Vacancies at Mercy Corps

General Position Summary

The Samburu County Learning and Accountability Coordinator (CLAC) plays a key role in ensuring USAID Nawiri delivers responsive, well-informed and high-quality programming in Samburu. As a key member of the Collaborating, Learning and Adapting (CLA) Team led  by the Strategic Learning Lead, the CLAC Samburu is responsible for operationalizing USAID Nawiri’s Phase II CLA Strategy at the county level, ensuring the progressive integration of CLA principles and practices into all activities. The CLAC Samburu plays a leadership role in embedding and supporting a culture of collaborating, learning, and adapting across USAID Nawiri initiatives at county level, including by identifying and actioning innovative, cost-effective ideas for generating excitement and commitment to learning.

Essential Roles and Responsibilities:

• Lead USAID Nawiri CLA actions at the county level, including developing and managing the work plans for the scope
• Work with the Adaptive Learning Facilitators to develop/adapt and organize adaptive learning frameworks/modalities and see to the implementation of learning agendas across diverse implementation streams
• Guide and support quality data gathering, management and analysis, as requested/ guided.
• Develop, oversee and support the implementation of systems and guidelines for capturing field-based observations and perspectives and ensuring they are fed back into adaptive learning cycles.
• Support development of innovative and contextually appropriate mechanisms for learning with communities and enhancing the community voice in program decisions.
• Facilitate and support USAID Nawiri teams, county government, partner organization and other key actors’ efforts to lead the collective sense-making and reflective review of program and other developments to enable timely programmatic adjustments and evidence-based decision-making.
• Ensure the quality documentation of regular sense-making and reflection activities, both scheduled (e.g. weekly, monthly, quarterly progress review) and ad hoc (e.g. after action reviews), with mechanisms/processes that allow for the contribution of county and community stakeholders.
• Work with the Reporting Officer to ensure key insights, lessons learned, and corresponding adaptations are documented and shared in relevant donor reports (weekly, quarterly, annual) and other fora, as relevant.
• Collaborate with the CLAC Turkana to implement a learning agenda that drives progressive improvements in CLA practices and processes, while building a culture and enabling environment for learning.
• Collaborate with the program’s systems strengthening team to support program teams to develop, execute, monitor, learn from and progressively adapt plans for enhancing internal and external collaboration.
• Facilitate processes that inspire innovation in the development and testing of modalities/processes for addressing identified inefficiencies and bottlenecks in the adaptive learning cycle
• In collaboration with the communications team, support the program team and county counterparts to identify, capture, and package significant learning for sharing through publication, conferences, and other channels.
• Work with the Adaptive Learning Facilitators embedded within implementation teams and Communications Advisor, to develop and execute an ambitious yet realistic plan for the regular production of learning briefs on cross-cutting, priority themes
• Coordinate with the USAID Nawiri Turkana CLAC to develop and implement mechanisms and processes for inter-county learning (Samburu and Turkana).
• Coordinate with the county-based learning coordinators in Isiolo and Marsabit (under CRS-led USAID Nawiri Consortium) to plan for and organize cross-county learning exchanges and learning events
• Support and enhance USAID Nawiri knowledge management systems, processes, and products as guided

MANAGEMENT & CAPACITY DEVELOPMENT

• Directly supervise and mentor the Adaptive Learning and Communication Officers in USAID Nawiri’s Samburu sub-county offices.
• Facilitate a culture of curiosity, learning and adaptive work planning and implementation with program teams; facilitate self-assessments of USAID Nawiri’s CLA “maturity” and help individuals’ teams develop and track action plans to enhance CLA capacity
• Build the program team’s capacity to identify unintended outcomes, collect high-quality qualitative and quantitative data, interpret findings from quantitative and qualitative analyses, and translate insights into implications for action.
• Build the capacity of program staff and stakeholders to facilitate learning activities and processes, including documentation of the same.

