Program Intern at Mercy Corps

Location: Maiduguri, Borno State, Nigeria

Position Status: Internship

Reference Number: ABV/PRO/2020/30

PROJECT SUMMARY

Mercy Corps is partnering with Women’s Refugee Commission (WRC), Washington University (WashU) and an independent consultant to advance gender equitable attitudes and behaviors within families, with an emphasis on reducing girls’ vulnerabilities to violence, building resilience, and breaking intergenerational cycles of harmful norms. The project which is a pilot will be implemented in Maiduguri Metropolitan Council (MMC), Borno State - Northeast Nigeria.

GENERAL POSITION SUMMARY:

Working under the supervision of Senior Program Officer, Gender and Protection, the Program Intern is in charge of community mobilization, data collection, storage, and management at field office. S/he supports the implementation of Protection sector activities including the mobilization of communities. He will assist coordinating mentors and coordinators working on WRC project. S/he will also support other sectors from time to time as directed by supervisor.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:

• Support the validation, enrolment of adolescents and caregivers in implementation communities
• Support the setting up of safe spaces across implementation communities.
• Facilitate monthly review meetings with Mentors, Coordinators and the community across implementation communities
• Conduct routine monitoring visits to safe spaces and provide on the spot mentoring and support
• Collate and track weekly attendance at safe spaces
• With support from the Senior Program Officer Gender and Protection and Program Manager, Hadin Kai ensure that program implementation mainstreams gender and protection in coordination with best practices;
• Provide weekly field reports, capturing activities progress, lessons learned, success stories on the project as well as general situation and community updates and needs.
• Support where necessary community meetings to identify gender related priorities and protection concerns.
• Support MEL and program teams in conducting routine quality checks, monitoring, supervision, evaluation and other duties as assigned.

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.

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.
• Work closely with Mercy Corps Nigeria country team’s security focal point to develop and maintain systems that ensure the safety and security of the team in all aspects of its implementation process.

ACCOUNTABILITY TO BENEFICIARIES

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.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITY: None

REPORTS DIRECTLY TO: Senior Program Officer, Gender and Protection

WORKS DIRECTLY WITH: Finance, Program, MEL, and Operation teams.

KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:

The ideal candidate should possess the following:

• At least diploma in social sciences in relevant field required;
• Six (6) months of experience working on the development, implementation, administration and compliance of a field-based international development or humanitarian program; general gender and protection mainstreaming experience & knowledge required.
• Experience working with multiple stakeholders to identify beneficiaries according to criteria required.
• Committed to humanitarian work and principles
• Commitment to renewing and maintaining knowledge of best practices
• Demonstrated strengths in analytical skills, monitoring and evaluation, and basic report writing
• Strong interpersonal, intercultural and communication skills
• Excellent oral and written skills and understand the use of computer
• Fluency in English and Hausa languages. Kanuri will be a plus

Salary & Working Conditions

The intern will be expected to work 40 hours a week
The intern will be paid a monthly allowance of N60,000 subjected to 5%WHT and health insurance.
SUCCESS FACTORS:

The successful candidate will have a can-do attitude. Ideally s/he will be very committed and willingness to learn and work in remote locations.  S/he is a problem solver, an effective community mobilizer who is adept in successfully dealing with issues of complexity. S/he is an active listener and contributor, working to create a strong team share ideas and learn.

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 based in Maiduguri, Borno State.