About Mercy Corps

Mercy Corps is a global team of humanitarians working together on the front lines of today’s biggest crises to create a future of possibility, where everyone can prosper. In more than 40+ countries around the world, over 5,400+ team members work side by side with people living through poverty, disaster, violent conflict, and the acute impacts of climate change. We’re committed to creating global change through local impact — 84% of our team members are from the countries where they work.
We bring a comprehensive approach to every challenge, addressing problems from multiple angles. And we go beyond emergency aid, partnering with local governments, forward-thinking corporations, social entrepreneurs, and people living in fragile communities to develop bold solutions that make lasting change possible.

The Mercy Corps Iraq Team

Mercy Corps has worked across Iraq’s 18 governorates since 2003. Mercy Corps Iraq has a whole-of-Iraq approach and operates across ten governorates: Anbar, Basra, Thiqar, Duhok, Baghdad, Erbil, Kirkuk, Ninewa, Salah al-Din, and Sulaymaniyah with an experienced team of nearly 120 national and international staff. Through our extensive portfolio, Mercy Corps Iraq has formed strong relations with the communities and local authorities where we operate and has an in-depth understanding of the security and cultural context in the areas where we work. Mercy Corps Iraq has demonstrated a track record of working together with local stakeholders - from government directorates, as well as community leaders, women’s associations, local councils, Municipal Councils, Provincial Councils, Ninewa and Mosul Universities, and local and international NGOs. Mercy Corps has an especially strong background in designing and enacting social cohesion activities and peacebuilding with communities.

Program Summary

Mercy Corps’ approach within Iraq has allowed us to continue to provide critical assistance to some of the country’s most vulnerable populations during a period of tremendous upheaval, while expanding early recovery and development programs to support access to water, food, economic opportunities and peace and good governance for populations affected by years of conflict. Operational in Iraq since 2003 – and with a current annual budget of about USD $33 million from programs funded by USAID, DRL, PRM, Global Affairs Canada, GiZ, AFD, and others. With the launch of Mercy Corps’ Global Strategy, Pathway to Possibility, the country office is poised to operationalize an exciting three-year strategy with the vision to enhance the resilience of Iraqi communities to address the drivers of conflict, thrive in the face of climate change, and facilitate long term peace and prosperity. The resulting situation brings together a diversity of staff, technical expertise and program learning, along with a critical opportunity to influence policy makers and donor priorities moving forward.

General Position Summary

The Climate Advisor will work closely with all portfolios leads (Water Security, Peace and good governance, Economic opportunity), Proposal development and grants management team, QEL (quality and evidence learning unit), regional technical advisors and TRaQ and E&L unit. The role will strategically guide the work of Program Leadership team and Program Development and Grants Management team, to ensure that adequate leadership is applied to the design and implementation of Climate related relevant, innovative and adaptive programs; assist Deputy Country Director in maintaining the scale of portfolio through a forward looking business development strategy informed by coordinated engagement with donors, partners, peer organizations and various working groups and technical working groups.

Climate advisor will also lead implementation of climate focused projects included recently awarded 16 months WAVES and Climate project, World Bank funded project, MEACAM (regional project) and providing technical guidance to recently awarded INTEA’ASH (REVIVE) project.

In collaboration with Program Leadership, they will lead on ensuring the development of efficient, effective, climate related SOPs, policies, technical documents and serve as a nexus between various program teams and portfolios.

Essential Responsibilities

Strategic Growth Objectives

• Work closely with wider MCIQ teams to ensure Mercy Corps Global strategy (P2P) and the country office strategy guides decision making.
• Use the recently developed Annual Implementation Plan (AIP) to deliver on key objectives and targets that pertain to Program Quality, Evidence and Learning, and contribute to other workstreams as needed
• Build consensus around a climate common vision in Iraq looks like, including development and tracking appropriate policies, technical documents and indicators.
• Lead on the establishment of a newly created technical working groups in MCIQ, ensuring the TWGs are cohesive and efficient, well and appropriately managed, that team members are clear on the TWG mandate, and priorities and team members are well onboarded as needed
• Serve as a key partner to the DCD, Portfolio leads, PDG and QEL to ensure climate related initiatives and priorities are integrated across all programs and to ensure proper coordination across all programs
• Collaborate and coordinate with Regional and Global TRaQ and E&L teams, ensuring MCIQ participation in relevant forums,
• Lead MCIQ climate smart commitment and contribute to the achievements of other organizational commitments whenever possible (innovative and creative; evidence-driven, locally led; safe, diverse and inclusive)
• Lead by example and through direct orientation to ensure the MC global climate initiatives, approaches are understood by MCIQ teams,
• Lead on climate related proposal development processes, including budgeting, technical narrative and program logic models.
• Ensure Mercy Corps minimum standards, guidelines, policies and SOPs are understood and adhered by all team members,