REPRESENTATION

• Support in ensuring continuous, transparent communication and engagement with USAID Nawiri participants and other relevant stakeholders on Nawiri progress.
• Develop and maintain strong relationships with USAID Nawiri stakeholders and proactively identify, pursue, and nurture additional partnerships with county stakeholders (including civil society organizations) that will contribute to Nawiri influence and impact.
• Represent Nawiri in PREG Learning and other coordination fora, as requested. Capture and disseminate relevant insights/learning from other initiatives/programs and counties (including Nawiri in Marsabit and Isiolo) to USAID Nawiri partners in Samburu

OTHER

• Other duties as assigned. The County Learning and Accountability Coordinator, Samburu, must remain flexible and open to taking on new responsibilities as USAID Nawiri evolves and progresses, especially as requested/ guided by the Strategic Learning Lead.

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.

Living Conditions / Environmental Conditions

The position is based in USAID Nawiri’s Samburu County office in Maralal town. 

PERSONAL GROWTH & LEARNING

• USAID Nawiri team members are committed to personal growth and learning. All staff are expected to commit 5% of their time to activities that help them broaden their perspectives, build their skill sets, or otherwise help them progressively improve their contribution to the program.

ACCOUNTABILITY TO PARTICIPANTS

• 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:

• The CLAC will supervise USAID Nawiri’s Adaptive Learning and Communication Officers.

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in the Social Sciences; Demography, Sociology, Statistics or another MEAL-related field. Master’s degree is an added advantage. Additional education may substitute for some experience.
• Minimum of five years of relevant work experience in accountability and learning, participatory development, or adult learning, ideally with an international NGO working with county governments.
• Experience setting up and implementing accountability and learning systems
• Demonstrated attention to detail, ability to follow instructions, meet deadlines and work independently and cooperatively with team members is required.
• Demonstrated ability to facilitate and moderate dialogue and discussion among diverse groups
• Demonstrated ability to communicate complex thoughts and ideas clearly and concisely in writing; keen attention to detail.
• Excellent interpersonal skills, with an ability to deeply connect and empathize with a range of individuals with broad backgrounds and expertise.
• Experience using MS Windows and MS Office packages (Excel, Word, PowerPoint), Web Conferencing Applications, information management systems, knowledge-sharing networks is required.
• Experience in participatory action planning and community engagement a strong advantage.
• Experience in using mobile-data collection and management software a strong advantage.

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The Adaptive Learning and Communications Officer, Lokitaung’ is a critical member of the USAID Nawiri CLA and Communications for Learning Team and the consortium Program Implementation Team in Turkana County. The position is responsible for ensuring the integration of collaborative, adaptive learning principles and practices into field operations at the sub-county level; this includes ensuring insights and lessons learned are captured, organized, packaged, and promoted to enhance program influence and impact.

Essential Job Responsibilities

Collaborative Learning for Action

• Work with the sub-county teams to ensure an adaptive learning approach is infused in the design, implementation, and reporting on all activities. This includes supporting program teams to integrate sense-making and critical reflection moments in routine program activities.
• Work closely with the County Learning and Accountability Coordinators and collaborate with the SSBC team to support program teams to organize knowledge exchange fairs that bring together program participants, USAID Nawiri teams, and other key stakeholders to share knowledge and promising practices and animate uptake. Facilitate after-action review; document and promote lessons learned for subsequent knowledge markets. Work with the M&E team and SSBC team to assess the success of knowledge markets for catalyzing behavior change.
• Work closely with the County Learning and Accountability Coordinators to conceptualize opportunities and plan, organize, and coordinate learning exchange visits for multi-disciplinary teams designed to broaden perspectives, build relationships, and trigger innovative ideas and commitments through shared action and experience.
• Identify opportunities for and coordinate local communities of practice.
• Work with the M&E team to develop a framework and plan for monitoring and evaluating communications and adaptive learning efforts
• Support the optimization of Mercy Corps’ community accountability and response mechanism (CARM) to the local context, and identify innovative ways of elevating the community voice in programmatic decision-making.

