Job Vacancy In Mercy Corps,Job Vacancy For Coordinator, 321 views0 applications

Position title: PROVINCIAL CLUSTER COORDINATOR

About Mercy Corps
Mercy Corps is a leading global organization powered by the belief that a better world is possible. In disaster, in hardship, in more than 40 countries around the world, we partner to put bold solutions into action — helping people triumph over adversity and build stronger communities from within. Now, and for the future. Mercy Corps has been operating in Nepal since 2005, implementing programs in food security, agriculture, market development, financial services, girl’s education, climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction. We take a systems-based approach in our programming, with the aim of improving the lives and potential of vulnerable individuals and communities across Nepal.

Program / Department Summary
Due to geographic and other vulnerabilities, each year Nepal faces substantial disturbance and damage in the education sector due to diverse kinds of hazards impacting children’s rights to access to education and continuation of quality learning achievements. Nepal continues to face frequent disasters such as floods, landslides, fires, earthquakes, and disease outbreaks like cholera, dengue, and now, the COVID-19. The education sector is vulnerable to natural disasters, as they can result in damage or destruction of learning facilities and materials, closures and the prolonged disruption of education, increased barriers to education, limited access to schooling, and impact on the quality of education. The COVID-19 pandemic-led school closures have posed challenges in children’s learning continuity. The COVID-19 pandemic forced the closure of all about 35,000 schools in Nepal, for 8 months which impacted the learning loss of 8.3 million children in the first wave.

In aligning with the federal structure, the Constitution of Nepal (2015) has devolved the local government\’s power and authority related to basic and secondary school education. The overall management of basic and secondary education is with the local governments, including emergency preparedness and response. In this light, European Union and UNICEF have collaborated to support the government for COVID19 education response initiatives, focusing on cluster capacity strengthening to equip education stakeholders responsible for preparedness and response to combat all kinds of emergencies to enhance the resilience of school education.

Implementation of Minimum Package of the Comprehensive School Safety (CSS) is the priority agenda of government and development partners in Nepal. EU and UNICEF have collaborated to support the government for Education cluster strengthening initiatives that also address the education covid responses. This support will be extended through TA support. To support these initiatives UNICEF has established partnerships with the Mercy Corps and NSET to provide technical assistance to the Ministry of Education and Science (MoEST) and Centre for Education Human Resource Development (CEHRD) at federal, provincial, and local levels. These partnerships envision the capacity to strengthen federal and cluster partners of all seven provinces, update and develop the Cluster corresponding guidance, tools, and training packages and disseminate it to all three tiers of the governments and clusters partners. The developed guidance, tools, and techniques will be initially disseminated to 80 LGs in Madesh, Karnali, and Sudur Pashchim provinces and eventually disseminate to all the local governments. Mercy Corps will be overseeing the development of the guidance, tools and techniques in 30LGs in Karnali and Sudurpaschim province. Strong and robust cluster mechanism aligning with the national disaster laws and guidelines contribute to reducing further learning loss due to any disturbance, natural hazard, and pandemics.

General Position Summary
The Provincial Cluster Coordinator will provide technical assistance to the Lumbini provincial cluster in emergency preparedness, response and ensure the education system strengthening in the arena of education in emergency.

Essential Job Responsibilities
The specific duties and responsibilities of the Provincial Cluster Coordinator includes the following points primarily, but is not limited to the following:

• Facilitate lead and co-leads to prioritize cluster meetings focusing on emergency preparedness and response. Prepare technical inputs to moderate this discussion in the cluster meeting
• Develop/revisit cluster strategies, priorities adopting a consultative process
• Facilitate the consultative process to update the National contingency plan, monsoon response and preparedness plan, winterization plan, and other guidance documents in coordination with leads, co-leads, and cluster and inter-cluster members, considering all hazards and pandemics
• Ensure that education preparedness and response initiatives are in line with existing policy guidance, technical standards, and relevant Government policies
• Develop an annual CP revision process clearly outlining roles and responsibilities of lead, co-lead, cluster members, cluster secretariate, and if necessary, an expert. Prepare an inventory of various national and sectoral emergency plans with relevant guidance notes on when how they will up updated/reported
• Provide technical support to co-leads to develop participatory humanitarian emergency preparedness plans in consultation with cluster members
• Engage with the cluster partners to agree on common and specific actions from the federal cluster to the provincial and local cluster clusters
• Support TWGs lead and co-leads to prepare their work plan and its implementation
• Facilitate forming and capacitating the TWG at the provincial levels
• Facilitate cluster strengthening initiatives supported by the Federal Education Cluster. Liaise with implementing partners and local clusters, taking proactive and coordinated action for timely implementation
• Adopt a global education cluster EiE training package to orient federal lead members on the fundamental humanitarian principles and minimum standards of EIE.
• Provide technical backstopping in capacity-building training for federal, provincial, and local level cluster members
• Provide support to leadership in the coordination of Comprehensive School Safety (CSS) Minimum Package implementation
• Mapping of sector resource mobilization for EiE.
• Coordinate with the EMIS section to discuss and support the compilation of EiE information and prepare a possible action within the Sector and other information derived from the alternative mechanism.
• Facilitate a strategic discussion between LEDPG and cluster on complement/supplement actions during emergencies
• Prepare an analytical overview including cluster gaps, overlaps, and coverages of partner’s intervention by analyzing available data and information and sharing it with cluster members.
• Facilitate inter-cluster/sector coordination and technical meetings to pre-identified interventions required to support education response with SOPs
• Contribute to clear, and effective communication between the local, provincial, and federal level Education cluster to strengthen reporting mechanism, need assessment, and data collection
• Prepare monthly updates on cluster strategic interventions, their challenges, and recommendations with lead, co-leads, and cluster members.
• Contribute to clear and effective communication between the local, provincial, and federal level Education cluster to strengthen reporting mechanism, need assessment, and data collection
• Perform other duties as assigned

