This Position is contingent

About Mercy Corps

Mercy Corps is an international Humanitarian organization operating Water and Sanitation, Economic Development, Livelihoods, Capacity Building, Emergency Response, Health and Nutrition, and similar sectors in the regions of SNNPR, Somali, Oromia, Addis Ababa and Dire Dawa. Mercy Corps works with communities, public and private sectors to implement appropriate relief, recovery and development interventions. Mercy Corps Ethiopia invites motivated and qualified candidates to apply for the following vacant position.

Position Title:  Irrigation and Agriculture Advisor

Duty Station:  Gambela, Ethiopia

Post Position: One

Program / Department Summary

Mercy Corps works in places of transition, where conflict, disaster, political upheaval, or economic collapse present opportunities to build more secure, productive, and just communities. Providing emergency relief in times of crisis, we move quickly to help communities recover and build resilience to future shocks, and promote sustainable change by supporting community-led and market-driven initiatives.

Globally, and in Ethiopia, Mercy Corps is a leading practitioner of market systems development (MSD) approaches to poverty reduction, with particular expertise in implementing MSD programs in fragile and conflict-affected contexts. This program will apply our market systems expertise to refugee and host community contexts in the Gambella region, with the objective of finding durable solutions to the protracted refugee situation. This program is part of a broader portfolio of markets and refugee programming for Mercy Corps in Ethiopia. The position is currently covered in the inception phase and will likely be extended.

General Position Summary

Mercy Corps seeks an experienced Irrigation and Agriculture Advisor to support the program’s irrigation and agriculture assessments planned during the inception phase of the program. Past experience working in refugee contexts is an asset. S/he will work under the direction of the Market Systems Development Advisor and liaise closely with other program advisors and the Program / Area Manager. Assessments will analyze systemic constraints to land access, agriculture and irrigation issues in the targeted communities.

 Essential Job Responsibilities

Program management

• Advise on technical, social and legal aspects of irrigation, agriculture and land access in the program areas, to promote the livelihoods of refugee and host communities.
• Identify target areas and support teams to conduct feasibility assessments for potential irrigation and agricultural initiatives in the next phase of the program.
• Develop understanding of relevant market systems as well as all relevant actors (public and private) participating in those market systems.
• Advise the Market Systems Development Advisor and Program / Area Manager on best practices.
• Liaise with other program staff to ensure that all community projects are well-coordinated and prioritized by community members.
• Ensure that assessment and program implementation is responsive to community needs and consistent with Mercy Corps’ and technical guidelines.
• Monitor community groups and projects to ensure accountability and best use of project resources.
• Monitor and evaluate effectiveness of irrigation and agricultural projects and impact and make recommendations for improvements.
• Troubleshoot on reporting and programmatic needs. Advise supervisor on improvements and necessities, as required.

FINANCE AND COMPLIANCE

• Ensure compliance with donor and Mercy Corps regulations.
• Draft and/or review scope of work to hire and manage any technical consultants, including review for technical efficacy and contract budget.

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.

·         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.

Knowledge and Experience

·         Bachelor’s or Masters’ Degree and at least 2 years work experience in irrigation science, agriculture, land use, or related field is required or demonstrated equivalent work experience in the field.

·         Strong skills in planning and organization, conducting assessments, partnership and collaboration.

·         Experience in working in multi-sector programs, with strong emphasis on vulnerable populations, particularly refugee communities.

·         Must be able to work independently while being a strong team player.

·         Experience working in Gambella preferred, with strong contextual knowledge of relevant cultures and local communities.

·         Willingness and ability to travel frequently to Mercy Corps project sites and field locations, including traveling to insecure environments, is required.

·         Excellent computer skills, including all Microsoft applications (Word, Excel, Outlook & PowerPoint).

·         Excellent communicator in English with demonstrated excellent report writing and speaking skills, proficiency in Amharic and the local language(s) greatly advantageous.

·         Knowledge of Sphere standards and other training in humanitarian response preferred.

Success Factors

The successful candidate will possess excellent technical and leadership skills. He/she will undertake innovative approaches. The ideal candidate will have a strong curiosity for understanding and working effectively within the complex cultural, political, security and social environment of Ethiopia. S/he will be an excellent communicator, multitasker, and able to work in ambiguous situations. S/he will be a tolerant and flexible individual able to work in difficult and stressful environments and follow procedures. The successful candidate will be focused on capacity building of team-members, have strong skills in monitoring and evaluation of programs and maintain a sense of humor. S/he should have excellent communication, facilitation and networking skills with a wide range of private, partner and NGO-sector actors.