Position is contingent on new funding

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 operating in Ethiopia since 2004, working in rural, peri-urban and urban areas in five regional states - Somali, Oromia, Afar, Southern Nations Nationalities and Peoples, Amhara - and the capital city of Addis Ababa. We engage in both development and humanitarian work, and seek to integrate approaches, programs and geographies as much as possible.  Our partners include government, academic institutions, development and private sector actors, civil societies and communities. Mercy Corps Ethiopia invites motivated and qualified candidates to apply for the following vacant position.

Position Title:   Partner Capacity Building Manager

Duty Station:  Addis Ababa

Open Position:  1

Program / Department Summary

Mercy Corps has been present in Ethiopia since 2004, and acts on behalf of people who have become disenfranchised and poor. We stand with Ethiopia to find and access opportunities, and to be part of lasting and meaningful transformation in the country. Mercy Corps seeks to be influential with government and development actors towards a more resilient country where poverty is tackled through the eyes of those who understand it best. This translates into ensuring that the population is financially stable, healthy & nourished, educated & unformed, and that natural resources are accessible, shared and utilized sustainably. 

Mercy Corps anticipates a multi-year, multi-million dollar USAID funded initiative focused on: stimulating increased production, productivity and marketing through more competitive livestock and livestock products markets; increasing communities’ resilience; improving alternative livelihood options through essential skills transfer; improving food security and nutrition, and contributing to the wider knowledge on pastoral development.  The program will operate in multiple pastoral regions across Ethiopia.

General Position Summary

The PARA Partners Capacity Building Manager is responsible for ensuring effective, high quality implementation of capacity building activities for local partners in PARA project locations. As part of this team, the Manager will report to the PARA Chief of Party or his/her designee and will be responsible for designing, implementing, and monitoring organizational capacity development plan and training for PARA partners. This training may take the form of one-on-one coaching, or group trainings, as appropriate. The position involves working in close coordination with the entire PARA team across program areas and project objectives in order to achieve results.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:

• Establish and maintain constructive and positive professional relationship with the PARA program partner organizations.
• Conducts periodic reviews of partner progress: a) Interviews partners and prepares recommendations for the purposes of assessing partners’ potential to meet agreement terms, b) Strengthening partner skills in financial management, reporting and administration.
• Participate and support in delivering trainings in financial management and compliance
• Maintains confidentially of proposals and associated budgets received.
• Advise and support the partners as necessary to encourage professional, timely, and accurate reporting.
• Work closely with the M&E and other program staff to ensure the deliverables are on schedule and address any delay on a regular basis.
• Follow-up resolution of program performance report issues
• Assists partners in developing and utilizing correctly financial and compliance systems that will enable them to directly access USAID funding streams; and develops/reviews monitoring plans for each partner.
• Review sub-recipient financial and programmatic reports for correctness and completeness and ensure that reports are submitted on time.
• Recommend approval/disapproval of fund advances based upon sufficiency and quality of reporting and partner degree of implementation of prior recommendations.
• Ensure data quality, accuracy and work with partners on improvements if necessary.
• Assist partners in developing forecast and activity plan & review request for projects and organizational improvement.
• Prepare timely, accurate and thorough reports to the as requested by the Chief of Party
• Provide strategic program guidance and technical support for sub-grant award capacity building through provision of support to partner organizations as required and in coordination with the relevant program team.
• Conduct the capacity assessment of identified organizations using Mercy Corps’ Organizational Capacity Index (OCI) tool and using OCI findings, support partner organizations to create capacity development plans.
• Refine organizational development tools and recommend best approaches for partner capacity development based on existing Mercy Corps knowledge and experience.
• Other duties as assigned.

REPRESENTATION AND COORDINATION

●        Liaise with local government officials, local NGOs and civil society organizations, local religious leaders and other notables to ensure support for and acceptance of Mercy Corps’ programs. 

●        Maintain close working relationships with donors, other humanitarian and development organizations, and local partners, including representing Mercy Corps at local coordination meetings as assigned.

●       Conduct himself/herself both professionally and personally in such a manner as to bring credit to Mercy Corps and to not jeopardize its humanitarian mission.

Security

●        Work closely with the country team’s security focal point 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.

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. 

KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:

·         MSC or Bachelor’s or equivalent in Finance, Business Administration or similar area of study.

·         Previous experience in Finance, grants management, capacity building, training and audit, preferably with International NGOs

·         Ability to work closely with local partners, providing support, mentorship and technical assistance

·         Excellent communication, organizational and prioritization skills and the ability to multi-task and support and/or fill multiple positions at one time.

·         Demonstrated attention to detail and ability to follow procedures, meet deadlines and work both independently and cooperatively with team members.

·         Demonstrated sensitivity to the people and issues in the Horn of Africa.

SUCCESS FACTORS:

A successful candidate will have a demonstrated ability to lead and communicate effectively with team members of varied work styles, follow procedures, 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.