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. 

Mercy Corps has been present in Ethiopia since 2004 working to drive bold and transformative ideas, working closely with government, the private sector, and civil society actors to build a more resilient country, ensuring that programs are responsive to and influenced by participants and stakeholders. Our vision is to enhance the resilience of climate and conflict-affected communities through market systems development for improved livelihoods, access to food, and safe and clean water to thrive in the face of crises. Our strategy focuses on the four outcome areas of: 1) Economically marginalized populations have improved and diversified livelihoods, income, and assets; 2) Pastoralists, farmers, and households have access to sustainably produced, safe, nutritious food; 3) Social cohesion and inclusive governance processes are built in crisis-affected communities; and 4) People have equitable, sustained access to clean water and sanitation for domestic and productive use. Currently, we operate in the regional states of Afar, Amhara, Gambella, Oromia, Somali, Sidama, Central Ethiopia, South Ethiopia, Amhara and Addis Ababa city administration working with a diverse base of donors that includes the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), European Union, GAC, Hilton Foundation, United Nations (UN), JOA, Sweden, EKN, and other foundations. 

Program / Department Summary

The High Land Resilience Activity (HRA) Crisis Modifier project for Centra Ethiopia Region, is a response for the Flood and Hailstorm risks designed to protect the development gains and the livelihood assets of the PSNP HHs. The goal of the crisis modifier project is to enhance food security for vulnerable affected populations in Soro and Shashego woredas in Central Ethiopia Region-Hadiya Zone through the provision of direct cash transfer and agricultural production inputs. The project target groups will be the PSNP HHs who engaged in the public work and are more prone to shocks and stresses. The program will have two major components managed through either direct cash transfer or commodity voucher for in kind support that support for the quick livelihood recovery. Each component will address the on-farm sectors mainly of crop/vegetable seeds, sheep/goat fattening and poultry production. The off-farm sectors will focus mainly of petty trade at the local level. HRA Crisis Modifier intervention will be temporarily implemented for six months from January to June 2025.

General Position Summary

HRA Crisis Modifier Cash and voucher specialist will provide management oversight to the Crisis modifier project and coordinate with the field-based Team leader and zonal coordinator based at Hosaena (immediate supervisor) in the day-to-day management of the cash transfer and voucher-based commodity distribution. The key responsibility is to provide overall technical leadership on effective cash and voucher implementation that supports the PSNP HHs to effectively engaged in petty trade business and agricultural production. Key responsibilities include leading the cash and voucher assistance overall management, initiate cash transfer modality and agreement with the financial service providers, initiate agreement with inputs suppliers and actors, ensure the timely cash transfer and agricultural inputs distributions and a facilitation role that market actors to provide proposed agricultural inputs to targeted PSNP HHs on timely bases. He/she will support the post distribution monitoring in collaboration with the MEL team, The cash and voucher specialist is responsible for overall cash and voucher management of the project and reports to HRA Hadiya Zonal program coordinator.

Position Description

Location: Hosaena, Central Ethiopia Region

Position Status: Definite

Salary Level: G7

Current Team Member: NA

Safeguarding Risk Level: Low (1)

Essential Job Responsibilities

Program planning and Implementation

• Lead the planning, implementation, monitoring and reporting of cash transfer and Agricultural inputs delivery through voucher and off farm activities in the project.

• Ensuring that cash assistance is delivered to targeted beneficiaries as per predetermined targeting criteria.

• Lead beneficiary identification, selection and independent or joint verification processes as per jointly set criteria to ensure impartiality, in coordination with project team members, local authorities and communities.

• Facilitate and monitor the proper distribution and documentation of cash payments and agricultural inputs to beneficiaries.

• Ensure programs are implemented according to established timelines and standards.

• Actively participate in Rapid Assessments, market assessments, capacity assessment of Cooperative, unions, Agro-dealer, pullet growers, Financial Service Providers and other digital cash transfer.

• Ensure that the program resources are implemented in a transparent and accountable manner and handed over or completed in a way that promotes local capacities and sustainable operations.

• Keep record of all required documents related to cash and voucher program, beneficiary selection, distribution and post distribution monitoring.

• Ensure mainstreaming of MC Ethiopia’s cross-cutting issues of gender equity, Child Safeguarding.

• Work closely with the Zonal coordinator, Team Leader, and other Local Implementing partner staffs based in Soro/Shashego to implement the market-based livelihood recovery through the cash and voucher system and strategy.

• Ensure all the Crisis modifier team members and partners to have a clear understanding on the cash and voucher implementation approach and strategy.

• Participate in woreda and zone coordination meetings and ensure documentation and delivery of action points.

• Perform other functions as requested by the immediate supervisor.

