DEPUTY CHIEF OF PARTY DFAP

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.

Program / Department Summary

Mercy Corps has been operating in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) since August 2007, with a staff of approximately 300 people working in North and South Kivu Provinces. Mercy Corps’ national office is in Goma with a provincial office in Bukavu, field offices in Masisi, Kitchanga, Beni, Kiwanja (North Kivu), Kavumu, and Katana (south Kivu). Current Mercy Corps activities focus on the provision of Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) in urban settings. Mercy Corps also implements Food Security, Economic Recovery/ Development programs, with an increasing shift towards transitional and integrated development programming. The DRC team has a strong commitment to providing entrepreneurial and innovative solutions to development challenges, and is actively seeking and facilitating market-based solutions.

Mercy Corps is currently implementing in Kabare and Kalehe territories - province of South Kivu a Development Food Assistance Program (DFAP) funded through the USAID office of Food for Peace. The program "USAID-South Kivu Food Security Project” (FSP - Enyanya) covers a 5-years period (October 2016-September 2021). FSP is implemented by Mercy Corps in consortium with World Vision and Harvest Plus. In addition, two local organizations are associated to the initiative: the association APC and the Evangelical University in Africa. The program aims to ensure that vulnerable households and communities in the targeted areas improve their food and nutrition security and economic well-being. This goal is accomplished through strategic objectives (Purposes) primarily targeting women and youth, and focusing on agricultural livelihoods and market integration (P1), maternal/child Health and Nutrition-MCHN (P2), and effective Governance (P3). The program will reach more than 210,000 participants.

General Position Summary

The Deputy Chief of Party will work closely with the Chief of Party (COP) to oversee the implementation of the FSP food security strategy (in particular its resilience component) and to carry out the technical oversight and management functions of the FSP-Enyanya Food Security Project implemented in a consortium of five NGOs. S/he will be in charge with ensuring that all technical sectors work together to create multiple effects across and between sectors. S/he will provide strategic oversight and technical guidance to, and resolve challenges in implementation of, cross-sectoral activities reflective of the program's theory of change and logical framework and relevant work plans. S/he will work closely with the Chief of Party to guarantee performance, efficiency and integrity in program delivery and ensure that project activities are of high quality, adhere to Food for Peace technical guidance and best practices. S/he will continually involve in monitoring program tasks and activities against goals to ensure the project is on scope, on budget and on time and will maintain and implement systems to ensure high quality program implementation and grant management in accordance with standards. S/he will lead and coordinate all donor reporting deliverables, including annual reports and annual resources requests.

In coordination with the DMEL department, the DCOP will also promote learning and innovation and ensure that DMEL feedbacks feed in the program interventions. This includes promoting evidence-based actions, building staff capacity, particularly in relation with households and community resilience to shock and stresses. S/he will integrate quality monitoring protocols into program implementation, document lessons learned, challenges and develop plans for corrective actions.

Essential Job Responsibilities
Strategy & Vision

• Recognize opportunities for innovative action and create an environment where alternative viewpoints are welcomed.
• Prioritize and organize actions & resources to achieve FSP objectives, based on the program Theory of Change and logframe.
• Contribute to strengthen Mercy corps’ position as a key development actor in DRC

Program Management

• Oversee the implementation of Mercy Corps field activities, ensure activities are on time, on scope and on budget and support the Purposes’ Managers as necessary in the execution of their tasks.
• Ensure that overall technical quality of implementation remains consistent and of high quality among all of the sub-awardees and different implementation locations of FSP and carried out according to their workplans; identify the obstacles to activity implementation and in coordination with the COP propose corrective measures when applicable.
• Work closely and in coordination with Mercy Corps Technical Units in USA, establishing a strong working relationship with HQ staff to support program implementation.
• Create and maintain systems ensuring effective and transparent use of financial resources for timely and informative reporting in line with donor and Mercy Corps policies and procedures.
• Support development and implementation of program policies, protocols and systems.
• Ensure detailed program implementation plans are continuously updated and support Purpose Managers in the preparation of quarterly technical working group meetings.
• Draft and/or review scope of work to hire and manage technical consultants as needed.

Program Quality

• Ensure that FSP activities implemented under each Purpose are integrated together to leverage impact and lead to the lasting changes/transformation desired as per the program Theory of change.
• Work with the FSP DMEL Department and Program Managers to integrate quality, gender-sensitive monitoring processes into program implementation.
• Participate to the elaboration of inclusive program selection criteria that takes into consideration the needs of different vulnerable groups, and in collaboration with the DMEL Team contribute to the beneficiary selection processes to ensure that these criteria are followed.
• Plan and conduct regular field monitoring visits, document successes and challenges and develop action plans for corrective actions as necessary.
• Identify best practices and innovations from similar projects within and outside of Mercy Corps and make recommendations for inclusion into FSP.
• Ensure that program information shared with stakeholders is presented in languages, formats and media that are appropriate for, accessible to, and can be understood by the target population.
• In support of the Mercy Corps DRC Community Accountability Response Mechanism, promote the implementation of the highest standards of humanitarian accountability.

