Conflict Management Specialist at Mercy Corps

PROGRAM / DEPARTMENT SUMMARY

The Community Initiatives to Promote Peace (CIPP) Activity is a 60-month Cooperative Agreement with the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), and aims to strengthen skills and relationships that will empower communities to prevent and/or respond to violence and violent extremism, and foster enabling environments for peace through policy advocacy, media outreach, and linkages to development programs.

The CIPP Activity is implemented by Mercy Corps Nigeria in partnership with the African Radio Drama Association (ARDA), Interfaith Mediation Centre (IMC), Pastoral Resolve (PARE), Savannah Centre for Diplomacy Democracy and Development (SCDDD), and the Social Justice and Human Development for Peace Initiative (JDPC).  The CIPP Activity is implemented in six states: Kano, Kaduna and Katsina (North-west), Benue, Kogi and Plateau States (North-central). 

GENERAL POSITION SUMMARY

Based in Kaduna and reporting to the CIPP Program Manager, the Conflict Management Specialist will play a key role in increasing the number of people and institutions with the skills to manage conflict situations, the ability to apply conflict-sensitive approaches to professional activities, coach and mentor trained Mediators in CIPP’s North-west locations (and other locations as required). S/he will oversee CIPP’s accountability mechanism, provide technical oversight to the assigned implementing partner, and support the CIPP Program Manager as assigned.

ESSENTIAL JOB RESPONSIBILITIES

PROGRAM IMPLEMENTATION

• The position holder will serve as CIPP’s Community Accountability and Reporting Mechanism (CARM) focal person to increase coordination and mainstreaming throughout CIPP’s interventions.
• Jointly facilitates different training cycles such as, Conflict Sensitivity and Do No Harm approaches, Interest-based Negotiation and Mediation (IBNM), Conflict Sensitive Reportage to carefully mapped stakeholders in CIPP’s North-west states.
• Supports CIPP program officers and interventions in Kano and Katsina states.
• Serves as a desk officer and provides technical oversight to the assigned implementing partner.
• Responsible for the day-to-day implementation of program interventions and scale-up of horizontal and vertical linkages of CIPP’s structures in the duty station state.
• Tracks and supports the application of acquired knowledge from all training cycles.
• Conducts coaching and mentoring sessions for the trained Mediators.
• Tracks and reports on disputes resolved in the duty station state.
• Supports the design and implementation of CIPP’s cross-cutting interventions (Communications, GESI, MEL) in the duty station state.
• Undertakes other assigned responsibilities that support all CIPP’s teams.

STRATEGY AND VISION

• Recognize opportunities for innovative action and create an environment where alternative viewpoints are welcomed.
• Set direction by prioritizing and organizing actions & resources to achieve objectives and contribute to countrywide strategy development.
• Develop and organize activities to secure resources for programs and convince stakeholders to provide support.
• Create and maintain systems ensuring effective and transparent use of financial resources for timely and informative reporting in line with donor and Mercy Corps policies and procedures.

TEAM AND MANAGEMENT

• 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 and sub-awardees with information, tools and other resources to improve performance and reach objectives.

FINANCE AND OPERATIONAL COMPLIANCE

• Ensure compliance with all Mercy Corps’ and Donor’s regulations.

ORGANIZATIONAL LEARNING

• As part of our commitment to organizational learning and in support of our understanding that learning organizations are more effective, efficient and relevant to the communities they serve, we expect all team members to commit 5% of their time to learning activities that benefit Mercy Corps as well as themselves.

REPRESENTATION AND COORDINATION

• Intentionally engage with government ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) to sustain acceptance and promote collaboration with CIPP’s interventions.

INFLUENCE AND REPRESENTATION

• Identify, build and manage collaborative partnerships with consortium partners, sub-grantees, donors, local governments and other stakeholders.
• Communicate effectively to ensure overall project targets and donor obligations are met.

SAFETY/SECURITY

• Ensure compliance with Mercy Corps’ Safety/Security procedures and policies as determined by country leadership.
• Proactively ensure that teams and program participants/recipients are aware of policies and operate in a safe/secure environment.

ACCOUNTABILITY TO PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS/RECIPIENTS

• Mercy Corps team members are expected to apply international standards of accountability, specifically to our program participants/recipients and to guide international relief and development work, while actively engaging the program participants/recipients (government, communities, etc) as equal partners in the design, monitoring and evaluation of field interventions.

OTHER(S)

• 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 always, in all country locations/venues, and not jeopardize its peacebuilding interventions.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITY

N/A

ACCOUNTABILITY

Reports directly to - CIPP Program Manager

Works directly with - Conflict Technical Advisor, State Program Officers and Programs and Operational teams in Abuja and across CIPP’s states of implementation.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATION AND EXPERIENCE

• Advanced degree in Social Sciences such as Peace and Conflict Management, International Law, International Relations, Human Rights, Policy/Political Science, Development Studies, or related fields.
• Five years and above relevant experience in implementing multifaceted conflict management and peacebuilding interventions in conflict and transitional contexts.
• Experience with designing training plans and facilitating training sessions on Interest-based Negotiation and Mediation (IBNM), Conflict Sensitivity and Do No Harm principles/approaches, and Conflict Sensitive Reportage to carefully mapped stakeholders.
• Experience with conducting stakeholders’ and resource mapping, needs assessment, etc that resulted in successful and sustainably implemented quick impact projects.
• Experience with collaborating and supporting smooth operations of the Program’s sub-grantee(s).
• Experience working with local and state government authorities, I/NGOs, traditional leadership, and community groups.
• Demonstrated and progressive ability for creative and flexible program design and implementation.
• Ability to effectively represent Mercy Corps to key stakeholders.
• Effective oral, written communication and reporting skills in English language
• Medium to high level of communication and facilitation skills in Hausa language (and other appropriate local dialects) will be an added advantage.
• Ability to work respectfully and effectively with socially, ethnically, and religiously diverse teams and groups in sensitive environments.
• Possess internationally recognized professional certifications in project or program management, or a commitment to obtain the qualification in the early months of work.

BEHAVIORS

• Charismatic and inspires confidence from team members.
• Pays attention to detail and capable of carrying out given tasks as effectively as possible.

MOTIVATIONS

• Inspired to perform well and able to contribute to the success and impact of the program and the organization.
• Inspired to complete assigned tasks within authorization.
• Inspired to research extensively and perform with little help.

SUCCESS FACTORS

• The most successful Mercy Corps staff members have strong commitments to teamwork and accountability, thrive in evolving and changing environments, and make effective written and verbal communication a priority in all situations.
• Must be able to work independently and show initiative. Strong leadership, communication, and management skills are essential. Understands peacebuilding principles and their application to program implementation. Must be able to solve problems and multi-task on a range of administrative and programmatic issues. Able to interact effectively with international and national personnel is required.

TRAVELS

• The post holder will be based in Kaduna state, with up to 50% travel to other assigned states for program implementation.