Program Manager, RAISE-DFS

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 present in Ethiopia since 2004 working to drive bold and transformative ideas, working closely with government, the private sector and civil society actors to build a more resilient country, ensuring that programs are responsive to and influenced by participants and stakeholders. With the launch of Mercy Corps Global Strategy, Pathway to Possibility, the country office is poised to operationalize its three-year strategy with a vision to enhance the resilience of climate- and conflict-affected communities through market systems development for improved livelihoods, access to food, and safe and clean water to thrive in the face of crises. In Ethiopia, our strategy focuses in the four outcome areas: 1) Economically marginalized populations have improved and diversified livelihoods, income, and assets; 2) Pastoralists, farmers, and households have access to sustainably produced, safe, nutritious food; 3) Social cohesion and inclusive governance processes are built in crisis-affected communities; and 4) People have equitable, sustained access to clean water and sanitation for domestic and productive use. Currently, we operate in six regional states – Afar, Gambella, Oromia, Somali, Amhara and South Ethiopia. Working with a diverse base of donors that includes United States Agency for International Development (USAID), European Union, GAC, Hilton Foundation, United Nations (UN), JOA, Sweden, EKN, and other foundations, Mercy Corps Ethiopia empowers people to recover from crisis, build better lives and transform their communities for good. 

Position Title: Program Manager

Duty Station: Addis Ababa

Open Position:  1

Program / Department Summary

Mercy Corps is implementing thirty-six months, ‘Resilience and incomes for smallholders in Ethiopia through digital financial services’ project (RAISE-DFS), which started in July 2022 and funded by Jersey Overseas Aid (JOA). RAISE-DFS will catalyze a transformation in Sharia-compliant and digital financial services in the lowlands of Ethiopia. In doing so, RAISE-DFS will achieve the project overall objective to improve the lives of 181,000 people (28,750 households) in Somali and Afar Regions and in East/West Hararge Zones of Oromia Region, through increased incomes and enhanced resilience to drought and other shocks.

The program has three outcomes: Outcome I) Financial institutions (FIs) develop the systems and capacities to deliver inclusive and resilient sharia-compliant and digital financial services. Outcome II) Rural HHs and market actors in agriculture value chains use appropriate and affordable credit and savings products and services. Outcome III) Rural HHs have the means, skills, and confidence to access, use and benefit from DFS and Sharia-compliant services.

General Position Summary

The RAISE-DFS Program Manager is responsible for the overall management of RAISE-DFS. He/she is responsible for providing strategic and technical guidance, provide guidance on program planning and implementation, ensure effective implementation of all activities and proactive to address challenges, monitor and analyze the program environment and progress, using applicable monitoring and evaluation and risk management tools and advise on timely adjustments and corrective measures as necessary. He/she is also responsible for ensuring DFS & financial inclusion are integrated across the RIPA program.

The Program Manager is responsible for the strategic planning and overall management of the program and reports to the Director of Inclusive Economic Growth, with dotted line technical/programmatic reporting to the Chief of Party of the Resilience in Pastoral Areas (RIPA) program who provides additional guidance and technical integration with RIPA.

Essential Job Responsibilities

Strategy and Vision

• Lead the development of the RAISE-DFS detailed implementation strategy.
• Ensure all RAISE-DFS team members have a clear understanding of the program strategy and their role in contributing towards its delivery.

