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: NRM and Climate Services Specialist

 Location: Gode, Somali Region

 Number of Positions: One

 Program / Department Summary

Mercy Corps is a leading implementer of Climate Information and Market Strengthening to Reduce Climate Risk (CIMS) program funded by WFP for pastoralists and agro-pastoralists in the Addadle, West-Imay, Dollo-Ado, and Kebridehar woredas of Somali region. The program aims to improve livelihoods and enhance resilience of households through the introduction of climate change adaptation and drought risk management activities.

 General Position Summary

NRM and Climate Services Specialist is required to manage the climate risk solution of the program in promoting participatory NRM, early warning and disaster risk management.  This position requires someone who understands the role of culture and local communities in managing climate-based information and has deep experience in facilitating participatory early warning committees to develop plans to strengthen the community’s resilience against drought.

Essential Job Responsibilities

Strategy & Vision

·        Recognize opportunities for innovative action and create an environment where alternative viewpoints are welcomed.

·        Set direction by prioritizing and organizing actions & resources to achieve objectives and contribute to countrywide strategy development.

·        Develop and organize activities to secure resources for programs and convince stakeholders to provide support. 

Program Management

·        Conduct initial assessments to climate vulnerability, livelihood sensitivity and community capacity analysis with special emphasis on resources on traditional disaster risk management and decision-making structures.

·        Identify existing capacities at local and regional government, scrutinize the DRM policy and seek better approach to leverage for streamlining better mechanisms to improve early warning system of  the public

·        Advocate better disaster risk management and expose tested models to the local and regional government to take up and use in their planning system

·        Built the capacity of the public sector key actors through training and technical support, create different platforms to work with the project and gradually transform the public system

·        Develop deep understanding of the natural resource management (NRM) approaches and livelihood framework in particular focus on importance of utilizing communal structures for better climate adaptation 

·        Support identification and systematic inclusion of key NRM governance stakeholders at local and regional level in all relevant activities and processes. 

·        Develop and implement strategy for community-led disaster risk management by integrating the traditional forecast system with that of the science based information for the community to able to anticipate and prepare for risks. 

·        Support the identification and systematic inclusion of key Climate change adaptation options at local and regional level in all relevant activities and processes.

·        Provide support to livestock production and insurance activities in environmentally sustainable practices

·        Contribute to the strengthening of knowledge management in DRM by: attending partnership meetings; providing technical advice on project issues; monitoring the achievement of project milestones

·        Integrate community based NRM approaches, gender sensitivity and capacity building of vulnerable groups into all activities as appropriate.

·        Ensure program implementation is on time, target and budget, using effective M&E systems to reach desired impacts.

·        Ensure all interventions adhere to Mercy Corps’ Gender Policy, Do No Harm principles, and beneficiary accountability standards.

Capacity-building

·        Provide training and on-site technical guidance to implementation of small scale irrigation systems, soil and water conservation, water harvesting, rangeland rehabilitation and conservation, and other land restoration activities, including for DAs, NR committees, community members, government partners and other program staff as applicable.

·        Organize and provide technical programmatic inputs and training to field team, government partners and community partners on natural resource and disaster risk management planning and implementation techniques.

·        Organize and facilitate trainings, consultative workshops and field based institutional capacity building activities around multi-community NR/CCA activities that result from community-based agreements.

Influence & Representation

·        Identify, build and manage collaborative partnerships with community leaders, partners, local governments and other stakeholders.

·        Communicate effectively to ensure overall project targets and programmatic obligations are met.

Knowledge and Experience

·        Bachelor Degree in Disaster Risk Management, Natural Resource Management, Agricultural Economics, Environmental Engineering or other related field or equivalent combination of education and work experience;

·        Desirably : Master's Degree in Disaster Risk Management, Climatology, Agricultural Economics, Rural Development, or Natural Resource Management, Environmental Engineering or other related field 

·        A minimum of five years of experience in relevant sectors like DRR, NRM, Livelihood, EW,etc

·        Experience in conducting CVCA and ion of Participatory Scenario Planning, specific experience in Somali Region is a benefit

·        Analytical skill and good research background

·        Fluency both in English and Somali is required

Success Factors

The successful candidate is adaptive, innovative and has an anthropological mindset; s/he is able to work independently while striving to integrate activities to fulfill larger program goals.