District Coordinator

District Coordinator

Job Category: Programming
Requisition Number: DISTR005268
Locations: Kathmandu, NPL

Job Details

Description

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. Mercy Corps has been operating in Nepal since 2005, implementing programs in food security, agriculture, market development, financial services, youth engagement, climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction. We take a systems-based approach in our programming, with the aim of improving the lives and potential of vulnerable individuals and communities across Nepal.

Program / Department Summary

World Food Program (WFP) Nepal as a lead/prime organization in partnership with Mercy Corps and other partners is going to implement a four-year School Feeding Program funded by USDA/Food for Education. In the consortium, Mercy Corps provides strategic leadership for program’s two of the sub-activities ‘Local Purchase of Food: Hybrid Food Basket’ and ‘Home Grown School Feeding: Technical Assistance Post-Hand Over’.

The aim of the Mercy Corps’ interventions is to facilitate the development of a fully sustainable and locally managed food system for schools. This includes designing and implementing the strategy and detailed roadmap for schools to self-manage a cash-based program where they locally procure and manage relationships and contracts with local producers, cooperatives and suppliers to supply appropriate and necessary school meal food items during relevant timeframes. The program activities will link school feeding programs to smallholder farmers, farmer’s cooperatives, school management, community groups and local government to enhance the program’s long-term sustainability. The target area of the program covers five districts in the Sudurpachhim Province (Darchula, Bajhang, Doti, Achham, and Bajura) and one district in the Karnali Province (Jajarkot).

General Position Summary

The District Coordinator will work under the supervision of the Field Manager/Agriculture Specialist and in close coordination with the Program Manager, Procurement Specialist, MEL Specialist and local implementing partners.

The District Coordinator (DC) will be directly responsible for implementation and monitoring of the project activities in the designated district. In the process, s/he will be required to work closely with project implementing partners and relevant stakeholders in order to ensure that the expected results are achieved effectively and on time. The DC will also be responsible for meeting reporting requirements and adhering to deadlines and serve as Mercy Corps’ primary liaison at the district level. S/he will also be directly responsible for partnership management for the district they are based in (Local NGO).

S/he must be a dynamic and effective person and motivated by finding new solutions and working in a positive, team-oriented way. S/he be responsible for supporting the development and implementation of a fully sustainable and locally managed food system for school. Hence the strategy and implementation plan should align with the aim of the project. The DC will also coordinate and collaborate with local government, School Committee, other USDA partners and wider actors to contribute to a sustainable and locally managed food system for schools.

This position will be based in the district with frequent visits to the field and will work closely with the district/partner-based Agriculture officers/technicians in the field. The DC along with the agriculture field-based staff will ensure quality implementation with sound technical oversight through capacity building of local partners, coordination and technical advice to strengthen the program.

As gender and social inclusion (GESI) and governance cross-cutting components of all Mercy Corps program(s), Program Manager is required to own these components and ensure GESI sensitivity and integration, and governance practices are integrated into his/her work area.

Essential Job Responsibilities

The specific duties and responsibilities of the District Coordinator, but are not limited to, the following:

Strategy & Vision

Together with Field Manager/Agriculture Specialist and implementing partners develop detail implementation plan and tools based in program overall strategy.
Set a clear vision for the response, working closely with field leadership.
Recognize opportunities for innovative action and create an environment where alternative viewpoints are welcomed.
Actively participate in meeting and strategy sessions for the program.

Technical Leadership

• Support the assessment, design, authorization of all project interventions for project, that includes oversee farmers group mobilization and strengthening, linking to climate information system, strengthening of capacity of local government, cooperatives and school management committees on school meal and sustainable and locally managed food system for schools and mainstreaming of community action plans into the development planning process of the local governments.
• Oversee and lead all market studies/assessments, workshops, training and orientation programs and formal/informal interactions with program participants, partners, and stakeholders.
• Together with Field Manager/Agriculture Specialist, develop standard operating guidelines (SOG) for use of field staff and partners for each of the major interventions of the project.
• Ensure agriculture activities, approaches and tools fit within country and regional strategies, as well as USDA and WFP goals and national government agriculture development policies and frameworks.
• Ensure governance activities, approaches and tools fit within country and regional strategies, as well as USDA and WFP goals and national government agriculture development policies and frameworks.
• Support to design, recognize opportunities for innovative action and create an environment where alternative viewpoints are welcomed.
• 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.

