Mercy Corps est une organisation mondiale de premier plan, animée par la conviction qu’un monde meilleur est possible. En cas de catastrophe, dans la détresse, dans plus de 40 pays du monde, nous nous associons pour mettre en œuvre des solutions audacieuses en aidant les gens à triompher de l’adversité et à construire des communautés plus fortes de l’intérieur. Aujourd’hui, et pour l’avenir.
Program / Department Summary
Mercy Corps is present in Niger since 2005. Our work there contributes to local communities’ resilience to shocks and stresses and enables them to achieve long-term, inclusive and equitable development. Mercy Corps’ vision for change requires the private sector, government and civil society to work together to create meaningful and sustainable change. With field offices in Abala, Filingue, Maradi and Tillaberi, Mercy Corps is currently implementing programs on youth skills & employment, peacebuilding/social cohesion, livestock research, and CLA.
Bridge Youth Connect is implementing the five-year USAID-funded Bridge Youth Connect (BYC) program in Niger and Burkina Faso with a budget of $35.5 million (of which $12 million are crisis modifier funds).
The goal of BYC is to equip vulnerable young women and men with technical and life skills, networks, and resources needed for increased livelihoods and economic opportunities and to increase their engagement in their communities. To achieve this goal, BYC has three main objectives and programmatic planks – 1) youth skills development, 2) improved access to livelihoods and support services, including access to finance, and 3) youth governance and advocacy. This supports USAID’s overall Bridge and Sahel Development partnership (SDP) frameworks, which address critical unmet needs that are the main drivers of violent extremist recruitment in the Sahel: poor governance, lack of economic opportunity, and perceived exclusion from the benefits and services provided and facilitated by governments in the region. The program is implemented in a consortium with other partners, with Swisscontact as the primary sub.
As BYC is entering Year 2, is adding a Deputy Chief of Party (DCOP) for Niger to the team structure to lead the implementation.
General Position Summary
The DCOP will work in concert with the Chief of Party (COP) and has the responsibility to coordinate all programmatic and operational aspects of the program in Niger. As such, s/he is the key personnel responsible for implementation and ensuring the quality of delivery of activities on the ground. This includes implementing technical areas that include youth livelihoods, Positive Youth Development (PYD), market systems, skills development, financial inclusion, youth engagement and governance as well as helping ensure cohesion across all aspects of the program. S/he will also contribute to overall consortium coordination, serving as a point of contact for Niger-based partners. The DCOP will report to the COP and may be designated as Acting COP in her absence.
Essential Job Responsibilities
Program Strategy
- Work with the COP and Technical Advisor to ensure a coherent overall strategy for the program by providing leadership, mentoring, quality control and coordination to strengthen program outcomes.
- Oversee implementation of the youth Technical Support Unit (TSU) at HQ updated implementation methodology from start to finish (this includes document translation, development of presentations, gathering team inputs, workshops, etc.) to ensure shared ownership across teams and partners.
- Ensure that crosscutting aspects of the program such as adaptive management, gender equality, female empowerment, social inclusion and resilience are included and well-integrated into the program strategy.
- Ensure that program implementation is responsive to communities and is consistent with Mercy Corps’ relevant program guidelines, principles, values, and quality standards.
Program Implementation & Team Management
- Create and oversee systems for implementation according to the USAID-approved annual work plan with all team members and partners across the program (includes presentations sharing out work plan, supporting teams to develop individual work plans, structures to support work planning and coordination across team members and partners).
- In collaboration with the COP, MERL Director, and Technical Advisor develop and oversee implementation of a capacity building strategy for team members that promotes a culture of learning through systematic analysis and reflection of program data and lessons learned.
- Liaise with Mercy Corps’ support departments (finance, operations, HR/Admin, etc.) to ensure smooth running of operational and program support systems.
- In coordination with the BYC MERL staff, the Technical Advisor and the component coordinators, and Evaluation department, monitor the implementation of activities through regular field visits and assessments to ensure program quality and impact.
- Promote accountability, communicate expectations and provide constructive feedback via regular performance reviews.
Internal and External Coordination
- Support the Chief of Party and Technical Advisor in the establishment of a program and consortium structure that favors integration across all activities and implementing partners.
- Serve as a point of contact for the Niger-based consortium partners and share the weekly operational coordination meeting.
- Contribute to program visibility and advocacy work by assisting in dissemination of program research and learning information.
- Represent Mercy Corps in forums with the broader humanitarian and development community.
- Actively collaborate with regional and global counterparts to identify and promote best practices.
Security
- Work closely with the Niger security focal points to develop and maintain systems that promote the safety and security of all team members.
- Ensure that programs are designed and implemented with a clear analysis and understanding of security.
Supervisory Responsibility
- The DCOP supervises the Implementation Managers and Capacity-Building Officers.
Accountability
- Reports directly to: Chief of Party BYC
- Works directly with: BYC Technical Advisor, BYC Niger field teams, MEL staff, consortium partners, local government, USAID and other stakeholders and finance, operations, administration and human resources staff.
Knowledge and Experience
- MA/S or equivalent experience in development, international relations, non-profit management, business, finance, agriculture, agribusiness, agricultural economics, or other relevant field;
- At least 7 years of relevant management, program coordination and technical experience working with programs of a similar scope and scale, at least two of which have been involved working in fragile or post-conflict states;
- Experience of working in a consortium of international NGOs;
- Humanitarian program experience strongly preferred;
- Demonstrated technical knowledge in more than one of the following: youth livelihoods, agriculture, Positive Youth Development (PYD), market systems, financial inclusion, governance, community mobilization, countering violence extremism (CVE), or related fields;
- Demonstrated ability to collaborate with a wide range of stakeholders and to liaise with donors and HQ;
- Fluency in written and spoken French and English;
- Preference for experience with USAID-funded programs;
- Experience in West Africa, specifically Burkina Faso or Niger preferred.
Success Factors
A successful candidate is an expert manager and implementer. S/he will have a demonstrated ability to lead and communicate effectively with team members and other stakeholders of varied work styles and cultures, set-up implementation systems and meet deadlines with flexibility and creativity in planning and problem solving. This position requires an ability to think creatively about increasing youth livelihood opportunities and youth voice and civic engagement. S/he will have a proven ability to learn quickly, multi-task, prioritize, take initiative, and be accountable for results, understand the larger picture while remaining focused on the details, problem solving, work within a complex and sensitive setting and to follow laws and security protocols. The most successful Mercy Corps team members have a strong commitment to teamwork and accountability, thrive in evolving and changing environments and make effective written and verbal communication a priority in all situations.
Living Conditions / Environmental Conditions
The DCOP will be based in Niamey, Niger. The position is fully accompanied, has the right to R&R benefits, and is in individual housing. Mercy Corps team members have good access to essential services, such as medical care, electricity, water, etc. International supermarkets and consumer goods are also readily available. Very hot temperatures prevail for large parts of the year and power outages are frequent. The position requires up to 25% of travel by plane to field offices and climatically harsh conditions.
Ongoing Learning
In support of our belief that learning organizations are more effective, efficient and relevant to the communities we serve, we empower all team members to dedicate 5% of their time to learning activities that further their personal and/or professional growth and development.
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 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, color, 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 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 to 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.
