Sudan: Program Development and Support Specialist - Sudan

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 Europe (MCE) was registered to work in Sudan in of June 2009. The head office is located in Khartoum with programs in South Darfur, South Kordofan and Blue Nile States. MC is currently implementing a strategy that has an overarching goal of building resilience of communities in Sudan, utilizing both early recovery and humanitarian approaches. Geographically, MC is mainly focusing in South Darfur as well as South Kordofan but is also expected to start operations in Blue Nile in the coming few months. The overall goal is underpinned by four key objectives; strengthened economic opportunities through market orientated programs, enhanced access to safe drinking water and improved hygiene practices (mainly directed towards IDPs and conflict affected populations), reduced levels of conflict between diverse communities and strengthened institutional capacity for local government, civil society and the private sector. MC has adopted an integrated approach to achieving all four objectives and will prioritize the expansion of programming into three additional thematic areas that cut across all four objectives. Thematic areas are: youth led programming that will prioritize increased participation of youth in program design and implementation while enhancing their long-term employment prospects, increased engagement with the private sector, and a stronger focus on development programming in areas of IDP returns.

General Position Summary

The Program Development and support Specialist will work with the Head of Programs, Program Team and DM&E department in backstopping and supporting program activities through regular/donor/one on reports writing, correspondence follow-up with donors and stakeholders, coordination with cluster partners, and M&E activities. This will also include supporting program management issues, data collection, collection of beneficiary stories. In addition, the position also includes program and quality development

Essential Job Responsibilities
Strategy & Vision

• Recognize opportunities for innovative action and create an environment where alternative viewpoints are welcomed.
• Set direction by prioritizing and organizing actions & resources to achieve objectives and contribute to countrywide strategy development.
• Develop and organize activities to secure resources for programs and convince stakeholders to provide support.

Programmatic Development

• Work closely with field staff, and senior management to identify new program opportunities, develop concept notes to share with potential donors
• Pro-actively seek potential funding sources among traditional as well as non - traditional donors, in line with MCS' overall strategy in the country
• Assist in Management Plan preparation in accordance with program goal and objectives.
• Assist in program quality and development
• Tie in programming into larger strategic direction of the country team and agency through support for annual planning efforts

Field Support:

• Ensure emergency food security and livelihoods recovery activities are implemented according to work plan, donor regulations and within a definite timeframe.
• Ensure water, sanitation and hygiene activities in conflict-affected communities are implemented in accordance to work plan, donor regulations and Sudan required standards.
• Ensure Education in Emergencies program is meeting work plan deadlines, donor and national standards.
• Ensure Non-food Items (NFIs) are distributed according to set standards, together with program team, RRC and other humanitarian actors.
• Participate in design and maintenance of and monitoring and evaluation (M&E) system to demonstrate outputs, outcome, and impact and capture key lessons points.
• Advise and take part in any assessments including Interagency Rapid Needs Assessment and any Emergency assessments organized either by Mercy Corps or UN OCHA for all humanitarian actors.
• Coordinate the project M&E with country M&E systems; ensure organizational learning to improve program quality and sustainability.
• Prepare country level data collection plan and establish system of data in-flow, data analyses and demonstration of results.

Documentation:

• Establish and maintain effective project reporting, evaluation and communication systems for food security and livelihoods; water, sanitation and hygiene, Education in Emergencies; and NFIs programs.
• Assist to maintain donors' complaint budget management; provide oversight to ensure project deliverables are achieved within approved spending levels and in accordance with donor rules and regulations.
• Assist in maintaining proper and standardized filing system for storing program documents

Representation & Coordination:

• Represent Mercy Corps to the community, the local government, INGO/UN agencies in Unity State and organize field visits as required.
• Ensure Mercy Corps' program fosters ongoing positive cooperation with all stakeholders in coordination with the Program Manager and Program Team.
• Ensure proactive and partnership approach in relationship management.
• Efficient and timely communication/information exchange is vital for making effective operational decisions.
• Submit Field Office Weekly Update (FOWU) for Unity sub-office using a standard reporting format.

Finance & Compliance Management

• Ensure compliance with donor and Mercy Corps regulations related to emergency programming.
• Draft and/or review scope of work to hire and manage any technical consultants, including review for technical efficacy and contract budget.

Influence & Representation

• Identify, build and manage collaborative partnerships with consortium partners, sub-grantees, donors, local governments and other stakeholders.
• Communicate effectively to ensure overall project targets and donor obligations are met.

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

None

Accountability

Reports Directly To: CD

Works Directly With: Program Managers, M&E Manager, Head of offices

Knowledge and Experience

• BA/S or equivalent in agriculture, development management or related fields required,
• 3-5 years' experience in international relief and development in Africa, preferably Sudan
• Experience and understanding Food Security and Livelihoods concepts, WASH and Sphere standards
• Experience with monitoring and evaluation and report writing, and being involved in M&E
• History of working effectively and respectfully with host country government, INGO and NGO partners
• Demonstrated ability to work in complex programming and volatile environment.
• Describe 5-7 specific requirements for this position in bullet points (hard skills).
• Include education, experience, etc.**Success Factors**

This position requires someone with the ability to effectively carry out duties as outlined in the position description. One should be willing to learn and work in accordance with Mercy Corps policy. The successful candidate will have demonstrated the ability to multitask, meet deadlines and process information in support of changing program activities if necessary. A high professional standard of activity implementation, strong interpersonal and intellectual skills are necessary.

Living Conditions / Environmental Conditions

The position is unaccompanied. It will be based in Khartoum, Sudan. Accommodation is provided in group housing. 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.

PI97113921

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