Location: Dependent on the location of the response - Surkhet, Dhangadhi or Nepalganj

Position Status: Full-time, Regular (initially for three months, with the possibility of extension)

Salary Level: O1

Current Team Member: N/A

POSITION CONTINGENT ON FUNDING TO BE SECURED

Program / Department Summary 

Mercy Corps is anticipating a response programme to support children to resume their education in the time of natural disasters with the objective of Building the Resilience of Children through Continued Learning in Emergencies. The program will be a short term response for three months with possibility of extension and will be implemented in disaster affected areas in either Lumbini, Karnali and/or Sudurpaschim provinces, depending on the location of the response. The key targeted group and beneficiaries under the anticipated programme are hard-to-reach and vulnerable students who are at risk of dropping out of/not returning to school in the aftermath of a disaster if their education is disrupted from any one or more of the three potentially targeted provinces.

Under the anticipated programme, MC will also work with teachers and School Management Committees (SMCs) to build their capacities to operate temporary learning centres (TLCs) and continue teaching children whose education has been disrupted in the event of a disaster. In collaboration with local and provincial government officials MC will work to improve coordination with the education cluster, and build their capacities to improve recovery of the education sector after a disaster. The response programme will also support local governments to develop emergency education action plans and SOPs. The programme will also work with other stakeholders to encourage children to return to school, or participate in TLCs/temporary home-based learning activities, and engage in community outreach activities on education, WASH and protection, and raise their awareness of available protection and psychosocial support services. 

General Position Summary

The Program Officer will work under the supervision of the Emergency Response manager and in close coordination with Program Manager and local implementing partners. The Program Officer, under the leadership of Emergency Program Manager, is primarily responsible for leading field implementation of the response activities and support-implementing partners in the districts to ensure emergency response is implemented according to the humanitarian principles and standards. They will provide support to the partner and local stakeholders to the partners for timely and quality implementation of Education response interventions. They will work closely with the partner team based in different district to make collaborative responses along with other stakeholders by undertaking information from rapid need assessment and regular monitoring. The position will be based in field (Dhangadhi, Nepalganj or Surkhet, depending on the location of the emergency response) with intensive travel to districts of Lumbini, Karnali and/or Sudurpaschim Proviences. 

They will work closely with M&E officers including Safeguarding and Community Accountability and Reporting Mechanism (CARM) focal points. Moreover, as gender equality and social inclusion (GESI), child safeguarding, and environmental sensitivity are cross-cutting and core components of the all MC programs, they are required to ensure these components are integrated into the response interventions. As gender equality and social inclusion (GESI) and good governance are crucial cross-cutting components of the MC programs, the Program Officer is required to own these components and ensure GESI sensitivity and integration, and good governance practices in their day to day functions and team. 

Essential Job Responsibilities 

The specific duties and responsibilities of the Program Officer include, but are not limited to, the following:

Staying abreast on Industry Innovation and Best Practices

• Conduct themselves both professionally and personally in such a manner as to bring credit to Mercy Corps and to not jeopardize its humanitarian mission.
• Ensure proper integration of GESI aspects into program planning and implementation. 
• 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.
• Other duties as assigned by the direct Supervisor. 

Protection & Safeguarding Activities – Design & Implementation

• Provide technical leadership in education, safeguarding and protection to activities under the response program and the greater MC portfolio of programs, as required.
• Play a lead role in maintaining and reviewing the Mercy Corps’ emergency implementation plan for continuation of education, safeguarding and protection of children as per need.
• Lead the distribution of learning materials in close coordination with partners and local governments for reaching out most vulnerable group of children.
• Facilitate workshops, training and orientation to Teachers, Volunteers, Partners and Local government for Education in emergencies
• Strengthen Community Feedback and Complaints Mechanisms on safeguarding and raise awareness of these to schools and stakeholders including children.
• Coordinate the dissemination of safeguarding policies and procedures to the implementing partners and stakeholders.
• Provide checks and balances on all MC’s Communication products to ensure safeguarding protocols are adhered to.
• Work closely with the CARM Focal person and Monitoring and Data management officer to come up with reporting mechanisms on safeguarding & Protection issues.
• Conduct referral mapping for GBV, Safeguarding and mental health, including suicide prevention for children, parents and teacher as need.
• Represent the organization in cluster meetings and other external meetings related to Education and protection Provincial and District Level.
• Prepare weekly update and monthly reports for submission to the line manager

