Peace & Conflict Program Offiicer

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 solutionsinto action — helping people triumph over adversity and build stronger communities from within. Now, and for the future.

Program / Department Summary

The program’s goal is to contribute to the foundation for long-term peace in Syria through sustainable grassroots action that promotes human rights, fundamental freedoms, and social cohesion. This program will mobilize local capacities for social reconciliation and civic participation, enhance the effectiveness of grievance mechanisms and improve access to justice. The program’s approach is rooted in the empowerment of communities through a set of systematic participatory and inclusive processes that are cost effective, replicable and scalable.

General Position Summary

The Peace and Conflict Program Officer supports the Peace and Conflict Program Manager in the management of sub-grants to local partner organizations providing social cohesion assistance to conflict-affected communities in Syria. The position holder will work closely with the Peace and Conflict program Manager (Amman-based), and implementing partners to ensure smooth, efficient and effective implementation of the program.

Further, the position holder will be responsible for maintaining day-to-day contact with the project partner on project implementation. She/he will ensure project implementation aligns with the project work plan and approved technical approaches and standards. In addition, she/he will escalate concerns and challenges to the project manager as necessary and communicate technical capacity gaps to the capacity-building assistant.

Essential Job Responsibilities

COORDINATION AND IMPLEMENTATION

• Ensure that the program targets are met according to the implementation work plan and that sub-grant and grant records are kept up to date.
• Closely follow the implementation of partner activities from the design phase through to close out. Be aware of all the details for the sub-award.
• Pay close attention to issues, trends or concerns that arise from partner reports, updates and meetings. Alert the Conflict and Peace Program Manager of these, on a regular basis, and contribute to development of possible solutions.
• Act as MC frontline focal point to the partner and support the positive and professional working relationship with the partner. Be responsive to partner needs and challenges and support the Conflict and Peace Program Manager with partner-related tasks as needed.
• Coordinate internally with finance, compliance, operations, and security teams, ensuring a consistent approach to project design, implementation and close out.
• Help design/review project curriculum with the local partner(s), and ensure that the projects funded all meet set criteria and standards.
• In coordination with the Program Manager, provide technical oversight and support, direct and/or remotely, for the technical components of program implementation by the local and/or regional partner(s) at the field level.
• Work closely with the Peace and Conflict Program Manager to create templates, formats, and guidance for key project documentation for use by partners during implementation (project descriptions, M & E plans, work plans, etc.).
• Support the development of lessons learned, successes and most significant change stories through the identification of program strengths, weaknesses, and challenges.

ADMINISTRATION, COMPLIANCE AND REPORTING

• Ensure proper maintenance of project files for the partner(s), keep all trackers up-to-date, and ensure project related deliverables are completed in a timely manner.
• Ensure compliance with donor regulations.
• Assist in the completion of monthly projections and other requested documents.
• Contribute to drafting and reviewing accurate reports (monthly, quarterly and final).

CAPACITY DEVELOPMENT

• Support the development and implementation of capacity building efforts for staff and partners.
• Work with the Program Manager to organize training based on the needs of field staff and partner organizations.
• Under the supervision of the Peace and Conflict Program Manager, help to organize the facilitation of meetings/workshops/training to increase the capacity of local staff and implementing partners.
• Provide specific coaching to local partners as needed, maintaining a consistent approach with other team members.
• Support the mainstreaming of protection and gender through Mercy Corps programs.

REPRESENTATION

• Under the guidance of the program manager, support the development and maintenance of working relationships and coordinate with relevant international and local agencies including humanitarian and human rights organizations, local authorities and local partners.

REPRESENTATION AND COORDINATION

• As required by the supervisor, represent Mercy Corps at donor meetings, and government and sectoral coordination forums/meetings.

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: Peace & Conflict Program Manager

Works Directly With: Mercy Corps Program staff as well as staff from partner organizations.

Knowledge and Experience

• BA Degree in social sciences, development, international relations, statistics or related field.
• Experience of working with donors such DRL, USAID, DFID, EC, SIDA, SDC.
• Previous experience of working with OFDA is strongly preferred.
• 2-3 years of experience, ideally working in a humanitarian or development context.
• Proven program administrative experience.
• Commitment to local capacity building and understanding of social cohesion.
• Proven project management experience.
• Strong coordination and communication skills.
• Effective verbal and written communication, multi-tasking, organizational and prioritization skills.
• Proven ability supporting proposal development and writing.
• Experience of donor reporting.
• Excellent oral and written English is required.

Success Factors:

• Excellent organizational and planning skills.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills in both English and Arabic.
• Proficient in creating reports in both English and Arabic.
• Strong computer skills; particularly in the use of MS Word, Excel and PowerPoint.
• Excellent organizational and planning skills.
• Ability to work independently and as a part of a team
• Ability to multi-task
• Honest, hardworking and committed to community work
• Willingness and ability to work with groups of various cultural, social, religious and ethnic backgrounds.
• Politically and culturally sensitive with qualities of patience, tact and diplomacy.
• Ability to work as part of a team and coordinate with project personnel.
• Flexibility and ability to work in a fast paced, quickly changing environment.
• Experience in the Syrian context is preferred.

Mercy Corps Team members represent the agency both during and outside of work hours. Team members are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner and respect local laws, customs and MC's policies, procedures and values at all times and venues, in such a manner as to bring positive recognition to Mercy Corps and to not endanger Mercy Corps’ humanitarian mission.

Mercy Corps Team members represent the agency both during and outside of work hours when deployed in a field posting or on a visit/TDY to a field posting. Team members are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner and respect local laws, customs and MC's policies, procedures, and values at all times and in all in-country venues.

Safeguarding & Ethics

Mercy Corps is committed to ensuring that all individuals we encounter 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. 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.

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