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.

PROGRAM SUMMARY

Mercy Corps has been operational in Sudan since 2004 and currently leads humanitarian assistance and longer-term development efforts in conflict-affected South Darfur, Central Darfur, South Kordofan, North Kordofan, Kassala, Gedaref, and Khartoum States, supporting host communities, IDPs, returnees and refugees. Mercy Corps’ current areas of programming include food security and livelihoods, WASH, health, nutrition, peace building and protection, resilience, and Market Systems Development.

Enhancing Community Resilience (SOMOUD) is a two-year, $70 M USD food security Activity in Kassala, Northern and River Nile States of Sudan and focuses on improving production, yields and post-harvest in key staple crop value chains namely sorghum, millet, and wheat. The Activity is funded by World Bank and implemented by World Food Program (WFP) and Mercy Corps. Activities are designed to increase smallholder farmers' access to key inputs, knowledge, and skills through expansion of last mile agent networks and community extension training. The Activity will also provide support to producer groups to reduce post-harvest losses through the provision of equipment / training. Small and medium enterprise agribusinesses provide a critical cornerstone in key value chains within Sudan and act as a focal point for aggregation, processing, and distribution. They provide a critical link between smallholder farmers / producer cooperatives and consumers organizations. Mercy Corps will facilitate to build/rebuild existing/ new productive relationships with different key private sector actors and expand critical micro small and medium enterprise agribusinesses, including the establishment of a business development grant facility. A particular focus will be given on linking IDPs with consumer organizations so that they can access affordable and high-quality food.  

THE POSITION   Summary

Mercy Corps is looking for an experienced, qualified, and business oriented Sudanese to fill in the position of Project Officer- Agriculture. Reporting to the Project Manager, the holder of this technical position will use Mercy Corps Strategy of Pathway to Possibilities, Resilience Framework and Market Systems Development Approach to support farmer production organizations to increase their food production through facilitation of mechanisms that enhance access to production inputs and services, and as well through direct provision of production inputs and services to the selected farmer production organizations.

ESSENTIAL JOB RESPONSIBILITIES 

Technical Capacity

• Support the Activity to conduct the market system assessment for the selected value chains with the aim of understanding the formal and informal input systems, channels of distribution, constraints in input supplies at farmer level, potential last mile distribution agents and their gaps, and potential profit models. 
• Identify and strengthen farmer production organizations to increase their production and enhance their enterprise planning and management that includes business planning, marketing, financial literacy, organizational development, and leadership skills.
• Support farmer production organizations to acquire production inputs and services through collaboration with identified small medium enterprises supported by SOMOUD and/ or facilitating commercial relationship with farmer production organizations and suppliers. 
• Improve the capacity of community extension trainers to enhance the capacity of farmer production organizations in climate smart agriculture techniques.
• Facilitate farmer production organizations to access harvesting and post harvesting equipment and capacities to maintaining quality, reducing aflatoxin contamination and extending agriculture produce shelf life. 
• Promote and link farmer production organizations with the existing toll-free digital extension agriculture advisory platform to proactively retrieve information across agriculture related topics that support in decision making. 

Program Management 

• Offer continuous technical guidance, capacity building support, mentoring, and coaching to agribusinesses, partners, staffs that SOMOUD is working with.
• Conduct regular field visits to assess activity implementation progress, give technical advice / mentor and provide feedback(s) to farmers, partners, staff for further improvement.
• Closely work with supervisor and MEL team to develop results chains, monitoring tools/ measuring indicators, milestones development, and monitoring/ reporting of output and outcomes.
• Ensure the program properly captures, documents and updates relevant information including through weekly/monthly/quarterly/annual and activity reports and contribute to donor reports.
• In collaboration with supervisor, work to build and maintain close relationships with key partners, (government, private sector, associations, and local authorities).
• Facilitate program partners in development and capacity building of support establishment of last mile agricultural supply points and networks.
• Any other tasks as assigned by the 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.

Safeguarding Responsibilities

• Actively learns about safeguarding and integrates it into their work, including safeguarding risks and mitigations related to their area of work.
• Practices the values of Mercy Corps including respecting the dignity and well-being of participants and fellow team members.
• Encourages openness and communication in their team; encourages team members to submit reports if they have any concerns using reporting mechanisms e.g., Integrity Hotline and other options.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITY: None

ACCOUNTABILITY

Reports Directly To: Project Manager- Atbra

Works Directly With: Project Officer- Agribusiness, Project Officer- Consumer Coops, Project Assistants. MEL Officer, Partnership Officer

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 

• Bachelor’s degree in agriculture, crop production, agribusiness with advanced degree in business studies or economics or any related discipline.
• A minimum 5 years’ experience with INGOs and small holder farmers in production and marketing.
• Experience working in market support/strengthening programs or MSD approach is a big advantage.
• Experience in working in the private sector, specifically agriculture input, output and post-harvest materials, or financial services or related field is an added advantage. 
• Experience in Climate smart interventions, agriculture projects and resilience is an added advantage
• Familiarity with national agriculture and livestock sector strategies, tools and approaches is required.
• Strong negotiation, representation, skills and the ability to work comfortably with a vast audience.
• Experience of gender dynamics in target areas and knowledge of national gender policy frameworks
• Demonstrated commitment to women’s rights, human rights and social justice.
• Proven skills in networking, collaboration, community consultation; teamwork and problem-solving.
• Excellent written and oral communication in English and Arabic and representation skills is required.
• Good computer skills in MS Office programs, particularly Word, Excel and Power Point 
• Commitment to working with program participants in need regardless of race, religion or gender.

SUCCESS FACTOR

The ability to interact effectively with international and national personnel is required. A demonstrated ability to multi-task, meet deadlines and process information in support of changing program activities is necessary. A professional standard of program, finance and procurement ethics as well as the willingness and ability to enforce compliance with Mercy Corps and donor policies and procedures is essential. The post must be willing to travel to Mercy Corps field offices and project sites. 

ORGANIZATIONAL LEARNING

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.

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. By applying for this role an applicant confirms that they have not previously violated an employer’s sexual misconduct, sexual exploitation and abuse, child safeguarding or trafficking policy. 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. As an applicant, if you witness or experience any form of sexual misconduct during the recruitment process, please report this to Mercy Corps Integrity Hotline (integrityhotline@mercycorps.org).

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.

LIVING CONDITIONS / ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS

The position is based in one of the SOMOUD operating states of Kassala, River Nile or Northern.

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