Civil Society Capacity Development Technical Specialist and Coordinator

This position is contingent on funding

About Mercy CorpsMercy 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.

Program / Department SummaryMercy Corps has worked across Iraq’s 18 governorates since 2003, implementing relief and development programming, more than a third of which has focused on the specific needs of internally displaced persons. Mercy Corps Iraq’s goal is to work with new and existing civil society, public and private sector partners to meet immediate and long-term needs by strengthening communities’ ability to rebuild amidst increasing crises. Mercy Corps Iraq focuses on (1) a relief-to-resilience pathway to meet the needs of conflict-affected communities leveraging agency expertise in conflict management and civil society development (2) a humanitarian response that empowers conflict-affected populations to meet their own needs (3) partnering with conflict-affected adolescents to address their diverse needs, promoting leadership and linkages with civil society.

Mercy Corps is seeking a Civil Society Capacity Development Technical Specialist and Coordinator for the anticipated Iraq Civil Society Activity, expected to launch in May 2023. The program will increase citizen engagement in the public sphere, especially among women and youth, while supporting civil society organizations (CSOs) to connect to and empower citizens and other CSOs. The expected activity result is a relevant, active, resilient, and inclusive civil society sector that more effectively fosters change towards an increasingly equitable and democratic Iraq.

The Position

The Coordinator will be responsible for the provision and oversight of technical direction and assistance in support of improved public outreach and information, coalition building, and improved organizational management capacity. The individual will support development of financial capacity and will support any technical trainers engaged in this or other areas of capacity development.

Essential Responsibilities

TECHNICAL LEADERSHIP

• Work closely with the DCoP to oversee the local partnership strategy
• Work closely with ICSA senior leadership to design effective programming under the key objectives
• Provide technical leadership in the development and implementation of strategies, interventions, and activities that address the program's results.
• Oversee administration and performance of local sub-grants, including planning, implementation, and compliance.
• Provide reviews and input for program documents, including quarterly and annual reports, and other internal and USAID reporting.
• Fulfill Mercy Corps’ Program Management Minimum Standards based on the organization-wide guide.

Supervisory Responsibility

The number of direct and indirect reports will be determined at a later stage.

Accountability

Reports Directly To: ICSA Chief of Party

Works Directly With: ICSA senior leaders (key personnel and component leads), Regional Directors, Country Director, Director of Programs, Program Performance and Quality Director, other DCOPs, HR, finance and operations teams, HQ Regional Programs Team, and HQ Technical Support Unit

Accountability to Participants and Stakeholders

Mercy Corps team members are expected to support all efforts toward accountability, specifically to our program participants and to international standards guiding international relief and development work, while actively engaging program participant communities as equal partners in the design, monitoring and evaluation of our field projects.

Minimum Qualification & Transferable Skills

• University degree in management, public administration, finance, or related field required
• At least 8 years of demonstrated experience and expertise in civil society strengthening, including capacity development; community mobilization; and civil society-related training and facilitation required
• Previous work experience with civil society in Iraq required
• English and Arabic language written and spoken proficiency are both required
• Demonstrated knowledge and understanding of Iraq’s complex political, governance, and conflict dynamics preferred
• Work with grassroots communities and advocacy movements preferred
• Familiarity with USAID rules, regulations, and requirements preferred

Success FactorsA successful candidate will have a demonstrated ability to lead and communicate effectively with team members and other stakeholders of varied work styles and cultures, follow procedures and meet deadlines with flexibility and creativity in planning and problem solving. This position requires an ability to think creatively about civic engagement to strengthen inclusive, peaceful, and responsive governance. They will have a proven ability to learn quickly, multi-task, prioritize, take initiative, and be accountable for results, understand the larger picture while remaining focused on the details, problem solving, work within a complex and sensitive setting and to follow laws and security protocols. The most successful Mercy Corps team 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.

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.

Ongoing 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.

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.