Senior Project Officer - TARE at Mercy Corps

Program/Department Summary

• Within the Conflict Management Programs portfolio Mercy Corps implemented a UKAID-funded program called Conciliation in Nigeria through Community-Based Conflict Management and Cooperative Use of Resources (CONCUR), the Ford Foundation-funded Future of Youth in Norther Nigeria project, and is currently implementing the GHR Foundation-funded Inter-Religious Peacebuilding in Northern Nigerian (IPNN) project, the USAID-funded Engaging Communities for Peace in Nigeria (ECPN) project, and the UKAID-funded Youth Stabilization Initiative for Borno (YOU-SB) project.
• Supporting Harmonious Association, Religious Participation and Engagement for Northern Nigeria (TARE, which stands for “together” in Hausa), will be implemented in three Northern Nigerian states: Borno, Kaduna and Plateau. TARE will strategically build on the past four years of the IPNN Program to: Enhance the capacity of faith-based organizations and institutions to engage communities of different faiths in peacebuilding efforts.
• Strengthen the capacity of religious leaders and create a platform for inter-faith negotiations across Christian, Sunni and Shia communities in Kaduna
• Complement PVE programing in Borno through supporting religious leaders to prevent youth participation in extremist activities through community-level and formal governance activities.
• Compare and disseminate analysis on the integration of religious leaders and faith-based organizations in peacebuilding.
• TARE is designed for comparative analysis of three approaches to peacebuilding and will partner with religious leaders and faith-based organizations in three distinct ways to assess the:
  • Role of faith-based organizations and institutions in peacebuilding.
  • Role of religious leaders in countering violent extremism.
  • Role of religious leaders in peacebuilding.

General Position Summary

• The Senior Project Officer will support the implementation of activities related to capacity building for religious leaders and religious institutions, facilitation and implementation of joint PVE plans, and the facilitation of events related to advocacy initiatives.
• The Senior Project Officer will also provide support to all other activities related to the GHR-funded TARE program, and will ensure smooth, timely, and compliant implementation.
• The Senior Project Officer will liaise frequently with implementing partners, community members, religious leaders, and represent Mercy Corps at relevant meetings.

Responsibilities
The Senior Project Officer will be responsible for the following activities across the three states:

Program Support:

• Support technical aspects of inter-religious peacebuilding and conflict management program by assisting with the development of activities/agendas/curricula related to peacebuilding.
• Facilitate and co-facilitate community meetings, events, and trainings as required.
• Ensure implementation of activities is on time, target and budget.
• Liaise with TARE partner organizations and potential resource persons as needed.
• Support the Project Manager in overseeing the performance of project implementation by partners, and conduct frequent field visits to project sites.
• Maintain links with religious leaders and faith-based organizations, and keep up-to-date records of best practices around conflict management and peacebuilding strategies.
• In collaboration with M&E staff, implement relevant surveys, needs assessments, data and information collection for on-going monitoring.
• Coordinate closely with other project staff to ensure all objectives of the proposal and activities are met.

Representation:

• Represent Mercy Corps at government, donor, NGO, community meetings in close coordination with the Project Manager.
• Coordinate activities with implementing partners, local government representatives, religious leaders, other international and local organizations operating in the same geographic area, as well as with other Mercy Corps programs in Nigeria.

Knowledge and Experience

• Fluency in Hausa and English.
• BA/S or equivalent in conflict management, social sciences, international development or other relevant field.
• A minimum of 5 years of experience working in the non-profit sector preferably on conflict management/peacebuilding and community development.
• Experience working in rural areas in Nigeria, particularly in target states of TARE.
• Experience working in a multi-organizational team (international and national partners) is a plus.
• Strong written and oral communication skills in English required, including report development, writing and editing. Knowledge of Hausa is strongly preferred.
• Demonstrated attention to detail, ability to follow procedures, meet deadlines, and work independently and cooperatively with team members.
• Experience engaging with State and Local Government authorities, religious leaders and local partners.
• Experience managing community-based inter-religious peacebuilding and conflict management interventions.
• Strong training and capacity building experience.
• Deep understanding of the conflict dynamics in Northern Nigeria.

Success Factor:

• The successful Compliance Manager will show ability to interact effectively with international and national personnel. 
• A demonstrated ability to multi-task, meet deadlines and process information in support of changing program activities is necessary.  A high professional standard of finance and procurement ethics as well as the willingness and ability to enforce compliance with Mercy Corps and donor policies and procedures is essential. 
• The ability to take financial data and present it in meaningful financial reports is essential.