Location: Based in Jumla (Frequent travel to Mugu and Kalikot District)

Position Status: Full-time, Regular

Salary Level: M1

Program / Department Summary

Mercy Corps is expected to begin a new program to enhance food and nutrition security, reduce future humanitarian caseload and improve the resilience of communities to recurrent shocks in the Karnali Province in Nepal, on or around October 1, 2020. The program will be a Multi-Year Emergency Food Security Activity funded by USAID's Bureau for Humanitarian Affairs, with a goal to enhance food and nutrition security, reduce future humanitarian caseload, and improve the resilience of communities to recurrent shocks in 6 districts (Mugu, Jumla, Kalikot, Surkhet, Achham, and Dailekh, with cluster hubs in Surkhet and Jumla) in the Karnali River Basin area. The new program, called BHAKARI, is somewhat built upon many of the successes of the Nepal team’s previous Food for Peace program which ended in January 2020, the PAHAL program, but with some new districts and a much heavier emphasis on emergency response. It includes program components of agriculture and market systems, disaster risk reduction, water for productive use, natural resources management, and a large emphasis on a gender and social inclusion approach, all with a highly integrated multi-sectoral approach. BHAKARI will strengthen the capacity of individuals and farmer groups to promote appropriate agriculture technologies, hence improving the food security situation in vulnerable communities of Karnali river basin. The agriculture technologies should be GESI sensitive and adaptive to shock/stresses including changing climate and disasters. BHAKARI will promote the Lead farmer/Champion farmer approach and partner with local agriculture extension service providers to ensure that smallholder farmers have access to necessary input and output services beyond the program. Program will adopt a Cash Transfer Approach, conditional or unconditional, to strengthen the coping strategies and livelihood system in target communities.

General Position Summary

The Livelihood and Agriculture Advisor will be responsible for providing technical backstopping to Mercy Corps and implementing partners to implement the Agriculture component of the program mainly in Jumla, Mugu and Kalikot. They will be directly reporting to Senior Agriculture Manager and lead the development and implement agriculture component of the program ensuring the integration with other program component i.e. DRR, Water, NRM. They will also support the design and rollout of assessments to identify agriculture technologies that are appropriate for different geographies. BHAKARI aims to develop a sustainable food security program model in an emergency situation that builds on the strong partnership with government, private and civil society. Hence the strategy and implementation plan should align with the government's agriculture and emergency food security policies and programs. The Advisor will also coordinate and collaborate with other USAID funded initiatives  including KAWAS, KISAN II and SUHAARA II and wider actors to contribute to sustainable food security systems development in the Karnali River Basin.

This position will be based in Jumla with frequent visits to Mugu, Jumla and Kalikot, and will work closely with the district/partner based Agriculture officers/technicians in the field. The Advisor, along with the Agriculture field based staff will ensure quality implementation with sound technical oversight through capacity building of local partners, coordination and technical advice to strengthen the program. As gender and social inclusion (GESI), resilience, governance and M&E are cross cutting and core components of the Bhakari program, the Advisor is required to own these components and ensure GESI sensitivity and integration, resilience, governance practices and M&E systems are integrated into the agriculture component.

Essential Job Responsibilities

Strategy and Planning

• Together with the Senior Agriculture Manager, develop agriculture technical strategy paper for the Bhakari program, elaborating the vision initially laid out in the proposal. Set a clear vision for the response, working closely with field leadership.
• Support the Senior Agriculture Manager to develop detailed program work plans, approaches and relevant tools based on Bhakari overall strategy (theory of change, pathways, approaches) for agriculture; agribusiness; climate change adaptation; and natural resource management (NRM).
• Develop program(s) agriculture input and voucher implementation strategies, including partnership frameworks, shock and stressor triggers, program participants targeting and distribution process.
• Support the assessment, design, authorization of all agriculture and food security interventions for Bhakari, that includes oversee farmers group mobilization and strengthening; establishment of weather and climate information system, strengthening of capacity on business development service providers, implementation of integrated community action plans, mainstreaming of community action plans into the development planning process of the local governments.
• Oversee and lead all market studies/assessments, workshops, training and orientation programs and formal/informal interactions with program participants, partners and stakeholders.
• Together with Senior Agriculture Manager, develop standard operating guidelines (SOG) for use of field staff and partners for each of the major interventions of agriculture (i.e. Climate Smart Agriculture, High Value Crops, Animal husbandry etc)
• Ensure Agriculture activities, approaches and tools fit within country and regional strategies, as well as USAID goals and national government agriculture development policies and frameworks.
• Support resilience integration in design, recognize opportunities for innovative action and create an environment where alternative viewpoints are welcomed.
• Ensure that program implementation is responsive to communities and partners, and consistent with Mercy Corps’ relevant program guidelines, principles, values, quality standards and strategic plan.

