NORTH WOLLO ZONE ZONAL PROGRAM COORDINATOR – HIGHLAND RESILIENCE ACTIVITY: AMHARA REGION, ETHIOPA – Mercy Corps Ethiopia

Development and Project Management, Management

Mercy Corps Ethiopia

About Mercy Corps

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 a long-term impact.

Program / Department Summary

Mercy Corps has been present in Ethiopia since 2004 working to drive bold and transformative ideas, working closely with government, the private sector, and civil society actors to build a more resilient country, ensuring that programs are responsive to and influenced by participants and stakeholders. Our vision is to enhance the resilience of climate and conflict-affected communities through market systems development for improved livelihoods, access to food, and safe and clean water to thrive in the face of crises. Our strategy focuses on the four outcome areas of: 1) Economically marginalized populations have improved and diversified livelihoods, income, and assets; 2) Pastoralists, farmers, and households have access to sustainably produced, safe, nutritious food; 3) Social cohesion and inclusive governance processes are built in crisis-affected communities; and 4) People have equitable, sustained access to clean water and sanitation for domestic and productive use. Currently, we operate in the regional states of Afar, Amhara, Gambella, Oromia, Somali, Sidama, Southern Ethiopia, Tigray and Addis Ababa city administration working with a diverse base of donors that includes the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), European Union, GAC, Hilton Foundation, United Nations (UN), JOA, Sweden, EKN, and other foundations.

The USAID-funded Highland Resilience Activity (HRA) – will contribute to the Productive Safety Net Program (PSNP) 5’s “Big Push” initiative and has the overarching goal of strengthening resilience among vulnerable households in Ethiopia’s Highlands, resulting in 120,000 PSNP households reaching the graduation threshold. HRA will support these households in moving above the graduation threshold and to where they no longer require social safety net programming for household food security and have the capabilities and assets to withstand regular and predictable shocks. The Activity will achieve this goal by directly supporting households in increasing their on-farm, off-farm, and employment incomes while facilitating improvements in the market systems required to increase demand for goods and services in PSNP communities. HRA is a five-year program that starts in October 2023.

General Position Summary

The Zonal Program Coordinator leads and coordinates the planning, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation of the Highland Resilience Activity (HRA) at the Zonal level, ensuring high-quality and effective delivery of the program. The Zonal Program Coordinator mentors and supports the Woreda Program Coordinators in implementing the program across the woredas of the respective zones, in close collaboration with the Regional Program Coordinator. S/he also establishes and maintains partnerships with other implementing partners and the private sector at the Zonal level, to ensure synergy and alignment with the program’s overall approach. The Zonal Program Coordinator is responsible for monitoring and evaluating the zone-level “push” interventions, as well as delivering timely and quality quarterly and annual project reports and documenting the impact of HRA activities. S/he works closely with all technical units to ensure that program activities meet the highest standards and are responsive and appropriate to the local context.

ESSENTIAL JOB RESPONSIBILITIES

Major Responsibility

Technical Direction and Program Quality

• Provide overall vision and technical direction for the implementation of push-pull interventions of the Highland Resilience Activity at across the kebeles of the respective, ensuring interventions are tailored to PSNP households.
• Contribute to and guide integrated assessments to understand existing implementation approaches and modalities, results, and on-going needs in line with HRA’s goal of supporting the graduation of PSNP households through market-based approaches.
• Lead the sequencing, layering and integration of HRA activities at the Zonal, woreda and kebele level, internally and with other partners.
• Facilitates the ability of technical advisors to effectively operate at Zonal level.
• Facilitate regular context monitoring to support updating and adapting activities for the greatest impact.