Communications for Adaptive Learning

• On a quarterly basis, produce case studies that highlight how program staff and participants are applying the principles and practices of collaborative, adaptive learning to enhance collective action and amplify impact.
• Support technical working groups to package and promote insights and lessons learned through the execution of their learning agendas and adaptive learning plans, and work with the M & E team to monitor uptake.

Content Creation, Management, and Dissemination

• Work with the technical / program team to develop and manage content for input into USAID Nawiri’s regular newsletter and weekly reporting of progress (to the consortium and the donor), as well as the county monthly newsletter.
• Support the county reporting officer to track USAID Nawiri’s visibility in external platforms, and work closely with the County Directorate to disseminate content through county platforms and other media channels to create visibility for the program.
• Work with the county reporting officer to identify and develop content for USAID Nawiri’s traditional media and social media platforms (Twitter, Facebook etc.)
• Collaborate with journalists and media outlets (print, TV, radio, web etc.) to capture and share learning and promote uptake in order to amplify USAID Nawiri’s influence and impact within and beyond Samburu and Turkana counties.

Collaboration, Advocacy, Visibility

• Support the implementation and monitoring of program teams’ collaboration plans and facilitate learning sessions on the same
• Support program teams to work with identified CSOs, CBOs and champions to operationalize advocacy strategies, including through development of advocacy materials.
• Support the sub-county coordinator to conceptualize, organize, facilitate, and document joint donor and government monitoring and learning visits. This includes support to develop information packets, facilitation guides, and other materials.
• Ensure sub-county teams’ compliance with USAID Nawiri branding and marking requirements.

Other Duties as Assigned

Remain flexible and open to taking on new/different responsibilities USAID Nawiri evolves and progresses, especially as requested/ guided by the County Learning and Accountability Coordinator, Communications Advisor and Strategic

Accountability to Participants and Stakeholders
Mercy Corps team members are expected to support all efforts toward accountability, specifically to our program participants, community partners, other stakeholders, and to international standards guiding international relief and development work. We are committed to actively engaging communities as equal partners in the design, monitoring and evaluation of our field projects.

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

Minimum Qualifications and Transferable Skills

• Recognized qualification in Communications, Journalism, or a related field. Masters will be an added advantage.
• Minimum of 3-4 years of progressive experience working in communications or public relations, preferably with a focus on learning and rural development
• Excellent track record in content development, copy writing and editing, demonstrated through submission of a portfolio of quality products in a variety of formats (e.g. blogs, articles, op-eds, press releases, videos, etc).
• Proven experience in developing and executing communications plans.
• Excellent interpersonal skills including facilitation, fluent oral communication, with an ability to deeply connect and empathize with a range of individuals with broad backgrounds and expertise.
• Demonstrated attention to detail, ability to follow procedures, meet deadlines and work independently and cooperatively with team members is required.

go to method of application »

Position Summary

The Adaptive Learning and Communications Officer, Wamba is a critical member of the USAID Nawiri CLA and Communications for Learning Team and the consortium Program Implementation Team in Samburu County. The position is responsible for ensuring the integration of collaborative, adaptive learning principles and practices into field operations at the sub-county level; this includes ensuring insights and lessons learned are captured, organized, packaged, and promoted to enhance program influence and impact.

