About Mercy Corps
Mercy Corps is powered by the belief that a better world is possible. To do this, we know our teams do their best work when they are diverse and every team member feels that they belong. We welcome diverse backgrounds, perspectives, and skills so that we can be stronger and have long term impact.
Program / Department Summary
Mercy Corps has been present in Ethiopia since 2004 working to drive bold and transformative ideas, working closely with government, the private sector and civil society actors to build a more resilient country, ensuring that programs are responsive to and influenced by participants and stakeholders. Our vision is to enhance the resilience of climate and conflict-affected communities through market systems development for improved livelihoods, access to food, and safe and clean water to thrive in the face of crises. Our strategy focuses on the four outcome areas of: 1) Economically marginalized populations have improved and diversified livelihoods, income, and assets; 2) Pastoralists, farmers, and households have access to sustainably produced, safe, nutritious food; 3) Social cohesion and inclusive governance processes are built in crisis-affected communities; and 4) People have equitable, sustained access to clean water and sanitation for domestic and productive use. Currently we operate in the regional states of Afar, Amhara, Gambella, Oromia, Somali, Sidama, Southern Ethiopia, Tigray and Addis Ababa city administration working with a diverse base of donors that includes United States Agency for International Development (USAID), European Union, GAC, Hilton Foundation, United Nations (UN), JOA, Sweden, EKN, and other foundations.
The USAID-funded Highland Resilience Activity (HRA) will contribute to the Productive Safety Net Program (PSNP) 5’s “Big Push” initiative and has the overarching goal of strengthening resilience among vulnerable households in Ethiopia’s Highlands, resulting in 120,000 PSNP households reaching the graduation threshold. HRA will support these households in moving above the graduation threshold and to where they no longer require social safety net programming for household food security and have the capabilities and assets to withstand regular and predictable shocks. The Activity will achieve this goal by directly supporting households in increasing their on-farm, off-farm, and employment incomes while facilitating improvements in the market systems required to increase demand for goods and services in PSNP communities. HRA is a five-year program that started during October 2023.
General Position Summary
The GYSI Advisor will ensure that the social dimensions of Gender, Youth and social inclusions are effectively addressed across all activity components and at all levels throughout the implementation of the HRA Program. Work to ensure vulnerable and marginalized populations are considered in targeting approaches. The GYSI Advisor shall have an in-depth understanding of gender, youth, social inclusion and other locally significant socio-cultural and inclusion factors in the context of resilience programming, and a demonstrated capacity to lead the collection, analysis, and utilization of information from a broad range of sources. They must have proven experience and skill on participatory learning and action, and facilitating collaborative problem-solving. In addition, he/she must have the ability to foster commitment and build capacity among project staff, partners, program stakeholders and other actors to ensure the gender and youth integration, empowerment, and social inclusion issues are addressed at all levels. During the first year of the program, in alignment with Mercy Corps’ best practices and USAID requirements, the GYSI Advisor will ensure gender and youth analysis are conducted to inform and guide program implementation and to ensure that men, women, girls, boys and the youth have equitable opportunities to engage in and benefit from program activities. They will promote innovative initiatives for inclusiveness in conformity with the donor and Mercy Corps’ GEDSI policy.
Essential Job Responsibilities
Strategy & Vision
Organize and conduct the donor-required gender and youth analysis during the first year of the Activity and serve as the lead for any program-related youth or GYSI-related
Work closely with sector leads/program managers in integrating the findings from the analysis into the Activity’s work plan and milestones.
Work to ensure that all HRA staff and partners share an inclusive and gender-transformative vision for implementation
Play a critical role in the design, implementation, and management of the program’s technical strategy and activities.
Identifies GYSI and gender-based violence issues and risks across program components and guides dedicated GYSI activities.
Delivers training and works to strengthen capacity for GESI analysis and activities among HRA staff, local partners, and government stakeholders
Ensure a gender-based violence risk analysis is done and incorporate findings into the program implementation plan.
Develop a GYSI strategy and guiding tools for the program, and oversee the implementation of the strategy in collaboration with the program team and adapt and improve them as needed.
Coordinate closely, work with and support technical leads, managers and partners to promote GYSI integration across all technical areas of the program.
Work closely with the relevant team members to develop strategies for encouraging and promoting the youth and for their meaningful participation and leadership in project activities and community decision making.
Work closely with the M&E team on integrating GYSI within data collection and analysis tools. Also with the M&E team, provide technical backstopping in the collection and use of sex and age-disaggregated statistical data and other research findings for the purpose of analysis and integration of GYSI in program design.
