Field Coordinator - Karenga (Internal Advert)

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.

APOLOU IMPLEMENTATION

Program / Department Summary

 The Field Coordinator will play a key coordination role with the Kaabong Office in the implementation of Apolou/RCF programs in Karenga district. The $41 million USAID Food for Peace Activity (Apolou) and the $5 million USAID Resilience Challenge Fund (RCF) Activity support Agriculturalists, Agro-pastoralists, and pastoralist households living across the districts of Amudat, Kotido, Kaabong, Karenga, and Moroto in Karamoja.

Apolou’s goal is to “Improve the overall food and nutrition security of vulnerable households in Kaabong, Kotido, Moroto and Amudat districts within the Karamoja region,” and has major 4 objectives as follows:

1. Inclusive and effective governance contributes to food and nutrition security
2. Adolescent girls, Pregnant and Lactating Women, and Children under 5 are nutritionally secure
3. Reduced incidences of WASH related diseases
4. Improved livelihoods and income support household food security

The RCF program works in the districts of Kaabong and Amudat, with the goal to “Improve the veterinary governance and increase public and private investment in disease prevention, surveillance, control and response systems to strengthen productive assets for improved resilience in Karamoja.” RCF has the following objectives:

1. Increased domestic resource allocation into animal health services in Karamoja
2. Central and local government develop animal health services capacity-strengthening plan for the Karamoja region
3. Disease control plan for economically prioritized diseases (PPR and FMD) developed and implemented
4. Private sector animal health development strategy developed and rolled out

General Position Summary

The Field Coordinator (FC) will be responsible and accountable to oversee that all programmatic activities are performed in target communities, using an “adaptive” management approach within the district they are responsible for. The Field Coordinator will manage the team, mentoring the Program Officers / Assistants, to adopt an approach that mobilizes and adapts to the needs of different community platforms. The focus of the Implementation Team will be to develop core capacities of community group leaders, and systemic support structures of government extension agents and bodies, as well as the surrounding private sector. Through this approach, the Apolou/RCF Activities intends to sustainably strengthen the capacity of communities, supported by a functioning and responsive government and private sector support system.  The IM will work closely with the Technical Team to implement high quality activities in governance, health/nutrition, WASH and Livelihoods, as well as work closely with the Gender & Youth, MEL, and Program Quality and Partnerships teams. The coordinator will be responsible to ensure that high quality activities are implemented on scope and budget within their district

The Field Coordinator will be the focal point representing the program in their individual districts with government and other civil society platforms and will be supervised by the Implementation Director who will be the senior focal point for relationships with government and other civil society representation.

Essential Job Responsibilities

Strategy & Vision

• Support the Implementation Director in executing the vision and strategy for the program.
• Play an active role in identifying and developing initiatives that foster or improve strategic objectives of the program and the country office.

Program Management

• Ensure efficient and effective running of a field office. He/she is responsible directly for all program functions in the office – procurement, administration, logistics, security, HR, program support personnel (excluding finance) will report to DITL but will receive technical support from the DITL in Kaabong.
• Organize and conduct monthly staff meeting for the team in Karenga and ensures that it is functioning in participatory, transparent, and accountable manner.
• 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.
• Work closely with local government to ensure that he/she provide updates on a regular basis to bring them on board as active partners to the program.
• Assist staff in understanding their roles and responsibilities in terms of interaction with the various departments. This may include trainings, coordination meetings, and necessary planning activities to ensure effective and timely program implementation.
• Work with the DITL of Kaabong to ensure program strategies and activities represent global good practice in market facilitation, health & nutrition, WASH, and governance.
• With the DITL of Kaabong, ensure program staff as well as sub-grantees adhere to USAID monitoring and evaluation requirements and that data analyzed is used to inform programming through adaptive management approaches. Support the CoP where necessary in donor reporting.
• Represent Mercy Corps in high level meetings, workshop, seminars in collaboration with district local government and other high-level stakeholders in Karenga
• Promote accountability, coordination, quality, and a sense of urgency with activity implementation.
• Acts as the Security Focal Point for Karenga district

Team Management

• Manages and supervises all field teams in Karenga field office
• Fully accountable for the oversight of field teams, including their capacity development and their facilitative and adaptive approach to communities.
• Assist team members with information, tools, and resources to improve performance & reach objectives.
• Responsible for communication between staff of Karenga and Kaabong
• Create and sustain a work environment of mutual respect where team members strive to achieve excellence.

