Program Officer - Educating Nigerian Girls in New Enterprises (ENGINE) Program at Mercy Corps Nigeria

Mercy Corps - Is an international development organization that helps people around the world survive and thrive during crisis and natural disaster. Mercy Corps works in more than 40 countries to alleviate suffering and poverty by helping people build secure, productive and just communities. Since 1979, mercy Corps has been helping people in the world's toughest places to turn crises into opportunities to thrive.

Mercy Corps is recruiting to fill the position of:

Position Title: Program Officer - Educating Nigerian Girls in New Enterprises (ENGINE) Program

Primary Location: Abuja, Nigeria (40%) with an estimated 60% travel to project locations

Program/Department Summary:
The ENGINE Program Officer will provide technical assistance for the implementation of a proposed 3-year project to reduce financial and education barriers for marginalized Nigerian adolescent girls and young women. The goals of the ENGINE program are to increase girls’ and young women’s access to (1) financial education and life skills; (2) peer-to-peer networks and mentors; and (3) direct assets (materials and savings). ENGINE will integrate young women into value chains as well as conduct other market-driven employment opportunities. ENGINE will also work with girls in formal and informal education to increase their learning opportunities and outcomes to prepare them for future economic activities. ENGINE will be implemented in FCT/Abuja, Lagos, Kano, and Kaduna States. Mercy Corps will serve as a sub-awardee to a large international company and will collaborate with other stakeholders for the implementation of the ENGINE program, including the Nigerian Ministry of Education and Central Bank, as well as private sector actors.

General Position Summary:
The Program Officer will support the implementation of activities that transition girls in school or in informal education into economic activities. This position will ensure ENGINE implementation is responsive to marginalized Nigerian girls, their communities, state and non-state secondary schools, and other skill-based centers.

Essential job functions:

• Provide technical assistance to partners in the implementation of grantee program activities
• Ensure that activities listed in grant recipients’ sub-award are implemented on time, target and budget.
• Accompany other program staff for site visits to ensure sub grant program implementation and compliance;
• Review sub-award recipients programmatic reports, program deliverables, provide report feedbacks and ensure quick responses on report feedbacks by sub-award recipients through regular contact by phone, email, and site visits;
• Coordinate links with existing and planned donor interventions that target adolescent girls to identify girls on an on-going basis to participate in ENGINE activities.
• Identify Nigerian partners – NGOs as well as vocational training/skills centers – to participate in ENGINE activities.
• Advocate for the inclusion of marginalized girls and for girls to be active in non-traditional sectors at the household and community level and within Nigerian vocational and skills-based education.
• In collaboration with M&E staff, implement relevant surveys, need assessments, data and information collection for on-going monitoring.
• Identify financial education and life skills materials and courses designed by the Ministry of Education, other donor interventions, national and local NGOs and vocational/skills centers.
• Coordinate closely with other ENGINE personnel to ensure all objectives of the proposal and activities are met.
• Perform administrative functions such as maintain filling system for partners, scheduling of meetings/ venues, as needed;
• Perform any other duties as assigned by the supervisor

Supervisory Responsibility: N/A
Accountability
Reports Directly To: Senior Program Officer, ENGINE
Works Directly With: Other ENGINE technical and program staff and Mercy Corps’ implementation partners.

Knowledge And Experience:

• BA/S or equivalent in education, management, social sciences, international development or other relevant field. MA preferred.
• A minimum of 3-4 years of experience in education, gender- focused, skills building program.
• Experience managing large-scale secondary education or school to work and especially targeting marginalized girls or young women programs required. Prefer expertise in at least one of the following areas: accelerated learning programs, Islamic and/or community-based education targeting community acceptance of girl’s education, increasing economic assets through savings clubs and links to financial institutions. Experience using SMS for training or messaging preferred.
• Experience working in a multi-organizational team (international and national partners) is a plus.
• Experience with private-sector led initiatives and DFID strongly preferred.
• Strong written and oral communication skills in English required, including report development, writing and editing. Hausa language skills preferred
• Demonstrated attention to detail, ability to follow procedures, meet deadlines and work independently and cooperatively with team members.
• Experience working with ministries and government officials, Ministry of Education experience preferred.

Success Factors:
The successful Program Officer will combine exceptional management skills and technical skills with a focus on innovative interventions to engage adolescent girls in informal education and skills building linked with private sector entrepreneurship and employment opportunities in a culturally and religiously conservative environment. S/he will have an outstanding ability to support innovative and complex programs within the current and future program structure of Mercy Corps in the region. Multi-tasking, prioritizing, problem solving and simultaneous attention to detail and strategic vision are essential.

Living conditions/environmental conditions:
The position will be based in Abuja and will support activities in Kano, Kaduna, and Lagos, with an estimated travel of up to 60% to program locations.

Mercy Corps Team members represent the agency both during and outside of work hours when deployed in a field posting or on a visit/TDY to a field posting. 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.

Application Closing Date
22nd April, 2014

Method of Application
All applications should be sent to: [email protected] with PROGRAM OFFICER ENGINEas the subject of the email, applications without the subject properly addressed will be disqualified.

Note: shortlisting will start as soon as we start receiving applications and deadline might be changed without prior notice. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.