Program Implementation

• Oversee work planning and implementation of project activities, design risk informed work plans, standard operating procedures.
• Ensures the district implementing partner fully understands the program areas of implementation.
• Facilitate and support the district implementing partners to fully implement the program activities on the ground.
• Work with the district implementing partners to ensure they fully take ownership for the program and support them to build relationships with both local and government sector collaborating agencies and departments.
• Support teams to conduct market assessments, analyze data and utilize findings on an on-going basis to inform and adapt program design/approaches.
• Ensure that program participants are effectively targeted according to proposed criteria, and that feedback mechanisms are in place.
• Ensure program implementation is on time, target and budget, using effective M&E systems to reach desired impacts.
• Ensure CARM, GESI and humanitarian principles are owned by the implementing partner and implemented accordingly.
• Monitor program activities on a regular basis to ensure timely and effective program implementation.
• Ensure monitoring of field activities to be on time, target and budget, and propose recommendations for improvements.
• Ensure all interventions adhere to Mercy Corps’ Code of Conduct, Gender, Diversity and Inclusion guiding documents; Core Humanitarian Principles and Do No Harm.
• Fulfill Mercy Corps’ Program Management Minimum Standards.

Monitoring, Evaluations, and Learning (MEL) and Reporting

• Together with Program Manager, Field Manager/Agriculture Specialist, MEL Specialist and Procurement specialist design the measurement and analysis key performance indicators to inform strategic decision making.
• Coordinate closely with the MEL Specialist to generate and collect required information and data for measuring program process monitoring and well as the measurement of intervention results with special focus on LRP tracking.
• Support team to establish functional CARM systems and engage closely with the program’s collaboration.
• Actively engage in learning and adapting (CLA) processes to practice quality adaptive management.
• Support implementing partners to generate weekly updates, quality progress reports and documents that capture program learning, good practices and success stories.
• Ensure that innovative approaches, good practices, challenges, and positive results are documented to support agency learning.

Influence & Representation

• Build partnerships and good working relationship with district partners, sub-grantees, local governments, other USDA/WFP implementing partners and other stakeholders to leverage technical and financial resources to scale-up or replicate good practices promoted by the program.
• As required by the program management, represent agency at the district levels in each project district.
• Ensure close coordination and information sharing with local implementing partners, local government and other implementers, as well as with other Mercy Corps programs.
• Establish and maintain professional and productive relationships with communities, private sector actors, and local government.

Finance & Compliance Management

• Track the financial progress of the implementing partners and support them to improve and record the financial system.
• Ensure that MC operational policies and procedures are followed, while ensuring downward and upward project efficiency and transparency.
• Ensure adherence to program management minimum standards in carrying out their duties, advising and supporting other staff in the same as required.
• Ensure compliance with donor and Mercy Corps regulations related to programming.

Others

• Conduct himself/herself both professionally and personally in such a manner as to bring credit to Mercy Corps and to not jeopardize its humanitarian mission.
• Mercy Corps as a humanitarian agency is expected to response 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 in such situations.
• Other duties as assigned by the direct Supervisor and or the Country Director.

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.

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. 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.

Supervisory Responsibility: N/A
Reports Directly to: Field Manager/Senior Agriculture Specialist.
Works Directly with

Finance and Operations departments, District Implementing Partners and Program Manager as required.

Knowledge and Experience

• At least bachelor’s degree in agriculture with more than 5 years’ experience in vegetables, fruits, commonly grown cereal production, marketing and supply chains.
• Master’s degree in agriculture is preferable.
• Understanding of governance and financial services and experience in integrating agriculture, governance and financial service will be additional benefit.
• Experience of working with cooperative, and/or private sector organizations focused on agriculture, agriculture market, supply chains, and livelihood development.
• Experience with USAID/USDA Agriculture and Governance in project districts would be an advantage.
• Experience of working with local implementing partner and community based approach.
• Strong community capacity building, development and facilitation skills.
• Experience of working in partnerships, coordination among different stakeholders and organizations at district/province/national level is required.
• Demonstrated ability to work in tough geographies with limited facilities, complex environments and under tight deadlines.
• 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 and spoken English and Nepali required.
• Effective writing skills to prepare reports, complete analyses and make presentations.
• Negotiation, networking, advocacy, coordination and representation skills with key local actors is preferred.
• Ability to work effectively with an ethnically diverse team in a sensitive environment.

Success Factors

The successful candidate will combine serious professional management/coordination skills and experience in the field of Vegetable, fruits and cereal production, agriculture marketing system, knowledge of governance and maintaining government, community and partner relationships. S/he will have proven ability to learn quickly, take initiative, and be accountable for results, with an ability and willingness to remain mobile for field support and activity monitoring based on programmatic needs. S/he will have an ability to think creatively about contributing directly and measurably to program approaches and have experience in both community mobilization and government engagement. S/he will have proven experience with diverse teams and capacity building, individual staff development, and strong mentoring skills. Multi-tasking, prioritizing, problem solving and simultaneous attention to detail as well as strategic vision are essential.

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 eLearning courses upon hire and on an annual basis.

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.