 Program Management

• Leads and coordinates high quality and effective program planning, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation of HRA’s interventions at Zonal-level and in all woredas and kebeles under supervision,
• Where appropriate, provide oversight and accountability for quality l program implementation for “push” interventions at the kebele and Zonal level Effectively coordinate with other implementing partners to tailor and facilitate the design and delivery of interventions tailored to Zonal and kebele context.
• Regularly provide communication on project progress as per program’s communication protocols, including through weekly updates to Zone and Regional Coordinators; provide regular updates on context, project progress, effectiveness of project approaches, and partnerships.
• Prepare quarterly and monthly plans, aligned with the allocated budget and programming targets.
• Participate in zone and regional coordination meetings and ensure documentation and delivery of action points.
• Ensure timely and quality delivery of weekly updates, quarterly and annual project reports internally to HRA MEL/CLA team.

Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning

• Adhere to program learning systems and strengthen the effort to document the impact of HRA activities.
• Facilitates and helps update the setting of targets for program implementation based on context.
• Closely work with the Regional M&E team to continuously monitor, ensure implementation quality, and support an accountability system in the field.
• Ensure the Zonal programming targets and approach are being met, by implementing activities in accordance with the agreed work plans and timelines, and report discrepancies and changes to the zonal coordinator.
• Partners learning opportunities from similar projects in the Zonal.

Finance, Administration, Logistics and Procurement

• Closely work with regional finance staff, in budget development, spending, and forecasting
• Facilitates government monitoring and evaluation missions at Zonal level.
• Ensure timely revision of Zonal procurement plans and review procurement status weekly to closely monitor and accelerate procurement processes when needed.
• Regularly visits to Kebeles for field support.
• Encourages team leadership with regular management meetings, promoting a participatory approach and proactive problem-solving.
• Ensures Kebele administration, Development Agents, and beneficiary communities are actively engaged in program planning, implementation, and monitoring

Partnership and Representation

• Facilitate partnerships with all HRA stakeholders at Zonal and kebele-level, including government representatives, US Government Activities, other partner porgrams partner programs, and private sector actors.
• Represent HRA at Zonal of operation on government and non-government coordination meetings.
• Facilitates government monitoring and evaluation missions at the Zonal, woreda and Kebele levels.
• Work with Zonal government stakeholders in periodic reviews, evaluations, and joint monitoring
• Ensure timeliness of government reporting as per government guidelines and HRA partner directives
• Partner and coordinate with Zonal stakeholders, government partners, and HRA-implementing NGOs (non-governmental organizations) within the zone to ensure collaboration and synergy.

Accountability to Participants and Stakeholders

• HRA 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 the design, monitoring, and evaluation of our field projects.

Supervisory Responsibility: N/A

Accountability

Reports Directly To: Regional HRA Program Coordinator

Works Directly with HRA regional program team, Addis Ababa HRA team.

• BA/BSc in a relevant field, or equivalent experience
• At least 4 years in a middle or position
• Strong knowledge and working understanding of PSNP and USAID (United States Agency for International Development) Food Security and Resilience programs.
• Strong understanding of market-based livelihoods and proven experience of sequencing, layering, and integrating different activities
• Excellent partnership, communication and advocacy skills and the ability to interact effectively with donors, collaborating agencies, local and government partners.
• Excellent organization and planning skills and ability to resolve problems constructively.
• Computer literate, with strong knowledge of MS Office applications,
• Flexibility, persistence, and ability to work well in a multi-sectoral team.
• Ability and willingness to travel to areas with fragile security situations.

Success Factors

A successful candidate will have a demonstrated ability to lead and communicate effectively with team members and other stakeholders of varied work styles and cultures, follow procedures, and meet deadlines with flexibility and creativity in planning and problem-solving. This position requires an ability to think creatively about civic engagement to strengthen inclusive, peaceful, and responsive governance. They will have a proven ability to learn quickly, multi-task, prioritize, take initiative, and be accountable for results, understand the larger picture while remaining focused on the details, problem-solve, work within a complex and sensitive setting, and follow laws and security protocols. The most successful HRA team members have a strong commitment to teamwork and accountability, thrive in evolving and changing environments, and prioritize effective written and verbal communication in all situations.

Living /Environmental Conditions

The position will be based in Woldia, Amhara – Ethiopia. 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 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 Corps’ 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 world’s 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 adhere to the 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.

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