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.
Program / Department Summary
Mercy Corps implements a variety of programming throughout the Middle East in response to the diverse humanitarian and long-term development needs of the region. Mercy Corps has ongoing programs in Syria, Yemen, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, and Palestine. Mercy Corps is committed to delivering high quality, high impact programming that reaches communities or individuals in need, wherever they are.
Our crisis analysis teams aggregate and analyze data to improve decision-making and access in complex crises. The teams directly contribute to data-driven decision-making by layering information gathered directly, from open sources and from respondersโ programmatic data, and subjecting it to analysis by multi-disciplinary teams. This analysis is grounded in Mercy Corpsโ status as an operational NGO, keeping our products constructive and relevant for humanitarian responders and donors within a given crisis.
Several countries in the Middle East have established Crisis Analysis teams and presence, and have been using it as strategic tool that contributes to our agency-wide impact and evidence-driven commitment by generated evidence through enabling innovative analytical tools and methodologies to unpack complex contextual phenomena and support decision making and influencing key stakeholders and our larger ecosystem across the Humanitarian-Development-Peace nexus.
General Position Summary
The Regional Crisis Analysis Advisor for Crisis Analysis (CA) in the Middle East is part of our Regional Program Team and provides the direct oversight of specific CA teams in the region while steering strategic orientation for quality growth, uptake and impact of Mercy Corps crisis analysis across the Middle East, the organization and wider humanitarian ecosystem.
Working under the guidance of the Deputy Regional Director (DRD) and with the support of the Global Crisis Analysis (GCA) team, the Regional Crisis Analysis Advisor (RCAA) will focus their expertise in several areas of engagement: active leadership, strategic direction and support to established or newly set up field analysis teams; supporting the set up of new CA teams when relevant; development and implementation of improved editorial, duty of care, and quality standards for research and analysis, in line with global CA standards; and develop and resource the regional vision for an influential CA team across the Middle East, along with analytic content generation at country/regional level.
This role is an accomplished advisor who is comfortable starting and leading analysis teams in varied contexts and providing strategic support and directions for existing CA teams not directly managed by them. The RCAA will expect to provide strategic direction and/or advice to CA teams in-country and Country Directors.
In managing, leading and/or supporting established and new field analysis capability, the Regional Crisis AnalysisAdvisor will have full responsibility for start-up activities (scoping feasibility, risk assessment, products/teams design recommendations) in collaboration with the country leadership team. Based on this, the RCAA will develop and put in place management structures, policies, and recruit staff members. The Crisis Analysis Advisor will retain oversight until team leaders are fully onboarded - if funding allows -, then transition to providing ongoing governance and quality assurance โ all in consultation and coordination with country and regional teams.
In developing robust but responsive editorial, quality and duty of care standards and policies, the Regional Crisis Analysis Advisor will be expected to work with a wide range of internal stakeholders across the global organization, as well as draw on external resources. They will also lead on operationalizing the policies and standards arising from this process at country level.
In addition, the Crisis Analysis Advisor will act as a focal point for developing, writing and promulgating analysis products addressing country or regional issues. This high-level analysis will seek to synergize and promote cross organizational insights, and provide a resource for relevant country management teams as well as supporting Regional and Global Mercy Corps initiatives.
Essential Job Responsibilities
STRATEGY AND VISION
Work with the regional and country teams to articulate an ambitious and compelling regional Crisis Analysis strategy and vision for Mercy Corps in the Middle East in line with P2P and our organizational and regional evidence-driven commitment and strategy.
Contribute to the influence strategy of country leaderships across the Middle East through the support, oversight, leadership and/or development of efficient CA teams across the region.
Act as a key partner for the DRDs to lead and/or support effective country and regional CA teams that deliver significant impact and influence in the region.
Work with regional, country and global teams to deliver on our regional Evidence and Learning agenda and priorities that are connected to regional and global strategic priorities.
Follow closely current events and major trends in the broader Middle East region, with a particular focus on emerging trends in analysis and cutting edge approaches, such as integrating new technology tools and ideas. Align these priorities with existing field-based analysis where possible to keep outputs current and relevant.
Strategically position Mercy Corps as a go-to organization on crisis analysis through regular contribution of analyses and reports.
Lead the Middle East Crisis Analysis Community of Practice and provide linkages with GCA and other countries/regions.
TEAM LEADERSHIP & MANAGEMENT
Lead and oversee any Crisis Analysis team in the Middle East that requires any structural change or adaptation for various reasons.
Establish and run any new Crisis Analysis teams in the Middle East, taking a formal position within the relevant countryโs management structure, and taking responsibility for strategy, recruitment, establishment of Standard Operating Procedures, management structures, analytical outputs, etc. until additional team members are hired. Maintain strategic oversight of these teams until substantial funding is secured.
