Mercy Corps
Career Opportuntiy: Emergency Response Officer – Samburu (Baragoi & Wamba)
Requisition number: EMERG002441
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.
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
With funding from USAID’s Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance (BHA), Mercy Corps’ Nawiri Program is leading a consortium of Kenyan and international partners on a five-year journey to sustainably reduce persistent acute malnutrition in Turkana and Samburu Counties of Kenya.
Through a phased approach that emphasizes evidence gap analysis, as well as partnership, learning, and co-creation, the program takes a robust county-centered design with government leadership, active engagement from communities, the private sector, and civil society.
Mercy Corps’ consortium brings together global leadership, research capacity, technical expertise, and implementation experience to partner with local institutions to test, adapt, and scale evidence-based solutions to sustainably reduce persistent acute malnutrition for vulnerable populations in Turkana and Samburu counties.
Together we will sustainably reduce persistent acute malnutrition for vulnerable populations in Turkana and Samburu counties.
The Position Summary
Working closely with the County Emergency Response Coordinator, and other USAID Nawiri staff, the Emergency Response Officer will support in the coordination and implementation of the drought response programme in Samburu and Turkana Counties County.
S/he will work with the USAID Nawiri consortium partners and other stakeholders including relevant government departments, private sector actors, local leaders, and communities to ensure effective and efficient delivery of the drought response programme.
The Emergency Response Officer will support to strengthen smooth implementation of emergency drought response components that include unconditional cash transfers, market systems, and improved access and utilization of Integrated Management of Acute Malnutrition (IMAM).
The position will be responsible for implementation of daily program activities and support to program staff, ensuring appropriate systems and mechanisms are in place to track, analyze and report on results as well as engagement with other programme components to support the implementation of an integrated response.
Essential Job Responsibilities
STRATEGY & VISION
- Support the Emergency Response Coordinator to implement Nawiri’s shock responsive and nutrition resilient emergency response in the context of drought (primarily) and other emergencies if they arise and are aligned to Nawiri’s vision
- To support in the implementation of a collaborative and co-created emergency response program informed by assessments and evidence of gaps and opportunities that leverage Nawiri’s goal
- Recognize opportunities for innovative action and create an environment where alternative viewpoints are welcomed
PROGRAM MANAGEMENT
- Support the program team in implementation of the emergency response.
- In collaboration with the Emergency Response Coordinator and the monitoring and evaluation team, support the development of strong data collection and monitoring & evaluation plans within each component.
- Attend response coordination meetings providing feedback and analysis to Emergency Response
- Coordinator, highlighting emerging issues and make recommendations for implications better programme delivery.
- Ensure that program implementation is responsive to communities and partners and consistent with Mercy Corps’ relevant program guidelines, principles, values, quality standards and strategic plan.
- Ensure that beneficiaries are effectively targeted according to established vulnerability criteria.
- Develop program implementation plans in consultation with the Emergency Response Coordinator, including response to Community Accountability and Reporting Mechanism (CARM) issues, beneficiary targeting and cash disbursement process.
- Ensure program implementation is on time and target using effective M&E systems to reach desired impacts.
- Work with other program staff to ensure that field experiences are documented and used for learning and to advocate on behalf of the communities with which we work.
- Provide accurate routine reports, document results and maintain detailed records of program activities
- Support the Mercy Corps Kenya Office with Emergency Preparedness Planning
- Fulfill Mercy Corps Program Management Minimum Standards based on the organization-wide guide.
- Ensure all interventions adhere to Mercy Corps’ Gender Policy, Do No Harm principles, and beneficiary accountability standards.
TEAM MANAGEMENT
- Contribute to county team-building efforts, create and sustain a work environment of mutual respect where team members strive to achieve excellence.
- Promote accountability, communicate expectations and provide constructive feedback.
- Support to induct and guide team members as necessary.
- Provide team members with information, tools and other resources to improve performance and reach objectives.
FINANCE & COMPLIANCE MANAGEMENT
- In consultation with the Emergency Response Coordinator, create and maintain systems ensuring effective and transparent use of financial resources for timely and informative reporting in line with donor and Mercy Corps policies and procedures.
- Ensure compliance with donor and Mercy Corps regulations related to emergency programming.
- Build and/or maintain operational systems that ensure proper administrative support for programs.
INFLUENCE & REPRESENTATION
- Identify, build and manage collaborative partnerships with consortium partners, sub-grantees, donors, local governments and other stakeholders.
SECURITY
- Ensure compliance with security procedures and policies as determined by country leadership.
- Proactively ensure that team members operate in a secure environment and are aware of policies.
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.
Supervisory Responsibility
N/A
Accountability
- Reports Directly To: Emergency Response Coordinator
- Works Directly With: Field based team of Coordinators and Officers (WASH, M&E, Livelihoods, SSBC etc.) and other consortium partner staff, finance and operations teams.
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
- A bachelor’s degree in social sciences, development studies, disaster management, Nutrition or equivalent qualifications.
- At least 5 years’ progressive experience in project/programme management preferably in a humanitarian context.
- A good understanding of integrated programming, multi-sectoral programming, linking humanitarian and long-term development work.
- Good inter-personal skills and being able to effectively to work with a diverse team of internal and external partners.
- Experience in stakeholder engagement skills, with a proven record of working with relevant government departments, private sector and communities.
- Excellent organizational skills, including forward planning and ability to meet deadlines.
- Ability to be flexible and achieve results in a fast-moving environment.
- Well-developed oral and written communication skills in English and Kiswahili. Knowledge of local language is an added advantage.
- Demonstratable experience of integrating gender and diversity into programme work.
- Previous working experience in Arid and Semi-arid Land (ASAL) counties is desirable,
- Knowledge of SPHERE and other humanitarian programming standards.
- Knowledge on cash programming, gender & nutrition in in emergencies and application across sectoral interventions is an advantage.
Living Conditions / Environmental Conditions
The position is based in Wamba and Baragoi in Samburu County requiring regular travel to the projects sites and USAID Nawiri County offices in Maralal
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.
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 e-learning courses upon hire and on an annual basis.
Apply online at https://bit.ly/3tkoFUn
Closing date is 15th June 2022
Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.
Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. Female candidates are highly encouraged to apply.
Mercy Corps does not charge any fees at any stage of the recruitment process.
Travel required: Yes.