Resilience

• Play a key leadership role for the implementation of the FSP resilience strategy to prevent/respond to identified shocks and stress in the program communities and support (build capacities of) Purpose Managers for the integration of the approach and activities across the three Purposes.
• Develop and maintain collaboration with the Mercy Corps Resilience Advisors based at HQ to feed the program strategy with innovative and evidence based practices and share the FSP key lessons learned across the organization to strengthen Mercy Corps’ position of influential actor.
• Ensure communication of resilience success stories to raise FSP’s leadership profile in resilience.
• Identify needs and coordinate support to further establish resilience knowledge and capacity, systems and processes across the consortium

Grant management

• Lead and coordinate the elaboration of all donor reports, including quarterly and annual reports; and resources requests (PREP).
• Coordinate with FSP DMEL Manager to ensure all data is available in due time to fulfill reporting requirements, including but not limited to, responding to information requests, supporting the fulfillment of donor M&E requirements, monitoring and reporting on FSP program impact.
• Build capacity of FSP-Mercy Corps managers and program staff in program management and tools and processes.
• Ensure compliance with all minimum program management standards as well as complex program management standards.
• Maintain up to date at all times hard and soft program file folder up to date as per standard.

Finance & Compliance Management

• Ensure compliance with donor and Mercy Corps regulations.
• Work with the Program and Finance Manager for budget revision or projections in line with the program work plan
• Assist the COP in the preparation of the annual budgets that identify key deliverables and required resources

Team and Talent Management

• Ensure that the FSP – Mercy Corps Managers (and their team members as applicable) receive the necessary inductions / training to carry out their duties.
• In collaboration with the HR Department, develop teams’ skills and capacities and assist with career development.
• Create and sustain a work environment of mutual respect where team members strive to achieve excellence.
• Provide team members with information, tools and other resources to improve performance and reach objectives.
• Promote accountability, communicate expectations and regularly provide constructive feedback informally and formally via regular one on ones and performance reviews (based on established performance expectations)
• Conduct the annual performance reviews for her/his direct reports, and ensure the performance management cycle is efficiently carried out within the relevant departments under her/his supervision.
• Assist with the hiring and orientation of new team members as necessary.

Influence & Representation

• Act as day-to-day representative of Mercy Corps to organizations as requested by the COP, including attending key internal and external meetings.
• Ensure collaborative partnerships with consortium partners and other stakeholders.
• Communicate effectively to ensure overall project targets and donor obligations are met.

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.

Supervisory Responsibility

• Mercy Corps Program Managers (Agriculture Manager, MCHN & WASH Manager, Governance Manager, SBCC Manager, Gender & Youth Advisor)

Accountability

Reports Directly To: FSP Chief of Party

Works Directly With: other FSP Managers (MEL Manager, Food Commodity Manager and Finance Manager) and Sub-awardees Project Managers

Knowledge and Experience

The successful candidate will have a strong expertise in the technical areas of agriculture and value chains, MCHN, WASH, Governance and conflict resolution, along with outstanding skills in leading technical teams and working within a consortium of international and local NGOs.


Required skills

• An advanced degree (PhD or Master) in a relevant technical discipline plus a minimum of five years’ experience in food security, or a bachelor degree with a minimum of seven years of relevant experience, preferably within a Food for Peace program.
• Prior management of USAID funded-programs required. Previous management experience on Title II, DFAP, or MYAP programming is also required.
• Proven leadership skills and demonstrated experience in recruiting, managing and developing staff.
• Demonstrated ability to build and maintain relationships with host governments, donors, other donor-funded projects and stakeholders, local organizations, and partners.
• Experience managing programmatic and financial reporting requirements.
• Fluent English and advanced/fluent French are required
• Experience in fragile context, including exposure to gender, protection, and conflict mitigation
• Ability to multi-task and to work in a moderate to high levels of insecurity
• Demonstrated proficiency with the MS Office software (i.e., Word, Excel, PowerPoint) is required
• Proven ability to work effectively in multi-cultural teams and with technical and administrative staff
• Excellent communication skills

Success Factors

The successful candidate will be a team player, dedicated to team success and staff empowerment and will demonstrate excellent communication skills. S/he will have an ability to work with autonomy, take initiative in tasks and self-learning, and be proactive in communications and development of professional relationships.

S/he will be able to live and work closely with a diverse team of individuals in an intense and fluid work and security environment with demonstrated sensitivity to the people and issues in the region. S/he will demonstrate exceptional interpersonal, relationship and cross-cultural communication skills especially in high stress environments.

S/he will be committed to the values and mission of Mercy Corps; have the ability to creatively problem-solve, to juggle multiple priorities under tight deadlines and to calmly and diplomatically deal with unexpected and sudden events impacting program operations with patience, dynamism and tenacity.

Living Conditions / Environmental Conditions

The position is based in Bukavu, South-Kivu, Democratic Republic of Congo and it requires up to 30% travel to field locations in Kabare and Kalehe territories. The position is unaccompanied. Shared accommodation will be provided in Bukavu. The position is eligible to R&R.

Bukavu is a provincial capital of over 1,500,000 inhabitants. Living in Bukavu is comfortable, although water and electricity can be unstable. Outside Bukavu, travel can be dangerous and unpredictable due to armed forces and rebel activity. While conditions in the country are improving, and security is quite stable in Bukavu, there are still pockets of violence and insecurity. Mercy Corps' sub-offices experience variable levels of insecurity. Air travel is necessary to get from one end of the country to the other. Mobile phones and cellular service are widely available. Internet is available in all Mercy Corps offices. Travel to field sites will be required where living conditions are clean and secure, but basic. There are a number of health services available with evacuation options for serious illnesses. There is reasonable access to most consumer goods.

Mercy Corps team members represent the agency both during and outside 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.