In times of transition, either due to changes in personnel or the context, take leadership of existing Crisis Analysis teams as above.
Assist country programs with existing CA teams and country-level structures with crisis analysis capabilities in planning annual goals, defining areas of expertise, and developing funding and advocacy plans including an effective communication mechanism for learning and coordination to achieve optimal impact.
Ensure effective, transparent use of resources in compliance with Mercy Corps and donor policies/procedures.
PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT, DESIGN AND PORTFOLIO GROWTH
Identify, explore and pursue funding opportunities that support regional and country strategy objectives in line with Crisis Analysis work and mandate.
Work closely with regional and country teams on any new business opportunities that require Crisis Analysis inputs and review.
Lead and/or support the development of CA concept notes, proposals and other funding requests, ensuring quality submissions that maximize chances for success, including sourcing internal or external technical expertise to assist, in close collaboration with our regional New Initiative Advisor.
Position Mercy Corps for strategic funding opportunities that build on country and/or regional influence and programmatic priorities in line with P2P.
Develop systems to ensure that all programs in the region receive support to achieve the highest possible impact and are in line with overall regional and global strategies.
INFLUENCE AND REPRESENTATION
Produce and share with internal and external stakeholders sharp, timely and influential analysis on country or regional matters.
Develop and nurture internal and external relationships and networks to ensure optimum communication of analyses and reports.
Attend relevant global fora, conferences, seminars to share and promote Mercy Corps products and approach to crisis analysis.
Work with the advocacy, research, learning, communications and social media teams to promote Mercy Corps crisis analysis products in order to increase the organizationโs profile and to advance specific advocacy and influence goals.
Represent Mercy Corps with donors to promote and fund analysis work as well as global institutions for strategic partnerships where Mercy Corps analysis is valued and influential.
PROMOTING INNOVATION, EVIDENCE GENERATION AND LEARNING
Promote a culture of evidence generation, data-driven analysis and evidence-based decision making.Participate actively in the evidence-driven commitment workstreams by contributing to the regional, global and country-level evidence and learning agendas.Support regional knowledge networks to enhance CA tools and methodologies across the Middle East.Support collaborative action and common approaches to fostering greater regional coherence whenever possible and relevant.Act as a key liaison between global, the regional team and country teams to effectively publicize innovative ideas and share knowledge across countries and regions.Help to ensure timely and targeted communication and information flow that highlight Mercy Corpsโ regional and global impact.Connect teams to ideas, partners and resources to drive creative solutions for greater impact.Develop clear impact indicators of crisis analysis products and influential outreach to enhance the articulation of CA role and strategic positioning. Identify improvements based on feedback from key stakeholders and promote adaptations as needed in crisis analysis approaches.Supervisory Responsibility:
Specific Country Crisis Analysis Teams as applicable
Accountability
Reports Directly To: Deputy Regional Director, Middle East
Works Directly With: Regional Leadership Team, Global Crisis Analysis Team, Regional Quantitative Analysis Manager, Country Crisis Analysis Teams, Regional PaQ Team, Country Directors, Country-level Senior Management Teams, Regional Program Team (RPT), Global-based TSU, MEL, Research, and Program Quality teams, and Global Policy and Advocacy teams, other global departments such as communications, fundraising, learning, etc.
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
Success Factors
The successful candidate will apply a strong combination of analysis expertise and leadership, strategy development, entrepreneurship, management, coordination, and relationship-building skills with an outstanding ability to support innovative, impactful concepts and ideas. The successful candidate must be a self-starter who brings flexibility, creativity, and enthusiasm to every project they undertake. The candidate must have proven experience with program start up, implementation and learning of a few different types of projects. They are excellent writer and communicator, have a proven ability to learn quickly, take initiative, and be accountable for results. Multitasking with proven ability to manage competing priorities, follow procedures, and meet tight deadlines is required. The Regional Crisis Analysis Advisor must take an active role in building and maintaining relationships as well as demonstrating the drive and initiative to contribute to team efforts. It is essential the candidate is able to work closely with a diverse team of individuals in varied cultural, political, and religious environments doing intense and dynamic work while being able to work fully autonomously with little supervision. They will be able to influence and advocate with limited authority and work collaboratively with multiple stakeholders. They are proactive in seeking engagement and feedback and are willing to provide innovative and creative ideas supporting evidence generation to support MC influence at country, regional and global levels.
Living Conditions / Environmental Conditions
The position can be remote in proximity to the Middle East timezone. This role is open to both international, and national candidates in one of MC Middle East Countries. Up to 40% travel to the field to support Mercy Corps programs as requested. 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. 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.