Mercy Corps is an international development organization that works in over 40 countries to promote community-led and market-driven development. With a strategic focus on countries in transition, Mercy Corps takes a progressive approach to supporting communities, entrepreneurs, governments and the private sector from relief to long-term economic growth. With a network of over 3,700 experienced professionals around the world, we are uniquely positioned to respond to complex environments and the needs of local communities.
Program / Department Summary
Mercy Corps has been present in Uganda since 2006, focusing its interventions on economic and agricultural development, maternal child health and nutrition, governance, conflict management and humanitarian response. With funding from USAID, FCDO, DANIDA, AFD, ADA and private foundations, Mercy Corps has been able to work together with communities in Uganda to drive transformative change in the communities where we work, with a particular focus on addressing the needs of youth, refugees and adolescent girls in last mile and pastoralist communities. In 2023, Mercy Corps reached almost 1 million participants in Uganda through our work to build resilience and enable economic growth, improve access to energy, and strengthen governance and conflict management. Innovation is at the core of Mercy Corpsโ work in Uganda, and we look to accelerate innovative solutions to meet the challenges Ugandans face, through a focus on climate change adaptation, access to energy, financial inclusion and economic opportunities for refugees and pastoralist communities. In Uganda, Mercy Corps operates in Karamoja specifically in Kotido, ,Abim, Amudat, Kaabong and Moroto; in Northern Region in Gulu; West Nile in Yumbe and Central region specifically Kampala district. Mercy Corps offers technical expertise in Market Development, Gender, Peace and Conflict Management, Economic Empowerment, Food Security Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning, Agriculture and Agribusiness.
Mercy Corps is seeking a Chief of Party (COP) to lead the implementation of an anticipated five-year USAID Resilience Food Security Activity (RFSA) in Uganda. The Activity will contribute to food and nutrition security for Ugandan households and communities.
General Position Summary
The Chief of Party will provide overall leadership, management and strategic vision to the implementation of a multi-year USAID Resilience Food Security Activity. They will manage staff, resources and partnerships to ensure that the Activity meets its targets and deliverables on-time and within budget. The COP will supervise Activity staff and ensure accountability to Mercy Corpsโ policies and donor rules and regulations. They will be the primary representative for donors, relevant government entities, partners, other implementers and external stakeholders for this Activity.
Technical Job Responsibilities
Strategy & Vision
- Provide leadership and strategic vision in all aspects of Activity implementation, development and management. Ensure that Activity implementation is responsive to communities, and aligned with Mercy Corpsโ principles, values and strategic plan.
- Outline and maintain a strategic plan for the implementation of program activities, including finalizing target areas/interventions, methods of operation and means of evaluation.
- Recognize opportunities for innovative action, create an environment where alternative viewpoints are welcomed and foster a safe, diverse and inclusive workplace.
Program Management
- Oversee Activity start-up and ongoing program management and administration of teams across various country locations.
- Lead the development of detailed implementation plans, flowing from annual strategic work-plans, and ensure program implementation is on time, target and budget, using effective M&E systems and adaptive management principles to reach desired impacts.
โ Provide managerial and programmatic oversight to partners and sub-grantees.
โ Document processes and achievements to ensure impact and 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.
โ Create and follow effective stakeholder engagement plans, ensuring sound and proactive communications with Mercy Corps Uganda, headquarters, USAID, Government of Ugandan authorities, partner organizations and colleague agencies.
โ Ensure integration of community approaches, gender and social inclusion sensitivity and capacity building into all activities as appropriate. Certify all interventions adhere to Mercy Corpsโ Gender Policy, Do No Harm principles, and beneficiary accountability standards.
โ Reinforce a culture of reflection and learning based on programmatic data.
Human Resources, Safeguarding and Diversity
โ Support Mercy Corpsโ global and regional initiatives for human resources, including safeguarding and diversity, and talent development.
โ Create and sustain a work environment of mutual respect where team members strive to achieve excellence.
โ 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.
โ Promote accountability, communicate expectations and provide constructive feedback via regular performance reviews.
Finance, Compliance & Risk Management
โ In collaboration with the country programโs operations and finance departments, ensure proper financial management, procurement, administration, human resources and logistics needs of the Activity are conducted within Mercy Corpsโ policy and with the maximum benefit to the RFSA.
โ Monitor adherence to grant agreement, Mercy Corpsโ policies and procedures and relevant external rules and regulations, including those of the Government of Uganda.
โ Collaborate with country leadership to support preparedness and response to major disruptive events.
Influence & Representation
โ Represent Mercy Corps at government, donor, NGO and other relevant events, in close coordination with the Country Director and Director of Programs.
โ Ensure close coordination and information sharing with consortium partners, sub-grantees, local government and other implementers, as well as with other Mercy Corps programs.
โ Establish and maintain relationships with communities, partners and local government.
Security
โ Work closely with the country teamโs security focal point to develop and maintain systems that promote the safety and security of all team members.
โ Ensure that the Activity is implemented with a clear analysis and understanding of security.
Safeguarding Responsibilities
โ Actively learns about safeguarding and integrates it into their work, including safeguarding risks and mitigations related to their area of work. ยท
โ Practices the values of Mercy Corps including respecting the dignity and well-being of participants and fellow team members. ยท
โ Encourages openness and communication in their team; encourages team members to submit reports if they have any concerns using reporting mechanisms e.g., Integrity Hotline and other options.
Supervisory Responsibility
National and international team members working on the program, as well as partnerships with international and national organizations. The number of direct and indirect reports is to be determined.
Accountability
Reports Directly To: Director of Programs
Works Directly With: Country Director; Senior Director, Africa Resilience Programs; PaQ Director and other Uganda program Directors, Activity team members, finance, administration 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 projects.
Knowledge and Experience / Qualification and Transferable Skills
โ MA/S or equivalent experience in development studies, international relations, agriculture, nutrition, public health, business administration or other relevant field.
โ At least 7 years of relevant international development experience (10 years+ with a Bachelorโs degree) with positions of progressively greater responsibilities, at least five years of which must be based in country programs.
โ At least five years in a senior management role is required with experience managing integrated, multi-sectoral programs of a similar size and scope in developing countries facing complex, volatile, and uncertain contexts.
โ Prior experience managing USAID development or resilience Activity(ies).
โ Proven success serving in a leadership role for a project addressing issues related to food security, nutrition, resilience, graduation approach, market system development, agriculture, natural resource management, livelihoods, or similar, preferably in Uganda.
โ Must demonstrate expertise in food, nutrition and economic security (FNES).
โ Understand and demonstrate commitment to the importance of gender and youth dynamics in FNES programming.
โ Demonstrated experience in adaptive management and learning techniques is highly encouraged.
โ Demonstrated ability to build and maintain relationships with host governments, donors, other donor-funded projects and stakeholders, local organizations, and partners.