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.

The Program / Department / Team 

Mercy Corps has been operational in Sudan since 2004 and currently leads humanitarian assistance and longer-term development efforts in conflict-affected regions of Sudan, 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.

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The EU Youth programme is an European Commission-funded action implemented by Mercy Corps in consortium with the Danish Refugee Council (DRC) and local partners to support conflict- and displacement-affected young people aged 15–35. The 42-month program started in January 2026, and will respond to Sudan’s protracted crisis by combining short-term income opportunities with pathways to longer-term economic recovery, while strengthening protection and social cohesion for youth, especially young women, internally displaced persons (IDPs), and youth with disabilities.

Through an integrated approach, the EU Youth programme will deliver labour-intensive, community-based public works and Cash for Work (CfW) activities that rehabilitate priority community assets and improve access to services and markets, alongside market-relevant training, entrepreneurship support, and linkages to employment and financial services (including VSLAs). All activities are designed using conflict- and inclusive approaches and are informed by assessments, with protection mainstreaming and community safety measures embedded where feasible to support safe participation and reduce vulnerabilities.

The Position

The Cash for Work (CfW) Coordinator leads the planning, implementation, and quality assurance of the EU Youth programme’s Output 1: labour-intensive, community-based public works that provide short-term income and transferable skills for conflict-affected and displaced youth (15–35) in target locations, while rehabilitating community assets that improve access to services and markets.

The role ensures CfW activities are designed and delivered in line with EU Youth progamme approaches: area-based and conflict-sensitive, inclusive, applies environmental screening (NEAT+), provides worksite safety and PPE, and integrates community-based safety messaging where feasible. The Coordinator works closely with consortium counterparts (including DRC), local partners, community committees, and relevant authorities to ensure transparent selection, safe implementation, compliant cash delivery, and effective referral pathways for CfW participants into longer-term livelihood options under Output 2 (skills training, entrepreneurship, employment services, VSLAs).

The position provides hands-on field support (up to 70% travel) and ensures CfW implementation is timely, on budget, and aligned with Cash Working Group guidance, donor requirements, and Mercy Corps quality standards, while strengthening community ownership through community maintenance groups and handover arrangements for sustained asset management.

Essential Responsibilities

 Strategy and Vision

• Lead the technical and operational rollout of Cash for Work (CfW) under the EU Youth programme, ensuring implementation supports Output 1 outcomes: short-term youth income, transferable skills, and rehabilitation of priority community assets that improve access to services and markets.
• Translate programme strategy and assessment findings into practical field plans that reflect area-based, conflict-sensitive, and inclusive approaches across target locations in Sudan.
• Ensure CfW activities are designed with clear pathways toward longer-term economic recovery, including structured referrals to EU Youth Output 2 services (skills training, entrepreneurship, employment support, and financial inclusion).

Program Management 

• Plan, coordinate, and supervise day-to-day CfW implementation across sites, ensuring quality delivery against workplans, technical specifications, and timelines, with consistent field oversight and problem-solving.
• Support participatory planning processes to identify and validate public works priorities, including stakeholder engagement, conflict sensitivity checks, and worksite selection in collaboration with community structures and local partners.
• Ensure CfW implementation integrates required preconditions and safeguards, including worksite readiness (tools/materials), minimum worksite standards, appropriate supervision ratios, and safe work practices.
• Establish/strengthen community structures that support transparent selection and community ownership (e.g., committees for worker identification and oversight), and support formation/ strengthening of community maintenance groups to sustain rehabilitated assets post-activity.
• Coordinate referrals and transition support for CfW participants into longer-term livelihoods opportunities and track follow-through with relevant teams and partners.

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

• Coordinate with PaQ/MEAL to ensure monitoring systems track core CfW results: participant enrollment and attendance, outputs delivered, inclusion metrics (women, IDPs/host communities, youth with disabilities), wage compliance, safety incidents, and referral outcomes.
• Contribute to analysis and adaptive management by documenting implementation barriers, context changes, and what’s working/not working, especially for CfW delivery in semi-urban and displacement-affected environments.
• Support learning and evidence generation by contributing to short learning products/case studies and ensuring lessons inform adjustments to targeting, worksite selection, and transition pathways.

