Program / Department Summary

Our programs in Sudan cover the triple nexus approach with a range of projects interlinking the
humanitarian, development, and peace sectors. Our humanitarian response focuses on integrated FSL,
Cash, WASH, Protection and Nutrition activities with cross-cutting focuses on youth and gender. These
programs have a strong emphasis on increasing self-reliance through the provision of improved livelihood
opportunities. Under our peace program, we aim to promote an active role for women in preventing and
mitigating violence and conflict especially in South Darfur and South Kordofan in collaboration with civil
society. Our development program is pioneering a Market System Development (MSD) approach to support
the food security and strengthening of agricultural markets systems for small holder farmers in South
Kordofan and Blue Nile. The project has a focus on the empowerment of women and promotion of climate
resilient agriculture.
Working with a diverse base of donors that includes the United States Agency for International Development
(USAID), Switzerland Development Cooperation (SDC), Swedish International Development Agency, AICS,
Sudan Humanitarian Fund and others, Mercy Corps empowers people to recover from crisis, build better
lives and transform their communities for good. We work closely with the private sector, civil society, and
governance structures at local, regional and national levels to facilitate change and ensure that opportunities
are inclusive of all Sudanese.
Innovation is an important part of our programs, and we are levering new technologies and modalities to
alleviate suffering and poverty thereby helping people build secure, productive, and just communities. Mercy
Corps’ work emphasizes community-led, market-driven interventions through public, private, and civic sector
partnerships. Examples of innovation in Sudan include the use of solar energy to provide sustainable
potable water supplies for displaced communities and the introduction of hermetic bags to reduce postharvest losses for small holder farmers.

General Position Summary

Based in Gadaref and cover Kassala state duties , the Liaison and security officer is responsible for liaising
with the country office and state level government to ensure uninterrupted program operations and office
work in Gadaref and Kassala and appropriate and necessary support by the government is provided. The
position is responsible for making sure that all necessary program and strategic documents are submitted to
the government authorities and all permits are obtained in time. The Liaison and security officer is
responsible for ensuring all the traveling permits and TAs state level approval in a timely manner and
ensure to share the approved TAs with tram leaders . The Liaison and security officer will coordinate with
the team leaders senior security officer and Liaison and program support manager to ensure all its
government liaison and security functions are smoothly facilitated and completed. 

Essential Job Responsibilities

GOVERNMENT LIAISON

• Support the team leaders and the liaison and program support manager for easy access to state level governments in Gadaref and Kassala.
• Participate and represent organization in the government-NGO bilateral or individual meetings.
• Follow CD or SMT members when meeting with the government State level .
• Produce weekly access report for each state separately.
• Track and follow the organization registration in State level, ensure electronic tracking and hardcopy folder are always up to date.
• Create and share with liaison and program support manager reporting requirements through technical agreements, MOUs, travel permits or other government provisions by date.
• Review all Technical Agreements (TAs) and facilitate Humanitarian Aid Commission (HAC) approval at State level.
• Ensure the copies of the electronic trackers and the clear scans are uploaded in the SD teams drive are uploaded and up to date.

• Ensure liaison and program support have access.
• Build and Maintain a good relationship with all related governmental authorities .
• Support the HR team and Liaise with LO to facilitate the communication of the recruitment process as required.

PROGRAM MANAGEMENT

• Support the program team with Technical agreements and MOUs state level approval.
• Will act as Mercy Corps security focal point and represent Mercy Corps at security meetings in state level. Will disseminate security information to all staff in the Mercy Corps offices as needed.
• Facilitate Security Management Team (SMT) meetings and ensure information is disseminated to all staff, as required in coordination with senior security officer .
• Will brief guards and drivers on any immediate security threats and provide training/translation.
• Provide a security briefing to all new staff, advising on current security phase .
• Assist senior security officer , as required, in developing strategies to continue work in times of heightened security.
• Ensure that all necessary measures are taken to provide MC employees with a safe working environment as detailed in existing guidelines, including responsibility of fire regulation procedures.
• Acceptance of visitor and vehicles to MC premises. Receiving of mail, etc.
• Facilitate any incident reporting requirements as required. Maintain a filing system and ensure heads of office have access to files and completed forms (this includes work –related injuries).
• Represent Mercy Corps, as advised by supervisor, to local governments and authorities and at routine security meetings/briefings.
• In coordination with the Country Director, will maintain the security bulletin board in the office and share information with heads of office.
• Adherence to Mercy Corps policies and procedures as outlined in the Mercy Corps National Staff Policy Manual;
• Conduct himself/herself both professionally and personally in such a manner as to bring credit to Mercy Corps and to not jeopardize its humanitarian mission.
• Other duties as assigned by supervisor.

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.
• Support as security focal point state level (Gadaref and Kassala ) .

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.

Accountability
Reports Directly To: Team leader Gadaref.
Matrix Reporting line To: liaison and program support manager
Works Directly With: Team leader Gadaref , ,Program Managers, Program, Operations, Finance and
HR departments (Gadaref- Kassala) . 

Knowledge and Experience

• Three plus years of progressive administration management, Government Liaison, and Security
Support experience are required.
• Must have the ability to troubleshoot bureaucratic hurdles and problem solve so as to facilitate MC
program activities throughout the country.
• Must be diplomatic and follow MC protocols on representation and reporting.
• Fluency in English and Arabic , translation and computer skills.
• Must be able to work independently and show initiative.
• Good organizational skills are necessary.

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.

 As a safeguarding measure, Mercy Corps screens all potential US-Based employees. This is done following the conclusion of recruitment and prior to assuming full employment.

Our screening process is designed to be transparent and completed in partnership with new Team Members. You will have the opportunity to disclose any prior convictions at the conclusion of the recruitment process before the check is initiated. We ask that you do not disclose any prior convictions in your application materials or during the recruitment process.