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.

Mercy Corps has been operating in Ethiopia since 2004. In partnership with civil society organizations, academic institutions, private sector, and the government, Mercy Corps Ethiopia has reached more than five million Ethiopians with interventions to save lives and build secure livelihoods. Our programs emphasize market-driven solutions, reinforce social bonds, and help communities build resilience to the impacts of climate change. Currently in six regional states – Afar, Amhara, Gambella, Oromia, Somali, and South Nations, Nationalities and People’s Region (SNNPR), and in Dire Dawa Administration and the capital city of Ethiopia, Addis Ababa – Mercy Corps Ethiopia is driven by the mission to contribute the emergence of a peaceful, resilient, and prosperous Ethiopia which is inclusive of youth and women. Our strategic directions focus in promoting inclusive and dynamic markets; promoting peace and social cohesion through strengthening formal/informal governance structures and citizen engagement; improved natural resource governance; and integrated humanitarian response.

Program / Department Summary

The High Land Resilience Activity (HRA) Crisis Modifier project for Centra Ethiopia Region, is a response for the Flood and Hailstorm risks designed to protect the development gains and the livelihood assets of the PSNP HHs. The goal of the crisis modifier project is to enhance food security for vulnerable affected populations in Soro and Shashego woredas in Central Ethiopia Region-Hadiya Zone through the provision of direct cash transfer and agricultural production inputs. The project target groups will be the PSNP HHs who engaged in the public work and are more prone to shocks and stresses. The program will have two major components managed through either direct cash transfer or commodity voucher for in kind support that support for the quick livelihood recovery. Each component will address the on-farm sectors mainly of crop/vegetable seeds, sheep/goat fattening and poultry along with the feed. The off-farm sectors will focus mainly of petty trade at the local level. HRA Crisis Modifier intervention will be temporarily implemented for six months from January to June 2025.

General Position Summary

HRA Crisis Modifier Team Leader will provide management oversight to the Crisis modifier project and coordinate with the field based zonal coordinator based at Hosaena (immediate supervisor) in the day-to-day management of all recovery projects activities within the respective geographical area of responsibility to ensure the efficient and timely implementation of quality project interventions. The key responsibility is to provide overall leadership and coordination of the implementation of activities and ensure operational and programmatic efficiency and effectiveness. Key responsibilities include: Ensuring the timely fund disbursement, commodity in-kind voucher distribution, facilitate agreement with financial service providers, and a facilitation role that market actors to provide proposed agricultural inputs to targeted PSNP HHs. He/she conducts quarterly reviews of activity reports to ensure consistency with actual work plans and ensures that the funds utilization is in accordance with approved budgets and statements of work. He/she fosters learning, establishes and maintains effective working relationships with key government partners and cooperating agencies and other NGOs. Additionally, he/she is in charge of representing the project during the implementation phases of execution, including participation at the woreda and zonal level government coordination meetings. The Team Leader is responsible for the planning and overall management of the project and reports to the Zonal Coordinator.

Position Description

Location: Hosaena, Central Ethiopia Region

Position Status: Definite

Salary Level: G7

Current Team Member: NA

Safeguarding Risk Level: Low (01)

Essential Job Responsibilities

Major Responsibility

Technical Direction and Program Quality

• Work closely with the Zonal coordinator, regional HRA program coordinator, and other Local Implementing partner staffs based in Soro/Shashego and HRA coordination team based in Addis-DCoP, Technical director and Governance Technical lead to implement the market-based livelihood recovery vision and strategy.
• Lead and coordinate woreda level recovery project detailed implementation strategy development and ensuring interventions are tailored to PSNP households.
• Ensure all the Crisis modifier team members have a clear understanding of the project approach, strategy and their role in contributing towards its delivery.
• Recognize opportunities for innovative action and create an environment where alternative viewpoints are considered.
• Facilitates the ability of technical officer to effectively operate at the woreda level.
• Facilitate regular context monitoring to support updating and adapting activities for the greatest impact.

Program Management

• Leads and coordinates effective program planning, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation of the crisis modifier Livelihood recovery interventions in the woredas and kebeles under supervision,
• Oversee project startup and ongoing program management and operation of team across the two woredas.
• Ensure that project implementation is responsive to communities and partners and consistent with Mercy Corps’ relevant program guidelines, principles, values, quality standards and strategic plan.
• Ensure that beneficiaries are effectively targeted according to established vulnerability criteria.
• Initiate partners’ or market actors MoUs and contracts & oversee the linkage and delivery of the right quantity and quality on a timely basis.
• Integrate community approaches, gender sensitivity and capacity building into all activities as appropriate.
• Ensure project implementation is on time, target and within budget, using effective M&E systems to reach desired impacts.
• Fulfill Mercy Corps’ Project Management Minimum Standards based on the organization-wide guide.
• Prepare quarterly and monthly plans, aligned with the allocated budget and programming targets.
• Participate in woreda and zone coordination meetings and ensure documentation and delivery of action points.
• Ensure timely and quality delivery of weekly updates, monthly and quarterly a project reports internally to Zonal Coordinator and other MEL team.
• Ensure all interventions adhere to Mercy Corps’ Gender Policy, Do No Harm principles, and beneficiary accountability standards.

Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning

• Adhere to program learning systems and strengthen the effort to document the impact of Crisis modifier activities.
• Facilitates and helps update the setting of targets for program implementation based on context.
• Closely work with the Regional M&E team to continuously monitor, ensure implementation quality, and support an accountability system in the field.
• Ensure the woreda targets and approach are being met, by implementing activities in accordance with the agreed work plans and timelines, and report discrepancies and changes to the zonal coordinator.

Finance, Administration, Logistics and Procurement

• Facilitates government monitoring and evaluation missions at the woreda level.
• Ensure timely revision of woreda procurement plans and closely monitor and accelerate procurement processes when needed.
• Regularly visits to Kebeles for field support.
• Encourages team leadership with regular management meetings, promoting a participatory approach and proactive problem-solving.
• Ensures Kebele administration, Development Agents, and beneficiary communities are actively engaged in program planning, implementation, and monitoring

Partnership and Representation

• Facilitate partnerships with key stakeholders at the woreda and kebele-level, including government representatives, other partner programs, and private sector actors.
• Represent The recovery programs at the woreda or Zonal of operation on government and non-government coordination meetings.
• Facilitates government monitoring and evaluation missions at the woreda and Kebele levels.
• Work with woreda and zone government stakeholders in periodic reviews, evaluations, and joint monitoring
• Ensure timeliness of government reporting as per government guidelines
• Partner and coordinate with woreda stakeholders, CSOs, CBOs, and other  government partners to ensure collaboration and synergy.

GEDSI (GENDER, EQUALITY, DIVERSITY AND SOCIAL INCLUSION)

• Adherence of gender minimum standards
• Make sure GESI issues are properly reflected during program management
• Support the organization’s commitment to age and gender inclusive team building process
• Promote an inclusive and equitable workplace culture
• Coordinate with GEDSI Technical Team Improve gender-responsiveness of program /Project MEAL system
• Increased commitment to Gender Equality Diversity and Social inclusion

Accountability

Reports Directly To: Zonal Coordinator-Ephraim Samuel

Technical Line Report To: Zonal Coordinator

Works Directly With: Zonal Coordinator

Accountability to Participants and Stakeholders

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