MCEurope recruits 01 Strategic Coodination Specialist (Ebola)

MCEurope recruits 01 Strategic Coodination Specialist (Ebola)

This is a 3-5 month position pending additional funding.

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.

Program / Department Summary

Mercy Corps has been operating in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) since August 2007, with a staff of approximately 400 people working in Eastern DRC. Mercy Corps’ national office is in Goma with sub-field offices in North Kivu, South Kivu and Ituri provinces. Mercy Corps’ key programming areas include a combination of longer-term development and immediate humanitarian response programs in order to: 1) Improve water service delivery and ensuring equitable access to Water, Sanitation and Hygiene services, in urban and rural areas; 2) Improve food security and nutrition; 3) Promote diversified livelihoods, economic recovery and development. Mercy Corps DRC’s humanitarian programs aim specifically to assist populations affected by the conflict and crisis in Eastern Congo with multi-purpose cash assistance and emergency WASH support to displaced and host populations. Mercy Corps is also currently responding the unfolding Ebola epidemic in North Kivu and Ituri Provinces. The current annual budget includes resources from DFID, USAID, ECHO, UN-donors, Government of Netherlands, OFDA, FFP, SDC and others.

An Ebola virus outbreak has been confirmed in North-Kivu and Ituri provinces. Mercy Corps works in close coordination with other actors and is implementing an IPC/WASH response in the Beni/Butembo areas, as well as a communications and community engagement prevention program in Goma, in coordination with the Ministry of Health

General Position Summary

Mercy Corps seeks a passionate candidate for the position of Ebola Strategic Coordination Specialist to:  manage government & partner outreach; represent Mercy Corps in the Ebola Coordination and Commission system (operational and strategic); strengthen internal linkages between operational and strategic aspects of Mercy Corps’ Ebola response to support implantation of the broader Ebola advocacy strategy. This is an important leadership role for Mercy Corps’ Ebola response.

Essential Job Responsibilities

Coordination and Representation

• Establish active and participatory partnerships with key stakeholders (Government, WHO, other UN agencies, NGOs, bilateral agencies) and interact with them at different stages of Ebola Emergency design and implementation.
• Represent Mercy Corps with Ebola response commissions (through the sub-coordination and coordination structures), humanitarian actors, government ministries, donors and relevant authorities for operational & strategic planning, engagement and active contribution of operational partners.
• Ensure regular information sharing on Mercy Corps activities and priority strategic and operational development to be shared with Mercy Corps DRC, the Ebola program team in the field, and Mercy Corps HQ.
• Work with the program teams to establish a well-defined communications system to ensure Mercy Corps & NGO voices are heard by the coordination system, the government/Ministry of Health and UN agencies.
• Support the development of guidance notes through technical working groups on specific areas of technical weakness.
• Update commission & coordination partners on Mercy Corps’ activities, program implementation and multi-sectoral Ebola response capacity.
• Collating and documenting best practice evidence and lessons learned, with recommendations.
• Identify and build cooperative relationships with relevant commissions and actors in the Ministry of Health, particularly Communications, Surveillance, Communication, Psychosocial, and the Chief Doctor of the Health Zone, the strategic and operational sub-coordination structures, and IPC field supervisors, among others.

Strategy development

• Contribute to country-level Ebola response program analysis by providing inputs on activities, achievements, new projects, problems encountered and pertinent developments in the relevant sectors, and proposing lessons learned, corrective measures or strategic realignments to ensure program quality and adherence to guidelines.
• Contribute to country-level Ebola strategy development and refinement, ensuring that cross-cutting issues such as gender equality, age and psycho-social factors are included.
• Support the coordination in creating, revising or updating national standards and support the program team in application and adherence to them.
• Identification of potential partnerships for future funding, or future funding opportunities, especially for the post-epidemic phase

Capacity building support

• Support the mobilization and engagement between program teams and the coordination structure through regular field site visits that provide training and reinforcement in coordination activities
• Empower others and creates an atmosphere of trust and an enabling environment where staff can contribute their best and develop their potential.
• Update commission partners on the benefits and outcomes of incorporating better quality assurance mechanisms into programs and responses as required.

SECURITY

• Ensure compliance with security procedures and policies as determined by country leadership.
• Ensure compliance with security procedure in line with the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) to minimize risk upon staff.

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.

Supervisory Responsibility

None

Accountability

Reports Directly to: Team Leader Ebola

Second line reporting: Deputy Country Director

Works Directly with: Ebola Coordination and Sub-Coordination, presidents and technical advisors of the Ebola commission system, UN agencies providing technical support, and international and national NGOs.

Held work sessions with: Regularly with Mercy Corps Ebola program managers, Ebola Team Leader, the Deputy Country Director, Country Director and HQ.

Knowledge and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Public Health, Social Sciences, Management, Environmental Health or any related area. Master’s Degree preferred;
• 3-5 years of relevant professional experience;
• Previous experience on Ebola response preferred;
• Experience building and reinforcing the linkages between program activities, external coordination and operational implementation;
• Technical experience in Ebola coordination and commission system preferred, experience coordinating and representing within the humanitarian cluster system required.

• Proven ability to work and solve problems independently without direct supervision.

• Demonstrate personal and professional integrity in all interactions;
• Be able to work with diverse stakeholders to develop consensus;
• Know how to present ideas effectively and clearly while listening and acknowledging others’ perspectives and views;
• Able to clarify complex strategies for operational orientation and implementation;
• Excellent communication skills, negotiation and networking skills required.

• Knowledge of the DRC context required. Experience living and working in West or Central Africa, preferred.
• Excellent oral and written English and French skills required.

Success Factors

A successful Ebola Strategic Coordination Specialist will work closely with all Ebola response partners (Locals, National, International, UN agencies) and donors to strengthen and improve coordination. S/He will work closely with technical working groups to ensure partners are fully equipped with updated guidelines, technical notes and with required information. A successful candidate will be well-trained and aware of the transmission and effective prevention of the Ebola Virus. S/he will be skilled in developing and implementing outreach and coordination strategies, both internally and externally, while maintaining a clear advocacy role in promoting issues of concern to Mercy Corps. A successful candidate will understand the importance of our Ebola operations in the DRC, with the patience and focus to facilitate the safe implementation of program activities by cultivating strong relationships across key stakeholders in the Ebola response. Successful candidates will have a strong commitment to teamwork and accountability, thrive in evolving and challenging environments, and make effective written and verbal communication a priority. S/He will have the ability to facilitate dialogue among a diverse group of individuals with various skill sets and working styles is essential.

Living Conditions / Environmental Conditions

This position is an unaccompanied position. Shared housing will be provided in Goma according to Mercy Corps DRC housing policy. Goma is a provincial capital of over 700,000 inhabitants. Living in Goma is comfortable, although water and electricity can be unstable. Outside Goma, travel can be dangerous and unpredictable due to armed forces and rebel activity. Travel to the field may be required up to 20% of the time.

While security is quite stable in Goma, North and South Kivu continue to be an arena of violence and insecurity. Mercy Corps’ sub-offices experience variable levels of insecurity, with the situation closely monitored by UN peacekeepers. Air travel is necessary to get from one end of the country to the other. Mobile phones and cellular service are widely available. Internet is available in all Mercy Corps offices. Travel to field sites will be required where living conditions are clean and secure, but basic. There are a number of health services available with evacuation options for serious illnesses. There is reasonable access to most consumer goods, although they can be expensive. Mercy Corps Team members represent the agency both during and outside of 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. 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.

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.