Mercy Corps is a leading global organization powered by the belief that a better world is possible. In disaster, in hardship, and in more than 40 countries around the world, we partner to put bold solutions into action โ helping people triumph over adversity and build stronger communities from within. Now, and for the future.
Mercy Corps has been operating in Ethiopia since 2004. In partnership with civil society organizations, academic institutions, the private sector, and the government, Mercy Corps Ethiopia has reached more than five million Ethiopians with interventions to save lives and build secure livelihoods. Our programs emphasize market-driven solutions, reinforce social bonds, and help communities build resilience to the impacts of climate change. Currently, in six regional states โ Afar, Amhara, Gambella, Oromia, Somali, and South Nations, Nationalities and Peopleโs Region (SNNPR), and in Dire Dawa Administration and the capital city of Ethiopia, Addis Ababa โ Mercy Corps Ethiopia is driven by the mission to contribute the emergence of a peaceful, resilient, and prosperous Ethiopia which is inclusive of youth and women. Our strategic directions focus on promoting inclusive and dynamic markets; promoting peace and social cohesion through strengthening formal/informal governance structures and citizen engagement; improving natural resource governance; and integrated humanitarian response.
Program / Department Summary
Mercy Corps is seeking a Team Lead - DRM Resource Mobilization and PSE for the anticipated USAID Ethiopia Disaster Risk Management (DRM) Activity. The goal of this five-year $49 million activity is to enable timely anticipatory and early action to prevent crises and reduce the impact of shocks in Ethiopia by strengthening disaster risk management (DRM) planning and preparedness, improving DRM coordination, and enhancing resource mobilization and management. The activity will also strengthen gender in emergencies (GiE) capacity, increase private sector engagement in DRM, and expand local organizationsโ capacity to engage in DRM.
General Position Summary
The Team Lead - DRM Resource Mobilization and PSE will lead and coordinate interventions that strengthen the role and resilience of the private sector in disaster risk management (DRM), including disaster risk finance, innovation, and public-private partnerships. The Team Lead will provide technical support and capacity building to program teams and partners, work with the government and other stakeholders to support regions to dedicate funding and staff for DRM and disaster risk finance, facilitate local public and private resource mobilization and innovative disaster risk financing opportunities, and strengthen private sector engagement in DRM. They will also ensure integration of gender in emergencies, strengthen local capacity for DRM financing and PSE, and promote the implementation of USAIDโs policies and strategies. The Team Lead will participate in workplan development and program management meetings, monitor and report on progress and results, and represent Mercy Corps at technical works and stakeholder engagements as agreed upon with the Activity Chief of Party.
Essential Job Responsibilities
- Lead and coordinate the design and implementation of interventions that strengthen the role and resilience of the private sector in DRM, including disaster risk finance, innovation, and public-private partnerships.
- Provide technical support and capacity building to program teams and partners (public, private, non-profit) to ensure effective delivery and improvement of project activities related to private sector engagement in DRM.
- Work with the government and other stakeholders to support regions to dedicate funding and staff preemptively and consistently for DRM and disaster risk finance, and to improve the enabling environment for private sector involvement in DRM, including emergency response.
- Facilitate the development and consistent maintenance of regional policy, budget, and coordination strategies for DRM and disaster risk finance, and support the EDRMC and regional bureaus to identify trusted private sector partners for DRM service provision.
- Facilitate local resource mobilization, including engagement of micro, small, and medium enterprises, for DRM and disaster risk finance, and design and manage a blended finance or pay-for-results grant program to incentivize risk mitigation investments by local businesses in collaboration with other USAID activities like MS4G.
- Identify and pilot innovative disaster risk financing opportunities to support local anticipatory or early action, such as sustainable social protection, local disaster relief funds, results-based financing for community early action, and/or a matching fund for regional resource allocation, in collaboration with other USAID activities and partners.
- Ensure that gender in emergencies, private sector engagement, and building local capacity are integrated into all DRM and disaster risk finance interventions, and that gender considerations are taken into account in resource mobilization and allocation.
- Monitor and report on the progress and results of the DRM and disaster risk finance interventions, using evidence-based and participatory tools and approaches, and contribute to learning and quality improvement throughout the project.
- Promote the implementation of USAIDโs Localization Agenda, Local Capacity Strengthening Policy, New Partner Initiative, and Private Sector Engagement Strategy to expand local organizationsโ engagement in the DRM system in Ethiopia and support responsible and effective involvement of local stakeholders in emergency response and DRM more broadly.
- Represent Mercy Corps at program management meetings with Consortium Prime Agency and partners, technical meetings/events, as well as donor and stakeholder engagements related to DRM and private sector engagement.
SECURITY
- 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
The Team Lead will have supervisory responsibility, with the number of direct and indirect reports to be determined.
Accountability
Reports Directly To: Activity Chief of Party
Works Directly With: Deputy/Chief of Party, Activity Team and Consortium Partners, Country Director, Director of Programs, Program Directors/Managers, Data Analytics Manager, MEL, Technical Sector Advisors, and other support functions (Operations and Finance), Regional MEL Advisor, HQ Program Performance and Quality Unit, HQ Regional Program Teams, HQ and Regional Technical Support Unit.
Accountability to Participants and Stakeholders
Mercy Corps team members are expected to support all efforts toward accountability, specifically to our program participants, community partners, and other stakeholders, and to international standards guiding international relief and development work. We are committed to actively engaging communities as equal partners in designing, monitoring, and evaluating of our field projects.
Knowledge and Experience
- Advanced degree (masterโs or above) in a relevant field of Disaster Risk Management, Economics, Food security, and resilience building, and at least seven years of Senior Management experience in related areas.
- Minimum five years of experience with USG or similar emergency response, early recovery, DRR, and/or resilience programs, preferably in Ethiopia.
- Ability to work and coordinate effectively with diverse stakeholders, including national and local government, donors, community-based organizations, and the private sector.
- Knowledge of the DRM ecosystem, including early warning systems, early action protocols, CBDRM, disaster response coordination, and ex-ante DRM financing.
- Commitment to quality monitoring and evaluation, program learning, and After Action Reviews.
- Experience in applying community-based approaches that promote gender equality, womenโs economic empowerment, and youth engagement.
- Leadership skills and experience in developing, mentoring, and building the capacity of staff and partners in the DRM sector.
- Excellent analytical, self-motivation, advocacy, and persuasion skills; critical thinking skills.
- Fluency in English (verbal and written).
Success Factors
The ideal candidate will have a strong curiosity for understanding and working effectively within the complex cultural, political, security, and social environment of Ethiopia. He/she will be an excellent communicator, multi-tasker, and able to work in ambiguous situations. He/she will be a tolerant and flexible individual able to work in difficult and stressful environments and follow procedures. He/she will have a good understanding of the roles that different data technologies play in high-quality MEL, and how different datasets should be leveraged to provide information specifically needed for decision-making in different Ethiopian contexts. The successful candidate will be focused on team building and capacity-building of national staff; be a strategic thinker, have strong skills in design monitoring and evaluation of development programs, and maintain a sense of humor.
Living Conditions / Environmental Conditions
The position is based in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, and it requires up to 60% travel to field locations. This is an accompanied position and housing is available in family accommodation with good freedom of movement beyond the house/office. There are several international schools in the city and staff have access to basic services (electricity, water, sporadic internet, etc). Medical facilities are basic with international clinics able to provide emergency services.
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 professionally and respect local laws, customs, and Mercy Corps 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 are 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 a 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 based on 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 the 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 professionally, respect local laws and customs, and 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.