Job Title: Reporting Officer – Turkana
Job Category: Programming
Requisition Number: REPOR002368
Full-time
Location: Lodwar, KE-43 1186800100, KEN
Travel required: Yes
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.
The Program / Department / Team
USAID Nawiri is a $100 million (USD) five-year Resilience Food Security Activity (RFSA) funded by USAID Bureau of Humanitarian Assistance (BHA) that began on October 1, 2019.
Nawiri aims to sustainably reduce levels of Persistent Acute Malnutrition (PAM) in Samburu & Turkana by addressing the root causes of food insecurity and malnutrition and seeks sustainable solutions that go beyond humanitarian assistance.
Mercy Corps, in consortium with Save the Children, Research Triangle Institute (RTI), the BOMA Project, African Population & Health Research Center (APHRC), and Caritas Lodwar is implementing the USAID Nawiri Program in Turkana and Samburu counties.
The USAID Nawiri program is anchored by a robust learning agenda that is executed in close collaboration with county governments, civil society organizations, private sector players, and benefiting communities in Turkana & Samburu counties.
Evidence generated from the various studies commissioned by Nawiri has informed design of the program interventions.
The interventions will contribute to strengthening communities on nutrition resilience by bridging critical knowledge gaps and transformed practices, relating to the understanding of the complexities and the interplay of casualties contributing to PAM in Turkana and Samburu County.
The Position
A program as large and complex as USAID Nawiri requires multiple ongoing reporting streams to be managed simultaneously, therefore, the primary responsibility of the Reporting officer (s) is to develop and manage accurate up-to-date programmatic communications.
With the program in the process of scaling up, the imperative for accurate record keeping, diligent knowledge management, and efficient reporting coordination has only increased to ensure both operational and technical quality.
The Reporting Officer (s) will administratively report to the USAID Nawiri County Director while maintaining technical reporting and accessing technical support, mentorship and coaching from the Program Quality and Reporting Manager (PQRM) – and both these managers will support performance management requirements.
The incumbent will work closely with USAID Nawiri county program teams to support the development of weekly reports, quarterly reports, annual reports, workshop/event reports, and reports documenting learning activities.
In addition to reporting support, this person will help with information and knowledge management of the teams’ documents and ensure USAID Nawiri is compliant with the Mercy Corps standards and programmatic best practices.
They will support senior management by responding to information requests, drafting success stories, and monitoring and reporting on the impact of the program.
The Reporting Officer will also collaborate closely with their counterpart to develop the larger quarterly/annual reports and ensure consistency in format and quality across the two counties.
Essential Responsibilities
REPORTING
- Provide technical support to the consortium program teams to edit and finalize reporting and communications materials including weekly reports, quarterly reports, annual reports, workshop/event reports, and reports documenting learning activities.
- Work with program teams and the PQRM to prepare reports for donors, partners, and government on program progress, ensuring all reporting requirements for donors are met on time and in a quality manner.
- Track reporting requirements for all activities, including regular follow-up with responsible actors.
KNOWLEDGE MANAGEMENT
- Support the program teams with administrative tasks such as maintaining required documentation, Program Files, and internal USAID Nawiri knowledge management systems.
- Support the PQRM in stewarding the Program Management at Mercy Corps (PM@MC) minimum standard requirements, as well as additional best practices in program quality.
COMMUNICATIONS
- Support Field Directors and senior management by responding to information requests, drafting success stories, and monitoring and reporting on the impact of the program.
- Work with the Communications Advisor to facilitate information sharing among internal and appropriate external audiences.
Supervisory Responsibility
None.
Accountability
Reports Directly To: Field Director
Works Directly With: Program Quality and Reporting Manager, thematic officers across the consortium and Local CSO implementers.
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 field projects.
Minimum Qualification & Transferable Skills
- Excellent written and verbal English language skills, including concise analytical and technical writing, that meets the standards of Mercy Corps and USAID reporting.
- At least 3 years’ experience in a relevant position plus experience in a coordination and/or management support role.
- Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field is required, master’s degree preferred.
- Demonstrated experience meeting USAID and other donor reporting requirements.
- A high degree of organizational skills using computer-based tools/software (Google Suite and MS Office) with demonstrated attention to detail.
- Proven record of project management as well as trouble-shooting skills.
- Strong communication skills including the ability to communicate frequently and effectively in both verbal and written form.
- Proven ability to conduct him/herself professionally under pressure.
- Previous experience supporting a complex USAID-funded program; familiarity with USAID rules and regulations.
- Previous experience as a full-time staff with Mercy Corps and demonstrated knowledge of Mercy Corps systems, procedures and program priorities is an advantage.
Success Factors
The successful candidate will be extremely collaborative, can work independently and take initiative in tasks and self-learning, be proactive in communications, and demonstrate innovative thinking.
They will be able to effectively work across departments, and disciplines, often without direct supervisory authority.
They will have excellent communication abilities in written English, including concise analytical and technical writing, and can communicate USAID Nawiri’s strengths and overall vision.
They will also be able to work closely with a diverse team of individuals with varying backgrounds and objectives, having excellent team and interpersonal relationship skills, along with a positive mindset.
They will be expected to travel to locations within the program geographies, as required, in meeting the demands of the position.
Living Conditions / Environmental Conditions
The position is based in Lodwar, Turkana and requires up to 50% travel to support program staff, which may include travel to insecure locations where freedom of movement is limited and areas where amenities are limited.
Housing for this role is in individual housing and staff will have access to good medical services and the living situation is of a high standard.
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
Apply online at https://bit.ly/3vqE72H
Closing Date: 11th May 2022
Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.
Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.
Qualified female candidates are highly encouraged to apply.
Mercy Corps does not charge any fees at any stage of the recruitment process.