Website Mercy Corps
Co-creation Programme Manager
Location: Kathmandu, Nepal with regular travel
Position: Status Full-time
Position Durations: 7 months (September 2023 – March 2024) with potential for extension to full implementation of the program. The position is contingent upon funding.
About Mercy Corps
Since 1979, we have helped people grappling with the toughest hardships survive – and then thrive. That’s the heart of our approach: We help communities turn crisis into opportunity. Throughout our history, Mercy Corps has demonstrated innovation, timeliness and the ability to adapt quickly to changing realities.
In Nepal, Mercy Corps began operations in 2005, and since then has implemented projects in the sectors of agriculture, food security and nutrition, financial services, youth engagement, and disaster risk reduction/ climate change adaptation. To date, this programming has reached over 900,000 people in 23 districts. We work with a range of donors in Nepal, and have been a trusted prime partner of choice for decades.
Program / Department Summary
The FCDO has launched a bid for a Lead Gender Based Violence Partner to deliver a key component of its Security and Justice Programme (SJP) in Nepal..The overall SJP will support the following outcomes – increased responsiveness of security and justice providers and; increased prevention of GBV and wider security and justice problems.
This Scope of Work for the Lead GBV Partner envisages and sets out two phases:
A preparatory project to be seed-funded by FCDO through an existing arrangement with
UNOPS for up to £75,000 GBP from about 1 September 2023 to 31 March 2024.
A multi-year project directly funded by FCDO for up to £8m from 1 April 2024 to 31 December 2027
If selected, the multi year programme will involve the following elements:
- To provide expertise and high quality reporting on progress on the project’s results aligned with the SJPs results framework, disaggregating data based on gender, caste, disability and other relevant parameters and intersectionalities
- To act as a Fund Manager for downstream partners who have strong local networks and understanding, legitimacy and to ensure value for money
- To provide Technical Assistance to downstream partners and other key organisations and agency personnel
- To give support for downstream partners for organisational strengthening and sustainability in terms of core functions such as establishing baselines, financial management, reporting results, managing risks and other aspects of compliance
- To ensure systematic and continuous coordination and coherence with other components of SJP
General Position Summary
Mercy Corps is seeking candidates for a Co-Creation Programme Manager who will provide overall leadership, management, and technical direction for the preparatory phase of the SJP programme in Nepal during the initial 7 months. This role includes leading the co-creation phase of the programme, developing and implementing the workplan, coordinating technical inputs – including those within Nepal, the region and global HQ roles, coordinating the partnership engagement and potential sub-granting, recruitment of roles required for the implementation phase.
This role shall coordinate and ultimately be responsible for the implementation of the preparatory phase with support from the Strategy Lead. The PM shall also be responsible for ensuring quality control and the overall responsiveness of technical assistance provided under the award. The PM will be expected to identify issues and risks related to activity implementation in a timely manner, and suggest appropriate adjustments.
Essential Job Responsibilities
- Lead on co-creation process
- Responsible for developing the partnership strategy and engagement to ensure that the programme has an established set of partnerships, network of sub-national relationships and understanding of what is likely to work best for scalable results
- Lead on assessments identified for the preparatory phase
- Identify and lead stakeholder and partner consultations
- Lead on engagement with FCDO in Nepal to ensure a positive relationship and meet all donor requirements.
- Ensure the content is developed for a full proposal to be finalised during the preparatory phase – with support from the Strategic Lead and other technical experts within Mercy Corps.
- Ensure the programme is able to begin implementation for April 2024 – all start up work is complete.
Supervisory Responsibility
Reports Directly To: Director of Programs
Works Directly With: Country Director, Program Strategic advisor, Operations manager, Sub award and partnership Manager and MEAL. Coordinates with HQ Programme Performance team and the Technical Support Unit.
Knowledge and Experience
- Master’s degree in a relevant field such as social sciences, law, development studies, etc.
- However, a Bachelor’s degree and five (5) additional years of relevant international development experience can be substituted for the Master’s degree.
- At least ten 6 years of progressively responsible experience in program management and implementation preferably with FCDO.
- Professional experience in Southern Asia preferred, especially Nepal, with an in-depth understanding of gender, age, caste, and other locally significant socio-cultural factors and preferably in the context of GESI programming.
- Excellent oral and written communication skills.
- Demonstrated ability to think strategically and communicate his/her vision to partners and colleagues.
- Demonstrated ability to establish and sustain interpersonal and professional relationships with different donors, civil society organisations and host country government counterparts.
- Conflict analysis and Do No Harm analysis experience required.
- Experience of working on FCDO programmes preferred
- Previous experience living and working in challenging or insecure environments.
- Fluency in spoken and written English and Nepali is required.
Success Factors
A successful candidate will have a demonstrated ability to lead and communicate effectively with team members of varied work styles and cultures, follow procedures, and meet deadlines with flexibility and creativity in planning and problem solving. S/he will have a proven ability to learn quickly, multi-task, prioritize, take initiative, be accountable for results, understand the larger picture while remaining focused on the details, problem solve, work within a complex and sensitive setting, and to follow laws and security protocols. The most successful Mercy Corps team 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 /Environmental Conditions:
The Team Lead Position is based in Kathmandu with significant travel required to program locations across the country.
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.
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 e-learning courses upon hire and on an annual basis.
Mercy Corps team members represent the agency both during and outside work hours when deployed in a field posting or on a short term assignment. Team members are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner and respect local laws, customs and Mercy Corps’ policies, procedures, and values at all times and in all in-country venues.
Fostering a diverse and open workplace is an important part of Mercy Corps’ vision.
Employment Type: Full-time
Job Location: Kathmandu, Nepal
Valid through: July 9, 2023
Application Method:
Interested candidates are encouraged to apply with their updated CV and a cover letter to np-hr@mercycorps.org clearly mentioning the position in the subject line addressing to the Human Resources Department by COB July 9, 2023. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. Telephone inquiries will not be entertained.