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
In Mauritania, young people have few opportunities to build skills or obtain sustainable livelihoods, due to deep-rooted and interdependent economic, political and customary barriers at the household, community and education levels. Understanding the considerable challenges associated with successful socio-economic integration of youth, Mercy Corps, together with its partners Counterpart International, Ecodev, is leading USAID's Nafoore Activity (Nafoore) (2022-2027) under the Ministry of Employment and Vocational Training, to increase the resilience of 5,400 vulnerable youth (15-29 years old) in Mauritania by strengthening their assets and capacity to access economic and civic, to provide alternatives to violent extremism or radicalization.
The context of vulnerability that prevails in the areas of Mauritania where the Nafoore Work program is located exposes Nafoore program participants, their households and communities to many recurrent shocks and stresses. This led USAID to equip the Nafoore program with a Shock Response Plan (SRP) aligned with the Nafoore adaptive management process, providing a framework and operational roadmap for the Nafoore program to adapt to changing implementation contexts. The operational approach of Nafoore's PRS is as follows: guided by the fundamental principles of anticipation, adaptability and complementarity ensure the speed, effectiveness and quality of programmatic responses to the heightened vulnerabilities related to shocks of Nafoore's targeted participants in and around Mauritania's programming areas.
Russia's invasion of Ukraine has caused prices to soar in global food markets, threatening to push millions of people into food insecurity, especially in import-dependent countries like Mauritania, where most of the population already spends much of their income on their food basket and there are few opportunities to pivot to subsistence production. Beyond the impact of the war on food prices, inflationary pressures on other key commodities (such as fuel and input suppliers) threaten to drive economically active youth into bankruptcy and hamper prospects for sustainable livelihood development. For this reason, Mercy Corps, our partners Counterpart International and EcoDev, Center for International Private Enterprise (CIPE) and Support for the Integrated Development of Rural Communities (ADICOR), in collaboration with USAID, have activated the Crisis Modifier for the Nafoore program to ensure that the livelihood needs of targeted vulnerable youth and their households are met while helping youth-led small businesses adapt and survive the current challenging economic climate.
General Position Summary
The Nafoore Shock Response team leader coordinates all the Nafoore Shock Response activities during the Nafoore Shock Response phase. This includes the development of an integrated and comprehensive work plan, coordination of financial and personnel resources, operational set-up, and supervision of the program Nafoore Shock Response team and partners. The Nafoore Shock Response team leader bridges the gap between the programโs Nafoore Shock Response needs and the existing and available country and regional teamโs capacity and resources.
Essential Responsibilities
OPERATIONAL AND PARTNERSHIP MANAGEMENT
Ensure the rapid country opening team in ensuring all operational, financial, and legal requirements are met to ensure a smooth opening of the Mauritania shock response program.
Follow the subaward process with identified partners, including assessment of financial responsibility, review of subaward budgets and scopes of work, and liaising with HQ support departments to execute the agreements.
Work closely with the DCOP, COP, PAQ Manager, Finance Manager and Operations Manager to ensure that all operational departments are working in close collaboration with programs to facilitate smooth, efficient and effective program implementation.
Work closely with the HR/Admin teams and other team members supporting the HR/Admin aspects of launching the program and any support offices, including on the content and quality of orientation for new staff regarding policies and procedures and on regular training for policies and procedures.
Create and maintain systems ensuring effective and transparent use of financial resources for timely and informative reporting in line with donor and Mercy Corps policies and procedures.
Implement a monthly operational pack and a dashboard to ensure follow-up and analysis is updated on a monthly basis in all operations and program areas.
Ensure that archiving of operations documentation is well organized with hard and soft format and up to date to facilitate audit and information research.
Ensure Nafoore Shock Response Administration systems are implemented as described in the Field Administration Manual.
Develop and periodically review country or field office specific policies and communicate them to teams.
Oversee database and file management for administration, procurement, and logistics resources documents.
ANALYSIS & STRATEGY
Lead cross-functional collaboration to devise a program Nafoore Shock Response strategy and plan including the definition of program timeline.
Ensure synergy with program plans, technical approaches, and commitments. Further the analysis as necessary.
Identify critical path and key milestones that must be completed in the Nafoore Shock Response program.
With the Chief of Party, create and maintain a Nafoore Shock Response roadmap in consultation with country and regional teams and cross-operations HQ teams.
NAFOORE SHOCK RESPONSE TEAM ASSEMBLING AND MANAGEMENT
Establish the profiles and duration of the required Nafoore Shock Response team members and participate in sourcing (recruiting, hiring, and onboarding).
Communicate the vision and direction to the team and ensure a coordinated and coherent approach.
Ensure tools and tracking mechanisms are in place to accurately assess and communicate progress against the Nafoore Shock Response work plan, resources (budget & personnel), and issues.
Distribute and clarify roles and responsibilities throughout the Nafoore Shock Response process.
Pilot the reporting process to donor
Provide coordination and supervision as needed to the Nafoore Shock Response team accountable to the process.
Engage in proactive communication and collaboration with the country and regional directors, and Chief of Party.
HIRING AND ONBOARDING
Collaborate with the People team and the Nafoore regular team to establish a recruitment and onboarding plan.
Participate in the hiring of key positions and assist with onboarding of culture and process.
STANDARDS AND COMPLIANCE
Socialize Program Management minimum standards and best practices including Program Management Policy, [email protected], and all other relevant standards.
Foster a culture of compliance and accountability among the team with regards to Mercy Corps, donor and government laws, policies, rules and regulations.
Supervisory Responsibility
Nafoore Shock Response team/consultants/Advisors as needed.Accountability
Reports Directly To: Chief of Party
Works Directly With: Humanitarian Strategic Response Managers, Senior Program Officer - Africa, Operations and Security Advisor for the Sahel, Regional Program Teams, Deputy Regional Director, Heads of HQ support departments, Local stakeholders and Partners.
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
Masterโs degree in a relevant field.
A minimum of 5 years managing emergency programs in the field, at least 2 of which at Mercy Corps specially in Cash transfer programs
Excellent knowledge of Mercy Corps structure, resources and processes
Demonstrated understanding of program management, Mercy Corps policies and minimum standards including [email protected]
Strong organizational and work-planning skills.
Demonstrated attention to detail, meeting deadlines and working and problem-solving independently and cooperatively.
Excellent leadership, negotiation and representation skills.
Effective French verbal and written communication
Experience using organizational, prioritization and Microsoft Office applications.
Ability to work across departments to achieve results in a short period of time.
Cultural familiarity with Mauritania or Sahel area is an asset.
Success Factors
The successful Nafoore Shock Response Team Leader is an effective leader that can build and motivate a team of people from a variety of departments under pressure and with limited time. They are very well organized, communicate clearly and uses strong interpersonal skills to navigate challenging organizational politics situations.
Living Conditions / Environmental Conditions
The position will be based in Nouakchott, Mauritania with potential travel to other locations within Mauritania.
Mercy Corps team members represent the agency both during and outside work hours when deployed in a field posting or on a visit/STA 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.
Fostering a diverse and open workplace is an important part of Mercy Corpsโ vision. Mercy Corps is an Equal Opportunity Employer regardless of background. We are committed to creating an inclusive environment.
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.