RISK AND COMPLIANCE ADVISOR | SUSTAINED AND THEA PROGRAMS
Location: Kampala, Uganda
Position Status: Regular
Salary Level: 9
Risk Level: ☐ Level 3
(Level 3: Frequent contact with participants, direct contact with children, access to sensitive data, and/or high level of accountability.
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.
The Program / Department / Team (Program / Department Summary)
The SUSTAINED consortium (Mercy Corps, CARE, and Oxfam) is a gender integrated intervention to increase access and use of quality, reliable, affordable, and clean energy sources for refugees and surrounding host communities. The SUSTAINED programme will adopt a Market Systems Development (MSD) approach, responding to the clear need for linkages to facilitate the entry of quality private sector actors into displacement settings, whilst ensuring that vulnerable populations can access quality products and services, in a safe, supportive environment. In this context, SUSTAINED will work with energy service companies (ESCOs), Financial Service Providers (FSPs), refugee and host communities, to address both demand and supply side barriers. The SUSTAINED Programme will also take an ecosystem approach, supporting the development of an enabling environment required for a clean energy marketplace for refugees in Uganda.
The Transforming Humanitarian Energy Access (THEA) program is funded by the UK government via its Transforming Energy Access platform and is implemented by Mercy Corps in partnership with Ashden and the Global Platform for Action in Displacement Settings (GPA). Its goal is to identify and promote more sustainable energy delivery models in humanitarian settings in Uganda, Ethiopia, and Bangladesh. In Uganda, THEA is supporting the establishing of a financing facility (referred to hereafter as the Facility) with a dedicated mandate to providing concessional loans to Off-Grid Energy Companies (OGECs) operating within displacement settings. The Facility will collaborate closely with Mercy Corps, the primary shareholder, which will also support the facility’s investees through technical assistance interventions through its THEA and SUSTAINED programs. These interventions include delivering market intelligence, facilitating expansion initiatives, stimulating demand for off-grid solutions among refugees, host communities, and businesses, and offering comprehensive logistical and technical support to OGECs.
The Position (General Position Summary)
This position will support both SUSTAINED and THEA activities, including functions that are relevant to the operationalisation of the Facility. The Advisor reports to the Mercy Corps Uganda Finance Manager and will work closely with the Private Sector Engagement Officer and the Facility’s Managing Director, among other team members.
The Risk and Compliance Advisor will play a central role in safeguarding the integrity, sustainability, and effectiveness of operations. The Advisor will design and implement risk management systems, ensure adherence to donor and internal compliance requirements, and provide strategic guidance to mitigate financial, operational, and reputational risks across the investment and grant portfolio. In particular, the Advisor is responsible for the risk assessment of new clients, monitoring of defaulting clients, and ensuring that the portfolio is well secured by proper setting of limits.
In particular, the Risk and Compliance Advisor will lead the Risk and Compliance function of the new Facility and be the custodian of the credit, risk and compliance aspects of the Facility. The Advisor will use his/her extensive network and knowledge to continue developing the Facility’s risk and compliance framework. She/he will be responsible for successfully building and managing a healthy portfolio with an average NPL position below 5% at all times, as well as for flagging facilities that need closure and rehabilitation.
ESSENTIAL RESPONSIBILITIES
Strategic Risk and Compliance Oversight
- Be the custodian and lead implementer of the Risk and Compliance Policy.
- Create an integrated risk framework and assess risk.
- Review and update the Credit Policy Manual and Risk Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).
- Responsible for the management of non-credit risk matters (Risk Matrix).
- Lead Business Continuity Planning (BCP) for the organization.
- Contribute to strategic planning and decision-making as a member of the Senior Management Team.
- Ensure alignment of risk and compliance practices with the organisation’s mission, strategy, policies, culture, and corporate governance.
- Support the Sustained and THEA programsin ensuring that all donor compliance deliverables are attained.
Credit Risk Management
- Conduct credit analysis on client files and ensure all required protocols are fulfilled.
- Ensure credit limits are set and managed in line with the Credit Policy.
- Schedule and coordinate Credit Committee meetings.
- Carry out periodic and annual reviews of client files.
- Monitor exceptional approvals, waivers, and concessions.
- Flag facilities that require closure or rehabilitation.
- Monitor portfolio performance in liaison with Operations to maintain a Non-Performing Loan (NPL) ratio below 5%.
Transaction Support
- Review pipeline transactions to identify financial, legal, and reputational risks prior to approval.
