Agriculture & Food Security Specialist – Jowhar

Job Description

VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENT

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 Somalia aims to strengthen systems and mechanisms that enable sustainable development, emergency response and peaceful processes through high quality and high impact programming in Somaliland, Puntland and the South-Central of Somalia, i.e. all over Somalia. Mercy Corps assists communities in Somalia to transition from crisis to transformative recovery and sustainable development. We currently implement programs that address IDP and returnees needs in terms of education, health, conflict mitigation management, livelihoods and emergency response with an orientation towards early recovery. We aim to expand our programs that strengthen and diversify livelihoods and ensure food security and resilience throughout the country. In our continued response to emergency and disaster, Mercy Corps seeks experienced Agriculture and Food Security Specialist for its Somalia Emergency Assistance and Early Market Recovery Program (SEAM II), funded by the USAID/BHA.

General Position Summary

The Agriculture and Food Security (AFS) Specialist is overall responsible for the day to day implementation of the planned activity components under the Agriculture and Food Security (AFS) Sector in the SEAM II Program working under the supervision of the Program Manager. The AFS Specialist will work closely both with management and support staff (including finance, administration and program) in Jowhar and other Mercy Corps field offices to ensure the day to day activities are implemented according to schedule, budget and required quality. The specialist will have to coordinate closely with the Food Security/livelihoods and Protection clusters. Similarly, s/he has to closely coordinate with the Local Administration, the IDP and host community leaders, and other key program stakeholders to achieve the program goals and ensure that all activities are implemented on demand-driven; and communities mobilized in a participatory way. S/he will have to show full adherence to Mercy Corps procedures, policy and security protocols.

Essential Job Responsibilities

Strategy & Vision

• Review existing program strategies and approaches based on changing contexts. Work with Program Manager to ensure linkages with other sector strategies (NFI, Food Security, Livelihoods, WASH and Protection)
• Design viable strategies that are both respectful with the local culture and sensitive towards the population.

Implementation and Program Coordination

• Work with MEAL Team (Officers and Manager) to develop needs assessment tools and strategies, and train and supervise staff through field surveys and assessments.
• Contribute to building the capacity of Mercy Corps staff, as well as project stakeholders.
• Develop project work plans related to agriculture and food security with HQ Technical Support Unit (TSU) as needed; communicate to Program Manager.
• Ensure the tracking, monitoring and quality reporting of all agriculture and food security interventions.
• Complete budget pipeline planning, monitoring and monthly follow up in coordination with the Program Manager.
• Supervise and monitor the implementation of agriculture and food security activities, together with other program team members, ensuring that all activities are compliant with the grant and Mercy Corps requirements. Prepare subsequent reports.
• Work with Program Manager and Director of Programs to identify, build and manage collaborative partnerships with consortium partners, sub-grantees, donors, and other stakeholders.

 Program Impact and PROGRAM MANAGEMENT

• Prepare procurement plans based on project cycle for agriculture and food security works; ensure all PRs are accurately prepared and submitted on time.
• Manage grant budget lines related to technical area of specialization (agriculture and food security), including preparation of monthly projections.
• Work with MEL Unit to measure outcome indicators and outputs to determine the success of interventions.

Team Management

• Provide team members with information, tools and resources to improve performance & reach objectives.
• Promote accountability, communicate expectations and provide constructive feedback informally and formally via regular one on ones and performance reviews.
• Create and sustain a work environment of mutual respect where team members strive to achieve excellence.
• Hire, orient and lead team members as necessary.

 Design and Planning

• Lead agriculture and food security aspects of technical assessments in coordination with other thematic areas and/or other external sector agencies.
• Revise work plans in conjunction with AFS Specialist under the oversight of the Program Manager.
• Ensure provision of program quality in all aspects of design, planning, and implementation of AFS interventions
• Contribute to the identification and design of additional opportunities for short, medium and long-term programming.
• Contribute to the design of new proposals based on sectoral and general knowledge.
• Collaborate with finance to develop budgets for agriculture and food security related work.
• Prepare bi-weekly, quarterly and interim donor reports for relevant activities under the guidance of the Reporting & Program Support Officer and Program Manager.
• Maintain and coordinate reporting and documentation of agriculture and food security activities.
• Fulfil Mercy Corps’ Program Management Minimum Standards based on the organization-wide guide.
• Ensure all interventions adhere to Mercy Corps’ Gender Policy, Do No Harm principles, and beneficiary accountability standards.

 Security

• Ensure compliance with security procedures and policies as determined by country
• 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

• 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

Program agriculture and food security team on technical related works.

Accountability

Reports Directly to: Program Manager

Works Directly with: Other Sector Specialists, Reporting & Program Development Officer, Program Manager, Sector Leaders, MEL Unit, HQ AFS TSU, Program Operations, Director of Programs, Finance.

Knowledge and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent in Agricultural and / Bio-systems Engineering, Agricultural Sciences or Agribusiness Development, Horticulture and Post-Harvest Technology or related field. Masters preferred.
• 5 years in a relief setting with AFS management or managerial experience; from starting up programs to working in emergency and transitional contexts.
• Experience in complex and complicated settings with time sensitive deliverables in unstable environments.
• Demonstrated ability to manage and communicate effectively with an ethnically diverse team in a sensitive environment.
• Internationally recognized qualification in project or program management or a commitment to obtain the qualification in the early months of work.
• Knowledge of Sphere standards and other training in humanitarian response preferred.
• Demonstrated flexibility and creativity in planning and problem solving.
• Knowledge of participatory approaches and community sensitization and mobilization.
• Good knowledge of program implementation, monitoring and evaluation techniques and practices.
• Good knowledge and experience regarding gender mainstreaming.
• Good computer applications skills.
• Knowledge of M&E and the major evaluation methodologies (e.g. qualitative, quantitative, mixed-method, and impact) and data collection and analysis methodologies.
• Knowledge of the major evaluation methodologies (e.g. qualitative, quantitative, mixed-method, and impact) and data collection and analysis methodologies.
• Experience in planning and managing surveys.
• Experience in developing and refining data collection tools.
• Experience in managing and providing training to partners and target beneficiaries.
• Ability to effectively represent Mercy Corps and its interests to key stakeholders including host governments, and national and international NGOs.
• Excellent oral and written English skills required.

Success Factors

The successful candidate will combine exceptional technical skills and experience in maintaining donor and partner relationships. S/he will have previous experience in working in large-scale emergency programs in insecure and conflict context. S/he will have an outstanding ability to design and provide technical oversight of innovative programs within the current and future program structure of Mercy Corps in the area. S/he will also have proven experience with cross-cultural team and capacity building, individual staff development and strong mentoring skills. The successful candidate will be able to provide technical oversight to large relief programs in an austere environment. S/he will be focused on capacity building of national staff, have strong program support skills, good information management skills and maintain a sense of humour.

Application Procedure:

All interested candidates both internally and externally are encouraged to apply for this position and submit their applications (cover letter, updated CV and contacts of 3 professional referees) through https://www.mercycorps.org/careers/national only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

Mercy Corps is committed to protecting beneficiaries within our programmes from exploitation and abuse and any kind of misconduct. Mercy Corps has specific policies, including PSEA and Child Protection, which outlines the expected behavior and the responsibility of all staff, beneficiaries, consultants and other stakeholders and has zero tolerance towards misconducts. Any candidate offered a job with A Mercy Corps will be expected to sign organizational Policies and Code of Conduct as Mercy Corps is an Equal Opportunity Employer.