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 a long-term impact. 

Program / Department / Summary 

Mercy Corps has been operational in Sudan since 2004, and currently has a country office in Prot-Sudan and field offices in South Darfur, South Kordofan, North Kordofan and Gedaref, Kassala, Northern, River Nile 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. 

The SPARK Programme builds on top of understanding rather than introducing new untested ideas. SPARK will place a greater emphasis on renewable energy and Mercy Corps will utilize in-house expertise bringing in support from our Energy for Impact (E4I) team. Across the wide range of market actors the Programme will engage with, from micro-enterprises to SMEs to large employers, SPARK will work to ensure that these market actors are adopting approaches, services and products that are appropriate for female customers, as well as gender-sensitive internal policies aligned with the Decent Jobs Agenda. We will leverage the importance of 

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evidence of the financial benefit of such approaches to persuade market actors to continue them in the long term. 

Kassala and Gedaref states depend largely on agricultural production for household food security and livelihoods. However, low farmer capacity, poorly functioning market systems, increased climate-related shocks and stresses, and decades of instability have continued to stunt agricultural production and drive households to face food insecurity. Limited access to climate-smart improved inputs, financial services and technical skills training have kept farmers in a low-input low-output farming system. 

Low agricultural productivity-driven largely by poor practices and underinvestment plagues the sector, limiting producers’ ability to consistently engage with markets for profit and food security benefits, while also reducing buyer confidence in the quality and reliability of the supply of agricultural products. The traditional rainfed sector prevails in the Eastern region, where the main cereal crops are millet and sorghum. Input levels are low, and yields are especially vulnerable to unfavorable rainfall. Livestock is an important part of agricultural value chains but suffers from poor nutrition and high disease burden coupled with seasonal shortages in forage availability, which frequently trigger emergency destocking and constrain producers’ ability to manage herds for future wealth. Market access & infrastructure and Access to energy This is clearly reflected in lack of access to electricity at a state level which is often too unreliable to drive growth and investments for expanded domestic sales and exports. Renewable 

energy technologies can potentially play a much greater and more vital role in overcoming the energy constraints faced by agri-businesses in order to increase economic growth as well as improve food security. 

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, WFP, World Bank, 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 

The Program officer will support the Program Manager in the daily smooth running of the program activities, arrangement with local authorities, and strategy related to FSL. This includes field staff management and supervision of all field activities that includes implementation of financial education to MSME agri-businesses to address demand-side challenges, Provision of financial education to MSME agri-businesses to address demand-side challenges, Agri-business Capital Fund (ACF), and awareness raising campaign targeting MSME agri-businesses. S/he will support with monitoring and providing timely paperwork required for local and donor reporting Mercy Corps internal controls as well. 

PROGRAM MANAGEMENT 

• Prepare project documentation including monthly project reports on implementation of activites , formats and program means of verifications. 
• Assist in designing and implementing surveys and assessments related to the field of the program activities when needed. 
• Mobilize the communities, local authorities, and school management in the projects’ areas and engage them in an open dialogue of project activities. 
• Prepare and conduct trainings and learning tools/materials for participants in the projects’ areas. 
• Implement the program community mobilization strategy in a manner that promotes of financial education to MSME agri-businesses to address demand-side challenges, Agri-business Capital Fund (ACF), and awareness raising campaign targeting MSME agri-businesses. 
• Assist in implementing the activities identified and agreed by the communities for implementation. 
• Upon completion of the baseline survey and kick start meetings, work with partners to emergency response in the projects’ areas. 
• Strengthen and promote the process of community development in project areas, particularly identifying, addressing, and resolving community issues. 
• here possible, all designs should include approaches that are compatible with Mercy Corps resilience approach that with DRR and climate change options. 
• Prepare project documentation including monthly project reports on implementation, formats and program means of verifications. 

Other duties as assigned. 

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. 

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. 

Safeguarding Responsibilities[TF1] 

• 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

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 [TF1]This part is standard language should be added to each and every PD.

Supervisory Responsibility None 

Accountability 

Reports Directly To: Project Manager - Gedaref 

Works Directly With: Programs Team, Operations Team , Finance team , MEL Officer 

Knowledge and Experience 

• Bachelor’s degree in studies, Agri-business Capital Fund, agriculture Engineering, economic, crop production or agriculture, or others related field. M.A, M.S., M.Sc., or equivalent in related field preferrable. 
• 4-6 years’ experience in implementing in FSL projects for small holder farmers in production and marketing, community mobilization, participatory planning and community development experience managing a team and working with community participants, preferably with INGOs. 
• Experience working in market support /strengthening programs (MSD)/ approach is a high 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, Agri-business Capital Fund, 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 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. 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,