Technical Lead for Civic Engagement and Peacebuilding - Civic Engagement Activity, USAID/Ethiopia

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 been operating in Ethiopia since 2004. In partnership with civil society organizations, private sector, and the government, Mercy Corps Ethiopia has reached more than five million Ethiopians with interventions to save lives and build secure livelihoods. Our programs emphasize market-driven solutions, reinforce social bonds, and help communities build resilience to the impacts of climate change. Currently in six regional states – Afar, Gambella, Oromia, Somali, Amhara and South Nations, Nationalities and People’s Region (SNNPR) – Mercy Corps Ethiopia is driven by the mission to contribute the emergence of a peaceful, resilient, and prosperous Ethiopia which is inclusive of youth and women. Our strategic directions focus in promoting inclusive and dynamic markets; promoting peace and social cohesion through strengthening formal/informal governance structures and citizen engagement; improved natural resource governance; and integrated humanitarian response.

Mercy Corps is seeking a Technical Lead for Civic Engagement and Peacebuilding to oversee the staff and technical approaches for civic engagement of the proposed four-year USAID-funded Civic Engagement Activity (CEA) in Ethiopia. The proposed program will strengthen Ethiopia’s civic fabric in support of more inclusive, peaceful, and responsive governance. This will be achieved through: 1) strengthening civic and community-based actors’ capacity to engage in policy analysis, advocacy, dialogue, and collective action for peaceful, democratic change; and 2) fostering multi-stakeholder civic partnerships in support of inclusive dialogue, respect for human rights, and advancing more effective, citizen-responsive, and accountable governance.

The Position

The Technical Lead for Civic Engagement and Peacebuilding will work in concert with the COP and DCOP to oversee and lead the technical approaches, technical staff, and local partners.

Essential Responsibilities  
STRATEGY AND VISION

• Work with the COP, DCOP and the Technical Lead for National Engagement and Governance to create a coherent and integrated overall strategy that is shared with the program team, partners, and key stakeholders.
• Integrate and embrace all voices into shared strategies for inclusive, peaceful, and responsive governance.
• Ensure that cross-cutting aspects of the program such as adaptive management/CLA, gender equality, social inclusion and resilience are integrated into the program strategy.

PROGRAM MANAGEMENT

• Oversee the implementation of the program’s technical strategy and approaches in civic engagement, community mobilization, peacebuilding and locally led development providing leadership, mentoring, quality control and coordination to strengthen program outcomes.
• In coordination with the M&E staff, monitor the implementation of activities through regular field visits and assessments to ensure program quality and impact.
• Work with the COP, DCOP and Technical Lead for National Engagement and Governance to develop local partnership frameworks and oversee capacity strengthening for local partners.

TEAM MANAGEMENT

• Oversee the technical staff for civic engagement and peacebuilding.
• Develop the capacity of the team, deepen understanding of staff roles, and assist with career development.
• Provide team members with information, tools, and resources to improve performance and reach objectives.
• Promote staff accountability, communicate expectations, and provide constructive feedback informally and formally via regular one-on-one meetings and performance reviews.
• Create and sustain a work environment of mutual respect where team members strive to achieve excellence.

REPRESENTATION

• Represent the program at government, donor, NGO and other relevant events, in close coordination with the COP, DCOP and Technical Lead for National Engagement and Governance.
• Coordinate activities with key stakeholders, local government and other implementers, as well as with other Mercy Corps programs.

SECURITY & RISK MANAGEMENT

• Work closely with security focal points to develop and maintain systems that promote the safety and security of all team members.
• Ensure that activities are designed and implemented with a clear analysis and understanding of security and conflict dynamics.

Supervisory Responsibility

Supervise the CEA technical team for civic engagement and peacebuilding.

Accountability

Reports Directly To: Chief of Party

Works Directly With: CEA Team, Mercy Corps Ethiopia country support structures and leadership, HQ Regional Programs Team, and HQ Technical Support Unit

Minimum Qualification & Skills

• A minimum of 5 years relevant experience, including proven expertise in civic engagement, community mobilization, peacebuilding, and/or civil society strengthening

• 15 years of progressive professional experience managing civil society strengthening/civic engagement programs in similar contexts preferred.

• Strong interpersonal and communication skills, and a proven ability to network and maintain effective working relationships with diverse actors including CSOs, civic groups, community- based organizations, media, academia, political parties, government, the private sector, and donors.

• Experience assessing the development needs of a diverse range of civic actors/groups and developing innovative approaches to building their organizational, advocacy, and policy/budget analysis capacity, fostering diverse partnerships and networking opportunities, and supporting locally-led collective action

• Experience working with youth groups and emerging social movements.

• Experience with and commitment to locally led development approaches (e.g., co-creation, micro-grant making, cultivating collective action practices)

• Experience with and commitment to adaptive management processes.

• Demonstrated knowledge and understanding of Ethiopia’s complex political, governance, and conflict dynamics.

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills in English.

• Familiarity with USAID rules, regulations, and requirements preferred.

• National work permit required (only local benefits offered).

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.

Accountability to Participants and Stakeholders

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.

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.