PROGRAM SUMMARY:
Mercy Corps' diverse, multi-sector portfolio in East Asia is increasingly and systematically integrating a resilience approach in its development programming. Recognizing that the Asia Region is battered by a series of interconnected and complex shocks and stresses that quickly undermine development gains, Mercy Corps has focused on how we work differently, and build capacity in people, institutions and systems, to better prepare for shocks and stresses in the short-term, while mitigating risk and exposure over the long-term. Currently Mercy Corps is testing how more dynamic and responsive markets, appropriate risk-mitigating financial services and products, climate smart ecological systems management, and disaster risk reduction capacities can enhance resilience in diverse contexts. We are also examining how to build transformative capacity, or an enabling environment marked by social inclusion and good governance, to enhance access to markets, finance and natural resources for resilience. These elements are being explored in a diverse program portfolio across seven countries in the region, including Indonesia, Mongolia, Myanmar, Nepal, Timor-Leste, China and India. Flagship programs include, the regional urban-focused Asian Cities Climate Change Resilience Network (ACCCRN), our complex USAID-funded program Promoting Agriculture, Health and Livelihoods (PAHAL) in Nepal, Managing Risk through Economic Development (M-RED) in Timor-Leste and Nepal, and the Delta III program focused on value chain development in Myanmar.
GENERAL POSITION SUMMARY:
The Resilience Research, Learning and Grants Officer will provide
technical support and backstopping for the regional resilience
initiative, with a particular focus on proposal development,
documentation and learning, and providing administrative support to the
Challenge Fund and the Community of Practice. The officer will ensure
effective administration of the Challenge Fund, including review and
short-listing of proposals, tracking program progress and facilitating
budget compliance. The Officer will also facilitate enhanced learning,
documentation and program development across the regional portfolio.
S/he will work with identified programs to assist with documentation of
best-practices, develop scopes of work for research and learning
initiatives, assist in development of case studies across the flagship
programs, and develop program proposals.
ESSENTIAL JOB RESPONSIBILITIES:
Challenge Fund and Community of Practice Administration
ACCOUNTABILITY:
REPORTS DIRECTLY TO: Regional Resilience Advisor.
WORKS DIRECTLY WITH: Country program teams, Managers of flagship program, Regional Program Team, HQ Technical Support Units, Regional M&E Officer, Regional Humanitarian Capacity-Building Coordinator, Research and Learning Team, Resilience Matrix Team.
KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:
The successful candidate will have a combination of strong research and writing skills, with proven abilities to support the administrative and practical aspects of implementing programs. S/he will have strong abilities in being able to think outside the box, multi-task, and work effectively with diverse groups of people to ensure priorities related to the regional resilience initiative can effectively move forward. S/he will be self-motivated and demonstrate initiative, with remote management support. Demonstrated comfort with being accountable to a manager who sits in a different location.
LIVING CONDITIONS/ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS:
This position is based in Jakarta, Indonesia with 50% travel to multiple field locations within East Asia, including within Indonesia. When in the field the team member will need to able to work in remote settings and possibly over weekends and/or evening as required by the schedule. Jakarta is an accompanied location suitable for families. Currently, team members can experience difficulty in securing long term work/residency visas which can complicate access to services, most notably dependent education.
Mercy Corps team members represent the agency both during and outside of work hours when deployed in a field posting or on a visit/TDY to a field posting. Team members are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner and respect local laws, customs and MC's policies, procedures, and values at all times and in all in-country venues.
Mercy Corps' diverse, multi-sector portfolio in East Asia is increasingly and systematically integrating a resilience approach in its development programming. Recognizing that the Asia Region is battered by a series of interconnected and complex shocks and stresses that quickly undermine development gains, Mercy Corps has focused on how we work differently, and build capacity in people, institutions and systems, to better prepare for shocks and stresses in the short-term, while mitigating risk and exposure over the long-term. Currently Mercy Corps is testing how more dynamic and responsive markets, appropriate risk-mitigating financial services and products, climate smart ecological systems management, and disaster risk reduction capacities can enhance resilience in diverse contexts. We are also examining how to build transformative capacity, or an enabling environment marked by social inclusion and good governance, to enhance access to markets, finance and natural resources for resilience. These elements are being explored in a diverse program portfolio across seven countries in the region, including Indonesia, Mongolia, Myanmar, Nepal, Timor-Leste, China and India. Flagship programs include, the regional urban-focused Asian Cities Climate Change Resilience Network (ACCCRN), our complex USAID-funded program Promoting Agriculture, Health and Livelihoods (PAHAL) in Nepal, Managing Risk through Economic Development (M-RED) in Timor-Leste and Nepal, and the Delta III program focused on value chain development in Myanmar.
