Governance, Peace and Conflict Advisor - Syria

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 meeting the needs of conflict-affected communities inside Syria since 2012. Mercy Corps Syria currently operates from three locations in Jordan, Lebanon, and Syria with an experienced team of staff and partners who are supported and led by a Country Team based in Amman that ensures consistent, technical and quality driven programming. Mercy Corps implements peace and conflict activities either as an integrated part of interventions or as the lead sector in an intervention. This sector is also aimed at particularly supporting Syrian youth and other marginalized groups. The country program is guided by its strategy that aims at enabling Syrian communities to move beyond survival to productivity and self-reliance.

Globally, Mercy Corps has made a high-level commitment to achieving greater impact through evidence and learning, adaptive management, using data driven evidence to demonstrate results and contribute toward solving complex global challenges. It is in this context that the Syria Team has created this position.

General Position Summary

The Governance, Peace and Conflict Advisor will join the Programme Performance and Quality (PaQ) Unit and will contribute to the successful identification and design, and delivery of programmes in Syria. Tasks will include providing key input into proposals, helping to ensure a peace and conflict approach is embedded into MC Syria’s work, supporting teams, and furthering research and learning.

We are particularly looking for candidates who have a strong understanding of the following areas:

• Mercy Corps’ CATALYSE approach – MCS expects to be delivering a strategic, multi-year programme using the CATALYSE approach for a European donor. Supporting learning from a programme currently being implemented using CATALYSE will also be important.
• Youth and social cohesion priorities and responses.
• Preventing violent extremism.

Essential Job Responsibilities

ANALYSIS, STRATEGY & LEADERSHIP

• An ability to analysis, summarise and share learning that improves programmes and projects with respect to peace and conflict.
• Continue to build relationships and engage with staff to understand the program portfolio, strategy and the integration of peace and conflict approaches in MC Syria’s portfolio.
• Support peace and conflict associated training and learning.
• Provide thought leadership on proposals and act as technical design lead on peace and conflict proposal opportunities.
• Progress relationships with TSU Global.

PROGRAMME SUPPORT

• Acting as technical design lead or advising/guiding on proposal or concept note design including ToC, log frames and indicators.
• Incorporation of conflict sensitivity into design and approach.
• Close working with program teams and TAs across hubs to lead/support project start up and implementation activities including team capacity building.
• Engage with and support staff and managers, particularly the two peace and conflict managers, the PaQ, Programme and Grants teams across the Hubs which structure the Syria mission.
• The successful candidate should expect to help deliver a thorough understanding of needs and opportunities and be a hands-on problem solver.
• Provide advise and active engagement to individuals and teams.
• Help progress PVE strategies.

REPRESENTATION

• Ensure that Mercy Corps maintains participation in the Early Recovery Working Group in Northeast Syria as an organization implementing social cohesion interventions.
• Explore opportunities for increasing engagements with the Whole of Syria Early Recovery cluster on social cohesion

Supervisory Responsibility

N/A

Accountability

Reports Directly To: Programme Performance and Quality Director, Syria.

Works Directly With: Programme Teams, Programme and Performance Teams, Grants, Finance etc.

Knowledge and Experience

• A degree or equivalent in relevant field, with master’s preferred.
• Seven years’ experience in peace and conflict sector, with experience in the Middle East preferred.
• Demonstrated experience in programme design and learning.
• Good skills in research methodologies, analysis and reporting.
• Demonstrated attention to detail, following procedures, meeting deadlines, and working and problem-solving independently and cooperatively.
• Excellent analytical, planning and communication skills.
• Excellent oral and written English skills required; proficiency in Arabic is desirable.
• Ability to work proactively and effectively as part of a diverse team in a sensitive environment.

Success Factors

The individual will have a comprehensive and nuanced understanding of the peace and conflict sector accompanied with an active desire to progress the learning of the Syria mission as well as their own understanding. S/he will be flexible and adaptable and able to influence the way in which programmes are designed and implemented.  S/he will be comfortable engaging with individuals at all levels within the country program and will do so using clear and effective communication.  S/he will be able to transfer knowledge to team members and lead planning that runs across functions as relates to people. S/he will quickly grasp context, programmes and challenges and provide solutions to the diversity of issues which can arise in a complex context.

Living Conditions / Environmental Conditions

This position is based in Amman, Jordan. Jordan is a middle- income country with excellent education, medical, and other facilities in the capital Amman. Jordan is a very safe country with excellent communications, transportation, and housing infrastructure. Although neighboring countries continue to experience political unrest, Jordan has been a stable monarchy for over 30 years and the destination preference for many people from the Middle East to relax or gain access to available services. In recent years, events unfolding in Syria and Iraq have increased local concerns over the continued stability of Jordan but to date there have been no major incidents.

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.