Location: Yemen
Deadline: 15 Nov 2013
Description
Deadline: 15 Nov 2013
Description
This position is contingent on funding
PROGRAM/ DEPARTMENT SUMMARY:
Mercy Corps has been present in the Middle East since the 1980s and currently has offices in Yemen, Lebanon, Palestine, Jordan, Syria, Iraq, Egypt and Libya. Mercy Corps opened its office in Yemen in 2010, implementing a two-year, youth program that aims to increase youth engagement with their communities through dialogue, training and service projects. In response to the acute and increasing humanitarian needs in Yemen, in the midst of the country’s political transition, Mercy Corps has increased its portfolio significantly and continues to seek additional funding to assist vulnerable and displaced communities in Sana’a, Aden, Taiz and Lahj Governorates. Primary program interventions include water, sanitation and hygiene; food security; livelihood support; psycho-social support for children, and an expanded portfolio of youth programming. Mercy Corps is currently working on transitioning its humanitarian programs towards more integrated market – based food security programming
Mercy Corps Yemen has secured a three-year EC Funding to implement the “Maximizing Opportunities for Rural Entrepreneurs” (MORE) Project designed to increase rural incomes through strategic investment in the sesame value chain. This strategic investment will improve the resilience of rural communities and contribute to poverty reduction through sustainable agriculture. The project will be implemented in Taiz, Lahj and Abyan Governorates of Yemen.
GENERAL POSITION SUMMARY:
The MORE (Maximizing Opportunities for Rural Entrepreneurs) Program Manager will manage and provide direction to the MORE program team, in close coordination with Mercy Corps Yemen’s other programs (including FFP, EYSY, OFDA) and the Yemen Micro-Finance Network (YMN) to leverage resources and ensure complementarily in approaches and activities. The Program Manager will ensure that program implementation is responsive to communities and partners, and aligned with Mercy Corps’ principles, values and strategic plan. S/he will monitor adherence to grant agreement, Mercy Corps policies and procedures and relevant external rules and regulations. Additionally, the PM will conduct frequent field visits to all project sites and more specifically, facilitate detailed market research, assessments and feasibility studies; liaise with and engage market actors in the Sesame value chain to find strategic leverage points for co-investment; and implement interventions effectively though a market development approach.
ESSENTIAL JOB RESPONSIBILITIES:
Program Design
· Design the, program strategy, and implementation plansto guide and document program implementation.
· During implementation, identify new methods and communicate to donors to ensure that programming is timely, effective, and responsive to new conditions and opportunities.
· Develop program tools to document inputs, activities , outputs , successes and lessons learned.
· Devise the monitoring & evaluation plan, protocols, and tools to ensure that implementation conforms to the implementation plan, and that outcomes are consistent with program goals.
· Facilitate planning meetings and workshops with government, NGO, private sector, and community partners to revise plans and promote partner acceptance / buy-in.
· Recruit program team(s) to implement project activities.
· Create staff reporting templates/tools to establish accountability and improve information flow.
Implementation
· Guide national project team to develop effective staff monitoring tools, including weekly, monthly, and quarterly work plans including timelines, budget forecasts, and output targets.
· Manage the program budget to ensure that spending is donor-complaint and program-effective.
· Work collaboratively with support departments (finance, logistics, and HR) to ensure compliance with internal and donor policies.
· Promote the high quality program and rigorous accountability to donor rules and regulations.
· Document activities performed, challenges, and program successes to improve and advocate on behalf of Mercy Corps programming goals.
Coordination & Reporting
· Engage government and local authorities to ensure participation and buy-in.
· Provide detailed reports to Mercy Corps Head of Office in Taiz and CD, Mercy Corps HQ, and program donors on routine and ad hoc basis.
· Represent Mercy Corps on technical working groups related food security and livelihoods.
Monitoring, Research and Evaluation
· Assist in the design of baseline assessment, research and evaluation tools for the MORE program
· Liaise closely with research partners and ensure quality implementation of the research component.
· Ensure interventions are based on sound design principles, including needs assessments and baselines.
· Establish and maintain effective and timely program/grant reporting systems for the donor
· Ensure that M&E staff focus on generating practical information that can be used for ongoing program decision-making while also capturing results at the impact level.
Security
· Work closely with the country-level security focal point to develop and maintain systems that ensure the safety and security of the team in all aspects of its work. Ensure that programs are designed and implemented with a clear analysis and understanding of security management priorities
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 towards 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: Direct supervision of MORE project team
ACCOUNTABILITY:
REPORTS DIRECTLY TO: Head of Office, Taiz
WORKS DIRECTLY WITH: Food For Peace Program, EYSY, UNICEF Nutrition, and the Yemen Micro-finance Network, other country Program Managers, HQ technical support unit, operations and finance team in the country and field offices.
KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:
<![endif]-->Bachelor’s degree or equivalent in agriculture-related discipline, social science, management, international development or other relevant field.
· Extensive experience in developing agricultural markets and value chains.
· Minimum of 3 years of management experience in progressively responsible positions, preferably as Program Manager for a similarly sized donor-funded program.
· Strong management skills, with good understanding of relevant cross-cultural issues
· Demonstrated awareness and responsiveness to gender and social issues in cross-cultural contexts and gender integration programming
· Entrepreneurial spirit, adaptability and an ability to think creatively around market development and employment creation challenges
· Demonstrated attention to detail, ability to follow procedures, meet deadlines and work independently and cooperatively with team members.
· Strong understanding and experience of donor policy and procedures
· Experience in managing teams and facilitating strategic planning and program development processes.
· Excellent computer skills, including all Microsoft applications
SUCCESS FACTORS:
Demonstrated problem solving skills.Demonstrated experience in coaching, conducting workshops and community meeting facilitation. Demonstrated skills to successfully communicate and initiate and maintain positive relationships with beneficiary’s community. Leadership skills, and proven experience in developing effective teams. Ability to communicate effectively in English, both verbally and in writing.Strong organizational and managerial skills.Understanding of value chain and or entrepreneurship development
LIVING CONDITIONS/ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS:
This unaccompanied position will be based in Taiz, Yemen, with frequent travel to the field and will require residing in group housing in an austere environment. The successful candidate must be able to work in an environment with power, transportation and communication challenges and must follow all security protocols at all times.
Mercy Corps Team members represent the agency both during and outside of 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.
How to apply:
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