New Job Vacancies at Mercy Corps, 21st March 2018.

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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.  In Nigeria, Mercy Corps has worked since 2012 by focusing its programming on adolescent girls’ empowerment, economic development, conflict mitigation, and humanitarian response. We are recruiting to fill the position below:     Job Title: Program Officer, Conflict Reference No: MDG/HUMOPS/2018/00007 Location: Maiduguri, Borno Reports directly to: Project Manager NE-CMS Remotely reports to: Project Manager TARE Works directly with: All field team members Duration: Ends 31st October, 2019. Project Description Mercy Corps’ through funding from the Department for International Development (DFID) will implement the second phase of the Northeast Conflict Management and Stabilisation (NE-CMS) programme, aimed at increasing societal and individual resilience to violent extremism in Northeast Nigeria through strengthening government and civil-society led efforts to address key grievances, increase economic opportunities for youth, and set the stage for successful reintegration of former members of violent groups and their victims. The NE-CMS programme will focus on three main areas considered to be critical for prevention of violent extremism in Northeast Nigeria that were identified through a rigorous research and stakeholder and partner analysis. The NE-CMS programme seeks to strengthen government and community cooperation to re-build trust in governments’ ability to provide basic services and security; reduce youth participation in violence through improving their well-being, supporting constructive social behaviours, productively engaging in community development, and providing opportunities to fulfil their economic ambitions and prepare the ground for reintegration processes of former fighters and their victims, as well as displaced population, through sensitization of the communities and an inclusive reconciliation process that would build and restore trust across all sectors of society. To support the aims and objectives of the NE-CMS programme, Mercy Corps’ through funding from the Gerald A. and Henrietta Rauenhorst (GHR) Foundation will also implement TARE (which stands for “together” in Hausa) an inter-religious peacebuilding program. TARE aims to reduce participation in violence in Northern Nigeria through engagement of religious actors in interfaith and policy dialogues. In Borno State, Mercy Corps will engage male and female Christian and Islamic religious leaders to contribute towards a state-level Countering Violent Extremism (CVE) framework followed by community action plans to prevent violent extremism. This work will be done in cooperation with community leaders, civil society, and local and state government officials. NE-CMS/TARE will be implemented in several LGAs across Borno state. General Position Summary

• The Programme Officer will support the implementation of activities related to capacity building for religious and community leaders and key government stakeholders in Countering Violent Extremism (CVE) and radicalization of youth, and the facilitation of events related to CVE/peacebuilding initiatives.
• The Programme Officer will also provide support to all other activities related to the NE-CMS/TARE programmes and will ensure smooth, timely, and compliant implementation.
• The Programme Officer will liaise frequently with community members and represent Mercy Corps at meetings and forums.

Essential Job Functions Program Implementation:

• Ensure effective implementation of the NE-CMS/TARE programmes, including meeting deliverables on time, within budget, and according to MC and donor standards.
• Ensure that NE-CMS/TARE is responsive in strengthening local capacities to implement evidence-based, community- led projects that address the drivers of instability in the region.
• Conduct frequent field visits to all project sites in several Local Government Areas (LGAs) across Borno state in North-East Nigeria.
• Support technical aspects of the program by assisting with the development of activities/agendas/curriculum related to CVE.
• Facilitate and co-facilitate community meetings, events, and trainings as required.
• Liaise with partner organizations, government officials and potential resource persons as needed.

Personal Leadership:

• Demonstrate flexibility, resilience and ability to maintain positive relationships and composure.
• Maintain high ethical standards and treat people with respect and dignity.
• Demonstrate an awareness of his/her own strengths and development needs.

Monitoring & Evaluation (M&E) and Reporting:

• Facilitate the achievement of performance-based targets and outcomes and lead efforts to design effective, proactive, and iterative M&E systems following DFID’s logical framework.
• Produce draft reports and updates on all aspects of the NE-CMS/TARE program in a timely and efficient manner.
• Support M&E staff to implement relevant surveys, need assessments, data and information collection for on-going monitoring.
• Coordinate closely with other all personnel to ensure all objectives of the proposal and activities are met.

