaches of this action.

General Position Summary

The main role of the project manager for the Building Self-sustaining Farmer-Managed solar Irrigation Models for resilience Project is to provide the appropriate tools, processes and project management systems to ensure that operational priorities for change are balanced, that governance and decision-making are facilitated, and the organization has the resources and capacity to effectively implement its program.

The Project Manager is responsible for the management and implementation of the assigned MC’s Building Self-sustaining Farmer-Managed solar Irrigation Models for Resilience project in Bokolmayo Districts. Key job functions include the following:

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:

 STRATEGY & VISION

• Oversee and manage field level activities to ensure quality and timely delivery of planned activities.
• Provide technical leadership to field team in planning, organizing, implementing, monitoring, reporting and evaluation of activities.
• Support project team to develop concept notes for the activities and support to ensure better implementation in the area.
• Manage relationship with relevant government stakeholders, public and private partners including key actors (inputs suppliers, producers, information service providers, and other appropriate actors) in the target area for better success.
• Facilitate private sector engagement in his/her respective responsibility in the region by bringing innovative ideas and initiatives to the team.
• Work closely with all IFTIIN team members ensuring activity integration and achieve overall IFTIIN goal.
• Contributes to the key monitoring and measuring indicators, milestones and plans in close collaboration with MSD and M&E team, and be responsible for monitoring and reporting outputs and outcome indicators in each component.
• Ensures the program captures and updates information of activities implemented.
• Compile and submit regular updates/reports (weekly, monthly and quarterly).
• Other duties as assigned.

PROGRAM COORDINATION

• Liaise with local government officials, local NGOs and civil society organizations, local religious leaders and other notables to ensure support for and acceptance of Mercy Corps’ programs.
• Maintain close working relationships with donors, other humanitarian and development organizations, and local partners, including representing Mercy Corps at local coordination meetings as assigned.
• Represent Mercy Corps professionally in the responsibility areas as to bring credit and to maintain its humanitarian and development mission.

Team management

• Build effective relationships with program teams implementing production, marketing, diversified economic opportunities, based on mutual trust, collaboration, urgency and curiosity.
• Assist team members with information, tools and resources to improve performance & reach objectives.
• Promote accountability, communicate expectations and provide constructive feedback informally and formally.
• Create and sustain a work environment of mutual respect where team members strive to achieve excellence.
• Support hiring and orientation of team members.

FINANCE & COMPLIANCE MANAGEMENT 

• Ensure compliance with donor and Mercy Corps regulations related to emergency programming.
• Approve budgets as per approval authority Metrex (AAM).
• Review monthly BvA and act accordingly.

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 Program Lead

WORKS DIRECTLY WITH:  The Project implementation team.

REQUIREMENTS

  Knowledge and Experience

• Experience in private sector is strongly preferred.
• Bachelor’s degree in agriculture, agribusiness, economics, business administration or other related field, or commensurate private sector or field experience is required.
• Minimum of 5 years’ experience in private sector or working with other agencies in program coordination, market systems facilitation, production, agribusiness and/or financial services.
• 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 Ethiopia especially in the Somali region.
•  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.
• 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

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.
• Excellent communication, facilitation and networking skills with a wide range of private, partner and NGO-sector actors.
• Computer literate especially in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook)

Influence and Representation

• Identify, build, and manage collaborative partnerships with consortium partners, sub-grantees, donors, local governments, and other stakeholders.
• Communicate effectively to ensure overall project targets and donor obligations are met.

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.