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 collaborate to put bold solutions into action — helping people triumph over adversity and build stronger communities from within, now and for the future. In Nigeria, Mercy Corps operates in over 13 states focusing on key thematic areas of humanitarian response, conflict mitigation and adolescent girls’ empowerment.
We are recruiting to fill the position below:
Job Title: INGO Forum Field Support Manager
Location: Maiduguri
Program / Department Summary
- The Nigeria International NGO Forum (INGO Forum) is a civil society mechanism comprising of approximately 40 members (confirmed and prospective) and 4 observers active in the humanitarian and development fields in Nigeria.
- The purpose of the Forum is to provide an inclusive and consistent space for INGOs to develop and employ collective strategies and approaches to enhance the overall effectiveness and efficiency of humanitarian and development initiatives throughout Nigeria. The INGO Forum exists primarily to serve the needs of its members and to act in their interest for the betterment of serving beneficiaries.
- The main objectives include information sharing/ communication; coordination; policy development and advocacy; engagement with national civil society; and external representation of the INGO community.
- With 2 current staff (Coordinator and Support Manager) the INGO Forum plans to expand its reach with the goal of improving services to its members and increasing advocacy related to identified key priority issues. As of March 2017, the INGO Forum will be hosted by Mercy Corps in Nigeria’s capital city of Abuja.
General Position Summary
- The INGO Forum Field Support Manager will support the Forum and its member organizations in the North East. The INGO Forum Support Manager will be a motivated learner and a passionate activist for the improvement of the development/humanitarian situation in Nigeria and for the role of civil society in this context.
- As a support staff to the INGO Forum in Nigeria, s/he will assist in mobilising Forum Members, preparing meetings, taking minutes and organising trainings and events.
- This will be an opportunity for a committed worker to learn about coordination and the humanitarian sector in general, while developing research, analytical and organizational skills. S/he will serve as an information focal point linking Abuja coordination structure with up-to-date realities in the north –east through proactive engagement with identified personnel and information collection and sharing.
- In collaboration with humanitarian managers of member organizations based in the NE, s/he will support facilitation of action-oriented coordination discussions and identify opportunities for improvement of coordination, both within INGOs and on behalf of INGOs with other partners or stakeholders.
- As a main link between the INGO community and the Nigerian NGO community, s/he will actively engage with local NGOs to identify opportunities for collaboration and to build high-yielding partnership.
Essential Job Responsibilities
Program Management:
Objective 1
- Provide administrative, logistical and human resource support to INGO Forum:
- Support facilitation of INGO Forum Technical Working Groups in the field and follow up regularly.
- Engage with members of field based technical Working Groups to ensure actions taken.
- Organize logistics for trainings, workshops, events and other INGO Forum activities.
- Update and maintain contact lists and file sharing platforms.
- Filing and archiving of external information and documentation of Forum’s activities.
- Maintain INGO Forum calendars (internal and external).
- Draft agendas/take meeting minutes and circulate to identified recipient lists.
- Assist in development of TORs and contracts for events and consultancies.
- Provide assistance to newly arrived INGOs through registration and other start-up processes.
- Help organize and facilitate trainings and workshops, as necessary.
Objective 2
Ensure drafting and update of INGO Forum documents and correspondence:
- Work with Field coordinator to produce (Bi-) Weekly context - compilation of links to relevant media, reports, assessments, etc. from identified key sources.
- Follow up pending action points within INGO Forum members
- Support in reporting of Forum activities to donors and relevant stakeholders.
Objective 3
Support INGO Coordinator and other INGO Forum staff in communications, information management and coordination, as needed:
- Field information requests from external partners.
- Provide support to Humanitarian Managers’ Working Group.
- Engage with external partners on relevant topics.
- Work in collaboration with external partners (NNGOs, UN, Government, etc.) to plan/facilitate partnerships.
- Collection, organization and dissemination of information from Members of the Forum on humanitarian/development issues.
- Research on key principles, standards and best practices (protection, WASH, Food security, health, shelter, education, etc.).
- Help to forge links between international and local NGOs and networks.
- Potential visits to support Forum Members in Adamawa and Yobe.
Finance & Compliance:
- Ensure compliance with donor and Mercy Corps regulations
- Draft or review scope of work to hire and manage technical consultants, including review for technical efficacy and contract budget, as required.
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.
Knowledge and Experience
- Advanced university degree in Law, Political Science, International Relations, Journalism, Social Sciences, International Development or related technical field (minimum master degree).
- Master ’s degree in law, political science, international relations, journalism, social sciences, international development or related technical field.
- Written and spoken fluency in English.
- Strong data analytical and interpretation skills.
- Knowledge and understanding of the international humanitarian/development system and the mandates of the actors involved.
- Willingness to learn and interest in humanitarian practice.
- Commitment to international humanitarian standards and principles.
- Excellent writing, editing and analytical skills and ability to formulate well-targeted strategic documents.
- Ability to work independently in a fast-paced and often demanding environment.
- Flexibility in terms of office hours.
- Proven experience in influencing for policy change and practice.
- Experience in facilitating meetings in high-pressure professional setting.
- Exceptional interpersonal skills and experience in humanitarian setting.
- Experience in an NGO (local or international), in a newspaper or research institution.
- Knowledge of and contacts in Nigerian NGOs.
- Knowledge of Hausa/Kanuri language preferred
Success Factor
- Commitment to achieve results in a timely manner
- Trustworthiness and integrity
- Committed to humanitarian values and principles
- People management skills
- Influencing and negotiation skills
- Communication
- Cultural sensitivity
- Gender equity and protection sensitive
- Creative solutions to problems
- 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 in-country venues.
Application Closing Date
27th April, 2017.
How to Apply
Interested and qualified candidates should submit their CV's and Cover Letter in one document, addressing the position requirements to:
[email protected]
Note
- All pplications must include the position title in the subject line.
- Only short-listed candidates will be contacted for interview and we are an equal opportunity organization so women are strongly encouraged to apply for this position.