• Position Title: Project Officer- Social Cohesion
• Number of Vacancy: 1
• Duty Station: Taiz city
• Position Category:  Full-time 1    AND   Regular 1    
• Duration of Assignment: 15 months
• Deadline of the application:  05-Jan-2025

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 seeks to alleviate suffering, poverty and oppression around the world and has worked in the Middle East since the 1980s and currently has offices in Yemen, Lebanon, Palestine, Jordan, Syria, and Iraq. In response to acute and increasing humanitarian needs in Yemen, Mercy Corps opened its office in 2010. Primary program interventions include water, sanitation and hygiene, cash transfers, food security, health and nutrition, and livelihood support. Strategies to enhance the resilience of communities to the harsh environmental and social conditions in the country cut across the portfolio.

General Position Summary:

Under the supervision of the Programme Manager, the Social Cohesion Officer is responsible to contribute to direct implementation of day-to-day activities, engage local stakeholders, community members, and women and youth in Mercy Corps programming, and contributing to project recording keeping, reporting, and an active culture of organizational learning to support the successful delivery of the Social Cohesion Program. The anticipated program under this portfolio includes DRL and GIZ funding, with the opportunity for expansion in the future. Social cohesion programming will focus on partnerships with national NGOs and community-based organizations with a core focus on ensuring an equity-first partnership and supportive capacity building initiatives. The Project officer will ensure compliance of the portfolio of programs under their management in line with Mercy Corps PM@MC, global and Mercy Corps technical requirements, and donor standards. They will coordinate with the MEL and CARM team to ensure all PAQ activities are conducted as per MC standards.

Essential Job Responsibilities:

Planning and Implementation:

• Monthly, weekly and daily work planning for implementation of project that reflect detailed cost and output tracking of activities in field location.
• Directly participate/technically support in day-to-day implementation of project activities including mobilization of communities, identifying hard to reach doubly marginalized women, establishment of selection committee, trainings and mentoring conflict prevention and participants management and regularly liaise with Mercy Corps stakeholders, facilitation of community dialogue/workshops sessions, and advocacy plans.
• Provide technical support, operational and financial support for women commissions to implement action plans for small scale projects and advocacy.
• Monitor and technically support the implementation of trainings and ensure use of manuals developed as per the action plan. 
• Carries out frequent field visits to targeted districts to facilitate and supervise project activities including small scale projects.
• Contribute to ongoing conflict analysis and provide feedback to the Programme Manager on changes in local conflict dynamics and possible impact on programming.

Coordination and Reporting:

• Actively participate in sector coordination platforms, maintaining alignment with Mercy Corps’ mission and best practices.
• Represents Mercy Corps in relevant events, meetings and forums, articulates the project goals and objectives within the organization and to external audiences.
• Effectively communicate and engage with local authorities and community leaders to strengthen community ownership and secure support for project activities. Provide required inputs in regular progress reports to the donor.
• Support the Laision and follow up on the sub agreements proceedings as per requested.
• Actively coordinate internally across sections to ensure procurement plans and BVAs are developed and updated to ensure project inputs and deliverables are on scope time and budget. 
• Prepare quality reports on program activities, highlighting progress, challenges, and lessons learned, for internal and donor audiences including to the preparation of briefings, presentations and meeting agendas.
• Carefully reviews and checks the accuracy of information in work reports, management information systems, or with other individuals and groups. Checks the accuracy of one’s own and others’ work. Proactively informs management of potential risks and concerns; suggests resolutions.
• Monitor and report any new needs arising in the target project areas. 
• Ensure that all project components/activities are documented in line with PM@MC, global and Mercy Corps technical requirements, and donor standards. 
• Document lessons learned and success stories on the project.
• Other duties that are broadly in line with the above key contributions as assigned.

Capacity Building and Community Engagement:

• Actively learns about safeguarding and integrates it into their work, including safeguarding risks and mitigations related to their area of work. 
• Practices the values of Mercy Corps including respecting the dignity and well-being of participants and fellow team members. 
• Encourages openness and communication in their team; encourages team members to submit reports if they have any concerns using reporting mechanisms e.g. Integrity Hotline and other options. 
• If relevant, briefing or training any external personnel such as when working with service contractors or subaward partners. 

Monitoring and Evaluation:

• Monitor the progress of social cohesion activities, ensuring that targets and quality standards are met.
• Maintain detailed records of program activities and beneficiary feedback to inform adaptive management.
• Support with the collection of data for baseline, midline, and endline assessments, contributing to project learning and impact measurement.
• In collaboration and close coordination with PQA team ensure that set up of the community accountability reporting mechanism.

Team management and leadership:

• Support the Social Cohesion Programme Manager with supervision and technical support to the local partner and direct project activities implementation.
• Contribute to team efforts in promoting accountability, communicating expectations, and providing constructive feedback informally and formally during performance reviews.