Monitoring and Data Management Responsibilities

• Responsible for ensuring effective monitoring and reporting of program deliverables in coordination with Monitoring and Data Management officer
• Support Monitoring and Data Management Officer to ensure quality of data reported and verify all data and information from sources.
• Support M&E team to coordinate and oversee data collection during activity to ensure adherence to formats and requirements.
• Conduct activity spot check and compile monthly spot checks and unstructured interviews of overall programme staff 

Documentation Management

• Support to Compile activity report from the partner in time for donor’s monthly reporting 
• Ensure proper documentation of (soft and hard copies) of tools, reports, data, manuals, guidelines, media report, visibility items, agreements, MoUs and any other relevant documents 
• Ensure the data provided by the implementation team are accurate – spot checks, triangulation and report to the team on any identified discrepancies
• Support M&E team to ensure all the reports, data, manuals, guidelines, media reports/visibility items, agreements, MoUs, and any other relevant documentations are stored in soft and hard copies with proper filing and organisation

Finance & Compliance Management 

• Ensure all internal control procedures are adhered to and that necessary measures are put in place to ensure high standards of accountability and compliance.
• Work closely with finance/compliance to mitigate fraud, conflict of interest and legal ramifications of Mercy Corps activities.
• Support and orient on MC Code of Ethics and uphold Mercy Corps’ Zero tolerance of corruption policy.

Security 

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

Data Privacy and Security

• Adhere to the data privacy and security policy of Mercy Corps.
• Maintain a system of data sharing and storing considering the sensitivity and privacy of data.

Accountability to Beneficiaries 

• Mercy Corps team members are expected to support all efforts toward 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.
• 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.

Supervisory Responsibility: N/A

Accountability 

Reports Directly to: Emergency Response Manager

Works Directly with: Program Manager and Partners’ Project Team.

Knowledge and Experience 

• Bachelor’s degree required in a field related to education, social science, disaster management and/or relevant technical certifications. 
• Minimum 2 years of experience in one or more of the following areas: 

1. Humanitarian response program or program that has include disaster management or response when as required. 
2. Demonstrable track record in training and workshop facilitation for partner, schools and local government to manage larger response program.
3. Experience in quantitative and qualitative data collection (M&E methods) and data analysisd) Demonstrating strong theoretical and applied knowledge of minimum humanitarian standard i.e. Sphere, INEE, Education in Emergencies, Child protection in Emergencies. 
4. Distribution of NFRI, learning materials and other emergencies supplies in humanitarian sectors. 

• Demonstrated ability to work in complex environments under tight deadlines. 
• Have experience in designing and implementing larger distribution, conducting post distribution monitoring and rapid need assessment. 
• 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 English is required. 
• Ability to work effectively with an ethnically diverse team in a sensitive environment. 

Success Factors 

Above and beyond all, the desire to help improve Mercy Corps’ programs and ultimately to help the people we are working with is the most important factor of success..” The nature of the Program Officer requires building consensus and being seen as adding value to project team efforts in order to be effective. A demonstrated ability to work quickly and accurately, meet deadlines and process information in support of changing program activities is necessary. In order to succeed, the Program Officer will need to be flexible and creative, believe strongly in accountability and transparency, and possess a strong sense of research ethics, including sensitivity towards people we are collecting data from and a desire for accuracy. Knowledge of –and passion for – the sectors in which Mercy Corps works (agriculture, microfinance, food security, youth, disaster management, natural resource management, climate change adaptation), as well as the ability to learn and adapt to new technological platforms, will also contribute to success.

The most successful Mercy Corps staff 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.

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

Organizational 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.

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.

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.