Coordination and Collaboration

• Builds strategic partnership with stakeholders and partners to advocate, promote and advance organizational issues, priorities, interests and competencies for a successful program and program delivery.
• Coordinate and collaborate with clients, partners, and stakeholders to link and harmonize approaches and to promote common interests and achievement of results.
• Provide direction and guidance to the RAISE-DFS program team(s)/responsible parties.
• Advise the Country Offices on new proposal development which have components on inclusive and innovative financial services

Program Management

• Establish the work plan, activities, targets, budget, standards for measuring progress and results and determine the processes, tools, and methodologies to be used to ensure effective and efficient program implementation and operations.
• Provide overall strategic direction and ten percent (10%) support to integrate DFS & financial inclusion into the RiPA program.
• Ensure gender integration and mainstreaming are incorporated into mission level strategic and annual planning efforts.
• Lead and support the gender analysis process to determine the needs of men, women, boys, and girls in a community to inform program design.
• Closely work with the MEL team to integrate gender in the program M&E system.
• Monitor progress and identify risks for timely action and early resolution.
• Advise Mercy Corps senior management and senior national government officials on the direction, strategies and technical issues of the program and lead discussion on innovative solutions.
• Responsible for the full compliance with Mercy Corps rules and regulations and policies on financial activities, financial recording/reporting system and follow-up on audit recommendations.
• Responsible for donor reporting and any other additional reporting required
• Responsible for financial management of program and financial reporting.
• Introduce innovation and best practices, access to knowledge and expertise and promote its application.
• Actively support knowledge building, sharing, and applying in the program.
• Closely work with wide range of financial service providers (MFIs, Banks, VSLA groups) in establishing partnership and managing relationship on regular basis

Leadership and Team management

• Ability to plan own work, manage conflicting priorities and work under pressure of tight and conflicting deadlines.
• Work closely with team members and partners, to support capacity-building and gender integration into the programs.
• Very good interpersonal skills and ability to establish and maintain effective partnerships and working relations.
• Very strong leadership capacities to guide a multi-cultural team in difficult circumstances.
• Lead the identification of program issues, challenges and risks, appropriate recommendations and implement them.
• Mentor and coach team members as they perform their duties.

Supervisory Responsibility

REPORTS DIRECTLY TO: I) Director of Inclusive Economic Growth (Line Manager); ii) RiPA Chief of Party (Programmatic Integration)

WORKS DIRECTLY WITH: RAISE-DFS team in Addis and in Somali, Oromia and Afar regions; RIPA Component Teams; Operations and Finance Teams.

Security

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

Knowledge and Experience

• BA degree in business, economics, finance and development, or related social science fields.
• At least 8 years of work experience preferably in inclusive financial services, product & strategy development; Islamic finance, financial and digital literacy.
• Managerial and supervisory experience and demonstrated partnership management skills are preferred.
• Previous work experience in the private sector particularly financial sector, and international development organization is an advantage.
• Understanding of Markets Systems Development Approach (MSD) approach is needed.
• Willingness and ability to travel frequently to Mercy Corps project sites and field locations, including traveling to insecure environments, is required.

Success Factors

A successful Program Manager will have a demonstrated ability to lead and communicate effectively with team members of varied work styles, follow procedures, communicate timely and responsibly with donors and meet deadlines with flexibility and creativity in planning and problem solving. S/he will have a proven ability to learn quickly, take initiative, and be accountable for results, understand the larger picture while remaining focused on the details, work within a complex security and political situation and to follow strict security protocols. A willingness to relocate for short-term as necessary within coverage regions, based on programmatic needs, work independently and as part of a team are essential Computer literate especially in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook)

Gender, Equality, Diversity, and Social Inclusion

• Understand and be aware GDI related priorities of the country office and contribute to the realization of priorities (continually work to understand and be aware of the gender diversity and inclusion priorities of the country office and contribute to the execution)
• Promote gender equal and inclusive workplace culture in day-to-day interaction with team members, partners, and program participants.

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.

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.

All qualified individuals are invited to apply for the advertised position. All applications, including a CV, three references, and all applicable official papers, must be sent electronically.

Only candidates that are short-listed will be acknowledged and called for interviews.

“Mercy Corps is an equal opportunity employer promoting gender, equity and    diversity. Qualified female and young candidates are strongly encouraged to apply. We are committed to empower women and youth.”

DEADLINE FOR ALL APPLICATIONS: 10 November 2023/ 4:00 PM