Mercy Corps-Syria Response Office Hiring for Partnership WASH & Shelter Coordinator. at Amman, Jordan Full Time

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 solutionsinto action — helping people triumph over adversity and build stronger communities from within.Now, and for the future.

 

PROGRAM/DEPARTMENT SUMMARY:

Mercy Corps sees greater potential for impact in the response to the conflict in Syria if the strengths and contributions of both the international community and Syrian civil society groups are effectively leveraged.  Mercy Corps’ Investing in Syrian Humanitarian Action (ISHA) Project (funded primarily by BHA with limited contribution by FCDO) is designed to advise, support, and coach targeted Syrian civil society organizations to better and more efficiently serve conflict-affected communities. The project takes a demand-driven approach to capacity development, and utilizes creative methodologies for remote engagement, including both on- and off-line e-learning and broadening access to Arabic language resources for the wider Syrian humanitarian community.  This partner-centered project takes a learning-by-doing approach to providing direct financial and capacity development support to selected partners delivering humanitarian assistance in the WASH, Shelter, Distribution (NFI/voucher), Protection, and Livelihoods sectors in Syria. ISHA sits within the Syria country program as its own stand-alone project, encompassing 100% of its own team for finance, operations, M&E, program functions.

 

GENERAL POSITION SUMMARY:

The Partnership WASH & Shelter Coordinator provides technical leadership on a wide range of project activities.  S/he supports the management of sub-grants to partner organizations providing humanitarian assistance to conflict-affected communities in Syria while also providing capacity strengthening to partners related to WASH & Shelter and general project cycle management. S/he will play a critical role in the selection of ISHA partners, and will then serve as their primary focal point throughout the project lifecycle (from project design to close-out).

 

This support includes facilitating partners to design programs, develop budgets and monitoring plans and then to transition into implementation mode where they will support partners to adapt to contextual changes to ensure relevant programming through to completion. The position holder will work closely with partners to ensure smooth, efficient and effective implementation of their WASH & Shelter projects. This support includes facilitating partners to design programs, develop budgets and monitoring plans and then to transition into implementation mode where they will adapt to contextual changes to ensure relevant programming through to completion.  Key project activities in the WASH sector will include rehabilitation of damaged wells, water infrastructure, water trucking to displaced populations or vulnerable hard to reach communities, clearing rubble or garbage, rehabilitation of WASH facilities in schools, rehabilitation of sanitation/sewage system and provision of hygiene promotion sessions. In the shelter sector activities will include S&S NFIs for emergency shelter, cooking, heating, bedding and clothing in addition to minor shelter rehabilitation of houses such as doors, walls secure windows to ensure privacy, repair of sanitation facilities, basic electrical work, and debris removal.

 

A key to success will be the candidates’ ability to coordinate very closely with the rest of the ISHA team –, Finance/Compliance, Operations, and M&E to ensure that our work is in the best sequence and complimentary as possible. S/he will also proactively collaborate with other colleagues related to WASH & Shelter, to the context where partners are working or other related issues. The successful candidate will enjoy mentoring and coaching, employ a learning-by-doing approach throughout the sub-grant lifecycle, and be able to problem-solve creatively, communicate effectively, and provide feedback constructively.

 

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:

Project Management (partner level)

1. Serve as ISHA’s primary focal point with WASH & Shelter partners during modifications and negotiation processes and throughout the sub-grant lifecycle.
2. Ensure technical soundness of partners’ approaches through significant involvement in and coaching during the project design phase through to project close-out
3. In close coordination with other ISHA team members, work with WASH & Shelter partners to develop M & E plans, work plans, budgets, and other relevant programming documents that will guide project implementation.
4. Provide close monitoring and coaching of partner projects to ensure they remain relevant and feasible in the midst of contextual changes, and provide strategic advice and support throughout modifications
5. Review partner narrative reports to ensure implementation is on track, and collaborate closely with other ISHA team members to track alignment of partners’ activities with expenditures.
6. Follow up with partners on any issues that emerge from the reports, and work with them to realign or revise project plans as necessary.
7. Monitor the context (situation, security, access) of where partners work to improve the type of support that is required for their projects to remain relevant
8. Work closely with the M&E team to develop verification and independent monitoring requirements, plans, and tools
9. Work closely with the M & E team to aggregate and analyze data provided by partners to both influence programmatic decision making.
10. Coordinate with the ISHA Operations team, partner, and Mercy Corps various teams to ensure due diligence processes are followed related to partners’ activities.
11. Maintain sub-grant project files for each partner, and track submission of narrative reports and other deliverables.

