Position Title:

SENIOR PROGRAM OFFICER, LIVELIHOOD – ENTER ENERGY SOMALIA (EES) PROGRAM

Location Baidoa

Position Status Full-time

Number of Positions: 1

  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 (Program / Department Summary)

Mercy Corps has been a fixture in Somalia since 2005, implementing projects that target hundreds of thousands of vulnerable households. Their work focuses on improving access to basic services and overcoming vulnerabilities caused by civil conflict and natural disasters. They achieve this through interventions in four key sectors: water security, peace and governance, economic and food security. Their programs are designed in an integrated manner, incorporating new methodologies like Emergency, DRR (Disaster Risk Reduction), and Resilience frameworks. Mercy Corps' operations in Somalia are firmly rooted in a robust framework of socio-political analysis and risk management systems, ensuring compliance with Somali Federal Government (FGS) laws, internal accountability standards, and donor requirements. Mercy Corps Somalia has over 100 field staff based field operations in Mogadishu, Hargeisa, Kismayo, and Baidoa with programs funded by multitude of donors including USAID, FCDO, SIDA, SDC, AFD and the UN.

The Position (General Position Summary)

Mercy Corps is seeking a senior program Officer for the Enter Energy project in Baidoa funded by FCDO and implemented in close collaboration with the Baidoa Municipality, The energy company (BECO), IOM and Power Africa that is supporting the electricification of the Barwaqo/ northern Baidoa corridor

The Senior Program officer will be responsible for ensuring the delivery of high-quality implementation of the EES program according to schedule and budget; working will closely work with Mercy Corps EES project and other team members in Baidoa during the stated period. Under the guidance of the team and office management, the Senior Program Officer also has to closely coordinate with the Local Administration, the IDP and host community leaders, and other key Program stakeholders to achieve the program goals and ensure that all activities to be implemented on demand-driven; and communities mobilized in a participatory way. He/she will have to show full adherence to Mercy Corps procedures, policy, and security protocols.     

Essential Job Responsibilities Key Responsibilities

• Review existing program strategies and approaches based on changing contexts.
• Work with Program Manager to ensure linkages within all sector and stakeholder are carried out appropriately.
• Design viable strategies that are both respectful with the local culture and sensitive towards the population.
• Promote accountability, communicate expectations, and provide constructive feedback informally and formally via regular one on ones and performance reviews.
• Create and sustain a work environment of mutual respect where team members strive to achieve excellence.

·         Assist with technical implementation of all EES program activities with special focus on the Productive Use of Energy (hereinafter PUE) promotion measures under the project as directed. ·         Support of the EES program team members as well as external consultants and other service providers hired for the implementation.  ·         Assist with the planning and implementation of the Enter Energy Somalia Program strategy and vision.

• Promote accountability, communicate expectations, and provide constructive feedback informally and formally via regular one on ones and performance reviews.
• Create and sustain a work environment of mutual respect where team members strive to achieve excellence.
• Maintain close working relationships with local authorities, INGOs and Local NGOs
• Foster a collaborative team atmosphere which engages the stakeholder.
• Conduct himself/herself both professionally and personally in such a manner as to bring credit to Mercy Corps and not to jeopardize its humanitarian mission.
• Adhere to MC policies, tools, handbooks and guidelines including safety and security policies and procedures.
• Work with the MEAL Team to develop needs assessment tools and strategies, and train and supervise staff through field surveys and assessments.
• Contribute to building the capacity of Mercy Corps staff, as well as project stakeholders.
• Develop project work plans related to its sectors with the Program Team Lead.
• Ensure the tracking, monitoring and quality reporting of all sectors and infrastructure interventions.
• Complete budget pipeline planning, monitoring and monthly follow up in coordination with the Program manager.
• Supervise and monitor the implementation of program activities, ensuring that all activities are compliant with the grant and Mercy Corps requirements.  Prepare subsequent reports.
• Work with Program Manager to identify, build and manage collaborative partnerships with consortium partners, sub-grantees, donors, and other stakeholders.
• Revise work plans in conjunction with POs under the oversight of the Program Manger.
• Ensure provision of program quality in all aspects from design, planning, and implementation.
• Contribute to the identification and design of additional opportunities for short, medium and long-term programming.
• Contribute to the design of new proposals based on sectoral and general knowledge.
• Prepare and develop status reports as required by management and supervisor in duty station.
• Ensure proper filing of documents is done by the project team.
• Representations at cluster meetings at the field level.
• Promote and share ideas for improvement of the program unit.
• Field data information and data collection to inform program design and planning
• Document good practices and lessons, testimonies and stories for program learning from field visits, surveys and assessments that have been done.
• 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.
• 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.
• Perform any other assigned duty by supervisor or Director of Programs or CD.

  REPORTING

·         Document lessons learned and success stories of the program.

·         Develop and contribute and submit all required program reports on time.

·         Coordinate with MEAL team to ensure data quality and timely sharing of data to support reporting cycles.

·         provide weekly update on project implementation progress as well as general security context of the area to senior program officer who will report to the senior management including the Director of Programs.

REPRESENTATION

·         Represent Mercy Corps and its values at coordination and partner meetings in area of operation.

·         Communicate effectively to ensure overall project targets and donor obligations are met.

·         Demonstrate flexibility, resilience, and ability to maintain positive relationships and composure.

·         Maintain high ethical standards and treat people with respect and dignity.

Supervisory Responsibility

Program Officer Livelihood -EES program

Accountability: Reports Directly To: Program Manager

Works Directly with: POs & SPOs EES and Other Programs, Reporting & Program Support staff, Program Manager, Sector Leaders, MEAL Unit, Program Operations, Finance.