GENERAL POSITION SUMMARY:
The Resilience Research, Learning and Grants Officer will provide
technical support and backstopping for the regional resilience
initiative, with a particular focus on proposal development,
documentation and learning, and providing administrative support to the
Challenge Fund and the Community of Practice. The officer will ensure
effective administration of the Challenge Fund, including review and
short-listing of proposals, tracking program progress and facilitating
budget compliance. The Officer will also facilitate enhanced learning,
documentation and program development across the regional portfolio.
S/he will work with identified programs to assist with documentation of
best-practices, develop scopes of work for research and learning
initiatives, assist in development of case studies across the flagship
programs, and develop program proposals.ESSENTIAL JOB RESPONSIBILITIES:
Challenge Fund and Community of Practice Administration
- Support the coordination of the Challenge Fund, including releasing the call for proposals, tracking submissions, and informing final selection.
- Identify need for technical or other assistance to country teams and work with the desk to help troubleshoot any challenges with fund release and administration.
- Provide support to the resilience Community of Practice, including administrative backstopping for face-to-face meetings, setting monthly agendas, coordinating calls and webinars.
- Facilitate review and development of products and presentations to further the learning agenda of the Regional Community of Practice that can motivate active group participation.
- Develop internal summaries, briefs and updates on the progress of the regional resilience initiative, including stories for internal newsletters.
- With support from supervisor, identify, develop, and help finalize case studies, success stories and learning briefs that demonstrate innovation, influence and impact from regional flagship resilience programs.
- Provide support in tracking opportunities across the Asia region and globally for sharing documentation and learning through networks, blogs and conferences related to core thought leadership areas.
- Help develop a roster of consultants who can provide additional support to learning and documentation where required.
- Develop dissemination plans for research, learning briefs, and thought leadership areas, including tracking conferences, speaking opportunities and media outlets.
- Support identifying and tracking resilience-related proposals with significant potential for advancing our resilience strategy, theory of change and learning agenda in the East Asia regional resilience Hub.
- Provide support in research and obtaining background information that can support proposal development; facilitate in tracking and compiling proposal documents.
- 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.
- Mercy Corps team members are expected to support all efforts towards accountability, specifically to our beneficiaries and to international standards guiding international relief and development work, while actively engaging beneficiary communities as equal partners in the design, monitoring and evaluation of our field projects.
ACCOUNTABILITY:
REPORTS DIRECTLY TO: Regional Resilience Advisor.
WORKS DIRECTLY WITH: Country program teams, Managers of flagship program, Regional Program Team, HQ Technical Support Units, Regional M&E Officer, Regional Humanitarian Capacity-Building Coordinator, Research and Learning Team, Resilience Matrix Team.
KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:
- BA or equivalent experience in international development, social science or related field.
- Three years of experience working in non-profit or related organization assisting program development, and research and development.
- Experience developing high quality concept notes and proposals for country-level and regional programs. Preferably focused on resilience.
- Demonstrated strong writing and research skills, with field monitoring and evaluation experience a plus.
- Administrative experience including verbal and written communication, multi-tasking, organizational, and prioritization skills.
- Experience developing, and tracking program report submissions.
- Ability to work both independently and collaboratively with a diverse geographically spread team.
- Microsoft Suite proficiency (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, et c.)
The successful candidate will have a combination of strong research and writing skills, with proven abilities to support the administrative and practical aspects of implementing programs. S/he will have strong abilities in being able to think outside the box, multi-task, and work effectively with diverse groups of people to ensure priorities related to the regional resilience initiative can effectively move forward. S/he will be self-motivated and demonstrate initiative, with remote management support. Demonstrated comfort with being accountable to a manager who sits in a different location.
LIVING CONDITIONS/ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS:
This position is based in Jakarta, Indonesia with 50% travel to multiple field locations within East Asia, including within Indonesia. When in the field the team member will need to able to work in remote settings and possibly over weekends and/or evening as required by the schedule. Jakarta is an accompanied location suitable for families. Currently, team members can experience difficulty in securing long term work/residency visas which can complicate access to services, most notably dependent education.
Mercy Corps team members represent the agency both during and outside of work hours when deployed in a field posting or on a visit/TDY to a field posting. Team members are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner and respect local laws, customs and MC's policies, procedures, and values at all times and in all in-country venues.