Program leadership

• Provide technical leadership to ensure climate smart commitment is integrated in all portfolios and new project designs oversight and is ultimately responsible to ensure programs
• Provide leadership to increase understanding of climate smart commitment to all teams,
• Mercy Corps’ programming and operations in Iraq.
• Engage Iraq program leadership in ongoing climate related context analysis that enables programs and teams to adapt to significant changes in program designs.
• Create and maintain systems to ensure climate related technical coherence and promote creative programming across the programs portfolio.
• Participate in shaping climate related policies positions and advocacy messages relevant for the interests and MC Iraq country strategy.
• Work closely with the QEL unit to ensure that PM@MC guidance is followed at all stages of program implementation, including but not limited to development of detailed implementation plans, procurement plans, and recruitment plans at program start-up and 90-day program close-out plans

Strategic Business Development

• Lead climate related business development, in collaboration with the Program Development and Grants Management team and sector leads, strategic proposal development opportunities.
• Support DCD and PDG for prepositioning efforts with donors and authorities
• Write/review/contribute to proposals and concept notes for funding from donors including foundations, corporations, and US, European, and UN agencies, and other less traditional donors focusing on Peace and Good Governance
• Ensure inputs to proposal development processes are complete, of quality, and tailored to the needs and context of the target location.
• Extensively contribute to the development of new concepts within technical expertise and Work with other sectoral teams on the design and support of multi-sectoral programs that encompass elements of broader agency goals such as resilience, food security, economic opportunities, social cohesion and governance.
• Establish a network with the donor community, mainly donors working in the climate arena and related sectors.
• Closely collaborate with Senior E&L Manager and other designated PAQ team members when developing and drafting concept notes, proposals and draft budgets.
• Ensure that all the program staff have received climate related orientation / training in line with their level of responsibility and receive technical support relevant to their programs.
• Contributing with other technical advisors/ sectors leads to providing expert advice and ensure technical consistency across programs.

Program Implementation

• Maintain productive and strong working relationships with all program support functions.
• Engage in periodic in-depth reviews to ensure programs are GEDSI-sensitive and adhere to Do No Harm principles, in coordination with GEDSI Advisor
• Ensure all assigned are on-scope, on budget and on-time, whilst also ensuring impact and Value for Money. 
• Develop detail implementation plans, procurement plans, projection plans, and maintain productive and strong working relationships with all program support functions
• Coordinate the implementation with the local governments,
• Assist supervisor in ensuring that all program-related SoPs are being implemented to ensure high quality programming. 
• Ensure record retention requirements are being met consistently
• Work closely with PAQ/QEL to ensure that PM@MC guidance is followed by all program teams at all stages of program implementation, including but not limited to development of detailed implementation plans, procurement plans, and recruitment plans at program start-up and 90-day program close-out plans. 
• Ensure record retention requirements are being met consistently.
• Work closely with PAQ and program leadership to ensure lessons learned and recommendations are adapted and integrated into program implementation across the portfolio.
• Ensuring appropriate budget for projects assigned and adherence to MC policies and procedures, and all BVAs are updated on time and to a highly accurate standard. 
• Ensure donor budget compliance rules (flexibility, LIN description etc.) are understood and are adhered to. 
• Lead BvA meetings for assigned projects on a monthly basis.
• Ensures all reports are submitted on time and measured against the Narrative Report Writing Checklist (developed by PDG) before sharing final draft with PDG by the internal agreed upon deadline. 

Technical Working groups

• Support TWG focal points in managing TWGs and creating new TWGs as needed,
• Ensuring TWG related guidance documents are updated on regular basis,
• Active participation in community of practices (led by region and HQ),
• Ensuring wider participation of MCIQ teams in MCIQ led TWGs,
• Ensuring lesson learned are captured, documented and widely shared,

Team Management

• Create and sustain a work environment conducive to professional growth and of mutual respect where team members strive to achieve excellence.

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.
• Stay informed of incidents as they arise through the field and are raised through the program coordination mechanism.
• Liaising with operations and liaison teams for access letters and relevant approvals,
• Work closely with country-level security focal points to develop and maintain systems that ensure the safety and security of the team in all aspects of its work.
• Ensure that programs are designed and implemented with a clear analysis and understanding of security management priorities, whilst also maximizing visibility of the program in line with donor rules.

Supervisory Responsibility Project officer 

Accountability Reports Deputy Country Director

Works Directly With: Program Team, QEL unit, TRaQ, support functions,

Minimum Qualification and Transferable Skills

• Bachelor’s degree in climate or related fields (Media, Communications, Peace and good governance related subject)
• At least 8 years of work experience with an INGO / local NGO in climate, citizen engagement, CSOs capacity strengthening, youth engagement, advocacy field
• Prior experience working with national and local CSOs, preferably environmental CSOs, farmers organizations, youth organizations, community-based organizations
• Previous experience supporting in alliance/network – multistakeholder or NGO Demonstrable knowledge and engagement in critical climate issues, or in key climate-related sectors in Iraq
• Previous experience of participating in research,
• Previous experience working on World Bank or donor-funded projects desirable
• Prior skills in organizing training/events.
• Experience in program management, throughout the full project management cycle
• Experience in complex and diverse settings, with capacity to complete time sensitive deliverables in unstable environments
• Strong experience of mentoring a team, identifying talent and capacity building
• Knowledge of participatory approaches and community sensitization and mobilization
• Demonstrated ability to manage and communicate effectively with and ethnically diverse team in a sensitive environment
• Demonstrated flexibility and creativity in planning and problem solving
• Ability to effectively represent Mercy Corps and it interests to key stakeholders including relevant government institutions, including national and international NGOs
• Excellent oral and written skills in English and Arabic required
• Demonstrated success working effectively and respectfully with multiple stakeholders including the private sector, local authorities and partners in complex environments.
• Successful and proven negotiation, communication and organization skills
• Computer skills – Word and Excel desired
• Language skills – Arabic, English desired
• Ability to work and interact with diverse staff from different ethnicities and backgrounds.
• Ability to conduct oneself with sensitivity and respect toward others

Success Factors

The successful Climate advisor will have the ability to work closely with a diverse team of individuals in a highly fluid work and security environment with a capacity to spark innovative and gender transformative approaches and inspire groups to collaborate closely to implement high-quality programming.  He/She will foster a positive, open culture of growth, innovation and collective problem solving.

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

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

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 and 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 and have signed on to the Interagency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme. By applying for this role an applicant confirms that they have not previously violated an employer’s sexual misconduct, sexual exploitation and abuse, child safeguarding or trafficking policy. 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. As an applicant, if you witness or experience any form of sexual misconduct during the recruitment process, please report this to Mercy Corps Integrity Hotline (integrityhotline@mercycorps.org).

QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCES:

Successful candidates should meet the education and experience requirements in the position descriptions for the vacant positions. S/he must be self- motivated, creative, tolerant, and able to work in difficult, stressful environments and follow Mercy Corps procedures. S/he must respect diversity and gender equality at the workplace

Interested candidates should submit their CVs to the email address iq-mchrrecruitment@mercycorps.org before the deadline indicated below.

Please indicate on the subject of the email the title of the position you are applying for.

ALL APPLICATIONS/ CVs SHOULD BE RECEIVED BY September 10^th , 2024

Potential candidates for the post will be contacted for an interview and processed according to Mercy Corps Human Resources policies and procedures. As soon as qualified candidates are identified the positions will be closed automatically. Please note that only shortlisted applicants will be contacted for potential interview.

Any documents submitted will remain with Mercy Corps and will not be returned to candidates.

Mercy Corps is an equal opportunity employer. Females are highly encouraged to apply.

Female Candidates are encouraged to apply for This Position. Mercy Corps is an equal opportunity employer. We actively seek out diverse backgrounds, perspectives, and skills so that we can be collectively stronger and have sustained global Impact.

Mercy Corps Iraq offers a variety of arrangements that enable women to excel in their careers. Mercy Corps Iraq ensures a safe and inclusive working environment for women and men through field security training and measures to provide secure working arrangements on-site and in the office.