Monitoring, Evaluation, Learning and Reporting

• Adhere to program learning systems and strengthen the effort to document the impact of the livelihood recovery activities.

• Prepare quarterly and monthly plans, aligned with the project plan under cash and voucher programming targets.

• Facilitate regular context monitoring to support updating and adapting activities for the greatest impact.

• Regularly provide communication on cash and voucher status to zonal and regional coordinators and team leaders; provide regular updates on context, project progress, effectiveness of project approaches, and partnerships.

• Contribute to and guide learning visits and assessments to understand the cash and voucher implementation approaches and modalities, results, in line with the quick recovery of the PSNP HHs.

• Closely work with the Team Leader and MEL team to continuously monitor, ensure implementation quality, and support the learning development process.

• Ensure the cash and voucher program targets and approach are being met, by implementing activities in accordance with the agreed work plans and timelines, and report discrepancies and changes to the zonal coordinator.

• Ensure timely and quality delivery of weekly, monthly and quarterly project reports internally to Zonal coordinator and MEL team.

Coordination and Collaboration

• Work closely with Mercy Corps team members, financial service providers (FSPs), key stakeholders, and community representatives to ensure effective program implementation.

• Participate in relevant Zone and Woreda level coordination meetings and represent Mercy Corps as required.

• Closely work with Kebeles structures and support the local committees organized to facilitate the targeting and ensure the right HHs received the targeted commodity and cash.

• Ensures Kebele administration, Development Agents, and beneficiary communities are actively engaged in program monitoring that HHs used the cash for the intended purpose and applied the right extension for improved agricultural production.

• Foster strong relationships with local authorities, community leaders, and other partners.

 GEDSI (GENDER, EQUALITY, DIVERSITY AND SOCIAL INCLUSION)

• Adherence of gender minimum standards

• Make sure GESI issues are properly reflected during program management

• Support the organization’s commitment to age and gender inclusive team building process

• Promote an inclusive and equitable workplace culture

• Coordinate with GEDSI Technical Team Improve gender-responsiveness of program /Project MEAL system

• Increased commitment to Gender Equality Diversity and Social inclusion

Accountability

Reports Directly To: HRA Zonal Program Coordinator, Hadiya Zone

Technical Line Report To: Crisis Modifier, Team Leader

Works Directly With: Team Leader, HRA Zonal Program Coordinator-Hadiya Zone, Regional Program Coordinator (Sidama, Central and Soth Ethiopia Region), Governance Technical Lead-Addis Abeba.

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.

Knowledge and Experience

• BSc degree or equivalent in afield related to Business management, Economics, Rural development, Agricultural economics, Agri business, Cooperative business management or any other relevant field

• At least four years of experience in humanitarian organization(s) in cash and voucher assistance (CVA) and livelihood programming, preferably in relief and recovery programs targeting vulnerable community groups.

• At least 2 years’ experience in an international NGO preferably in an emergency or recovery programs

• Strong understanding of cash transfer modalities, livelihood strategies, and Humanitarian principles and standards.

• Excellent project management skills, including planning, implementation, and reporting.

• Experience working with diverse stakeholders, including local authorities, community representatives, FSPs, and NGOs.

• Ability to work independently and as part of a team.

• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.

• Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications (Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint, Access, and design packages).

• Demonstrated commitment to principles of gender, equity, diversity, inclusion and PSHEA (safeguarding) through programming experience TOT or any training in Cash and Vouchers Programming is a plus.

• Fluency in English; knowledge of local languages is an asset.

Success Factors

The successful candidate will possess excellent leadership skills, with the ability to maintain abroad perspective in humanitarian and recovery, particularly the cash and voucher system application. He/she will undertake innovative and creative approaches, be agile in the conceptualization of new program ideas, and will be well versed in strategic thinking and planning including openness to test new ways to work with private sector actors. The ideal candidate will have a strong curiosity for understanding and working effectively within the complex situation in the rural part of Hadiya zone. He/She will be a tolerant and flexible individual able to work in difficult and stressful environments and follow procedures. The successful candidate will be focused on the technical application of the cash and voucher programing in collaboration with the private actors and , have a knowledge in monitoring and evaluation of recovery programs.

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.

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 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.

All qualified individuals are invited to apply for the advertised position. All applications, including a CV, three references, and all applicable official papers, must be sent electronically. 

Only candidates that are short-listed will be acknowledged and called for interviews.

“Mercy Corps is an equal opportunity employer promoting gender, equity, and diversity. Qualified female and young candidates are strongly encouraged to apply. We are committed to empowering women and youth.”

DEADLINE FOR ALL APPLICATIONS:  08 January 2025/ 4:00 PM