Early Recovery & Agriculture Program Coordinator at Mercy Corps Nigeria

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.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Early Recovery & Agriculture Program Coordinator

Requisition Number: EARLY002259
Location: Maiduguri, Borno
Position Status: Full-time, Regular

Program / Department Summary

• The Early Recovery & Agriculture Coordinator will be based in Maiduguri to support two complementary USAID-BHA funded programs – THRIVE and ADAPT II.
• The first project (THRIVE) is focused on providing a multi-sectoral emergency and recovery response in Jere-LGA, Maiduguri, in consortium with CRS and other local partners. Across the 24-month period, THRIVE will reach over 300,000 unique participants with a humanitarian and recovery intervention covering ten sectors: Food Assistance, Health, Multi-purpose Cash Assistance, Shelter & Settlement, Nutrition, WASH, Protection, Agriculture & Econ. Recovery and Market Systems (ERMS). Other partners in the THRIVE consortium are WINN, Salient Humanitarian Organization, Justice Development & Peace Commission (Maiduguri) and Herwa Community Development Initiative (HECDI), Maiduguri.
• The second project (ADAPT II) will deliver a similar multi-sectoral emergency and recovery package targeting the additional LGAs outside of MMC-Jere; specifically, Bama, Gwoza, Ngala, Dikwa and Damboa LGAs with the possibility to extend to more. Mercy Corps has an established presence in all LGAs and will be delivering food, WASH, protection, nutrition, shelter/non-food item, agriculture and early recovery support over the course of 12 months.

General Position Summary

• The Early Recovery & Agriculture Coordinator will be based in Maiduguri and supervise the early recovery and agriculture activities and teams under both THRIVE and ADAPT II.
• S/He will ensure both the quality and timely delivery of program-specific deliverables as well as complementary and cross-team learning and coordination. Activities to be led include Poultry production and development, Perma gardening, youth/ women employment support & financial inclusion, and more.
• S/He will work closely with the THRIVE Associate Director and ADAPT II Program Director and the broader MEL, Nutrition, WASH, Cash, Shelter/NFI, Gender & Protection and Food Assistance teams.
• The Early Recovery & Agriculture Coordinator will be an experienced leader able to bring together people of diverse backgrounds and build a strong and capable team.
• S/He will be able to design, refine and implement complex early recovery and agricultural activities in various contexts, ranging from urban/peri-urban (THRIVE) and rural garrison towns (ADAPT II LGAs). They will be tasked with drafting workplans, meeting deliverables, and ensuring activity components are properly sequenced, integrated and layered with the broader multi-sector program efforts.

Essential Job Responsibilities
Strategy & Vision:

• Systems-level thinker able to connect small-scale early recovery and agriculture support to broader markets and input systems
• Recognize opportunities for innovative action and create an environment where alternative viewpoints are welcomed and encouraged.
• Develop and organize activities to secure resources for programs and convince stakeholders to provide support.

Program Management and Technical Quality:

• Directly support the Program Director in managing all operations and activities related to all early recovery and agriculture programming in the northeast of Nigeria according to the work plans, project documents and implementation strategies.
• Troubleshoot, as needed, to prevent disruptions in daily program activities and liaise with Program Directors and technical Advisors as necessary.
• In close collaboration with the Program Directors and Technical Advisors, support the capacity building of the Early Recovery and Agriculture team members.
• In liaison with the sector Technical Advisors participate in developing project-specific technical strategies, approaches, tools, and plans.
• Participate and facilitate coordination and collaboration with other agencies, including consortium partners and other Mercy Corps Nigeria projects.
• Provide inputs to the design and implementation of trainings in any areas related to agriculture and early recovery activities for staff, communities and project beneficiaries.
• Closely coordinate and share information with MEL/PAQ and the various sectors, participate in general program support with regular program meetings and activity plans as required.
• Coordinate closely with the Program Directors and relevant administrative and finance staff to ensure proper logistics, administration, human resources and transport needs of the projects are conducted within MC policy and with the maximum benefit to the projects.
• Lead the forecasting of expenditure surpluses and deficits for the early recovery and agriculture activities under both ADAPT II and THRIVE to enable adjustments to the different projects in a timely fashion.
• Coordinate with the other Program Coordinators and Technical Advisors in the sequencing, integration and layering of activities, ensuring all project activities are working in tandem with each other
• Ensure establishment and maintenance of relationships with communities and local government in the target locations.
• Mobilize communities to participate in the design, implementation and maintenance of projects as well as design viable strategies that are both respectful with the local culture and are gender-sensitive and effective in engaging women in the activities of the project.
• Provide written and oral translation and report writing for program staff, as necessary.
• Conduct himself/herself both professionally and personally in such a manner as to bring credit to Mercy Corps and not to jeopardize its humanitarian mission.
• Perform other related special projects and duties as determined and assigned by supervisor.

Finance & Compliance Management:

• Ensure compliance with donor and Mercy Corps regulations related to early recovery and agriculture interventions, particularly around USAID Pest/Pesticide and Fertilizer restrictions.
• Responsible for expenditure tracking and forecasting of activities carried out in the field.

Influence & Representation:

• Identify, build and manage collaborative partnerships with the community, government and other stakeholders.
• Communicate effectively both internally and externally to ensure overall project targets are met.

Security:

• Ensure compliance with security procedures and policies as determined by country leadership.
• Ensure the early recovery and agriculture personnel are kept abreast of all MC-Security advisories, policies, and are acting in compliance with security SOPs.

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:

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

Supervisory Responsibility:

• The coordinator will supervise three Senior Program Officers under THRIVE – SPO Business Development, SPO VSLA, and SPO Agriculture. These Senior Program Officers in turn supervise 12 Program Officers and Program Assistants.
• The coordinator will also supervise three Livelihood Program Officers under ADAPT II (who in turn supervise program assistants).

Accountability:

• Reports Directly To: ADAPT II Program Director
• Works Directly With: THRIVE Associate Director; MEL Coordinator; Operations and Finance Managers in Maiduguri; Technical Support team and other Maiduguri-based Program Coordinators (WASH, Nutrition, FSL, Protection/GBV, Shelter/NFI etc), Program Quality team members, and CARM.

Knowledge and Experience

• Bachelor’s Degree in relevant field or equivalent
• Master’s Degree is preferred
• Demonstrated skills in planning, organizing and reporting
• At least three years of early recovery and/or agriculture programs in the northeast of Nigeria.
• 3 – 4 years of experience in project implementation, or work with local partners or in any role that included training and capacity building of staff or partners.
• Ability to work under pressure
• Strong interpersonal, intercultural and communication skills
• Excellent oral and written skills and computer skills
• Fluency in English; fluency in House, Kanuri other local languages is highly recommended.

Success Factors:

• Strong Work Ethic, having the ability to learn the most efficient way of learning the most efficient way to complete tasks and finding ways to save time while completing daily assignments.
• Dependability and Responsibility, having the ability to come to work on time, are there when they are supposed to be and are responsible for their actions and behaviour.
• Adaptability, being adaptable and maintaining flexibility in completing tasks in an ever-changing workplace

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 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 on the basis of race, colour, 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. 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 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.

Application Closing Date
18th March, 2022.