- Provide input into the structuring of grants, loans, and guarantees to ensure risk-adjusted design consistent with facility mandates.
- Advise credit risk assessments, borrower performance monitoring, and early warning systems for potential defaults.
- Support the design of revolving or blended finance mechanisms, ensuring prudent fund management and risk mitigation.
Legal and Security Coordination
- Prepare legal documentation in liaison with external legal counsel for approved clients.
- Handle all client security matters in close collaboration with the company’s legal advisors.
Reporting, Team Leadership and External Relations
- Prepare monthly, quarterly, and annual country portfolio reports as required.
- Maintain Service Level Agreements with third parties, specifically regarding credit risk and compliance.
- Ensure timely and expeditious recovery from non-performing clients in close collaboration with the Managing Director.
- As the team grows, supervises and supports credit and risk colleagues in the execution of the risk and compliance strategy.
SAFEGUARDING RESPONSIBILITIES
- Actively learn about safeguarding and integrate it into their work, including safeguarding risks and mitigations related to their area of work.
- Practice the values of Mercy Corps and Humenergi including respecting the dignity and well-being of participants and fellow team members.
- Encourage openness and communication in their team; encourage team members to submit reports if they have any concerns using reporting mechanisms e.g., Integrity Hotline and other options.
Supervisory Responsibility
None
Accountability
Reports Directly To: Mercy Corps Uganda Finance Manager
Works Directly With: SUSTAINED and THEA Program Teams, Operations, People and Culture, Finance, Facility Managing Director
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
- Bachelor’s degree in finance, accounting, law, risk management, development finance, or related field.
- Tertiary graduate qualification is an added advantage (e.g., MBA, CPA, CFA)
- Minimum 5+ years of experience in risk management, compliance, or internal audit within development finance institutions (DFIs), impact funds, or donor-funded programs.
- Strong understanding of off-grid energy markets, PAYGo business models, and challenges of frontier market financing is desirable.
- Demonstrated knowledge of donor compliance frameworks (e.g., FCDO, USAID, GIZ, EU).
- Experience implementing E&S and governance safeguards in line with international standards.
- Demonstrated experience with financial reports preparation & presentation, proven ability to translate technical financial data into informative reports.
- Excellent analytical, communication, and stakeholder management skills.
- Excellent oral and written English skills.
Success Factors
The successful Risk and Compliance Advisor will possess an exemplary professional standard of ethics as well as the willingness and ability to enforce compliance with Mercy Corps' internal policies and procedures and external regulations. Excellent communication and interpersonal skills to interact effectively with internal and external stakeholders on sensitive and confidential matters is necessary, along with the ability to navigate difficult circumstances with a calm demeanor, in an analytical and methodical manner. A demonstrated ability to multi-task, meet deadlines and process information in support of changing program activities is necessary. A broad understanding of humanitarian and development programs coupled with the ability to analyze financial operational data and clearly present conclusions and recommendations is essential. Additionally, the ideal candidate will have strong leadership skills and experience in credit risk assessment, enabling them to provide effective guidance and support to the team.
Living Conditions / Environmental Conditions
The position is based in Kampala and it requires up to 40% travel to support country programs, which may include travel to insecure locations where freedom of movement is limited and areas where amenities are limited. Housing for this role is in individual housing and staff will have access to good medical services and the living situation is of a high standard.
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
Team Engagement and Effectiveness
Achieving our mission starts with how we build our team and collaborate. By bringing together individuals with a variety of experiences, backgrounds, and perspectives, we strengthen our ability to solve complex challenges and drive innovation. We foster a culture of trust and respect, where every team member is valued for their contributions, empowered to reach their full potential, and motivated to do their best work. We recognize that building a strong and effective team is an ongoing process, and we remain committed to learning, improving, and growing together.
Equal Employment Opportunity
Mercy Corps is an equal opportunity employer committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all employees and qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, color, sex, sexual orientation, religion or belief, national origin, age, disability, marital status, veteran status, or any other characteristics protected under applicable law.
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.
As an applicant, if you witness or experience any form of sexual misconduct during the recruitment process, please report this to Mercy Corps Integrity Hotline (integrityhotline@mercycorps.org).
To Apply
Interested applicants must submit their Cover Letter & CV saved in 1 PDF document of no more than 5 pages by 15th January 2026. Women are strongly encouraged to apply.
Please note that any application submitted that does not follow the above instructions will be automatically discarded.
Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted