Career Opportunities at Mercy Corps 8th June 2016

Location: Abuja, Nigeria

Project Description

• The ENGINE Senior Project Officer will provide technical assistance for the implementation of a 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 serves 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 senior project officer will be responsible for implementation of ENGINE activities in FCT.
• This position will ensure ENGINE program implementation is responsive to marginalized Nigerian girls, their communities and skill-based centers, and coordinate activities that transition marginalized girls into economic activities.
• The senior programme officer is responsible for project deliverables in Abuja Municipal Area council to cover 7 schools and 5 Communities.

Essential Job Functions
Program Support:

• Support technical aspects of school to work programming for ENGINE including developing incentives for girls to enter into skills building, coordinating links to female mentors, identify existing peer to peer networks and identify opportunities for additional networks within schools, link girls with Islamic and/or community-based education, increasing economic assets through savings clubs and links to financial institutions.
• Ensure implementation of activities is on time, target and budget.
• Harmonizing and sharing all reports for FCT team(Program reports, security/crisis report, M&E Report, Program progress reports, child safeguarding reports)
• State level engagements with stakeholders and facilitating all approvals required for implementation
• FCT focal person for all external engagement and MC HQ correspondence
• Perform any other duties assigned
• 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. 

Community Intervention:

• Lead implementation of all programme activities based on project milestone in 5 communities (Peshe, Jikwoyi, Nyanya 2, Orozo and Kurudu)
• Lead the information and strengthen of savings group in 5 ENGINE communities based on target (Peshe, Jikwoyi, Nyanya 2, Orozo and Kurudu)
• Ensure implementation of activities is on time, target and budget in 5 communities
• Support the integration and transition of girls into economic value chains.
• Facilitate access to financial inclusion services to marginalised girls.
• Creating enabling environment and sustainability
• Ensure the formation or strengthening of girls fora in each of the five (5) communities
• Identify other opportunity for value chain for the girls
• Ensure the strengthening or formation of SBMC/PTA in schools
• Ensure the formation or strengthening of community action committee in each of the five (5) ENGINE communities
• Support the activities of State Advisory Group(SAG) in conducting quarterly meetings and documenting all proceedings of meetings
• Budget Management
• To develop and manage budget, and liquidate funds expended in line with donor regulations

Representation:

• Communicate effectively to ensure overall project targets and donor obligations are met.
• Participate in education coordination meetings as requested by the ENGINE Project Coordinator.

Supervisory Responsibility: Program Officers and M&E Officer
Reports Directly To: Program Coordinator, ENGINE
Works Directly With: Other ENGINE technical and program staff and Mercy Corps’ implementation partners.

Job Title: Project Manager – Girls Opportunities for Advancing Literacy 2 (GOAL 2)

Location: Kano

Job Description

• We are looking for a motivated individual, who is enthusiastic about the work we do and is looking to work within a dynamic team. Girls’ Opportunities for Advancing Literacy 2 (GOAL 2) will ensure that Adolescent girls (15-19) across Kano state are better equipped for the school-to-work transition as a result of improved financial literacy, vocational choices and life skills. GOAL 1 successfully identified methods to improve girls’ confidence and knowledge around employment and financial literacy with 1,800 girls in 13 schools. Girls who received counselling and training on financial literacy and work force preparedness improved their confidence in education and entering the workforce. They were also better able to articulate their life goals and manage their money.
• GOAL 2 will scale key activities from phase one across Kano state, with potential to reach up to 253,712 girls in 969 government junior and senior secondary schools. Activities will focus on embedding quality financial literacy education and counselling within key local institutions including the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology (MoEST), the Kano State Secondary School Management Board (KSSSMB) and the Kano Educational Resource Department (KERD). GOAL 2 will focus on two objectives:

1.) Pillar One (Financial Literacy): Secondary school teachers provide systemic and quality instruction on financial literacy to girls across Kano state.

2.) Pillar Two (Quality Guidance Counselling Services): Ministry of Education in Kano recognizes and systematically supports professional guidance counselling services as valuable resources for girls.

General Position Summary

• The Project Manager will provide overall leadership, management and strategic vision to the implementation of the GOAL 2 program, managing staff, strategic relationships, partners and resources to ensure that the program meets performance-based targets on-time and within budget.
• The Project Manager will coordinate with other donor funded programming to link adolescent girls with GOAL activities. The Project Manager will supervise and build the capacity of program staff and ensure accountability to Mercy Corps policies and donor rules and regulations.
• S/he will be the representative to donors, relevant government entities, and public and private sector partners.

The Project Manager will be responsible for the following activities in Kano:
Financial Literacy Pillar:

• Dissemination of financial literacy manuals to teachers via principals
• Implementation of  training of trainers by Mercy Corps for KERD staff (who will replicate training to teachers)
• Embedding Mercy Corps’ Senior Project Officer on Financial Literacy in KERD structure to enable close collaboration and mentoring
• Further delivery of training directly to 1,250 teachers (of business, economics and commerce courses) by KERD staff
• Developing mechanisms to monitor staff and student performance on financial literacy. This activity will focus both on collection and use of data to enable efficient policy making and advocacy for resources that supports the empowerment of marginalized girls.
• Communications strategies to share Kano’s successes and lessons learned in improving financial literacy at a national level (with a focus on syncing with the CBN’s financial inclusion strategy)
• Support from Mercy Corps to KERD staff to implement M&E tools and Management Information System (MIS).

