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.
Mercy Corps has been operational in South Sudan since 2005 and is currently engaged in both Development and humanitarian responses. In Western Equatorial, Mercy Corps has been partnering with SDC, AFD and many partners to Strengthen the Resilience, Agriculture and Markets (STREAM) in Mundri East, Mundri West and Mvolo Counties. Mercy Corps has a country office in the capital of Juba and field offices in states. Mercy Corps programs include Food security & Livelihoods, Expanding Economic Opportunities, Peace & Governance and Water Security.
Mercy Corps seeks FSL Technical Advisor to provide leadership to the STREAM program and to support strategic expansion of FSL program in South Sudan. The FSL Technical Advisor will guide STREAM team to fully roll out program in Mundri West, Mundri East and Mvolo counties and work with country and regional team to support fundraising of STREAM co-finance. Potential candidates should have specialized Market Systems Development (MSD) experience, especially MSD in crisis in complex crisis including in emergencies, flooded areas, internally displaced persons and or refugees.
General Position Summary
Working under the direction of the Director of Programs in Juba the FSL Technical Advisor is expected to contribute to the quality assurance of program implementation of FSL and integrating gender, youth, protection, monitoring and evaluation and ensure that Mercy Corps programs/projects bring a significant contribution to reducing poverty and build secure productive and just communities and play a leading role in transforming Mercy Corps programs in South Sudan.
FSL Technical Advisor will oversee and develop high quality design and implementation of long-term development and emergency programs and lead the development of new and innovative initiatives that effectively address the underlying causes of poverty. The successful candidate must also ensure that systems and people are in place to ensure proper management of these projects and programs. S/he will work closely with all FSL cluster and ensure standard FSL practices are applied throughout the Programme area.
S/he will also play a pivotal role in building the capacity of the country on MSD, local partners, national staff and other stakeholders in the principles and practices of MSD in FSL. S/he will design and conduct appropriate training modules and mentor staff, colleagues, and partners in order to build their capacity on MSD across key outcome areas. S/he will work with the country team and TSU to develop MSD strategy for Mercy Corps South Sudan ensuring MSD is mainstreamed across the 4 objectives of Food Security, Economic Opportunities, Water Security, Peace and Good Governance.
Essential Job Responsibilities
The FSL Advisor is responsible for overseeing, coordinating, and ensuring integration between Mercy Corps South Sudan FSL programs as well as liaising with various external stakeholders.
Provide Technical FSL Support to the FSL cluster and Relief Rehabilitation Commission partners.
Provide technical advice to cluster program managers to ensure that partner FSL strategies are aligned, and to help provide quality control.
Provide trainings to partner FSL staff as required
Conduct monitoring visits to partner field projects, where security permits
In coordination with the WASH Technical lead, develop a monthly monitoring tool to track project progress.
Represent the Mercy Corps at FSL cluster meetings
Provide Technical FSL Support and Coordination of Mercy Corps FSL projects.
Lead roll out of all STREAM program activities
Identify priorities in term of assessments, designing and overseeing KAP and other surveys
Provide technical advice to program managers (including quality control monitoring visits) and trainings/workshops as required
Proposal / concept note development
Report writing
Set-up of an information management/project monitoring system for FSL Programmes
Lead development of a Food Security and Expanding Economic Opportunities strategy to contribute to Mercy Corps country strategy, especially ensuring integration of MSD principles in the strategy
External coordination
Share relevant project information with other stakeholders
Participate in FSL coordination meetings
Examine and pursue funding opportunities from donors and partners, in collaboration with the CD (including developing and submitting concept papers, proposals, etc)
Quality and Accountability
Coordinate with the team in the Country Office and in HQ to build systems that promote beneficiary accountability by ensuring that communities participate in initial assessments and program design.
Ensure that communities are informed about our programs and what we do, are aware of their entitlements, are comfortable to give feedback and that feedback is used to improve the quality of our programs.
Support and inculcate a culture of learning between programs through consistent sharing of M&E processes and systems.
Conduct himself/herself both professionally and personally in such a manner as to bring credit to Mercy Corps and to not jeopardize its humanitarian mission.
Organizational Learning
Develop and implement a comprehensive staff training series to build team capacity in the area of FSL and reporting.
Build the capacity of local partners in the area of FSL and reporting.
Build the capacity of all relevant team members to develop and maintain a robust FSL system, including periodical reflection and analysis of program monitoring data;
Develop plans to mentor and coach colleagues to build their capacity to enable them to develop high quality reports and other documents;
Facilitate the development and execution of context specific solutions to improve collaboration, coordination and performance;
Work with Alliance Coordinator to strengthen linkages with other actors to enhance organizational learning which directly impacts staff performance and productivity;
Information Management
Manage the development of monitoring and tracking systems;
Ensure that all communications are in line with Mercy Corps values and goals in relation to DM&E and communications.
Develop and implement plans for further integration of information management systems within Mercy Corps and across partner agencies;
Manage the institutional knowledge within the South Sudan program and contribute to wider knowledge management.
Proposal Development and Reports Management
Coordinate with field program staff and other relevant Mercy Corps stakeholders on proposal development, project design in pursuit of high impact and cost effective program strategies and activities;
Maintain a comprehensive list and schedule of private and institutional funding reports, including the detailed requirements necessary for each donor/grant and/or project.
Develop a program reporting schedule and share among all PMs and ensure all reports are completed and submitted on schedule.
Develop program operational reporting templates that facilitate the acquisition and aggregation of information in programs.
Supervisory Responsibility
Technical oversight of field-based activities undertaken by STREAM team members including program officers, M&E officers, works closely with all country PMs and sectors specialists.
Reports Directly To: Director of Programs
Works Directly With: Country Director, Finance Director, Operations Manager, HR manager, Security Manager, Program Development and Reporting Specialist and other team members
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 & Transferable Skills
Degree in Social Sciences or Agriculture related
Experience in donor relations in a humanitarian/developmental context
A min of 5 yearsโ experience in FSL projects
Significant experience in developing NGO country FSL strategies
Good understanding of MSD approach
Must have extensive training skills and experience working with a variety of donors;