Security

• Ensure compliance with security procedures and policies as determined by country leadership.
• Proactively ensure that team members and community operate in a secure environment and are aware of policies.

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.

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.

Others

• Ensure proper integration of child safeguarding and GESI aspects into sector specific project planning and implementation.
• Mercy Corps as a humanitarian agency is expected to respond as and when crisis and humanitarian situation engulfs. As an MC employee all staff are expected to be part of humanitarian and emergency response in addition to their regular roles and responsibilities.
• Create and sustain a work environment of mutual respect where team members strive to achieve excellence.
• Conduct themselves both professionally and personally in such a manner as to bring credit to Mercy Corps and not to jeopardize its humanitarian mission.
• Other duties as assigned by their supervisor and or Country Director.

Supervisory Responsibility
Reports Directly to: Project Manager

Works Directly with: Sr. MEL Officer, Information Management Officer, Program Manager (IAMSE)

Knowledge and Experience

• Bachelors’ Degree in Development Studies/Humanities/Social Science
• Minimum 5-year experience in education in emergencies, education cluster coordination & Disaster preparedness or similar field
• Awareness of the needs and related program considerations for children, vulnerable and marginalized communities.
• Established the ability to manage and communicate effectively with team members of varied work styles.
• Demonstrated flexibility and creativity in planning and problem-solving.
• Proven ability to learn quickly, lead a project to achieve stated results and objectives.
• Experience working with governments, civil society, national and international organizations.
• Effective verbal and written communication, multi-tasking, organizational and prioritization skills.
• Ability to effectively represent Mercy Corps and its interests to key stakeholders.
• Ability to work effectively with an ethnically diverse team in a sensitive environment.

Success Factors
The successful Provincial Cluster Coordinator will have an outstanding ability to develop, implement and manage education system strengthening project within the current project structure in the province.. They will also have proven experience with cross-cultural team and capacity building, individual staff development and strong mentoring skills. Prioritizing, problem solving, ability to seize opportunities, attention to detail and strategic vision are essential.

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 of work hours when deployed in a field posting or on a visit/short term assignment to a field posting. 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.

Ongoing Learning

In support of our belief that learning organizations are more effective, efficient and relevant to the communities we serve, we empower all team members to dedicate 5% of their time to learning activities that further their personal and/or professional growth and development

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

Achieving our mission begins with how we build our team and work together. Through our commitment to enriching our organization with people of different origins, beliefs, backgrounds, and ways of thinking, we are better able to leverage the collective power of our teams and solve the world’s most complex challenges. We strive for a culture of trust and respect, where everyone contributes their perspectives and authentic selves, reaches their potential as individuals and teams, and collaborates to do the best work of their lives.

We recognize that diversity and inclusion is a journey, and we are committed to learning, listening and evolving to become more diverse, equitable and inclusive than we are today.

Equal Employment Opportunity

Mercy Corps is an equal opportunity employer that does not tolerate discrimination on any basis. We actively seek out diverse backgrounds, perspectives, and skills so that we can be collectively stronger and have sustained global impact. We are committed to providing an environment of respect and psychological safety where equal employment opportunities are available to all. We do not engage in or tolerate discrimination on the basis of race, color, gender identity, gender expression, religion, age, sexual orientation, national or ethnic origin, disability (including HIV/AIDS status), marital status, military veteran status or any other protected group in the locations where we work.

Safeguarding & Ethics

Mercy Corps is committed to ensuring that all individuals we come into contact with through our work, whether team members, community members, program participants or others, are treated with respect and dignity. We are committed to the core principles regarding prevention of sexual exploitation and abuse laid out by the UN Secretary General and IASC. We will not tolerate child abuse, sexual exploitation, abuse, or harassment by or of our team members. As part of our commitment to a safe and inclusive work environment, team members are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner, respect local laws and customs, and to adhere to Mercy Corps Code of Conduct Policies and values at all times. Team members are required to complete mandatory Code of Conduct e-learning courses upon hire and on an annual basis.