Pillar Two: Guidance Counselling

• Sign a MoU with the deputy governor of Kano state to endorse work on guidance counselling through GOAL 2.
• Embed Mercy Corps’ Senior Project Officer on Guidance Counselling in KSSMB structure to enable close collaboration and mentoring.
• Develop a dissemination plan to share the “Practical Instruction and Training Guide for Secondary School Guidance Counsellors” (developed in GOAL 1), to offer counsellors an overview of their role and responsibilities.
• Conduct dialogue to identify remaining gaps in resources and support for counselling, with a focus on adolescent girl educational, personal-social and financial/vocational needs, and incorporation of successful approaches used in the “safe space” model.
• Strategic planning for roll out of support materials for guidance counsellors, and technical support from the ministry (in close coordination with KSSMB zonal desk officers).
• Development of monitoring and evaluation tools and systems to monitor the quality of counselling.
• Support from Mercy Corps to KSSMB staff to implement M&E tools and Management Information System (MIS).

Essential Job Functions
Program Implementation:

• Ensure effective implementation of the GOAL 2 program, including meeting deliverables on time, within budget, and according to Mercy Corps and client standards.
• Ensure GOAL 2 is responsive to Nigerian girls and education sector needs. This includes implementation partners and aligned with Mercy Corps principles, values and strategic plan.
• Monitor adherence to grant agreement, Mercy Corps and client policies and procedures and relevant external rules and regulations.
• Oversee performance of any project partners and conduct frequent field visits to project activities. Problem-solve with partners when needed.
• Ensure implementation of activities is on time, target and budget, using effective systems to reach desired impacts in order to assess program effectiveness and impact and propose recommendations for improvements.
• Implement and model Mercy Corps’ philosophy of social entrepreneurship and leverage Mercy Corps’ best practices.
• Advocate for the inclusion of marginalized girls and for girls to be active in non-traditional sectors at the household and community level.
• In collaboration with the M&E staff, design and implement relevant surveys, need assessments, data and information collection for on-going monitoring.
• Maintains links and keep current on up-to-date best practices around innovative strategies of Savings Groups and promoting girl’s school to work transition; disseminate technical information and assistance where necessary.

Personal Leadership:

• Demonstrate flexibility, resilience and ability to maintain positive relationships and composure.
• Maintain high ethical standards and treat people with respect and dignity.
• Demonstrate an awareness of his/her own strengths and development needs.
• Monitoring & Evaluation (M&E) and Reporting
• Facilitate the achievement of performance-based targets and outcomes and lead efforts to design effective, proactive, and iterative M&E systems.
• Oversee the production of high-quality program reports in a timely and efficient manner.
• Ensure that M&E team members focus on assisting programs to generate practical information that can be used for ongoing program decision-making while also capturing results at the impact level.

Representation:

• Represent Mercy Corps at government, donor, NGO and other relevant events in the field, in close coordination with the Mercy Corps’ Nigeria Country Representative.
• Coordinate activities with implementing partners, local government as well as with other Mercy Corps programs in Nigeria.

Team Management:

• Implement performance planning and management systems, establish performance expectations with team members, and regularly provide constructive feedback on team members’ performance.
• Promote accountability by conducting staff annual performance reviews and ensure that supervisory staff does the same.
• Contribute to country team-building efforts and ensure the integration of all team members into relevant decision-making processes.

Program Support Operations:

• Coordinate with program, finance, operations, and administration staff to ensure effective systems are in place to support field activities including logistics, procurement, security, administration and human resources.
• Help design operational policies and practices as needed and in accordance with Mercy Corps regulations.

Required Skills and Experience

• Excellent oral, written, presentation and communications skills in English are required
• MA/MSc or equivalent in Education, Management, Social Sciences, International Development or other relevant field.
• A minimum of 7 years of experience including 3 years in a senior management or technical advisory role on large, education, gender- focused, skills building program.
• Experience successfully engaging with Nigerian education authorities, ministries and institutions essential.
• Experience in Northern Nigeria strongly essential.
• Experience managing interventions in gender-related programming, with focus on girls.
• Experience of training and building capacity on girl-centered programming. Prefer expertise in at least one of the following areas: financial literacy/inclusion or counselling.
• Deep understanding of the challenges facing girls in Nigeria.
• High attention to detail and ability to work under pressure and tight deadlines.
• Strong written and oral communication skills in English required, including report development, writing and editing. Hausa language skills essential.
• Demonstrated attention to detail, ability to follow procedures, meet deadlines and work independently and cooperatively with team members.

Success Factors

• The successful applicant will combine exceptional management skills and technical skills with a focus on successful engagement and support to educational institutions in a culturally and religiously conservative environment.
• S/he will have an outstanding ability to develop, implement and manage 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. The most successful Mercy Corps staff 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.
• This position will be based in Kano, where security may be particularly difficult at times.
• 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 MC’s policies, procedures, and values at all times and in all in-country venues.

How to Apply
Interested and qualified candidates should submit their CV’s and Cover Letter in one document, addressing the position requirements to:recruitment.nigeria@ng.mercycorps.org

Note

• All applications must include the position title in the subject line and not more than 4 pages. 
• Only short-listed candidates will be contacted.
• We are an equal opportunity organization and we strongly encourage women to apply for this position.