Program Officer (COMITAS II)-Yola

Position Description

Location: Yola, Adamawa State

Position Status: Full-time, Exempt, Regular

Duration: 4 Months Plus

Safeguarding Risk Level:3

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 Summary

Mercy Corps has been present in Nigeria since 2012, focusing its interventions on adolescent girls’ empowerment, economic and market development and conflict mitigation. With the insurgency spilling over from the Northeast of Nigeria and causing displacement of millions of individuals, Mercy Corps started its humanitarian response in 2014 to address the rising humanitarian needs. With funding from institutional donors, foundations and private corporations, Mercy Corps continues to provide assistance to meet the basic needs of vulnerable populations in the areas of food security, shelter, water and sanitation, protection, and livelihoods.

With the recognition of the protracted crisis in Northeast Nigeria, Mercy Corps’ strategy and expansion plans aim to address the root causes of the crisis and seek to build long term resilience of communities with integrated programs focusing on the recovery of markets and livelihoods, social cohesion and social protection, and youth empowerment with emphasis on adolescent girls and boys. With multiple funding streams from large institutional donors and foundations, Mercy Corps’ programs in Northeast Nigeria continue to scale up and serve communities by transitioning them from humanitarian aid to early recovery programs.

General Position Summary

This role will support and monitor the expansion of the EU funded project titled Contributing to the mitigation of conflict over natural resources between farmer and herder communities in Adamawa state, Nigeria. (COMITAS-Phase 2). The project will be implemented through a Consortium led by IOM in partnership with Mercy Corps and Search for Common Ground.

While clashes are often understood in ethno-religious terms due to the spread of unreliable information, competing claims to land, water and other natural resources are at the root of growing tensions between farmer and herder communities in Nigeria. The project aims to contribute to the mitigation of conflict over natural resources with Mercy Corps capitalizing on its trusted relationships with local stakeholders across Nigeria’s Middle Belt to continue to empower communities to prevent and respond to violence by strengthening collaboration on natural resources management.

Under the pilot phase, from December 2020 to December 2022, the consortium partners recorded several key achievements and valuable were lessons during implementation. The pilot was implemented in Bille, Borrong, Kpasham, Demsa wards of Demsa LGA; Gereng and Tambo wards of Girei LGA; Gyawana ward of Lamurde LGA; Kodompti ward of Numan LGA; Gengle and Ndikong ward of Mayo Belwa LGA.

To consolidate its goal COMITAS phase II will continue to focus on its four pillars which capitalizes on each of consortium partners’ expertise and strengths:

1. Strengthen traditional conflict resolution in the targeted locations in Adamawa state;
2. Improve trust in authorities’ commitment to provide security and adequate resource management;
3. Enhanced collaboration in managing use of natural resources;
4. Improve intra and inter communal perceptions

The Program Officer will be responsible for supporting the implementation of program at the community level. S/he will be in constant contact with stakeholders and targeted communities to ensure full participation and implementation. In coordination with the Senior Program Officer they will conduct regular field visits to ensure that all stakeholders fully understand and utilize COMITAS approaches and methodologies. Working and building the capacity of the local governance structures, supporting in developing institutional development plans for all the community structures. Participate in the peace actors’ coordination meetings, and prepare activity workplans and budgets for approval.

Essential Job Responsibilities

 Program Implementation

• Work with the community structures to plan and implement effectively the deliverables of the program in line with the targets.
• Work with community members, ward to LGA- level authorities, and other stakeholders, presenting information at meetings when required.
• Conduct regular field visits to ensure that all stakeholders fully understand and utilize the COMITAS approaches and methodologies. 
• Prepare activity plans and seek required approvals.
• Support, participate in and monitor activities and meetings of community structures.
• Support in the collection of program data.
• Develop field activity reports and contribute to periodic donor reporting.
• Contribute to the identification of lessons learnt and propose recommendation for programmatic adaptations.
• Contribute to research activities on specific subjects, as needed.
• Work with and support the capacity building of all the governance structures.

 Team Management

• Sustain a work environment of mutual respect you and other team members strive to achieve excellence.
• Promote accountability, communicate expectations and provide constructive feedback via regular performance reviews.
• Provide other team members with information, tools and other resources to improve performance and reach objectives.

Finance and Compliance

• Ensure compliance with Donor and Mercy Corps regulations related to field programming. Influence and Representation
• Identify, build and manage collaborative partnerships with Consortium partners, local governments and other stakeholders.
• Communicate effectively to ensure project implementation targets are met.
• Participate in coordination meetings and workshops to the project at both Local and State level as delegated.

Security

• Ensure compliance with security procedures and policies as determined by country leadership.
• Proactively ensure that you and other field 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: None

Accountability Reports Directly to: Program Manager. Works directly with COMITAS Program Team, CARM focal point, Security,  Finance, Consortium partners field staff

Knowledge and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in the social sciences, rural development, or related field.
• Minimum of two years’ professional experience in implementing peace and conflict related projects, preferably with an NGO within Adamawa State.
• Good knowledge of relevant cross-cultural issues.
• Ability and commitment to teamwork.
• Ability to interact effectively with the diverse project stakeholders.
• Experience representing the organization and its interests to a diverse range of local stakeholders, host government officials, and local and international partners
• Fluency in English; fluency in Hausa is a plus.

Success Factors

The successful Program Officers will skillfully support the implementation of COMITAS activities within time, scope and budget and provide effective day-to-day updates for the program . S/he will have high emotional intelligence, constructive mentoring skills and proven experience with peacebuilding conflict prevention and management and will be committed to the delivery of high-impact activities at the community level. Successful Mercy Corps team members have a strong commitment to teamwork and accountability, thrive in evolving and challenging environments, and make effective written and verbal communication a priority.

Living Conditions / Environmental Conditions.

The position is based in Yola, Adamawa State,  with frequent travel in other project field locations in Adamawa and Taraba States, as well as Abuja. Considering the frequent travel from/to different field locations, this position will require flexibility in terms of accommodation and logistics. Housing in the field will be in hotels or guesthouses where available. Security in the field locations require additional vigilance and accessibility will be reassessed continuously. Access to good medical services in the field is limited. Phone communication, internet, electricity and water is available but might be erratic. The location is not eligible for hardship and R&R benefits. Given the nature of the response, working hours require flexibility and working through weekends/evenings might be necessary.

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 a 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, colour, 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 and have signed on to the Interagency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme. By applying for this role an applicant confirms that they have not previously violated an employer’s sexual misconduct, sexual exploitation and abuse, child safeguarding or trafficking policy. 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 e-learning courses upon hire and on an annual basis.

As an applicant, if you witness or experience any form of sexual misconduct during the recruitment process, please report this to Mercy Corps Integrity Hotline ([email protected]).

Note:

• Applicants should have their CVs and Cover Letters in one document addressing the position requirements.
• Female candidates who are qualified are strongly encouraged to apply.
• Note that Mercy Corps upholds a strict policy against accepting any form of bribe in our recruitment process. We prioritize fairness and transparency in our selection process.

Application Closing Date: Friday 16th August  2024