Job Description

 About Mercy Corps:

Mercy Corps is a leading global organization powered by the belief that a better world is possible.
In disaster, in hardship, in more than 40 countries around the world, we partner to put bold solutions
into action — helping people triumph over adversity and build stronger communities from within.
Now, and for the future.

Program / Department Summary:

Mercy Corps seeks to alleviate suffering, poverty and oppression around the world and has worked in the Middle East since 1980s, and currently has offices in Yemen, Lebanon, Palestine, Jordan, Syria, and Iraq. In response to acute and increasing humanitarian needs in Yemen, Mercy Corps opened its office in 2010. Primary program interventions include water, sanitation and hygiene, food security, nutrition, and livelihood support. Strategies to enhance the resilience of communities to the harsh environmental and social conditions in the country cut across the portfolio.  Currently Mercy Corps Yemen (MCY) has four offices and approximately 80 staff. 

General Position Summary:

The Food Security Livelihoods Coordinator will ensure the efficient and effective implementation of the Food Security Livelihoods (FSL) program in collaboration with other Mercy Corps Department and Local partners. They are responsible for coordinating and implementing the delivery of the response program including daily management of program activities and program staff; ensuring appropriate systems and support mechanisms are in place to track, analyze and report on results, coordinating local partners, ensuring program implementation is in line with Mercy Corps Program management standards. They are a strong team leader, able to develop and mentor team members and are effective communicators, able to work with internal and external stakeholders to achieve common objectives. They are responsible for managing relationships with local partners, beneficiaries, donors, and authorities when required, contributing to the achievement of the response program’s objectives. They will also effectively contribute to the development of Mercy Corps Yemen strategy and actively support portfolio development efforts.

Essential Job Responsibilities:

Strategy & Vision

• Support the development of MC strategy for the implementation of innovative and quality food security, livelihoods programming informed by the Yemen context in line with the Country Office, national and sectoral strategies.
• Support Mercy Corps efforts to adopt market-based approaches and support the establishment of Mercy Corps private sector engagement strategy. 
• Contribute to the development of strategic frameworks that demonstrate and promote the integration of FSL with other sectors in both humanitarian and transitional programming.
• Contribute to the development of a strategy that harmonizes structures and practices for FSL across Mercy Corps Yemen projects and programs.

Program Coordination

• Ensure that program implementation is responsive to donor’s requirements, communities and partners, and consistent with Mercy Corps’ minimum standards and other relevant program guidelines, principles, values, quality standards and strategic plan.
• Identify challenges and propose solutions in collaboration with other relevant departments and actors.
• Work closely with the MEL team in the design and implementation of FSL monitoring and evaluation plan and development and use of adapted tools and processes
• Support the effective, transparent use and tracking of financial resources for timely and informative reporting in line with donors’ and Mercy Corps policies and procedures.
• Ensure all interventions adhere to Mercy Corps’ Code of Conduct; Gender, Diversity and Inclusion guiding documents; Core Humanitarian Principles and Do No Harm.
• Actively contribute to the development of elaborate FSL implementation frameworks and Standard Operating Procedures including delivery options, service providers, data collection, targeting criteria, beneficiary selection, and monitoring and evaluation ensuring compliance with Mercy Corps Minimum Standards.

Team Management

• Day to day management of the FSL teams to ensure their compliance with project requirements and deadlines and contribute to the team’s capacity building to improve performance and reach objectives.
• Support the recruitment process for FSL team members when required.
• Promote accountability, communicate expectations and provide constructive feedback informally and formally via regular one on one and performance reviews.
• Create and sustain a work environment of mutual respect where team members strive to achieve excellence and cultivate resilience and well-being in challenging situations.

Resource mobilization and reporting

• Actively and closely work and coordinate with the Program Development and Reporting Manager in identifying new opportunities for funding.
• Contribute to the designing and drafting of FSL assistance program concepts, proposals and budgets.
• Coordinate the timely preparation of quality FSL and programming reports for both stand-alone and integrated activities.
• Work collaboratively with MEL team in the preparation of requisite internal and external reports including our contributions to regular interagency reporting.

Influence and Representation

• Maintain close collaborative and partnerships with consortium partners, sub-grantees, donors, local government and other stakeholders.
• Actively contribute to the monitoring of actions, market prices, FSL response in Yemen and with the different actors in all areas of operation for effective planning and coordination.
• Ensure Mercy Corps representation in the cluster system and other cross-organizational structures, and represent Mercy Corps in meetings with partners, donors or authorities when required.
• Demonstrate flexibility, resilience, and ability to maintain positive relationships and composure.
• Maintain high ethical standards and treat people with respect and dignity. Exhibit an awareness of their own strengths and development needs.

Security

• Always ensure compliance with security procedures and policies for all FSL team members.
• Contribute to creating a secure environment for team members. 

Safeguarding

• Actively learns safeguarding and integrates it into their work, including safeguarding risks and mitigations related to their area of work. 
• Practices the values of Mercy Corps including respecting the dignity and well-being of participants and fellow team members. 
• Encourages openness and communication in their team; encourages team members to submit reports if they have any concerns using reporting mechanisms e.g. Integrity Hotline and other options. 
• If relevant, briefing or training any external personnel such as when working with service contractors or subaward partners. 