Essential Job Responsibilities

Collaborative Learning for Action

• Work with the sub-county teams to ensure an adaptive learning approach is infused in the design, implementation, and reporting on all activities. This includes supporting program teams to integrate sense-making and critical reflection moments in routine program activities.
• Work closely with the County Learning and Accountability Coordinators and collaborate with the SSBC team to support program teams to organize knowledge exchange fairs that bring together program participants, USAID Nawiri teams, and other key stakeholders to share knowledge and promising practices and animate uptake. Facilitate after-action review; document and promote lessons learned for subsequent knowledge markets. Work with the M&E team and SSBC team to assess the success of knowledge markets for catalyzing behavior change.
• Work closely with the County Learning and Accountability Coordinators to conceptualize opportunities and plan, organize, and coordinate learning exchange visits for multi-disciplinary teams designed to broaden perspectives, build relationships, and trigger innovative ideas and commitments through shared action and experience.
• Identify opportunities for and coordinate local communities of practice.
• Work with the M&E team to develop a framework and plan for monitoring and evaluating communications and adaptive learning efforts
• Support the optimization of Mercy Corps’ community accountability and response mechanism (CARM) to the local context, and identify innovative ways of elevating the community voice in programmatic decision-making.

Communications for Adaptive Learning

• On a quarterly basis, produce case studies that highlight how program staff and participants are applying the principles and practices of collaborative, adaptive learning to enhance collective action and amplify impact.
• Support technical working groups to package and promote insights and lessons learned through the execution of their learning agendas and adaptive learning plans, and work with the M & E team to monitor uptake.

Content Creation, Management, and Dissemination

• Work with the technical / program team to develop and manage content for input into USAID Nawiri’s regular newsletter and weekly reporting of progress (to the consortium and the donor), as well as the county monthly newsletter.
• Support the county reporting officer to track USAID Nawiri’s visibility in external platforms, and work closely with the County Directorate to disseminate content through county platforms and other media channels to create visibility for the program.
• Work with the county reporting officer to identify and develop content for USAID Nawiri’s traditional media and social media platforms (Twitter, Facebook etc.)
• Collaborate with journalists and media outlets (print, TV, radio, web etc.) to capture and share learning and promote uptake in order to amplify USAID Nawiri’s influence and impact within and beyond Samburu and Turkana counties.

Collaboration, Advocacy, Visibility

• Support the implementation and monitoring of program teams’ collaboration plans and facilitate learning sessions on the same
• Support program teams to work with identified CSOs, CBOs and champions to operationalize advocacy strategies, including through development of advocacy materials.
• Support the sub-county coordinator to conceptualize, organize, facilitate, and document joint donor and government monitoring and learning visits. This includes support to develop information packets, facilitation guides, and other materials.
• Ensure sub-county teams’ compliance with USAID Nawiri branding and marking requirements.

Other Duties as Assigned

Remain flexible and open to taking on new/different responsibilities USAID Nawiri evolves and progresses, especially as requested/ guided by the County Learning and Accountability Coordinator, Communications Advisor and Strategic Learning Lead.

Minimum Qualifications and Transferable Skills

• Recognized qualification in Communications, Journalism, or a related field. Masters will be an added advantage.
• Minimum of 3-4 years of progressive experience working in communications or public relations, preferably with a focus on learning and rural development
• Excellent track record in content development, copy writing and editing, demonstrated through submission of a portfolio of quality products in a variety of formats (e.g. blogs, articles, op-eds, press releases, videos, etc).
• Proven experience in developing and executing communications plans.
• Excellent interpersonal skills including facilitation, fluent oral communication, with an ability to deeply connect and empathize with a range of individuals with broad backgrounds and expertise.
• Demonstrated attention to detail, ability to follow procedures, meet deadlines and work independently and cooperatively with team members is required.

go to method of application »

Position Summary

The Adaptive Learning and Communications Officer, Baragoi is a critical member of the USAID Nawiri CLA and Communications for Learning Team and the consortium Program Implementation Team in Samburu County. The position is responsible for ensuring the integration of collaborative, adaptive learning principles and practices into field operations at the sub-county level; this includes ensuring insights and lessons learned are captured, organized, packaged, and promoted to enhance program influence and impact.

