About Mercy Corps
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 has been present in Somalia since 2005, responding to emergency needs stemming from conflict and displacement, while continuing work to build more resilient, peaceful, and productive communities in Puntland, Somaliland, Galmudug, Hirshabelle, Southwest State, Jubaland and Banadir. Mercy Corps implements emergency activities around life-saving food, water, hygiene programs coupled with ongoing humanitarian programs around economic opportunity and development, youth & education, and reintegration of returnees.
General Position Summary
The Program Development & Reporting Specialist will work with the Country Director, Director of Programs, Finance Director, Operations Manager, Program Teams, MEAL department and the SMT in all reporting requirements (both internal and external) as well as support the country program through representation and coordination with donors and partner agencies at cluster and coordination meetings. The Program Development & Reporting Specialist will also have a working knowledge of basic M&E tools and will be able to support the design and analysis of activities as needed. Finally, the PDRS will oversee the internal communication structure between the field offices and among team members, and to HQ desks where applicable.
Essential Responsibilities
STRATEGY & VISION
● Recognize opportunities for innovative action; communicate with relevant stakeholders and lead/support development of concept notes, proposals, strategy and/or positioning papers.
● Set direction by prioritizing and organizing actions & resources to achieve objectives and contribute to countrywide strategy development.
● Develop and organize activities to secure resources for programs and convince stakeholders to provide support.
REPORTING & DONOR COMMUNICATIONS
● Prepare all donor reports for the country program with input from program staff and update reporting guidelines and templates as necessary.
● Draft monthly and weekly reports for donor, program partners and key stakeholders, Sit Reps and bi-weekly crisis update reports (as applicable)
● Support the Country Director by responding to information requests, drafting success stories, and monitoring and reporting on the impact of different programs.
DESIGN, MONITORING & EVALUATION
● Advise and take part in any assessments including Interagency Rapid Needs Assessment and any emergency assessments organized either by Mercy Corps or any other agency for all humanitarian actors.
● Support MEL team in other MEL and reporting duties including, but not limited to, responding to information requests, drafting success stories, monitoring and reporting on program impact.
KNOWLEDGE MANAGEMENT
● Establish and maintain effective and proactive communication to facilitate knowledge management and sharing between all stakeholders. This will include reviewing current mechanisms and guidelines and addressing any issues that arise.
● Update guidelines for internal and external communications including talking points and other necessary press materials.
● Assist in maintaining proper and standardized filing system for storing program documents according to Mercy Corps Program Management Minimum Standard.
COMMUNICATION & REPRESENTATION
● Develop and implement an efficient and effective communications strategy in conjunction with program staff
● Ensure Mercy Corps’ program fosters ongoing positive cooperation with all stakeholders in coordination with Country Director, Team Leader, Program Manager and Program Team and other operation/support teams.
● Facilitate compliance with all donor/organizational communications initiatives. Facilitate information sharing among internal and appropriate external audiences, including regular situation reports to the agency.
● Develop all necessary print and online content to promote program progress, lesson learned and achievements
● Coordinate any initial media related requests, and establish a system for gathering media reports on the program
● Prepare project briefing materials (e.g., talking points, presentations, factsheets, etc.) for key stakeholders, government, and representatives, other external collaborators.
● Coordinate information sharing and program linkages across Mercy Corps Somalia programs, Mercy Corps ESA Regional Programs and/or partner agency programs as required, including facilitating complementary M&E or reporting activities
● When appropriate, develop and release public communications in conjunction with Mercy Corps communications teams.
● Coordinate and manage Mercy Corps’ participating in the inter-agency social media initiative
● Represent Mercy Corps Somalia programs and engage with national and international forums as appropriate
INFLUENCE & ADVOCACY
● Identify, build and manage collaborative partnerships with consortium partners, sub-grantees, donors, local governments and other stakeholders.
● Represent Mercy Corps programs and engage with national and international forums as appropriate
● Initiate and coordinate thought leadership research
● Actively participate in in-country, Regional and HQ-based advocacy groups.
Supervisory Responsibility
The national communication officer
Accountability
Reports Directly To: Director of Programs (DOP)
Works Directly With: Program managers, MEAL Manager, Program team leads, Somalia SMT, Regional Program Team, Technical Support Unit, ESA Program Officers, and additional headquarters-based support departments as needed.
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
● BA/S or equivalent in relevant field required (government, political science, international relations, information management, graphic design, etc.)
● Knowledge and use of co-design tools such as whiteboard, Miro Board etc.
● 3-5 years’ experience in international relief and humanitarian experience a strong advantage
● Knowledge of SPHERE and other humanitarian programming standards.
● Ability to deliver high quality reports with short deadlines
● Social and traditional media, and web content development experience a strong advantage.
● Excellent computer skills including work processing and data analysis; advance computer skill including HTML, JavaScript, GIS/mapping, FTP, graphic design and data visualization skills preferred.
● Demonstrated flexibility and creativity in planning and problem solving.
● Excellent verbal and written communication, multi-tasking, organizational and prioritization skills.
● Ability to effectively represent Mercy Corps and its interests to key stakeholders; working experience with local counterparts (CSOs, local NGOs, and others) and line ministries.
● Practical and demonstrable skills in program need assessments and baseline/endline surveys, implementation, project monitoring and evaluation.
● Prior experience with emergency programming strongly preferred.
● Demonstrated success working effectively and respectfully with host country government, private sector, INGO, NGO partners and other stakeholders in complex environments.
● Successful and proven negotiation, communication, and organization skills.
● Excellent oral and written English skills required; proficiency in Somali language is a plus.
● Ability to work effectively with an ethnically diverse team in a sensitive environment.
● Ability to work in a sometimes-solitary environment with moderate to high levels of insecurity and significant restrictions on personal movement.
● Demonstrated ability to work in complex programming and volatile environments
Success Factors
The successful Program Development & Reporting Specialist candidate will have an ability to work independently, take initiative in tasks and self-learning, be proactive in communications and development of professional relationships. Successful Mercy Corps team members have a strong commitment to teamwork and accountability, thrive in evolving and challenging environments, and make effective written and verbal communication a priority. Should be able to live and work closely with a diverse team of individuals in a highly intense and fluid work and security environment with demonstrated sensitivity to the people and issues in Somalia and the region. A sense of humor, team mentality and positive nature is highly desirable.
Living Conditions / Environmental Conditions
The position is based in Mercy Corps Somalia field offices (Mogadishu, Galkacyo, Kismayu, Baidoa) and it requires up to (20%) travel to Nairobi, Kenya. Accommodation is provided in group housing. The Reporting and Program Development Officer will support activities throughout Somalia. Mobility in Somalia is restricted and must first be cleared with the Security Advisor. This is an unaccompanied post and eligible for Hardship and R&R. Standard Somali workweek is Sunday – Thursday.
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.
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. 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 e Learning courses upon hire and on an annual basis.