About Mercy Corps

Mercy Corps is powered by the belief that a better world is possible. 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.

Program / Department / Summary

Mercy Corps has been operational in Sudan since 2004, and currently has a country office in Khartoum and field offices in South Darfur, South Kordofan, North Kordofan and Gedaref states. We work with Sudanese communities to build resilient scalable solutions that interrupt the cycle of fragility and crisis due to conflict and climate change by improving food and water security, peace and governance and enabling economic opportunities in the agricultural sector. 

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

This position is responsible for understanding Sudan’s ever-changing implementation context and humanitarian coordination landscape, articulating Mercy Corps Sudan’s vision for CVA program design and development; serving as focal point on proposals with CVA components; supporting quality analysis and implementation for CVA; supporting evaluations and research; and helping manage partner relations at local level. This role will provide direct support to program teams, including the development / review of internal program tools and processes as well as defining MC Sudan’s stances on topics like interagency harmonization, social protection linkages, and/or MPCA deduplication. The position will technically represent Mercy Corps in all CVA fora and explore the potential to expand further CVA as a tool used by programs. 

Essential Responsibilities 

Strategy and Vision 

• Work closely with the program country team to build Mercy Corps’ strategy and influence in CVA in Sudan
• In close coordination with the CVA Advisor, Director of Programs and PaQ team, support prepositioning and development of program strategies. 
• Work with program team members on the design and support of multi-sectoral programs that encompass elements of broader country goals such as food security, market systems development, and governance. 
• Ensure Mercy Corps is continuing to better collect and use data to analyze, understand and document the many facets of vulnerability in Sudan, the role of CVA in addressing it, and identify opportunities to work with other entities on this.
• Provide technical and strategic support to ensure that cash-based programs are designed, implemented, monitored, and evaluated correctly. 

Program Management 

• Conduct operational diligence, feasibility, and risk assessments for pilots. 
• Fully own end-to-end design, planning, and execution of cash projects, and coordinate with external and internal stakeholders to ensure successful end-to-end execution.
• Design and build operational models for new programs, including assessing trade-offs of different design decisions (e.g., targeting, payments, customer service)
• Manage partnerships with vendors, subgrantees/subcontractors, and other external parties to support implementation.
• Define, track, and report operational and efficiency metrics. 
• Dynamically identify operational vulnerabilities (e.g., fraud, brand risk, etc.)  and create solutions to de-risk.
• Ensure that program implementation is responsive to communities and partners and consistent with Mercy Corps’ principles, values, program guidelines and quality standards. 
• Ensure program implementation is on time, on target and on budget, using effective Mercy Corps (and other standard) program quality tools to achieve the desired impact. 
• Ensure effective and transparent use of financial resources and timely, accurate and informative reporting in line with donor and Mercy Corps policies and procedures. 
• Develop partnership frameworks, partner agreements/Memorandum of Understandings, and oversee partner capacity building.
• Support all donor reporting and communications and track major grant milestones deliverables, cost share requirements, and project burn rates.
• Collaborate with the communications team to create content to drive donor conversations and position MC as a thought leader in the cash space in Sudan.

Research, Learning and Impact (in close coordination with the PAQ unit)

• Work with Mercy Corps’ program and PaQ departments on the piloting, evidence-building, and growth of CVA, in line with the country's priorities. 
• In collaboration with the Director of Programs, the Program teams, the PAQ unit identify topics for research and learning such as pathways from CVA to durable financial inclusion, 
• Leverage existing research and evidence pieces in shaping program design and improving impact, including through lessons gleaned from on-going impact evaluations, reviews, and partner studies.
• Support the design and use of robust monitoring and evaluation frameworks across CVA, including through the development of tools, surveys, and methodologies to improve how outcomes are measured, in alignment with global industry standards and best practices.
• Support new and ongoing programs with best practice advice and assistance on assessment, implementation, research, and evaluation needs. 
• Support field teams to regularly conduct market analysis and Multisectoral Rapid Assessment within the framework of the CVA.
• Conduct assessments; write case studies, learning documents, short articles, and blogs; and develop internal and external dissemination plans for all products.

Representation and Influence

• Represent Mercy Corps in CVA fora, including national level Cash Working Group, FSL Cluster and other coordination mechanisms as required.
• Lead on the dissemination of CVA learnings and briefs produced by Mercy Corps.

Finance and Compliance Management 

• Ensure compliance and transparent use of resources in line with donor and Mercy Corps policies. 
• Monitor and adherence to grant agreements, Mercy Corps’ policies and procedures and other relevant regulations, including those of the Government of Sudan. 
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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 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.

Supervisory Responsibility: None

Reports Directly To: CVA Advisor

Works Directly With: PAQ Unit, members of Operations, Program departments, the Senior Management Team and HQ Technical Support Unit (Cash and Market Advisors); 

Knowledge and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree required. M.A, M.S., M.Sc., or equivalent in international development, business, economics, or related field preferrable.
• 6 + years working in humanitarian response and development.
• 4 + years’ direct experience managing and/or supporting Cash programming in the field, including extensive field-based research and market assessments.
• Proven understanding of and experience using CVA tools, indicators, and other best practices.
• Previous experience managing cash transfer programming and knowledge of e-transfer mechanisms.
• Previous experience building capacity of staff and local partners.
• Ability to work in a collaborative spirit with other departments, in particular Procurement and Finance, to effectively support implementation of programs while staying compliant with donor and Mercy Corps regulations.
• Advanced computer skills in MS Office programs, particularly Excel. 
• Effective verbal and written communication, multi-tasking, organizational and prioritization skills.
• Excellent oral and written English skills required, Arabic fluency is an asset.

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.

Females are highly encouraged to apply