Essential Job Responsibilities

Collaborative Learning for Action

• Work with the sub-county teams to ensure an adaptive learning approach is infused in the design, implementation, and reporting on all activities. This includes supporting program teams to integrate sense-making and critical reflection moments in routine program activities.
• Work closely with the County Learning and Accountability Coordinators and collaborate with the SSBC team to support program teams to organize knowledge exchange fairs that bring together program participants, USAID Nawiri teams, and other key stakeholders to share knowledge and promising practices and animate uptake. Facilitate after-action review; document and promote lessons learned for subsequent knowledge markets. Work with the M&E team and SSBC team to assess the success of knowledge markets for catalyzing behavior change.
• Work closely with the County Learning and Accountability Coordinators to conceptualize opportunities and plan, organize, and coordinate learning exchange visits for multi-disciplinary teams designed to broaden perspectives, build relationships, and trigger innovative ideas and commitments through shared action and experience.
• Identify opportunities for and coordinate local communities of practice.
• Work with the M&E team to develop a framework and plan for monitoring and evaluating communications and adaptive learning efforts
• Support the optimization of Mercy Corps’ community accountability and response mechanism (CARM) to the local context, and identify innovative ways of elevating the community voice in programmatic decision-making.

Communications for Adaptive Learning

• On a quarterly basis, produce case studies that highlight how program staff and participants are applying the principles and practices of collaborative, adaptive learning to enhance collective action and amplify impact.
• Support technical working groups to package and promote insights and lessons learned through the execution of their learning agendas and adaptive learning plans, and work with the M & E team to monitor uptake.

Content Creation, Management, and Dissemination

• Work with the technical / program team to develop and manage content for input into USAID Nawiri’s regular newsletter and weekly reporting of progress (to the consortium and the donor), as well as the county monthly newsletter.
• Support the county reporting officer to track USAID Nawiri’s visibility in external platforms, and work closely with the County Directorate to disseminate content through county platforms and other media channels to create visibility for the program.
• Work with the county reporting officer to identify and develop content for USAID Nawiri’s traditional media and social media platforms (Twitter, Facebook etc.)
• Collaborate with journalists and media outlets (print, TV, radio, web etc.) to capture and share learning and promote uptake in order to amplify USAID Nawiri’s influence and impact within and beyond Samburu and Turkana counties.

Collaboration, Advocacy, Visibility

• Support the implementation and monitoring of program teams’ collaboration plans and facilitate learning sessions on the same
• Support program teams to work with identified CSOs, CBOs and champions to operationalize advocacy strategies, including through development of advocacy materials.
• Support the sub-county coordinator to conceptualize, organize, facilitate, and document joint donor and government monitoring and learning visits. This includes support to develop information packets, facilitation guides, and other materials.
• Ensure sub-county teams’ compliance with USAID Nawiri branding and marking requirements.

Other Duties as Assigned

Remain flexible and open to taking on new/different responsibilities USAID Nawiri evolves and progresses, especially as requested/ guided by the County Learning and Accountability Coordinator, Communications Advisor and Strategic Learning Lead.

Minimum Qualifications and Transferable Skills

• Recognized qualification in Communications, Journalism, or a related field. Masters will be an added advantage.
• Minimum of 3-4 years of progressive experience working in communications or public relations, preferably with a focus on learning and rural development
• Excellent track record in content development, copy writing and editing, demonstrated through submission of a portfolio of quality products in a variety of formats (e.g. blogs, articles, op-eds, press releases, videos, etc).
• Proven experience in developing and executing communications plans.
• Excellent interpersonal skills including facilitation, fluent oral communication, with an ability to deeply connect and empathize with a range of individuals with broad backgrounds and expertise.
• Demonstrated attention to detail, ability to follow procedures, meet deadlines and work independently and cooperatively with team members is required.

go to method of application »

Position Summary

The Adaptive Learning and Communications Officer, Lokichar is a critical member of the USAID Nawiri CLA and Communications for Learning Team and the consortium Program Implementation Team in Turkana County. The position is responsible for ensuring the integration of collaborative, adaptive learning principles and practices into field operations at the sub-county level; this includes ensuring insights and lessons learned are captured, organized, packaged, and promoted to enhance program influence and impact.