Representation:

• Represent Mercy Corps at government, donor, NGO and other relevant events in the field, in close coordination as assigned.

Programme Support Operations:

• Work closely with the programme team based in Abuja, with program, finance, operations, and administration to ensure effective systems are in place to support field activities including logistics (transport, warehousing and asset management), procurement, security, administration and human resources.

Organizational Learning:

• As part of Mercy Corps’ agency-wide Organizational Learning Initiative, all team members are responsible for spending 5% of their work time in formal and/or non-formal professional learning activities.

Accountability:

• To be accountable for ensuring all allocated project plans, risk plans and project documentation and files are accurate and up to date.
• Also Mercy Corps team members are expected to support all efforts towards 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.

Knowledge and Experience

• Strong educational background in conflict management, peacebuilding, international development or other relevant field;
• A minimum of 2 to 4 years of experience in a related position, with experience working in rural communities in North-East Nigeria strongly preferred;
• Strong written and oral communication skills in English required, including report development, writing and editing. High proficiency level in Hausa and other local languages spoken in the Borno state is strongly preferred.
• Experience operating large, complex programs in an insecure environment is required.
• Demonstrated attention to detail, ability to follow procedures, meet deadlines and work independently and cooperatively with team members.
• Strong management skills, with good understanding of relevant cross-cultural issues in high security environment.
• Experience working in a multi-organizational team (international and national partners) is a plus.
• Demonstrated attention to detail, ability to follow procedures, meet deadlines and work independently and cooperatively with team members.
• Experience working with the relevant Borno state Ministries, Departments and Agencies is preferred.

Success Factors

• The successful Programme Officer will combine exceptional management skills and technical skills with a focus on innovative interventions to bring communities together. An ideal candidate will be conversant with the challenges inherent in CVE/peacebuilding work and will be a self-starter who has led grassroots development efforts. S/he will have an outstanding ability to support innovative and complex programs within the current and future program structure of Mercy Corps in the region. Multi-tasking, prioritizing, problem solving and simultaneous attention to detail and strategic vision are essential
• The most successful Mercy Corps staff 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.

Living Conditions/Environmental Conditions:

• The PO will be based in Maiduguri, Borno state. The PO will travel frequently to program locations, where security may be particularly difficult at times.
• Mercy Corps team members represent the agency both during and outside of work hours when deployed in a field posting or on a visit/TDY 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.

    Job Title: Education Advisor Reference No: ABV/DEVPRGGM/2018/00003 Location: Abuja Duration: 2 Years Program / Department Summary

• The Educating Nigerian Girls in New Enterprises (ENGINE) II Programme is funded through the Girls’ Education Challenge (GEC) of the Department for International Development (DFID) and is implemented across the four Nigerian states of Kano, Kaduna, Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and Lagos. Mercy Corps leads the implementation of the programme.
• ENGINE II (April 2017-March 2020) is a sequel to ENGINE I (October 2013 to March 2017); in its first phase, the programme was successful in reaching out to over 24,000 marginalised girls out of which, 21,162 girls were retained from the above mentioned four programme implementing states.
• The primary objective of ENGINE II is to increase the learning outcomes (literacy and numeracy) of the total 21,162 retained girls, who are now aged between 17 to 23 years old. Alongside, it also aims at facilitating/supporting girls into transition to higher grades and/or economic opportunities.
• It also works toward ensuring sustainability of the programme activities through ownership by the government, school stakeholders and community members after the programme lifetime.

General Position Summary

• The Education Advisor will be responsible for leading the education component of the project.
• S/He will be responsible for developing the teaching learning approach for ENGINE II by working in close collaboration with the government agencies such as, Ministry of Education, Education Resource Centre, SUBEB (State Universal Basic Education Board), NERDC (Nigerian Educational Research and Development Council), Ministry of Women’s Affairs and Social Development and the programme team across the four Nigerian states of Kano, Kaduna, Lagos and Federal Capital Territory.
• This position will ensure ENGINE II implementation is responsive to improving the learning outcomes of the marginalised in-school and out-of-school Nigerian girls.
• S/He will report to the Deputy Programme Manager of ENGINE II with dotted reporting line to the Policy and Governance Manager.