Program Implementation

• Oversee work planning and implementation of Bhakari’s agriculture, food security and nutrition strategy including operationalizing sequencing, layering and integration of activities and, design risk informed work plans, standard operating procedures.
• Ensures the district implementing partners fully understand the program areas of implementation.
• Coordinate and collaborate with different thematic lead to ensure that the program strategies are designed and implemented in an integrated manner.
• Facilitate and support the district implementing partners to fully implement the program activities on the ground.
• Work with the district implementing partners to ensure they fully take ownership for the program and support them to build relationships with both local and government sector collaborating agencies and departments.
• Support teams to conduct systemic vulnerability and risk assessments, analyze data and utilize findings on an on-going basis to inform and adapt program design/approaches.
• Ensure that program participants are effectively targeted according to established vulnerability criteria, and that feedback mechanisms are in place. 
• Ensure program implementation is on time, target and budget, using effective M&E systems to reach desired impacts.
• Ensure GESI and humanitarian principles are owned by the implementing partners and cluster teams and implemented accordingly.
• Monitor program activities on a regular basis to ensure timely and effective program implementation.
• Ensure monitoring of field activities to be on time, target and budget, and propose recommendations for improvements.
• Ensure all interventions adhere to Mercy Corps’ Code of Conduct; Gender, Diversity and Inclusion guiding documents; Core Humanitarian Principles and Do No Harm
• Fulfill Mercy Corps’ Program Management Minimum Standards- based on the organization-wide guide. Monitoring, Evaluations, and Learning (MEL) and Reporting
• Together with the Senior Agriculture Manager and M&E team, design the measurement and analysis of agriculture key performance indicators to inform strategic decision making and embed resilience measurement into monitoring, evaluation, research and learning framework and tools.
• Coordinate closely with the Monitoring, Evaluation, Learning and Reporting (MERL) team to generate and collect required information and data for measuring program intervention results.
• Support team to establish functional CARM systems, and engage closely with the program’s collaboration,
• Actively engage in learning and adapting (CLA) processes to practice quality adaptive management.
• Support implementing partners to generate weekly updates, quality progress reports and documents that capture program learning, good practices and success stories.
• Ensure that innovative approaches, good practices, challenges, and positive results are documented to support agency learning.

Influence and Representation

• Utilize personal knowledge, connections, and skills to build sustainable and productive relationships with and between diverse key stakeholders from the public, private and civic sectors.
• Build partnerships and good working relationship with consortium partners, sub-grantees, local governments, other USAID implementing partners (i.e. Tayar program, KAWAS program) and other stakeholders to leverage technical and financial resources to scale-up or replicate good practices promoted by the program.
• As required by the program management, represent the agency at both district and province levels.
• In coordination with Cluster Coordinator and District Coordinators, represent the program to local government officials, humanitarian clusters, AIN forums, civil society/community leaders, political parties and other key stakeholders.
• Ensure close coordination and information sharing with local implementing partners, local government and other implementers, as well as with other Mercy Corps programs
• Establish and maintain professional and productive relationships with communities and local government.

Security

• Ensure compliance with security procedures and policies as determined by country leadership.
• Proactively ensure that team members and community operate in a secure environment and are aware of policies.

Accountability to Program Participants

• Mercy corps 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 participating communities as equal partners in the design, monitoring and evaluation of our field projects.
• 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.

Others

• Mercy Corps as a humanitarian agency is expected to respond as and when crisis and humanitarian situation engulfs. As an MC employee all staff are expected to be part of humanitarian and emergency response in addition to their regular roles and responsibilities.
• Create and sustain a work environment of mutual respect where team members strive to achieve excellence.
• Conduct themselves both professionally and personally in such a manner as to bring credit to Mercy Corps and not to jeopardize its humanitarian mission.
• Other duties as assigned by their supervisor and or Country Director.

Supervisory Responsibility: Technically supervises District Coordinators, Component Advisors and Officers in the Cluster based staff

Reports Directly to: Senor Agriculture Manager based in Surkhet

Works Directly with: Technical Advisors, Officers; and Partnership Manager, Cluster Office’s Finance, and Operations unit, District Implementing Partners in collaboration with District Coordinators

Knowledge and Experience

• At least Bachelor degree in Agriculture
• At least 3-5 years of experience working with I/NGOs, and/or private sector organizations focused on agriculture and livelihood development. Experience in Karnali will be an advantage.
• Experience of working with local implementing partner and community based approach
• Strong community capacity building, development and facilitation skills.
• Experience of working in partnerships, coordination among different stakeholders and organizations at district/province/national level is required.
• Experience in food security in an emergency context, cash and voucher programming, social protection, and SBCC will be an added advantage.
• Demonstrated ability to work in tough geographies with limited facilities, complex environments and under tight deadlines.
• Good writing and computer skills, including preliminary research and information gathering from the internet, MS Word, Excel and PowerPoint preparation are required.
• Fluency in written and spoken English and Nepali required.
• Effective writing skills to prepare reports, complete analyses and make presentations.
• Negotiation, networking, advocacy, coordination and representation skills with key local actors is preferred
• Ability to work effectively with an ethnically diverse team in a sensitive environment.
• Proven ability to learn quickly, facilitate program implementation to achieve stated results and objectives;

Success Factors

The successful Cluster Coordinators will combine serious professional management/coordination skills and experience in the field either of food security, disaster risk reduction, emergency response/assistance, M&E, cash and voucher programming, and SBCC as well as in building and maintaining government, community and partner relationships. They will have proven ability to learn quickly, take initiative, and be accountable for results, with an ability and willingness to remain mobile for field support and activity monitoring based on programmatic needs. They will have an ability to think creatively about contributing directly and measurably to program approaches, and have experiences in both community mobilization and government engagement. They will have proven experience with diverse teams and capacity building, individual staff development, and strong mentoring skills. Multi-tasking, prioritizing, problem solving and simultaneous attention to detail as well as strategic vision are essential. 

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. 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 e-learning courses upon hire and on an annual basis. Mercy Corps is a leading global organization powered by the belief that a better world is possible. In a 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. Mercy Corps works in more than 40 countries, and has been present in Nepal since 2005. In Nepal, Mercy Corps works to build the absorptive, adaptive, and transformative potential of vulnerable individuals and communities across the country.

Shortlisting will be done on the basis of your answers while applying, please answer the questions carefully. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. Telephone enquiries will not be entertained.