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.
The Program / Department / Team
Mercy Corps’ Sudan crisis response seeks to meet the humanitarian needs of vulnerable Sudanese and other conflict-affected people across the country. Mercy Corps Sudan is recognized as a leader in market systems, agricultural, and food security and building on this experience, the MC Sudan humanitarian program will layer in resilience and other program activities where appropriate and feasible to do so. Mercy Corps is scaling up to reach upwards of 200,000 conflict affected people with multi-purpose cash assistance, targeted voucher programs, in-kind and services provision across the country. Our impact will be delivered with a focus on needs, in partnership with local actors and civil society, and embrace the safe, appropriate, and accountable use of digital systems and technologies to support the response.
The Cash Consortium of Sudan (CCS) is a collaborative platform to advance a progressive vision of the potential of cash assistance to transform humanitarian response and recovery in partnership with vulnerable conflict-affected populations. CCS is led by Mercy Corps, building on its global experience and learning on leading cash consortia in multiple country contexts, as well as general expertise in cash coordination and breadth of technical resources. International partners include Acted, CARE, the International Rescue Committee (IRC), and the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC), each of which bring strong cash and complementary technical competencies, as well as expansive operational coverage in Sudan. The CCS also includes nine Sudanese NGOs as partners in alignment with global aid sector commitments to enhance the prominence of local actors in driving humanitarian response and recovery. IMPACT is a non-implementing partner dedicated to Monitoring, Evaluation, Research and Learning. IMPACT will support quality data systems and an objective evidence base that will be essential to CCS’ accountability and adaptive management to refine programming approaches to enhance impact as the Sudan crisis context evolves. The CCS will work closely with other consortia and actors in Sudan to deliver an effective CVA response for communities affected by the crisis.
The Position
The Policy & Advocacy (P&A) Coordinator is focused on increasing the impact of CCS programming through research, learning and advocacy. The P&A Coordinator will work with the CCS Secretariat, CCS partner technical leads and senior management to establish a consortium-level Policy & Advocacy Agenda. The P&A Coordinator will also work with regional and global-level stakeholders as relevant to advance policy & advocacy objectives related to CCS programming. The P&A Coordinator will coordinate with the CCS Director and Secretariat team to support strategic representation of the partnership in key national and global coordination fora.
Essential Job Functions
Strategy and Vision
Identify key policy and advocacy objectives for the CCS and lead on the development of the CCS advocacy strategy
Collaborate with CCS Secretariat and partner teams to support evidence-informed policy influence
Support ongoing identification of key topics for future advocacy and contribute to effective policy influence for the wider cash sector (for example as relates to use of Group Cash Transfers, improving commitments to localization with cash programming, strategic development of financial services in Sudan’s crisis setting, potential linkages to existing social protection architecture, etc)
Representation and Coordination
With the CCS Director, promote awareness of CCS programming and best practice in all relevant forums.
Maintain good working relationships with key global cash actors including CaLP, CCD, and high and level partners for cash financing. Develop relationships with the IASC and global UN agencies to influence where cash sits globally in coordination, with key donors, and key cash implementers. Identify areas of collaboration and cooperation.
Develop strategic partnerships with local/national organisations, the private sector, academic institutions, and other international organizations, in order to strengthen research and advocacy initiatives, to test innovative approaches, and replicate and scale successful models and methodologies.
Advocacy
Lead on implementing the CCS’ advocacy strategy, targeting primarily key humanitarian and development actors, including donors.
Present research results through events (study launches, workshops), and advocacy products including success stories, briefs and reports on effectiveness of CCS programs.
Represent the CCS in key external events and meetings to disseminate advocacy messages and promote awareness and use of CCS programming and best practice in all relevant forums.
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 towards 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.
SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITY
N/A
Accountability
REPORTS DIRECTLY TO: CCS Director
WORKS DIRECTLY WITH: CCS Secretariat, CCS Partners, Mercy Corps Programs, Operations and Finance teams, Regional and HQ Technical Support Unit and HQ Research & Learning Team
Knowledge and Experience
BA/BS or equivalent in international studies, economics, social science/research or other relevant field; MA/S preferred
5-7 years of international relief and development program management experience, in emergency and recovery program management
Strong policy awareness regarding humanitarian aid and development landscape; preference for past engagement with cash, markets and localization policy agendas
Combination of direct and remote management experience preferred
Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively across multiple stakeholders
Strong interpersonal and communication skills with an ability to consistently work with
a diverse range of stakeholders with tact and diplomacy.
Demonstrated flexibility and creativity in planning and problem solving
Experience working with local authorities, national and international NGOs
Flexible/willing and able to adapt priorities in order to respond to changing demands, including to shifts in organizational priorities.
Effective verbal and written communication, multi-tasking, organizational and prioritization skills
Excellent oral and written English skills required, Arabic skills preferred
Ability to simplify complex concepts both verbally and orally in order to influence others.
Experience in media and advocacy in I/NGOs desirable.
Ability to work effectively with an ethnically diverse team in a sensitive environment.
Success Factors
The successful Policy & Advocacy Coordinator will combine exceptional leadership, coordination and representation skills. S/He will have strong management skills and experience in building and maintaining donor and partner relationships. S/he will have an ability to approach complex challenges through a systems-thinking lens and have an ability to think creatively about solutions. S/he will possess a high level of adaptability and be able to adjust to a constantly changing working environment. S/he will have previous experience in implementing and/or supporting programs in insecure and conflict context. Prioritizing, problem solving, ability to seize opportunities, attention to detail and strategic vision are essential. The most successful Mercy Corps staff members have a strong commitment to teamwork and accountability, thrive in evolving and changing environments and make effective written and verbal communication a priority in all situations.
Living Conditions / Environmental Conditions
The position is based in Nairobi, Kenya and it requires up to 40% travel to support consortium programming and operations in Sudan and neighboring countries such as Chad, South Sudan, Egypt and Ethiopia. This 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.
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.
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.
This position is no longer open.
