In disaster, in hardship, in more than 40 countries around the world, we partner to put bold solutions
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 dramtically shifted as state and non-state actors wage a brutal conflict. 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:
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.
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.
Access to people in need remains one of the greatest challenges for INGOs operating in Sudan. Deteriorating security, limited physical access and significant bureaucratic and administrative impediments have left many of those most in need with limited to no access to assistance. Given the highly dynamic security, political and conflict situation, humanitarians are preparing for increasing complexity in reaching the most vulnerable populations in hard-to-reach areas.
The INGO-F Deputy Director will have specific responsibilities for collating information to provide analysis and advice to members on matter of common concern related to access impediments including bureaucratic and administrative impediments in close coordination with the area coordination leads and with the INGO-F Director. This position will also focus on analyzing, facilitating, and coordinating collective humanitarian access to negotiations, products, and initiatives.
This position will have specific responsibilities for coordinating INGO access fora and co-chairing the HAWG together with OCHA. He/she will also serve as the secretariat’s representative in SLT discussions and meetings. This position reports to the Forum Director who will lead the overall Forum strategy and representation. The incumbent will deputize the Forum Director and may be required to provide ad hoc surge support to other roles within the Forum. S/he will also work closely with the Advocacy Manager to ensure that access related advocacy messages are evidence-based and aligned.
Essential Responsibilities
Coordination and representation:
Coordinate field level access meetings amongst INGO forum members in collaboration with the Forum’s Area Coordinators, the ABC coordinators in Darfur and, as appropriate, with UN colleagues
Data collection, analysis and reporting
Reports Directly To: INGO Forum Director
Works Directly With: Advocacy Manager, Steering Committee, HAWG members
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
Existing relationships with relevant stakeholders including NGOs, UN agencies, donors, national authorities and regional counterparts
The successful candidate will have proven experience working well in high pressure and high stress environments. S/he will be a strong communicator, have excellent organizational skills, and be proactive and engaging. S/he will have experience navigating a variety of cultural contexts and will exercise sensitivity in engagements accordingly.
Living Conditions / Environmental Conditions
The position is based in based in Port Sudan with frequent travel to Nairobi and Darfur 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.
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 Engagement 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 committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all employees and qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, color, sex, sexual orientation, religion or belief, national origin, age, disability, marital status, veteran status, or any other characteristics protected under applicable law.
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. 