Essential Job Responsibilities

Collaborative Learning for Action

• Work with the sub-county teams to ensure an adaptive learning approach is infused in the design, implementation, and reporting on all activities. This includes supporting program teams to integrate sense-making and critical reflection moments in routine program activities.
• Work closely with the County Learning and Accountability Coordinators and collaborate with the SSBC team to support program teams to organize knowledge exchange fairs that bring together program participants, USAID Nawiri teams, and other key stakeholders to share knowledge and promising practices and animate uptake. Facilitate after-action review; document and promote lessons learned for subsequent knowledge markets. Work with the M&E team and SSBC team to assess the success of knowledge markets for catalyzing behavior change.
• Work closely with the County Learning and Accountability Coordinators to conceptualize opportunities and plan, organize, and coordinate learning exchange visits for multi-disciplinary teams designed to broaden perspectives, build relationships, and trigger innovative ideas and commitments through shared action and experience.
• Identify opportunities for and coordinate local communities of practice.
• Work with the M&E team to develop a framework and plan for monitoring and evaluating communications and adaptive learning efforts
• Support the optimization of Mercy Corps’ community accountability and response mechanism (CARM) to the local context, and identify innovative ways of elevating the community voice in programmatic decision-making.

Communications for Adaptive Learning

• On a quarterly basis, produce case studies that highlight how program staff and participants are applying the principles and practices of collaborative, adaptive learning to enhance collective action and amplify impact.
• Support technical working groups to package and promote insights and lessons learned through the execution of their learning agendas and adaptive learning plans, and work with the M & E team to monitor uptake.

Content Creation, Management, and Dissemination

• Work with the technical / program team to develop and manage content for input into USAID Nawiri’s regular newsletter and weekly reporting of progress (to the consortium and the donor), as well as the county monthly newsletter.
• Support the county reporting officer to track USAID Nawiri’s visibility in external platforms, and work closely with the County Directorate to disseminate content through county platforms and other media channels to create visibility for the program.
• Work with the county reporting officer to identify and develop content for USAID Nawiri’s traditional media and social media platforms (Twitter, Facebook etc.)
• Collaborate with journalists and media outlets (print, TV, radio, web etc.) to capture and share learning and promote uptake in order to amplify USAID Nawiri’s influence and impact within and beyond Samburu and Turkana counties.

Collaboration, Advocacy, Visibility

• Support the implementation and monitoring of program teams’ collaboration plans and facilitate learning sessions on the same
• Support program teams to work with identified CSOs, CBOs and champions to operationalize advocacy strategies, including through development of advocacy materials.
• Support the sub-county coordinator to conceptualize, organize, facilitate, and document joint donor and government monitoring and learning visits. This includes support to develop information packets, facilitation guides, and other materials.
• Ensure sub-county teams' compliance with USAID Nawiri branding and marking requirements.

Other Duties as Assigned

Remain flexible and open to taking on new/different responsibilities USAID Nawiri evolves and progresses, especially as requested/ guided by the County Learning and Accountability Coordinator, Communications Advisor and Strategic Learning Lead.

Minimum Qualifications and Transferable Skills

• Recognized qualification in Communications, Journalism, or a related field. Masters will be an added advantage.
• Minimum of 3-4 years of progressive experience working in communications or public relations, preferably with a focus on learning and rural development
• Excellent track record in content development, copy writing and editing, demonstrated through submission of a portfolio of quality products in a variety of formats (e.g. blogs, articles, op-eds, press releases, videos, etc).
• Proven experience in developing and executing communications plans.
• Excellent interpersonal skills including facilitation, fluent oral communication, with an ability to deeply connect and empathize with a range of individuals with broad backgrounds and expertise.
• Demonstrated attention to detail, ability to follow procedures, meet deadlines and work independently and cooperatively with team members is required.