 

Capacity Strengthening (to partners)

1. Lead participatory processes to identify and prioritize project cycle management, organizational development, and technical WASH & Shelter capacity strengthening needs.
2. Collaborate closely with partners and other ISHA staff to develop capacity strengthening support plans for each WASH & Shelter partners.
3. Work closely with other ISHA team members to ensure capacity strengthen activities are conducted as agreed, ensuring complementarity and cross-over of key learning messages
4. Identify, prepare, adapt and constantly refine resources, materials and tools to strengthen the capacity of local partners in WASH & Shelter and project management to ensure they are in line with global and Mercy Corps best practice.
5. Responsible for the delivery of high quality, tailored and targeted technical support to partners implementing WASH & Shelter projects.
6. Use coaching and mentoring techniques to provide on-going technical assistance to WASH & Shelter partners throughout sub-grant lifecycle and in line with agreed-upon capacity development plans.
7. Contribute to the measurement and evaluation of capacity strengthening outcomes of partners
8. Support WASH partners from ISHA 1.0 through the Graduate program

 

Partnership & Capacity Strengthening (project level)

1. Provide support to the partner selection process, from design of Call for Application and CfA tools to providing leadership during the technical scoring and justification steps
2. Support development of tools for ISHA’s Online Learning Program, primarily related to WASH & Shelter and in coordination with Mercy Corps’ WASH & Shelter Advisor and global teams, as well as DisasterReady.org
3. Contribute to the further refinement of ISHA’s partnership & capacity strengthening model and tools
4. Contribute to Mercy Corps Syria’s partnership strategy
5. Provide support to other partnership teams on some of ISHA’s best practice

 

Coordination & Collaboration

1. Contribute to Mercy Corps Syria’s strategy and approaches in the WASH & Shelter sector, including through coordination with other technical leads, advisors, etc.
2. Develop and maintain effective working relationships with all stakeholders – including NGOs, clusters, UN agencies, community based organizations, and internal Mercy Corps’ Syria and regional stakeholders to enhance cooperation and coordination.
3. Contribute to reports to donors and Mercy Corps, or the compilation of other requests for information as necessary.
4. Cheerfully carry out other duties as requested.

 

Organizational Learning:  As part of Mercy Corps’ 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. Take initiative to find required trainings/on-line learning needed to improve his/her professional performance.

Duration of assignment: 6 months.

Supervisory Resbonsibilites

None

Accountability

REPORTS DIRECTLY TO:       Partnership Program Manager

WORKS DIRECTLY WITH:     All of the ISHA team, WASH & Shelter teams at Mercy Corps Syria, Mercy Corps Syria WASH & Shelter Technical Advisor, Other Mercy Corps teams as relevant

 

KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:

• At least 5 years of experience working in a non-governmental organization (NGO) focused on humanitarian assistance, relief or development work
• Experience working with local civil society organizations to strengthen their own knowledge and processes
• Direct experience implementing, overseeing, or advising humanitarian WASH and/or Shelter programming, ideally in a humanitarian context
• Demonstrated experience with project design and delivery, monitoring and evaluation, and donor reporting required
• Commitment to local capacity building and demonstrable past experience engaging and working with local civil society organizations or community groups
• Demonstrated capacity to collaborate closely with a broad range of stakeholders in different geographic locations; experience with remote management or monitoring a plus
• Excellent facilitation skills and ability to build strong and trustful relations with partners and to adapt coaching techniques according to each peers learning style
• Knowledge of humanitarian principles, standards including SPHERE, accountability, is a must
• Demonstrated knowledge of the Syrian conflict context and understands project needs a plus
• Familiarity with the MS Office software (i.e., Word, Excel, and PowerPoint) is required
• Excellent oral and written English skills, as well as Arabic
• University Degree or higher in a relevant field
• Strong understanding of structures and processes of NGOs – including sub-grant mechanisms- required; familiarity with US government donor rules is preferred

 

SUCCESS FACTORS:

In addition to a strong technical background in WASH and/or Shelter programming, the ability to multi-task, build consensus, negotiate, and effectively communicate key information in support of changing program activities is necessary.  A willingness to creatively solve problems, juggle multiple priorities under tight deadlines, and to calmly and diplomatically deal with unexpected and sudden events impacting program operations is also essential.  S/he must be able to manager her time well, to effectively prioritize tasks and allocate appropriate amount of time and resources for completing work. Most importantly, the successful candidate is committed to mentoring and supporting- rather than monitoring and supervising- local partners. The Partnership WASH & Shelter Coordinator must be willing to travel to other Mercy Corps offices in the region as necessary (less than 10% of time). 

 

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 online learning courses upon hire and on an annual basis.