Program Officer – (WAVES for Climate )

About Mercy Corps

Mercy Corps is a global team of humanitarians working together on the front lines of today’s biggest crises to create a future of possibility, where everyone can prosper. In more than 40+ countries around the world, over 5,400+ team members work side by side with people living through poverty, disaster, violent conflict, and the acute impacts of climate change. We’re committed to creating global change through local impact — 84% of our team members are from the countries where they work.

We bring a comprehensive approach to every challenge, addressing problems from multiple angles. And we go beyond emergency aid, partnering with local governments, forward-thinking corporations, social entrepreneurs, and people living in fragile communities to develop bold solutions that make lasting change possible.

The Mercy Corps Iraq Team

Mercy Corps has worked across Iraq’s 18 governorates since 2003. Mercy Corps Iraq has a whole-of-Iraq approach and operates across ten governorates: Anbar, Basra, Thiqar, Duhok, Baghdad, Erbil, Kirkuk, Ninewa, Salah al-Din, and Sulaymaniyah with an experienced team of nearly 120 national and international staff. Through our extensive portfolio, Mercy Corps Iraq has formed strong relations with the communities and local authorities where we operate and has an in-depth understanding of the security and cultural context in the areas where we work. Mercy Corps Iraq has demonstrated a track record of working together with local stakeholders – from government directorates, as well as community leaders, women’s associations, local councils, Municipal Councils, Provincial Councils, Ninewa and Mosul Universities, and local and international NGOs. Mercy Corps has an especially strong background in designing and enacting social cohesion activities and peacebuilding with communities.

Program Summary

Women Advocate to Validate the Economic System for Climate-Resilient Opportunities (WAVES for Climate); is a 16-month project to position women agricultural producers and agripreneurs in Basra governorate as leaders in climate-resilience through a focus on inclusive market and information access, technical capacity development, sustainable financing, and collective advocacy. Specifically, the WAVES for Climate Project will, 1) enhance the capacities of and access to gender-inclusive Community Market Hubs that facilitate learning around climate-smart agriculture, market linkages, and networking opportunities, 2) connect research and expertise of Iraqi universities on climate-resilient innovations in agricultural production (i.e.: farming, dairy production, composting, processing, and other agribusiness initiatives) with women agricultural producers and agripreneurs, 3) support women agricultural producers and agripreneurs with mentoring, trainings, and business grants to implement climate-resilient solutions while enhancing their access to existing financing opportunities for increased and sustainable production, and 4) transform women agricultural producers’ capacity to lead advocacy campaigns with community actors around inclusive and climate-resilient agriculture for improved policy and implementation at provincial and national level.

General Position Summary

The Program officer will work closely and under the supervision of the Climate Change Advisor,  to support in implementing the daily activities of WAVES for Climate project in Basra.

Essential Responsibilities

Strategic Growth Objectives

• Work closely with wider MCIQ teams to ensure Mercy Corps Global strategy (P2P) and the country office strategy guides decision making.
• Ensure Mercy Corps minimum standards, guidelines, policies and SOPs are understood and adhered by all team members,

Program Implementation

• Develop detail implementation plan along with Climate advisor,
• Maintain productive and strong working relationships with all program support functions
• Work closely with the QEL unit to ensure that PM@MC guidance is followed at all stages of program implementation, including but not limited to development of detailed implementation plans, procurement plans and recruitment plans at program start-up and 90 day program close-out plans. 
• Assist supervisor in ensuring that all program-related SoPs are being implemented to ensure high quality programming. 
• Ensure record retention requirements are being met consistently. 
• Organize all activities/events/training related to the WAVES for Climate according to the work plan.
• Provide support to the Climate Change Advisor in terms of procurement and finance support to WAVES for Climate.
• Building a strong relationship with the local authorities who are relevant to the project.
• Coordinate the implementation with the local government in Basra
• Support in the documentation process for program activities.
• Support in data collection through various methodologies with reporting results.
• Support the program participants in developing business plans (business canvas).
• follows up on the implementation of business grants
• Support in identifying local business experts for partnerships
• following up with the procurement on the purchase requests.
• Following up with the finance on processing the payment to the suppliers
• Prepare additional reports/presentations/statistics as needed.
• Attend project-related meetings and training.
• Abide by all security protocols.
• Disseminate and document the success stories of the program
• Conduct him/herself professionally and in such a manner as to bring credit to Mercy Corps and not jeopardize its humanitarian mission.
• Any other duties as assigned by the supervisor.

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;
• Stay informed of incidents as they arise through the field and are raised through the program coordination mechanism.
• Liaising with operations and liaison teams for access letters and relevant approvals,
• Work closely with country-level security focal points to develop and maintain systems that ensure the safety and security of the team in all aspects of its work.
• Ensure that programs are designed and implemented with a clear analysis and understanding of security management priorities, whilst also maximizing visibility of the program in line with donor rules.

Supervisory Responsibility

No supervisory role to MC staff

Accountability

Reports Climate Change Advisor

Works Directly With: Program Team, QEL unit, MEL, Inclusion and accountability team, Finance, procurement, and Operations teams.

Minimum Qualification and Transferable Skills

• Bachelor’s degree in Business Adminstration or equivalent.
• At least 2 years of work experience with an INGO / local NGO.
• Prior skills in organizing training/events.
• A minimum of 1 year experience working in climate change projects implementation
• A minimum of 1 year experience working in gender focused project implementation.
• A minimum of 1 year expcerince working in managing business grants/loans.
• Demonstrated success working effectively and respectfully with multiple stakeholders including the private sector, local authorities and partners in complex environments.
• Successful and proven negotiation, communication and organization skills
• Computer skills – Word and Excel desired
• Language skills – Arabic, English desired
• Ability to work and interact with a diverse staff from different ethnicities and backgrounds.
• Ability to conduct oneself with sensitivity and respect toward others

Success Factors

The successful Program officer/Support program will have the ability to work closely with a diverse team of individuals in a highly fluid work and security environment with a capacity to spark innovative and gender transformative approaches and inspire groups to collaborate closely to implement high-quality programming.  He/She will foster a positive, open culture of growth, innovation and collective problem solving.

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

Accountability to Participants

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

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 and 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]).

QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCES:

Successful candidates should meet the education and experience requirements in the position descriptions for the vacant positions. S/he must be self- motivated, creative, tolerant, and able to work in difficult, stressful environments and follow Mercy Corps procedures. S/he must respect diversity and gender equality at the workplace.

Interested candidates should submit their CVs to the email address [email protected] before the deadline indicated below.

Please indicate on the subject of the email the title of the position you are applying for.

ALL APPLICATIONS/ CVs SHOULD BE RECEIVED BY September 13^th , 2024

Potential candidates for the post will be contacted for an interview and processed according to Mercy Corps Human Resources policies and procedures. As soon as qualified candidates are identified the positions will be closed automatically. Please note that only shortlisted applicants will be contacted for potential interview.

Any documents submitted will remain with Mercy Corps and will not be returned to candidates.

Mercy Corps is an equal opportunity employer. Females are highly encouraged to apply.

Female Candidates are encouraged to apply for This Position. Mercy Corps is an equal opportunity employer. We actively seek out diverse backgrounds, perspectives, and skills so that we can be collectively stronger and have sustained global Impact.

Mercy Corps Iraq offers a variety of arrangements that enable women to excel in their careers. Mercy Corps Iraq ensures a safe and inclusive working environment for women and men through field security training and measures to provide secure working arrangements on-site and in the office.