Cash and Livelihood Program Officer at Mercy Corps

Location: Potiskum, Yobe, Nigeria - with 50% travel
Position Status Full-time; Regular
Supervisory Responsibility: CASH & Livelihoods Program Assistants (2)
Reports Directly to: Field Manager
Works directly with: Field Manager, MEL Team, Agric Market Systems Officer, Finance, Program and Operation teams

Program / Department Summary

• Mercy Corps has been present in Nigeria since 2012, focusing its interventions on humanitarian assistance, economic development, and conflict mitigation.
• With the ongoing insurgency in Northeast Nigeria causing the displacement of millions of individuals, Mercy Corps started its humanitarian response in 2014 to address the rising humanitarian needs.
• As the crisis has persisted, Mercy Corps’ strategy has also expanded to address the root causes of the conflict and seek to build the long term resilience of communities with integrated programs focusing on governance, the recovery of markets and livelihoods, social cohesion and social protection, youth empowerment, and local conflict management.

General Position Summary

• The Cash and Livelihood Program Officer is responsible for the day-to-day implementation of unconditional cash (UCT), cash for work (CFW) and using systems are in place to support cash transfer programming and livelihood interventions in Northeast Nigeria (Borno state).
• The Cash & Livelihood Program Officer will work closely with the Field Manager, Team Leader, MEL team, and operations staff (including finance and operations) to ensure that activities are implemented according to schedule, budget and required quality.

Essential Job Functions
Strategy and Vision:

• Recognize opportunities to evolve the current humanitarian portfolio into a more effective and impactful portfolio addressing the changing needs of conflict-affected populations.
• Contribute to countrywide strategy development.

Representation and Coordination:

• Identify, build and manage collaborative partnerships with communities, local authorities and other stakeholders.
• Ensure effective coordination with relevant working groups, UN, ICRC and colleagues I/NGO agencies.

Program Management - CASH:

• Oversee the implementation of UCT and CFW activities and administration of the teams across program field locations;
• Develop activity work plans and manage day-to-day activity implementation;
• Ensure that program implementation is responsive to community needs, meets targets, and is carried out in line with best practices;
• Ensure that beneficiaries are effectively targeted according to vulnerability criteria;
• Establish and maintain effective program reporting, and monitoring and evaluation systems (to track, analyze and report on results) for both internal and external use;
• Integrate community approaches, protection mainstreaming, gender sensitivity and capacity building into all activities as appropriate;
• Ensure program filing system is in place, adheres to internal and donor regulation and filing is regularly maintained;
• Adhere to all MC policies related to security, operations and transport/ logistics information related to programming.

Program Management - Livelihood Interventions:

• Coordinate with MEL team to map, identify and register program participants.
• Lead in the selection of beneficiaries with support from Cash & Livelihood Assistants, MEL Team & Agric Systems Officer.
• Facilitate setting up of VSLA groups to provide safe space for beneficiaries.
• Identify reliable and trusted members locally to serve as village agents for VSLAs.
• Coordinate the sensitization of beneficiaries.
• Coordinate with the protection sector to get village agents trained in psychosocial support.
• Facilitate training of beneficiaries on financial literacy, bookkeeping and smart saving practices.
• Lead the market assessment to ascertain the most profitable skills in the intervention locations.
• Work with operations (procurement) to select the financial service provider (FSP) for cash disbursement.
• Lead the cash disbursement to beneficiaries through FSP.
• Coordinate post distribution monitoring with MEL team.
• Ensure the grantees VSLA meetings and small-scale businesses are monitored monthly.
• Ensure effective community engagement to create enabling environment and ownership.
• Submit monthly program update including success stories to the supervisor.

Team Management:

• Supervise, hire and orient team members, as necessary.
• Create and sustain a work environment of mutual respect where team members strive to achieve excellence.
• Promote accountability, communicate expectations and provide constructive feedback via regular performance reviews.
• Provide team members with information, tools and other resources to improve performance and reach objectives.
• Contribute to country team-building efforts, help team members identify problem-solving options and ensure the integration of all team members into relevant decision-making processes.
• Identify any gaps or capacity needs within the team and ensure training and capacity building are incorporated into program planning.

Finance & Compliance Management:

• Ensure compliance with all donor and Mercy Corps regulations.
• Oversee the UCT and CFW activity budgets and project monthly cash flow.

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.

Other:

• Conduct himself/herself both professionally and personally in such a manner as to bring credit to Mercy Corps and not jeopardize its humanitarian mission.
• Other duties as assigned.

Knowledge and Experience

• MA/MS/MBA in relevant field required.
• Minimum 4-5 years of experience working on the development, implementation, administration and compliance of a field-based international development or humanitarian program; specifically in economic recovery.
• Prior experience implementing livelihoods programs is essential, preferably in conflict settings.
• Experience working with multiple stakeholders to identify beneficiaries according to criteria required.
• Experience with running assessments, monitoring and evaluation and other learning efforts required.
• Experience representing the organization and its interests to a diverse range of local and international government officials, local civil society organizations, other international organizations, the media and the public.
• Commitment to renewing and maintaining knowledge of best practices
• Demonstrated training and facilitation experience
• Ability to work under pressure
• Demonstrated strengths in analytical skills, monitoring and evaluation, and report writing
• Strong interpersonal, intercultural and communication skills
• Excellent oral and written skills and computer skills
• Fluency in English; fluency in Hausa is required.

Success Factors:

• Must be able to work independently and show initiative. Strong leadership, communication, and management skills are essential. Understanding of humanitarian principles and their application to program implementation is required. Ability to supervise, mentor and coach a diverse team.
• Must be able to problem solve and multi-task on a range of administrative and programmatic issues. The ability to interact effectively with international and national personnel is required. 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.
• 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.

Living Conditions / Environmental Conditions:

• The position is base in Potiskum, Yobe State and it requires up to 50 % travel to field offices in and around Potiskum.