Mercy Corps (MC) Europe has been working in Sudan since 2009 with the goal of supporting the transition to a fair and lasting peace by implementing programs that promote long-term, sustainable development and contribute to secure, productive and just communities. 

MC Europe is facilitating recovery by addressing economic recovery needs and laying the groundwork for long-term development. MC Europe’s work in Sudan has three major components: Civil Society Development, Economic Recovery and Development and Humanitarian Assistance with activities that span many sectors including agriculture, market and livelihoods development, water/sanitation, capacity building, peace building, infrastructure rehabilitation, emergency distribution. MC Europe is committed to long-term programming in Sudan and faces numerous opportunities for expansion. 

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 post-harvest losses for small holder farmers.

General Position Summary 

Based in Port Sudan , the Liaison and Program Support (L&PS) Assistant is responsible for ensuring that field operations and functions are well supported, our relationships with federal government authorities are well maintained, and movement/travel of external visitors is smoothly facilitated. The L&PS Assistant will coordinate closely with the  Liaison and program support manager  , Heads of the sub offices, program leads and senior operations staff in Port Sudan  as well as the sub offices in Kordofan , Darfur , Kassala and Gadaref  . He/she will ensure smooth and timely processing of field program-related activities/transactions in Port Sudan .

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  . 

1.  
2. PROGRAM MANAGEMENT

Program Support

Review all Technical Agreements (TAs) and facilitate Humanitarian Aid Commission (HAC) approval at Khartoum level.

Keep records of all approved TAs by creating hardcopy folders, scanned versions on the Google Drive, and an excel database of approved TAs including the name of the project, fund code, donor, start date, end date, TA submission date, TA approval date, etc.

Organizational Learning  [DL1] 

• 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. 

Accountability to Beneficiaries[DL2] 

• 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: liaison and program support manager

Works Directly With: Team leaders, ,Program Managers, Program, Operations, Finance and HR departments . 

Knowledge and Experience

· Two plus years of progressive administration management, Government Liaison, and program 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.

Success Factors

The successful candidate should have the ability to apply high quality standards of programming in our teams, partners and facilities in remote and challenging environments. This requires patience, good humor while holding stead-fast to international standards in all activities. S/he must be able to work closely with a diverse team to adapt materials and methodologies to best meet the circumstances in targeted communities. S/he must work well across Mercy Corps teams who are not technical experts and are also critical to the success of these programs.

Mercy Corps team members represent the agency both during and outside work hours when deployed in a field posting or on a visit/TDY to a field posting. 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.

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. 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 an inclusive environment.

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.