Mercy Corps is powered by the belief that a better world is possible. To do this, we know our teams do their best work when they are diverse and every team member feels that they belong. We welcome diverse backgrounds, perspectives, and skills so that we can be stronger and have long term impact.
The Program / Department
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.
Mercy Corps is seeking a dynamic and passionate Chief of Party (CoP) to lead the implementation of a USAID-funded multi-year Resilience in Pastoral Areas Activity (RIPA) โ North (RIPA-North). RIPA-North started in February 2020 and is currently scheduled to end in February 2025, but with the strong possibility of follow-on funding. RIPA-North takes a systems approach to improve the resilience capacities of households, markets and governance institutions across 22 woredas in the Somali, Afar and Oromia regions. The activity integrates four technical components and a โcrisis modifierโ intervention which is aimed at protecting development gains against shocks and stresses. The components include: 1) Improved Disaster Risk Management (DRM) systems and capacity; 2) Diversified and sustainable economic opportunities for people Transitioning out of Pastoralism (ToPs) particularly youth and women; 3) Intensified and sustained pastoral and agro-pastoral production and marketing; 4) Improved and sustained nutrition and hygiene practices; and 5) Crisis modifier. The RIPA North CoP will be responsible for overall management of the activity including consortium partnerships and relationships with a wide range of stakeholders at different levels including close collaboration and coordination with RIPA South.
The Position
The Chief of Party (CoP) will provide overall leadership, management and strategic vision to the implementation of RIPA-North. S/he will manage staff, resources and partnerships to ensure that the program meets its targets and deliverables on time and within budget. The CoP will supervise program staff and ensure accountability to Mercy Corpsโ policies and donor rules and regulations. S/he will be the primary program representative to donors, relevant government entities, partners, other implementers and external stakeholders. In addition, the CoP will play a central leadership role in developing and driving Mercy Corpsโ resilience strategy and program portfolio in Ethiopia. S/he will be responsible in building productive working relationship with national and regional government key partners. As we enter the latter stages of RIPA-North, a key role for the CoP will be to deliver against the RIPA-North Communication Strategy and ensure that learning and communications are prioritized by team members across the program.
Essential Responsibilities
STRATEGY AND VISION
- Recognize and act on opportunities for innovative action and create an environment where alternative viewpoints are welcomed.
- Set direction by prioritizing and organizing actions and resources to achieve objectives.
- Oversee the development of annual, integrated strategic work-plans for the program.
- Lead the development and execution of a program-wide resilience-building strategy to guide coordination and integrated design and implementation of resilience programming.
PROGRAM MANAGEMENT
- Oversee ongoing program management and administration of teams across various field locations, ensuring mechanisms for effective adaptive management and M&E systems are in place and utilized regularly.
- Lead the development of detailed implementation plans, flowing from annual strategic work-plans, and ensure the delivery of the same.
- Lead the socialization of the program with Government of Ethiopia stakeholders, ensuring necessary approvals and collaboration as required.
- Confirm that participants are effectively targeted according to transparent criteria.
- Ensure that Gender Diversity and Social Inclusion (GEDSI) and Conflict Sensitivity are integrated in to all activities as appropriate. Certify all interventions adhere to Mercy Corpsโ Gender Policy, Do No Harm principles, and participant accountability standards.
- Provide managerial and programmatic oversight to partners and sub-grantee(s).
- Document processes and achievements to ensure best practices are captured and disseminated. This will include the continual re-evaluation of program activities and information, with resulting activity adjustments in keeping with new insights.
- Produce written reports on program activities, capturing the impacts of activities.
- Oversee efforts to design effective M&E systems for the program, and linkages with internal M&E systems.
- Lead and oversee that program teams design and implement advanced and innovative technological solutions to key problems in project management, activity outreach and results measurement systems
- Oversee efforts to produce strategic resilience-related research for the program.
- Create and follow effective stakeholder management plans, ensuring sound and proactive communications with Mercy Corps Ethiopia, partner organizations, Mercy Corps headquarters, USAID, Government of Ethiopia authorities, and colleague agencies.
- Conduct frequent field visits to all project sites โ spend up to 30% of time in the field
- Supervise and/or review the work of program consultants.
- Coordinate with procurement, logistics, security, administration, and human resources teams to ensure operational systems support field activities.
TEAM MANAGEMENT
- Create and sustain a work environment of mutual respect where team members strive to achieve excellence.
- Set a team culture valuing learning and adaptive management in support of an ongoing resilience approach in programming
- Promote accountability, communicate expectations and provide constructive feedback via regular performance reviews.
