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.

About the INGO Forum

Sudan is facing one of the most severe humanitarian crises globally, marked by widespread displacement, disease outbreaks, and confirmations of famine in several ‘hunger hotspots.’ In an effort to coordinate INGO efforts and establish a common voice for INGOs operating in Sudan, the INGO forum was established in 2009 as a key representation platform.  To date, the forum is made up of 51 members and 17 observers operating across the country, including in some of the most difficult to reach parts of Sudan.

The INGO Forum is a permanent member of the Humanitarian Country Team (HCT) and the Inter-Cluster Coordination Group (ICCG).  It co-leads the Humanitarian Access Working Group (HAWG), alongside OCHA and spearheads collective engagement with Government and other Authorities as well as with donors.  The forum also leads collective advocacy nationally, regionally and internationally through its Advocacy Working Group (AWG) and in close coordination with the regional Inter-Agency Working Group (IAWG) and Member liaison offices in key donor/diplomatic capitals around the world.

Since 2023, the situation in Sudan has dramatically shifted as state and non-state actors wage a brutal war.  The situation in non-Sudanese Armed Forces - controlled areas is particularly dire, with humanitarian access severely restricted and the absence of United Nations (UN) presence exacerbating the challenges. As humanitarian needs continue to escalate, there is an urgent need for an interim solution to address critical gaps in coordination, common services and aid delivery.

To this end, the three core tenants of the INGO Forum’s work include:

Coordinated aid delivery – Enhancing operational alignment across organizations to maximize humanitarian impact.
o This includes establishing an NGO-led coordination mechanism under the Sudan INGO Forum to provide immediate, effective, and well-managed humanitarian responses in these areas to ensure that urgent needs are met and operations are not disrupted.
Common service provision – Offering essential support, analysis, and shared resources to facilitate NGO operations.
o This includes common negotiation support i.e. for access or against BAI, collective advocacy efforts, information sharing, donor and stakeholder engagement, security and admin SOPs and collective position papers, etc.
Stakeholder coordination and representation – Engaging with donors, UN agencies, authorities, and the broader humanitarian system to advocate for improved response conditions.
o There is of course a convening and facilitation role included in this representation function 

 General Position Summary 

The Administration, Membership & Liaison (AML) Officer position has been newly created in order to strengthen internal Forum governance and ensure streamlined service provision to Members, as well as compliance with requirement set forth by authorities in the Area of Responsibility (AOR).  This position will focus on supporting internal administrative procedures and compliance, external compliance with authorities, and streamlining membership support in line with Forum Governance documents. 

The AML Officer will have specific responsibilities for convening and facilitating HR and Finance working groups within the Forum, coordinating with the host agency to facilitate administrative procedures for Forum Secretariat staff, and compliance.  S/he will be responsible for ensuring systems and tools are in place and accessible to enable efficient information sharing and engagement. 

The Admin/Liaison/Membership Officer reports to the Port Sudan based ‘East’ Area Coordinator.  S/he will work closely with across Forum Secretariat positions to ensure that databases and other Member-facing services are well documented, easily accessible and up to date. S/he will work closely with Access colleagues to facilitate liaison with Authorities in Port Sudan and will also streamline Forum Membership in line with the emerging Governance documents. 

Essential Job Responsibilities 

Membership:
• Ensure that new Members receive appropriate inductions to the Forum
• Ensure up to date list serves and meeting invitations for all relevant groups chaired by the Forum
• Contribute to finalizing the Forum’s governance documents and ensure that Members are compliant, including establishment of a due or fee mechanism
Liaison:
• In close collaboration with the Director and Access Deputy and Advisor, facilitate communication with government forces and civilian agencies in the AOR
• Ensure Forum compliance with protocols and procedures outlined by the Authorities in the AOR
Coordination:
• Lead Member working groups on HR and Finance and ensure that appropriate information sharing and storing protocols are in place and adhered to
Representation, administration and other tasks:
• Facilitate administrative procedures for Forum staff including around travel, accommodation and benefits in coordination with the Host Agency
• Lead on IT oversight to ensure that appropriate systems exist including a forum domain, a forum SharePoint and an external website 
• Keep an up to date calendar of movement plans for Forum staff
• When required, represent the Forum in key coordination groups and external meetings with Members, donors, the UN system or other stakeholders
• Maintain up to date contact lists and ensure consistent and smooth information sharing
• Ensure access products and tools are stored on an internal sharepoint with external permissions as agreed per Forum governance protocols to facilitate knowledge preservation and transfer
 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. 
Accountability to Beneficiaries 
INGO Forum team members are expected to support all efforts toward accountability, specifically to their 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 field projects, in line with Mercy Corps’ standards and 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
Directly supervises the Procurement Officers and Procurement Assistants across Sudan

Accountability 

Reports Directly To: Area Coordinator: East

Works Directly With: INGO Forum Secretariat including area coordinators, access and advocacy colleagues, the information management officer, the INGO Forum Director and primarily with members.

Accountability to Participants and Stakeholders

INGO Forum 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. They must be committed to actively engaging communities as equal partners in the design, monitoring, and evaluation of projects, in line with Mercy Corps’ standards and policies.
 

Knowledge and Experience 

Essential requirements:

• A graduate degree in a relevant field or equivalent experience
• At least 4 years of relevant experience with NGOs, the UN system or other humanitarian/development actors 
• Experience living and working in complex humanitarian or fragile contexts with strong understanding of humanitarian principles, international humanitarian law (IHL) operations and coordination mechanisms
• Proven experience managing humanitarian access analysis, negociation and strategy work and a demonstrable understanding of current humanitarian trends and issues
• Experience representing organizations in humanitarian coordination platforms (inter-agency platforms, NGO forums, etc.)
• Strong data analysis and interpretation skills
• Proven network and relationship building skills
• A demonstrable ability to manage a diverse workload and prioritize tasks in a complex and fluid environment
• Fluency in English (written and spoken)

Desirable requirements:

• Previous humanitarian experience in Sudan, Chad or South Sudan
• Existing relationships with relevant stakeholders including NGOs, UN agencies, donors, national authorities and regional counterparts
• Working knowledge of Arabic a plus

Success Factors

• Ability to take initiative, learn quickly and be accountable for results 
• Flexibility and creativity in planning and problem solving 
• Ability to understand the larger picture while remaining focused on the details 
• Awareness of and sensitivity to multi-cultural international development work 
• Even temperament and a good sense of humor
• Security awareness

Living Conditions / Environmental Conditions

The position is based in Port Sudan.

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. 

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

Team Efficiency and Effectiveness 

Achieving our mission starts with how we build our team and collaborate. By bringing together individuals with a variety of experiences, backgrounds, and perspectives, we strengthen our ability to solve complex challenges and drive innovation. We foster a culture of trust and respect, where every team member is valued for their contributions, empowered to reach their full potential, and motivated to do their best work.

We recognize that building a strong and effective team is an ongoing process, and we remain committed to learning, improving, and growing together.

Equal Employment Opportunity

Mercy Corps is an equal opportunity employer that does not tolerate discrimination on any basis. We actively seek out different 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 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).