Team Leader – Green Growth Programme (GGP) Component 3 - DRC

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The Programme / Department

Mercy Corps is present in the DRC since August 2007 with a current workforce of more than 300 national and expatriate employees and operational presence in Goma and Beni (North Kivu Province), in Bunia (Ituri Province), in Tshikapa, Kalonda West and Ndjoko Punda (Kasai Province), and representation in the capital city, Kinshasa. As a leading NGO in DRC working with more than 40 partners in 2024, Mercy Corps reached 2.12 million people in North Kivu, South Kivu, Ituri and Kasai with integrated programs that ensured equitable access to improved water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) services in humanitarian and development settings; supported a comprehensive, rapid response to ongoing humanitarian needs; promoted economic and livelihood development to strengthen food security and resilience, including through improved financial inclusion; as well as institutional capacity strengthening and social cohesion to foster peace and good governance.

Green Growth Programme Component 3: Scaling Finance for Established Agri-businesses in the Democratic Republic of Congo forms part of FCDO’s Green Growth Programme (GGP) in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). This component aims to increase access to finance for climate-smart agribusinesses, catalysing private investment and promoting sustainable economic growth. The programme will work with financial institutions, impact funds, and agribusinesses to expand the use of innovative financial products, improve access to finance for DRC firms, and incentivise lenders and investors to support green activities such as the uptake of resilient seeds, irrigation systems, and solar technologies. Through a combination of technical assistance and catalytic grants and guarantees the programme will mobilise additional private capital including debt and equity financing, strengthen financial markets, and build the resilience and productivity of DRC’s agricultural sector. This component forms part of FCDO’s broader efforts to promote low-carbon, climate-resilient development and deliver measurable results under the UK’s International Climate Finance (ICF) commitments.

The Position

The Team Leader will provide strategic leadership and overall management of GGP Component 3, ensuring timely, high-quality, and cost-effective delivery of all targets and outputs. They will oversee programme staff, maintain compliance with Mercy Corps and FCDO requirements, and serve as the main liaison with FCDO, government counterparts, partners, and other stakeholders. The Team Leader will ensure coordinated implementation, strong partner collaboration, and integration of technical inputs in line with the programme’s Theory of Change.

Essential Responsibilities

STRATEGY & VISION

● Lead the articulation and delivery of a clear strategic vision for Component 3, aligned with the overall programme’s objectives and Theory of Change.

● Ensure a shared understanding of this vision among the programme team, delivery partners, and FCDO.

● Drive innovation by identifying new opportunities, partnerships, and approaches that enhance inclusive finance for agribusinesses, SMEs, and rural enterprises.

● Provide strategic thought leadership on financial inclusion, blended finance, and private sector engagement within the DRC agribusiness context.

PROGRAMME MANAGEMENT

● Oversee high-quality, timely, and compliant implementation of Component 3, ensuring alignment with the programme’s strategic and operational plans.

● Translate strategy into actionable annual workplans and budgets, in collaboration with the Deputy Team Leader (DTL), MEL Manager, and delivery partners.

● Ensure programme agility and adaptive management - integrating emerging evidence, market realities, and lessons learned into ongoing delivery.

● Work closely with the delivery partner on their outcome areas, providing strategic oversight, technical input, and coordination to maximise technical quality.

● Oversee partnership creation and management with financial institutions partners to ensure successful implementation and achievement of targets

● Oversee the establishment and management of loan guarantees and other blended financing mechanisms as required to facilitate the provision of financing to target businesses

● Lead external coordination with Components 1 and 2 implementing partners, to ensure coherence, cross-learning, and integrated delivery that strengthens DRC’s agricultural finance ecosystem.

● Ensure that interventions are market-driven, inclusive, gender-responsive, and compliant with “Do No Harm” and environmental and social standards.

● Guarantee effective targeting and engagement through transparent criteria, ensuring that interventions reach underserved agribusinesses in key value chains.

● Ensure operational excellence and compliance with programme management standards, including working with the MEL Manager to ensure robust M&E systems for tracking impact and outcomes.

TEAM MANAGEMENT

● Provide strong leadership and mentoring to the DTL, MEL Manager, and wider Component 3 team, fostering a culture of accountability, collaboration, and performance.

● Support team capacity strengthening, ensuring staff and partners can design and implement the financial products and catalytic mechanisms in an inclusive, gender response and adaptive manner

● Promote a learning culture - encouraging continuous reflection and evidence-based decision-making across the programme team.

● Lead structured performance management, including regular check-ins, reviews, and professional development planning.

● Build a cohesive and motivated team environment that reflects Mercy Corps’ values of integrity, innovation, and impact.

FINANCE & COMPLIANCE MANAGEMENT

● Ensure full compliance with FCDO and Mercy Corps regulations, contractual obligations, and financial management standards.

● Maintain effective systems for financial planning, forecasting, and reporting to ensure transparent and accountable use of resources.

● Monitor budget execution closely, identifying and addressing variances early to maintain delivery within time, scope, and budget.

INFLUENCE & REPRESENTATION

● Serve as the primary point of contact for FCDO on all matters related to Component 3, ensuring effective communication, transparency, and trust.

● Represent the programme in coordination fora (particularly with implementing partners of Components 2 and 3), technical working groups, and with government counterparts, financial sector actors, and other donors.

● Foster alignment and complementarity with related donor and government initiatives on agribusiness finance, rural development, and SME support.

● Collaborate with the MEL Manager to synthesise and share insights, evidence, and analytical products with FCDO and wider stakeholders to influence policy and practice.

SECURITY

● Work closely with the country team’s security focal point to develop and maintain systems that promote the safety and security of all team members.

● Ensure all programme activities are designed and implemented with a robust understanding of the operating environment and associated risks.