- Build and sustain a culture that fosters improved feedback loop, safe space for constructive debates and innovations
- 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.
- Supervise and manage all program staff to ensure day-to-day activities are implemented in a coordinated fashion according to schedule, budget and quality.
- Supervise and manage all program partnerships to ensure sound coordination in the context of an overall program strategic and resilience-building framework.
- Manage and help with the recruitment, orientation, professional development and ongoing training of staff to ensure they are of the quality and technical capacity necessary to ensure the successful implementation of activities.
FINANCE AND COMPLIANCE MANAGEMENT
- In collaboration with the country programโs operations and finance departments, ensure proper financial management, procurement, administration, human resources and logistics (including transport, warehousing and asset management) needs of the program are conducted within Mercy Corpsโ policy and with the maximum benefit to the program.
- Monitor adherence to grant agreement, Mercy Corpsโ policies and procedures and relevant external rules and regulations, including those of the government of Ethiopia.
- Ensure compliance with USAID and Mercy Corpsโ regulations.
INFLUENCE AND REPRESENTATION
- Liaise with and represent program to USAID and other cooperating sponsors and stakeholders.
- Represent Mercy Corps at government, donor, NGO and other relevant events in the field, in close coordination with the Country Director.
- Ensure close coordination and information sharing with consortium partners, sub-grantees, local government and other implementers, as well as with other Mercy Corps programs.
- Establish and maintain relationships with communities and local government.
- Track progress against the RIPA-North Communication Strategy and support the CLA team and team members responsible for communications to successfully develop a strong pipeline of products.
SECRUITY
- 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.
Supervisory Responsibility
National and international team members working on the program, as well as partnerships with international and national program partners.
Accountability
Reports Directly To: Country Director
Works Directly With: Other Mercy Corps Ethiopia Program Leads including Director of Program, CoP, PaQ Manager, finance, HR and operations teams, HQ Regional Program Team, HQ Technical Support Unit and Partner Organizations
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 Qualifications & Transferable Skills
- MA/S or equivalent experience in international development, management, economic development or other relevant field.
- At least 10 years of relevant international experience with positions of progressively greater responsibilities.
- At least five years in a senior management role is required with experience in project management related to multi-sectoral, USAID funded activities strongly preferred.
- Demonstrated ability to build and foster an adaptive team culture and a record of accomplishment in strategic visioning, leadership, and inspiring teams.
- Demonstrated ability to build and maintain relationships with host governments, donors, other donor-funded projects and stakeholders, local organizations, and partners.
- Effective verbal and written communication skills in English, multi-tasking, organizational and prioritization skills.
- Experience managing complex programmatic and financial reporting requirements, preferable with USAID.
- Experience with USAID rules, regulations and requirements is strongly preferred.
Success Factors
The successful CoP will combine exceptional management skills and experience in building and maintaining donor and partner relationships. S/he will have an ability to approach complex development challenges through a systems-thinking lens and have an ability to think creatively about improving food security, community development and resilience. The CoP will have proven experience with cross-cultural team and capacity building, individual staff development and strong mentoring skills. S/he will be passionate about learning and adaptive management techniques as fundamental strategies to improve program impact. Multi-tasking, prioritizing, problem solving and simultaneous attention to detail as well as 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. The successful Chief of Party must be comfortable operating and traveling in a sometimes volatile security environment and therefore, changing plans and program tactics accordingly.
Living Conditions / Environmental Conditions
The COP is based in the capital city โ Addis Ababa. The location is accompanied and secure. Housing is family accommodation with good freedom of movement beyond the house/office. There are several international schools in Addis Ababa, British systems exist for children up to 11 years old. The US school takes students to pre-university levels. Staff have access to basic services (electricity, water, sporadic internet etc). Medical facilities are basic with international clinics able to provide emergency services. This position requires 35% travel by road and air to field offices in often insecure environments. Addis Ababa is host to many international organizations including the OAU, the Economic Commission for Africa and other multi-national bodies, many of which have their headquarters based in the capital city.
Mercy Corps team members represent the agency both during and outside 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.
Ongoing Learning
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 worldโs 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 and have signed on to the Interagency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme. 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.
As a safeguarding measure, Mercy Corps screens all potential US-Based employees. This is done following the conclusion of recruitment and prior to assuming full employment.
Our screening process is designed to be transparent and completed in partnership with new Team Members. You will have the opportunity to disclose any prior convictions at the conclusion of the recruitment process before the check is initiated. We ask that you do not disclose any prior convictions in your application materials or during the recruitment process.