Supervisory Responsibility:

All FSL program teams.

 Accountability 

• Reports Directly To: Director of Programs
• Works Directly With: Country Director, Program Managers, Grants Manager, PAQ Coordinator, Senior Management Team including HR, Operation and Finance team members and Regional and HQ Program Teams and Technical Support Unit. 

Knowledge and Experience:

• Bachelor Degree or MA/S or equivalent in relevant field.
• At least 5 years continuous experience with technical design and implementation of FSL and market systems development programming, 2 years must be in a humanitarian response in a complex context with international NGOs.
• Experience on value chain development and private sector engagement is an advantage. 
• Excellent oral and written English skills required; proficiency in Arabic is a plus. 
• Proficiency with MS Office software required (Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint). 
• Strong management, mentorship and leadership skills with a proven ability to build the capacity of program teams. 
• Strong technical skills in food security, livelihoods, market systems approach in complex emergency context. 
• Strong communications skills with exceptional ability to articulate technical issues with colleagues at different capacity levels
• Understands donor regulations and compliance (GIZ, ECHO, FCDO, UN, etc.) 
• Effectively manages teams/people and apply relevant Mercy Corps’ procedures and approaches
• Ability to work under high pressure with multiple deadlines in a challenging environment. 
• Excellent representation abilities with proven experience interacting with authorities, donors and other partners to advance strategic objectives. 
• Strong program management skills, promoting innovation, collaborating effectively across sectors and departments and always adopting a solution-oriented attitude. 
• Experience with use of relevant sector design and assessments tools for service providers, market, needs, distribution and post-distribution processes (e.g. RAM, EMMA, MIFIRA, MERS)
• Ability to adapt and work effectively in a multi-cultural context and always remain culturally sensitive and appropriate.

Success Factors:

A successful candidate will have an ability to work independently, take initiative in tasks and self-learning, and be proactive in communications and development of professional relationships. They will showcase strong work ethics and provide mentoring and leadership for the FSL team. They will support the update of Mercy Corps Yemen strategy and will contribute to all internal and external efforts to implement this strategy. They will have strong technical skills with an aptitude for working efficiently with high standards and under high pressure. They will be able to live and work closely with a diverse team of individuals in a highly intense and fluid work and security environment with demonstrated sensitivity to the people and issues in the region. They will demonstrate exceptional interpersonal, relationship and cross-cultural communication skills especially in high stress environments are essential for success. They will be committed to the values and mission of Mercy Corps; could creatively problem-solve, to juggle multiple priorities under tight deadlines and to calmly and diplomatically deal with unexpected and sudden events impacting program operations with patience, dynamism, tenacity and a good sense of humor.

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. By applying for this role an applicant confirms that they have not previously violated an employer’s sexual misconduct, sexual exploitation and abuse, child safeguarding or trafficking policy. 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 e-learning courses upon hire and on an annual basis.

As an applicant, if you witness or experience any form of sexual misconduct during the recruitment process, please report this to Mercy Corps Integrity Hotline ([Click to show email]).

الصون و الأخلاق

ميرسي كور تلتزم بضمان المعاملة اللائقة واحترام جميع الأفراد اللذين نتواصل معهم من خلال عملنا, سواء كانوا أعضاء الفريق أو أعضاء المجتمع أو المشاركين في البرامج أو غيرهم.  نحن ملتزمون بالمبادئ الرئيسية المتعلقة بمنع الاستغلال والإساءة الجنسية التي وضعها الأمين العام للأمم المتحدة واللجنة الدائمة للتنسيق بين الوكالات الإنسانية (IASC)، وقد وقعنا على نظام الإفصاح المتبادل بين الجهات الفاعلة في حالة السلوك الغير اللائق. عند التقديم لهذا الدور، يؤكد المتقدم أنه لم ينتهك في السابق سياسة السلوك الجنسي، والاستغلال والإساءة جنسية، صون الأطفال، أو الاتجار بالبشر لأي جهة عمل. ميرسي كور لن تتسامح مع إساءة معاملة الأطفال أو الاستغلال الجنسي أو الإساءة أو التحرش من قبل أو بسبب أعضاء فريقنا. كجزء من التزامنا تجاه توفير بيئة عمل آمنة وشاملة, من المتوقع أن يتصرف أعضاء الفريق بطريقة مهنية, تحترم القوانين والعادات المحلية. والالتزام بسياسات وقيم مدونة قواعد السلوك الخاصة بمنظمة ميرسي كور في جميع الأوقات. كما يتطلب من جميع أعضاء الفريق إكمال دورات التعليم الإلكتروني الإلزامية لقواعد السلوك عند التوظيف وذلك بشكل سنوي.

كمتقدم للوظيفة، إذا كنت قد شهدت أو تعرضت لأي نوع من أنواع السلوك الجنسي الغير لائق خلال عملية التوظيف، يرجى الإبلاغ عن ذلك إلى خط النزاهة في منظمة ميرسي كور ([Click to show email]).

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. 

Accountability To Participants

Mercy Corps team members are expected to support all efforts toward accountability, specifically to our participants and to international standards guiding international relief and development work, while actively engaging participant communities as equal partners in the design, monitoring and evaluation of our field projects.