Crisis Response Officer – Mercy Corps Ethiopia
Development and Project 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 long term impact.
The Program / Department / Team
Mercy Corps has been operating in Ethiopia since 2004. In partnership with civil society organizations, 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 – Afar, Gambella, Oromia, Somali, Amhara and South Nations, Nationalities and People’s Region (SNNPR) – 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 in promoting inclusive and dynamic markets; promoting peace and social cohesion through strengthening formal/informal governance structures and citizen engagement; improved natural resource governance; and integrated humanitarian response.
Position Title: Crisis Response Officer
Duty Station: Diredawa (Siti Zone, Somali region)
Open Position: 3
Program / Department Summary
Mercy Corps has been operating in Ethiopia since 2004, working in rural, peri-urban and urban areas in five regional states – Afar, Oromia, Somali, Southern Nations Nationalities and Peoples, Amhara – and the capital city of Addis Ababa. We engage in both development and humanitarian work, and seek to integrate approaches, programs and geographies as much as possible. Our partners include government, academic institutions, development and private sector actors, civil societies and communities. Mercy Corps envisions contributing to the emergence of a peaceful, prosperous, and resilient Ethiopia which is inclusive of youth and women. Our strategic focus in the country includes in promoting dynamic and inclusive markets; natural resource management; peace and social cohesion, and humanitarian responses.
Mercy Corps’ Resilience in Pastoral Areas (RIPA) program is a five-year USAID-funded initiative that aims to improve the resilience capacities of households, markets and governance institutions across 22 woredas in the Afar, Somali and Oromia regions. RIPA includes a Crisis Modifier component that allows us to pivot our approach and respond to humanitarian needs in ways that support, not undermine, long-term development and resilience objectives. In relation to this, Mercy Corps is planning to implement a $10 million Crisis Modifier in response to the drought and Global Food Crisis impacting Ethiopia. This includes the following three objectives: 1) Improve short-term food security, nutrition, and WASH outcomes for vulnerable households; 2) Sustain and increase food production by farmers and livestock producers while fostering a shift to more resilient production practices; 3) Female and male youth TOPs have improved capacity to make a successful transition to alternative livelihoods.
General Position Summary
The Crisis Response Officer will be responsible for effective implementation of Crisis Modifier intervention in Somali region, in relation to the three objectives. The Crisis Response Officer will play a key role in program participant selection (working with government and communities),support data collection and surveys, ensure engagement of program participants and stakeholders during project implementation, and contribute to report writing. The Crisis Response Officer will be an integral member of the RIPA learning and reflection processes, leading discussion on beneficiary feedback.
Essential Job Responsibilities
● Support all interventions related to the crisis response, for example Multipurpose Cash Assistance (MPCA), fresh food vouchers (FFV), commercial de-stocking, vouchers for feed/fodder, vouchers for animal health services, logistics support for government fodder distribution and vaccination campaigns and vouchers for seeds.
● Undertake household targeting in partnership with the government and RIPA program field office team and document the master registration sheets.
● Monitor disbursement of vouchers, and monitor redemptions of vouchers
● Undertake data collection to support M&E for the interventions and work closely with the CLA and CARM team
● Provide technical support for target participants
● Facilitate and coordinate events or workshops related to responses intervention
● Facilitate capacity building training and/or mentoring for private sector actors involved in the interventions
● Ensure Mercy Corps minimum standards and sphere standards in carrying out his/her duties, advising and supporting other staff in the same as required.
● Compile and submit regular progress updates/reports (weekly, monthly, and quarterly); and
● Other duties as assigned.
GEDSI (GENDER, EQUALITY, DIVERSITY AND SOCIAL INCLUSION)
Understand and aware GDI related priorities of the country office and contribute for the realization of priorities (continually work to understand and be aware of the gender diversity and inclusion priorities of the country office and contribute in the execution)
Promote gender equal and inclusive workplace culture in a day-to-day interaction with a team member, partners and program participants.
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.
Organizational Learning
● As part of our commitment to organizational learning and in support of our understanding that learning organizations are more effective, efficient and relevant to the communities they serve, we expect all team members to commit 5% of their time to learning activities that benefit Mercy Corps as well as themselves.
Accountability to Beneficiaries
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.
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.
Knowledge and Experience
● BA/S or equivalent, preferable in disaster risk management, rural development.
● 2-4 years NGO experience
● Previous experience working on USAID funded programs preferred
● Relevant experience in WASH, Essential NFI, crisis response projects
● Good understanding and skills at community mobilization and engagement.
● Strong computer literacy with a full knowledge of MS Office applications.
● Strong team coordination, listening, and consensus building skills.
Success Factors
A successful candidate will have the ability to live and work closely with a diverse team of individuals in a highly intense and fluid work and security environment with a capacity to spark innovative approaches to programming and inspire groups to collaborate closely to implement high-quality programs. S/he will have proven ability to learn quickly, take initiative, and be accountable for results, with an ability and willingness to remain mobile for short-term and/or long-term as necessary within the region, based on programmatic needs. An ability to work independently and as part of a team, with curiosity about and sensitivity to new cultures, a desire and ability to learn and grow, both personally and professionally, and a great sense of humor.
Living Conditions / Environmental Conditions
The position is based in Dire Dawa, and it requires up to 70% travel to target areas in Somali Region, in particular Sitti Zone.
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.