Logistics:

• Arrange logistics in preparation of the different project activities in coordination with support staff
• Carry out administrative, logistic and other tasks as requested by the Project Manager.
• Initiate the processing of procurement needs for the social cohesion activities following Mercy Corps’ policies and procedures. 
• Develop/Update monthly and/or quarterly procurement plans.
• Regular communication with the Operations department concerning procurement of supplies or services requests.
• Ensure high-quality, locally sourced supplies that meet project needs and environmental conditions.
• Plan and oversee transportation and timely delivery of resources to project sites.
• Maintain accurate inventory records of all materials and monitor stock levels.
• Proactively address supply needs to avoid disruptions.
• Maintain logistics documentation, including procurement records and inventory logs.
• Organize distribution ensuring safety and hygiene standards.
• Prepare sites with necessary materials for smooth operations.

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.
• Keep his/her supervisor and Security Focal Point updated with regard to the security situation, and any security incidents, in the project implementation area.
• Maintain the highest standards of behavior when working with the project beneficiaries. 

Accountability to beneficiaries:

• Support efforts to ensure accountability to project participants, particularly doubly marginalized women, by incorporating their feedback and promoting equal partnership in project implementation.

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. 

Supervisory Responsibility: Monitor and follow up with Mercy Corps local partner.

Accountability 

• Reports Directly To: Programme Manager
• Works Directly With:  Social Cohesion staff and other Program Staff, Operations, Administration, HR, Security and Finance.

Knowledge and Experience:

• BA with minimum 3-6 years’ experience with good knowledge of Yemen conflict context.
• Good technical knowledge in Social cohesion, peacebuilding and good governance.
• Excellent organizational and communication skills, with fluency in Arabic and English.
• Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to build effective working relationships with community members and stakeholders.
• Experience with representation in interagency processes and with government structures.
• Good facilitation and training experience
• Ability to work under pressure.
• Strong interpersonal, intercultural and communication skills
• Effective multi-tasking, organizational capacity and prioritization skills are necessary.
• Report writing skills. 
• Intermediate computer literacy.
• Good judgment and commitment to adhere to MC policies.

Success Factors:

Ability to interact effectively with national and international stakeholders, and a demonstrated ability to multi-task, meet deadlines and process information to support adaptation of program activities. Demonstrated high professional work ethic and willingness and ability to enforce compliance with Mercy Corps and donor policies. Strong commitment to teamwork and accountability. Willing to travel to project sites in rural locations on a regular basis. Attention to detail and ability to work independently.

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 and have signed on to the  Interagency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme. By applying for this role an applicant confirms that they have not previously violated an employer’s sexual misconduct, sexual exploitation and abuse, child safeguarding or trafficking policy. 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.
As an applicant, if you witness or experience any form of sexual misconduct during the recruitment process, please report this to Mercy Corps Integrity Hotline (integrityhotline@mercycorps.org).

الصون و الأخلاق
ميرسي كور تلتزم بضمان المعاملة اللائقة واحترام جميع الأفراد اللذين نتواصل معهم من خلال عملنا, سواء كانوا أعضاء الفريق أو أعضاء المجتمع أو المشاركين في البرامج أو غيرهم.  نحن ملتزمون بالمبادئ الرئيسية المتعلقة بمنع الاستغلال والإساءة الجنسية التي وضعها الأمين العام للأمم المتحدة واللجنة الدائمة للتنسيق بين الوكالات الإنسانية (IASC)، وقد وقعنا على نظام الإفصاح المتبادل بين الجهات الفاعلة في حالة السلوك الغير اللائق. عند التقديم لهذا الدور، يؤكد المتقدم أنه لم ينتهك في السابق سياسة السلوك الجنسي، والاستغلال والإساءة جنسية، صون الأطفال، أو الاتجار بالبشر لأي جهة عمل. ميرسي كور لن تتسامح مع إساءة معاملة الأطفال أو الاستغلال الجنسي أو الإساءة أو التحرش من قبل أو بسبب أعضاء فريقنا. كجزء من التزامنا تجاه توفير بيئة عمل آمنة وشاملة, من المتوقع أن يتصرف أعضاء الفريق بطريقة مهنية, تحترم القوانين والعادات المحلية. والالتزام بسياسات وقيم مدونة قواعد السلوك الخاصة بمنظمة ميرسي كور في جميع الأوقات. كما يتطلب من جميع أعضاء الفريق إكمال دورات التعليم الإلكتروني الإلزامية لقواعد السلوك عند التوظيف وذلك بشكل سنوي.
كمتقدم للوظيفة، إذا كنت قد شهدت أو تعرضت لأي نوع من أنواع السلوك الجنسي الغير لائق خلال عملية التوظيف، يرجى الإبلاغ عن ذلك إلى خط النزاهة في منظمة ميرسي كور (integrityhotline@mercycorps.org).

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. 

Accountability To Participants

Mercy Corps team members are expected to support all efforts toward accountability, specifically to our participants and to international standards guiding international relief and development work, while actively engaging participant communities as equal partners in the design, monitoring and evaluation of our field projects.