Contribute to any other research conducted in the program to ensure that relevant GYSI aspects are incorporated.
Work closely with the Human Resources team to ensure GYSI accountability is incorporated into the position descriptions of team members.
Capacity Building
Develop targeted GYSI capacity building interventions for program staff.
Support program team in the delivery of training and capacity building on key gender, youth and social inclusion topics to program participants.
Engage on periodic and joint monitoring of field activities; ensure quality delivery of GYSI interventions and coach/mentor staff technically on this.
Document processes and achievements to ensure impact and best practices are captured and disseminated. This will include the continual re-evaluation of program activities and information, with resulting activity adjustments in keeping with new insights.
Influence & Representation
Develop relationships and linkages with organizations implementing other donor-funded programs focused on GYSI.
Participate in other consortium meetings and networkings by representing the program
Conduct regular community consultations to ensure programming remains GYSI sensitive and on-track.
Collect and share learnings and best practices from this program both internally and externally.
Identify, build and manage collaborative partnerships with consortium members, local governments and other stakeholders including private and civil society organizations.
Communicate effectively to ensure overall program targets and donor obligations are met.
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.
Accountability to Participants and Stakeholders
Mercy Corps team members are expected to support all efforts toward accountability, specifically to our program participants, community partners, other stakeholders, and to international standards guiding international relief and development work. We are committed to actively engaging communities as equal partners in the design, monitoring and evaluation of our projects.
Supervisory Responsibility
Closely work and supervise the Youth Engagement Specialist and region based GYSI specialists
Accountability
Reports Directly To: Deputy Chief of Party
Works Directly With: Country GEDSI Advisor, MEL Manager, MEL/CLA director r and partner organizations,
Job Requirements
Knowledge and Experience / Qualification and Transferable Skills
MA/Msc or equivalent educational background in a social science discipline such as Development Studies, International Relations, Gender studies, social work or related field.
At least five years’ (7 years + if only undergraduate degree) work experience in gender, youth and social inclusion programming, at least five of which must be based in country programs, implementing gender and social inclusion programming at the community level.
Experience developing and conducting gender analysis, Youth analysis, gender and youth related training, gender/youth/social dynamics mainstreaming and engaging in gender advocacy and influencing works.
Preference for working experience with projects addressing resilience, agriculture, natural resources management, agribusiness, peacebuilding and conflict management.
Demonstrated capacity to lead the collection, analysis and utilization of information from a broad range of sources to ensure effective integration of gender and youth concerns throughout the program’s duration.
In-depth understanding of gender, age and other locally significant socio-cultural factors in the context of food and nutrition security and resilience programming.
Skills in participatory learning and facilitating collaborative problem-solving.
Understanding and knowledge of USAID regulations and program administration, management, and reporting procedures and systems is preferred.
Prior GYSI experience working in the Ethiopian context.
Fluent oral and written English and Amharic language is desirable
Excellent computer skills (especially Microsoft office applications) and ability to use information technology as a tool and resource.
Success Factors
A successful candidate should have experience and expertise leading Gender Youth and Social Inclusion (GYSI) efforts and translating GYSI learning into adaptive programming. They should also have a demonstrated ability to lead and communicate effectively with team members of varied work styles and cultures, follow procedures, and meet deadlines with flexibility and creativity in planning and problem solving. They should have a proven ability to learn quickly, multi-task, prioritize, take initiative, and be accountable for results, understand the larger picture while remaining focused on the details, problem solving, work within a complex and sensitive setting and to follow laws and security protocols. The most successful Mercy Corps team members have a strong commitment to teamwork and accountability, thrive in evolving and changing environments and make effective written and verbal communication a priority in all situations.
Living /Environmental Conditions:
The position will be based in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia with regular travels to the field. This position requires at least 30 % of travel to field offices in relatively secure environments.
Mercy Corps team members represent the agency both during and outside work hours when deployed in a field posting g. 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.
Fostering a diverse and open workplace is an important part of Mercy Corps’ vision. Mercy Corps is an Equal Opportunity Employer regardless of background. We are committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment.
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
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 & 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. 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.
How to Apply
All qualified individuals are invited to apply for the advertised position. All applications, including a CV, three references, and all applicable official papers, must be sent electronically.
Only candidates that are short-listed will be acknowledged and called for interviews.
“Mercy Corps is an equal opportunity employer promoting gender, equity and diversity. Qualified female and young candidates are strongly encouraged to apply. We are committed to empower women and youth.”
DEADLINE FOR ALL APPLICATIONS: 10 November 2023/ 4:00 PM
Applicants Must fill out their Information through the link: CLICK HERE
