NFI Officer at Mercy Corps

Location: Ngala, Dikwa, Borno
Reports Directly To: Senior NFI officer
Supervisory Responsibility: NFI Assistant
Works Directly With: Food Distribution/NFI, WASH, Finance, Program and Operation Teams.

Program / Department Summary

• With the insurgency affecting North East Nigeria and displacing millions of people, Mercy Corps is expanding its humanitarian programming to support the conflict-affected population in Borno.
• In response to the ongoing crisis, Mercy Corps is scaling-up food security, non-food items, nutrition, protection, livelihoods, and water sanitation hygiene (WASH) activities in Dikwa, Ngala, and Jere Local Government Areas in Borno State to address emergency needs.

General Position Summary

• The NFI Officer is responsible in managing all NFI activities and to conducts comprehensive sectoral needs assessments in liaison with other relevant team members such as protection advisor, community relief committee and WaSH team.
• He/she will be involve and assist to develop all technical components and planning to manage Safer distribution of NFI kits, WASH activities,  Preparation of BoQ and Estimates, Planning, Technical Details, improve development techniques for acceptable and qualitative NFIs.

Essential Job Functions

• Carrying out NFI needs assessments taking into account the current situation, projected population planning figures and the expected scale of returns.
• Developments of NFI strategies which are framed by Mercy Corps’ Global Strategy for NFI and take into consideration the local context, age and gender, culture, climate, environmental protection and the availability of local resources, including materials, capacities and existing infrastructure.
• Provide clear guidance on standards for NFIs, including minimum emergency standards to meet basic and essential needs as well as guidance for phased improvement of shelter conditions that will be necessary as the duration of the displacement prolongs.
• Compiling, analyzing and mapping available information on shelter options in country taking into account relevant policies adopted by the Government and NFI/WASH/CCCM cluster. When planning NFI avtivities, ensuring that the technical component reflects Sphere minimum standards for the provision of emergency and other types of NFI assistance and is within the budgetary requirements. Due  consideration should be given to standards in other relevant sectors such as water, sanitation and hygiene.
• Ensuring the NFI strategy is periodically reviewed to reflect the evolving situation in country and progressively transitioning to more sustainable and affordable solutions. This process should be done in close collaboration with the NFI/CCCM/WASH Cluster, beneficiaries and the host Government while bearing in mind the shelter needs of people upon their eventual return to their community of origin.
• Ensuring that specifications, bills of quantities are produced in a technically sound and standardized manner. Establish monitoring and evaluation tools to ensure that works are implemented according to plans and completed within the designated timeframe.
• Ensure that local communities and community relief committee have been consulted on all activities so as not to create unnecessary tension between the displaced and host populations.
• Monitor all NFI and infrastructure activities
• When identifying beneficiaries, ensure that the needs of the most vulnerable population of concern (POC) and host families are addressed. Mercy Corps’ vulnerability indicators should be applied in a participatory manner during the beneficiary selection.
• When planning NFI activities, ensure that the technical component reflects Sphere minimum standards for the provision of emergency and other types of shelter assistance and is within the budgetary requirements. Standards for other sectors such as water and sanitation should be taken into consideration also.
• The position requires regular contact with program, protection and field staff in country in order to ensure technical support related to NFIs and other team activities.
• Close and regular contact with NFI/CCCM/WASH Cluster and Government Authorities, is essential to discuss matters relating to NFI coordination and provision.

Knowledge and Experience

• BA/S or higher in Health Education, Sciences and other science related fields.
• 3-4+ years in NFI sector
• Experience in NFIs in humanitarian context etc.
• Fluency in both verbal and written English highly preferred. Fluency in Kanuri is required
• Multi-tasking, coordination, organization, prioritization skills essential. Demonstrated strengths in analytical skills, monitoring and evaluation, and report writing
• Highly-developed computers skills, with strong familiarity with MS Office, Power point, Outlook, Excel, Word.
• Ability to work independently and cooperatively with team members required. Ability to work under pressure
• Strong interpersonal, intercultural and communication skills

Success Factors

• The successful candidate will combine curiosity and strong technical skills, experience in NFI programs, and a want-to-do attitude.
• S/he will be an effective communicator, with dedication towards community work, commitment to work long hours in the field conditions with limited access to resources.
• S/He will be highly motivated, with initiative and capable to work with limited direct supervision.
• Ideally s/he will have previous experience in working in large-scale emergency programs in insecure and conflict-affected contexts, including remote management and capacity development.
• S/he will be willing to conduct several days-long field travels and work in ethnically and culturally diversified and fast growing team