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.  

General Position Summary 

The Partnership Officer, will support strategic, impactful, high-quality grants management and reporting across the program team. Responsibilities encompass grant agreement/contract review and coordination with finance, program and legal teams as required; grant kick-off coordination across program, finance and Ops teams; coordination and in-depth review and editing of donor reports; tracking and coordinating program modification requests; and supporting donor stewardship materials as needed. They are also responsible for adhering to Mercy Corps’ knowledge management practices and keeping reporting and proposal information up-to-date in Mercy Corps’ Sudan’s grants tracker and retention folders.

Essential Job Responsibilities 

GRANTS MANAGEMENT:

Work with Program and Finance to ensure that funds are used as intended by the donor, that spending is on-track, that donor reporting requirements are met, and that reports are submitted promptly and are of high quality.

Project manage reports coordinating across Program and Finance. This consists of managing timelines as well as significant program report revision to meet donor needs. Support the creation of program-based donor stewardship materials as needed.

Contribute to other donor stewardship materials as needed.

Coordinate with Program, field teams, Finance, Ops, and other internal stakeholders on grant kick-off calls or emails, coordination of inputs for M&E needs, and input on reporting.

GRANTS PROCESSING:

Coordinate with Program, Finance and Operations to ensure that grant agreements are reviewed and completed as appropriate to meet internal and external requirements; comply with grants award review processes and use Mercy Corps tool and procedures.

Ensure that grant files are accurate and up-to-date in the retention folders and Mercy Corps’ electronic files, per agency policies. Ensure that Program, Field, and Finance data are all consistent and in line with donor expectations.

PROGRAM SUPPORT:

• Liaison and Coordination: Collaborate closely with key program staff to ensure that the SOMOUD is running effectively and utilizing project resources optimally during program startup.
• Administrative Management: Oversee the administration of electronic and hardcopy approvals for the Director of SOMOUD and Grants Coordinator. Ensure effective management and organization of the filing system for SOMOUD, in collaboration with the program, PAQ, operations, finance, and HR teams.
• Project Activity Coordination: Assist the Director of SOMOUD and Grants Coordinator in planning and coordinating SOMOUD project activities.
• Correspondence Management: Assist the Director of SOMOUD and Grants Coordinator in drafting and managing written correspondence to officials, NGOs, and other organizations related to the SOMOUD program. Maintain organized records of all official correspondence for each project.
• Field Activity Support: Provide support to the SOMOUD program team for field activities as needed.
• Assessment Participation: Actively participate in drafting and conducting assessments to support the objectives of the SOMOUD program.

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.

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. 

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.

Supervisory Responsibility: None

Accountability

Reports Directly To: Private Sector Manager

Works Directly With: Team Leader, Project Manager, Project Officer- Agriculture, Project Officer- Agribusiness, Project Officer- Consumer Coops, Project Assistants, HR, MEAL, PaQ and Operation

Knowledge and Experience:

Educational Background: A degree in Development Studies, Management, Business, or a related field is required.

Experience Required:

- 2-3 years in a similar role, preferably within the SOMOUD program

- Field experience in humanitarian operations

- Grant management knowledge (USG, FCDO, EU, ECHO, UN)

- Deadline management and multitasking abilities

- Excellent communication and organizational skills

- Project management qualification or commitment to obtain one

- Knowledge of humanitarian standards and NGO experience

- Compliance knowledge, proficient report writing, and ability to make improvement recommendations

- Strong technical skills (MS Office) and advanced English language proficiency

- Willingness to travel within project areas covered by SOMOUD.

Success Factors 

The ideal candidate will have a natural curiosity for articulating the development and impact of Mercy Corps’ programs on individuals and in communities. He/she will have the ability to work with tight deadlines and produce work of a high quality. He/she will also have excellent abilities to absorb and disseminate information. They will need an interest in exploring the work across our field offices and create assets and materials to best communicate that to the broader organization and our stakeholders. This candidate will have good partnership management and interpersonal skills and they should be dynamic, agile and be able to apply innovative approaches and strategic thinking, planning and monitoring frameworks. 

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.

Females are highly encouraged to apply