Essential Job Responsibilities Strategy & Vision:

• Support the development of the overall vision and strategic plan for the teaching learning/education approach for the programme.

Programme Management:

• Provide technical leadership for the design, formalisation, and management of ENGINE II’ teaching learning/education intervention for both in-school and out-of-school girls.
• Lead the teachers’ professional development interventions for ENGINE II.
• Develop monitoring tools for the education approach by working in close collaboration with the programme Monitoring Evaluation and Learning (MEL) team.
• Review the findings from the MEL team and provide appropriate strategies to the programme management team.
• Lead and develop adaptation of the ENGINE II education approach for Lagos, Kano, Kaduna and FCT.
• Review and develop the teaching learning manual for ENGINE II, with focus on literacy and numeracy.
• Develop instructional materials to improve the learning outcomes.
• Conduct frequent field visits to the programme implementing sites to monitor the activities.
• Integrate gender, Do No Harm and Child Protection as a cross cutting themes across all proposed education interventions.

Team Management:

• Create and sustain a work environment of mutual respect where team members strive to achieve excellence.
• Promote accountability, communicate expectations and provide constructive feedback via regular performance reviews.
• Supervise, support hire and orientation of new team members as necessary.
• Provide team members with information, tools and other resources to improve performance and reach objectives.
• Implement performance planning and management systems, establish performance expectations with team members, and regularly provide constructive feedback on team members’ performance.
• Contribute to country team-building efforts, help team members identify problem-solving options and ensure the integration of all team members into relevant decision-making processes.

Finance & Compliance Management:

• Ensure compliance with donor and Mercy Corps regulations related to 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 governments and other stakeholders.
• Communicate effectively to ensure overall project targets and donor obligations are met.
• Proactively form relationships community members to complement DfID funding.
• Represent ENGINE II on different forums on education issues at technical and strategic planning.

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
• Work closely with Mercy Corps Nigeria country team’s security focal point to develop and maintain systems that ensure the safety and security of the team in all aspects of its implementation process.

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.

Knowledge and Experience

• Minimum NCE (National Certificate of Education) and/or Bachelor's in Education, Masters' Degree preferred.
• A minimum of 5 years of progressive work experience in the education sector, including experience working in the development sector in implementing education programme.
• Proven experience in developing teaching learning materials.
• Proven experience in coordinating teachers’ professional development programme.
• Proven experience in developing, reviewing and drafting training materials.
• Strong understanding of Nigerian education policies and formal and non-formal education systems.
• Demonstrate strong understanding on Do No Harm, Child Protection and Gender principles.
• Should be able to develop M&E tools such as, teachers’ needs assessment, student learning assessment and pre-and post- tests.
• Strong management skills, with good understanding of relevant cross-cultural issues in high security environment. Experience managing a multi-organizational team (international and national partners) is a plus.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills in English required, including report development, writing and editing.
• Demonstrated attention to detail, ability to follow procedures, meet deadlines and work independently and cooperatively with team members.
• Demonstrated experience working with country-level ministries and government officials, Ministry of Education experience preferred.

Success Factors

• The successful candidate will combine exceptional leadership, management and technical skills with a focus on innovative interventions to engage adolescent girls in improving their learning outcomes. S/he will have an outstanding ability to develop, implement and manage innovative and complex programs within the current and future program structure of Mercy Corps in the region. Multi-tasking, prioritizing, problem solving and simultaneous attention to detail and strategic vision are essential.
• The most successful Mercy Corps staff 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.
• Mercy Corps team members represent the agency both during and outside work hours. 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.

    How To Apply Interested and qualified candidates should send not more than 4 page CV and Cover Letter in one document, addressing the position requirements and location to: [email protected]   Application Deadline  5th April, 2018.   Note

• All applications must include the position title and reference number in the subject line and should not be more than 4 pages.
• Please note that only short-listed candidates will be contacted for interview and we are an equal opportunity organization so women are strongly encouraged to apply for this position.

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