 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.

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.

OPERATIONAL MANAGEMENT

Finance, & Operations Management

• Ensure compliance with donor and Mercy Corps regulations related to programming and operations
• With the support of the Operations Director ensure adequate operational systems are in place, with particular emphasis on logistics to ensure these are optimally used and develops greater team synergy
• Strictly follow Mercy Corps Fraud and Corruption Prevention guidelines.
• Ensure that there is good coordination between Kaabong and Karenga in terms of weekly movement plans, SWAP etc to avoid waste of resources hence promoting effective implementation of activities

Influence & Representation

• Represent Mercy Corps at government, donor, NGO, and other relevant events, in close coordination and consultation with the DITL of Kaabong.
• Coordinate activities with consortium partners that are present in Karenga including subgrantees, local government and other implementers, as well as with other Mercy Corps programs.

 Security

• In coordination with the Operations team in Kaabong, collect and inform staff of the security situation in Karenga and ensure that team members are safe while in the field.
• Provide daily security update to staff before they leave for field activities. Ensure that programs are designed and implemented with a clear analysis and understanding of security.

Supervisory Responsibility

The FC will be responsible for managing the implementation team and technical teams, working closely to ensure that all program activities are implemented on time, with high quality, and ensuring that an adaptive management system is instituted. This will entail direct supervision of Program Officers/Assistants as well as technical officers within their district. The Field coordinator will remain in close coordination with the partners including the CSOs, Whave and Save the Children.

Accountability

Reports Directly To: District Implementation Team Lead - Kaabong

Works Directly With: Program Officers, Program Assistants, Technical officers.

Knowledge and Experience

• A Degree or equivalent in Social Sciences, Management, International Development, or relevant field [include technical fields as per program].
• A minimum of 3 years of experience working with Mercy Corps
• Prior experience in managing USAID DFAP programs is preferred.
• Strong skills and a track record in strategic visioning, leadership, and inspiring teams.
• Effective personnel management, coordination, and decision-making skills, with proven ability to be accountable for all components of the program.
• Competent in building networks, strong problem-solving skills, and ability to influence with effective listening, persuasion, negotiation, and other techniques.
• Strong understanding of USAID/FFP compliance issues.
• Persuasive written and oral communication in English, including report writing.
• Demonstrated technical expertise in one or more of the sectors described above.
• Experience of the geographical location of the job is a requirement.
• Demonstrated attention to detail, ability to follow procedures, meet deadlines and work independently and cooperatively with team members.

Success Factors

The successful FC will combine strong management skills and experience in maintaining staff and partner relationships. S/he will have an ability to develop, implement and manage innovative programs within the current and future program structure of Mercy Corps in the region. S/he will also have proven experience with cross-cultural teams and capacity building, individual staff development, and strong mentoring skills. Multi-tasking, prioritizing, problem solving and simultaneous attention to detail are essential.  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.

Living Conditions / Environmental Conditions

The Field Coordinator will be based in Karenga district within the Karamoja region. Staff have access to basic services – medical, electricity, water, etc. However, recreational facilities are limited. This position requires travel within the district and in the Karamoja region (50%) and occasional travel to Kampala by road and internal flights to field offices in often-insecure environments.

Mercy Corps team members represent the agency both during and outside work hours when deployed in a field posting or on a visit/short term assignment 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 always and in all in-country venues.

Closing date for applications: February 14^th 2022