Representation and Influence

• Represent CfW implementation priorities and operational realities in internal programme forums and, as delegated, in coordination meetings related to public works, cash, and livelihoods.
• Coordinate closely with consortium counterparts (including Danish Refugee Council) and local implementing partners to harmonize tools, standards, approaches, and field-level delivery.
• Liaise with relevant authorities and community leadership (as feasible and appropriate) to support access, acceptance, and conflict-sensitive implementation, ensuring alignment with local norms while safeguarding programme principles.

Finance and Compliance Management 

• Ensure CfW wage rates and payment schedules align with Cash Working Group guidance and local wage realities, and that payment processes are consistently applied across sites.
• Coordinate with operations/finance to ensure compliant and auditable cash delivery: participant verification, payroll preparation, reconciliation, payment confirmation, and documentation, while ensuring data protection and safe handling of sensitive participant information.
• Implement strong accountability and risk mitigation measures, including fraud prevention controls, safe feedback/complaints mechanisms, and safeguarding-aware distribution practices.
• Ensure activity implementation follows donor and compliance requirements, including applicable environmental and social risk mitigation measures and required screening inputs (e.g., NEAT+ integration where relevant).

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. 
• Promote a culture of continuous improvement by routinely sharing field insights and operational recommendations with programme leadership and relevant technical counterparts.
• Support standardized tools, SOPs, and staff capacity strengthening for CfW implementation (e.g., targeting and selection processes, worksite supervision checklists, safety protocols/PPE use, and referral mechanisms).
• Encourage cross-team learning and integration between CfW, livelihoods, and protection functions to strengthen safe participation and improve transition outcomes for youth.

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

• This position does not have any direct reports.

Accountability

Reports Directly To: Project Director

Works Directly With: EC Youth programme team (including but not limited to Deputy Program Director, Project Managers, Livelihood and Employment Coordinator), Area Managers, MC’s PAQ Unit, members of Operations, Program departments, the Senior Management Team and HQ Technical Support Unit (Cash and Market Advisors).

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 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/or 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 CfW/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 Arabic and English skills required.

Success Factors 

• The successful Cash for Work (CfW) Coordinator will demonstrate the ability to deliver high-quality CfW activities in complex, rapidly changing environments while maintaining a strong focus on youth inclusion, safety, and accountability. Success in this role will depend on the following factors:
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• Context-driven judgement and adaptability: Quickly understands evolving security, access, market, and community dynamics and adjusts plans to maintain progress and quality while managing risk and avoiding harm.
• Strong operational discipline: Consistently delivers CfW activities on time and to standard, with clear workplans, reliable supervision, and effective coordination of tools/materials, worksite readiness, and field logistics.
• Commitment to inclusion and safeguarding: Ensures transparent and fair targeting and selection, and actively supports meaningful participation of young women, displaced youth, and youth with disabilities through practical adjustments and safe working environments.
• Safety leadership: Prioritizes worksite safety through consistent induction, risk mitigation, PPE use, and rapid response to incidents, promoting a culture of safety among staff, partners, and participants.
• Accountability and compliance mindset: Maintains rigorous documentation and controls for cash delivery and public works implementation, supports audit readiness, and ensures that community feedback and complaints mechanisms are functional and trusted.
• Constructive partner and community engagement: Builds effective working relationships with local partners, community committees, and authorities, strengthening local ownership and supporting conflict-sensitive implementation.
• Results focus and learning orientation: Uses monitoring data and field feedback to identify problems early, improve delivery, document lessons, and strengthen linkages from CfW into longer-term livelihoods pathways for youth.

Living Conditions / Environmental Conditions

The position is based in Atbara  and it requires up to 40% travel to support country programs, which may include travel to insecure locations where freedom of movement is limited and areas where amenities are limited.  Housing for this role is in individual housing and staff will have access to good medical services and the living situation is of a high standard. 

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 elearning 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).