Conflict and Governance Specialist at Mercy Corps Nigeria Full Time

Job Title: Conflict and Governance Specialist

Requisition Number: CONFL003360
Location: Yola, Adamawa
Employment Type: Full-time, Regular
Duration: 15 months

Program/Department Summary

• Mercy Corps has been present in Nigeria since 2012, focusing its interventions on adolescent girls’ empowerment, economic and market development and conflict mitigation.
• With the insurgency spilling over from the Northeast of Nigeria and causing displacement of millions of individuals, Mercy Corps started its humanitarian response in 2014 to address the rising humanitarian needs. With funding from institutional donors, foundations and private corporations, Mercy Corps continues to provide assistance to meet the basic needs of vulnerable populations in the areas of food security, shelter, water and sanitation, protection, and livelihoods
• With the recognition of the protracted crisis in Northeast Nigeria, Mercy Corps’ strategy and expansion plans aim to address the root causes of the crisis and seek to build long-term resilience of communities with integrated programs focusing on the recovery of markets and livelihoods, social cohesion and social protection, and youth empowerment with emphasis on adolescent girls and boys.
• With multiple funding streams from large institutional donors and foundations, Mercy Corps’ programs in Northeast Nigeria continue to scale up and serve communities by transitioning them from humanitarian aid to early recovery programs.

General Position Summary

• This role will support and monitor the expansion of the EU-funded project titled Contributing to the mitigation of conflict over natural resources between farmer and herder communities in Taraba and Adamawa states, Nigeria. (COMITAS-Phase 2). The project will be implemented through a Consortium led by IOM in partnership with Mercy Corps and Search for Common Ground.
• While clashes are often understood in ethno-religious terms due to the spread of unreliable information, competing claims to land, water and other natural resources are at the root of growing tensions between farmer and herder communities in Nigeria. The project aims to contribute to the mitigation of conflict over natural resources with Mercy Corps capitalizing on its trusted relationships with local stakeholders across Nigeria’s Middle Belt to continue to empower communities to prevent and respond to violence by strengthening collaboration on natural resources management.
• Under the pilot phase, from December 2020 to December 2022, the consortium partners recorded several key achievements and valuable lessons learnt during implementation. The pilot was implemented in Bille, Borrong, Kpasham, Demsa wards of Demsa LGA; Gereng and Tambo wards of Girei LGA; Gyawana ward of Lamurde LGA; Kodompti ward of Numan LGA; Gengle and Ndikong ward of Mayo Belwa LGA.
• To consolidate its goal COMITAS phase II will continue to focus on its four pillars which capitalizes on each of the consortium partners’ expertise and strengths:
  • Strengthen traditional conflict resolution in the targeted locations in Taraba state;
  • Improve trust in authorities’ commitment to providing security and adequate resource management;
  • Enhanced collaboration in managing the use of natural resources;
  • Improve intra and inter-communal perceptions
• The Conflict and Governance Specialist (CGS) will provide technical, operational, and strategic vision to the implementation of the conflict prevention and mitigation component by working with the project staff and national partners to ensure that the program meets performance-based targets on-time and within budget, as per Mercy Corps and donor requirements.
• S/he will work to address the root causes of conflict between farmers and herders’ communities by supporting conflict prevention and mitigation measures in synergy with the Natural Resources Management (NRM) Advisor.
• H/she will coordinate conflict management and governance programming through the building of community trust in the areas of intervention.

Essential Job Responsibilities
Programme Quality Oversight:

• Provide leadership and strategic vision to Conflict mitigation technical components of COMITAS program, including work plan development, conflict and stakeholder analysis, mediation and peacebuilding training, partnerships selection and management, and overall sector strategy.
• Ensure stakeholder engagement and trust-building activities abide by governance and conflict best practices including Do No Harm and are conflict sensitive in close partnership with the Programme Manager and NMR Advisor Provide direct oversight to COMITAS Learning and Program Monitoring and Quality Technical Unit.
• Encourage systematic opportunities to use data for learning and improvement, and to focus on learning lessons throughout the life of the program.

Technical Leadership:

• Provide technical leadership and guidance in the implementation and management of innovative conflict mitigation and governance initiatives aligned to the Program logical framework and project impact goal.
• Provide sector oversight and guidance in the implementation of conflict mitigation and governance activities aligned with the project log frame and budget.
• Recognize opportunities for innovative action and create an environment where alternative viewpoints are welcomed.

Program Implementation:

• Work with Consortium Partners and other implementing partners on the conflict mitigation and governance components of the project.
• Conduct periodic field visits to ensure the quality and integrity of project implementation, including adherence to technical guidelines, administrative systems, and established deadlines.
• In collaboration with the NRM Advisor strengthen sustainable management and enhanced collaboration over natural resources between farmers and herders’ communities in the crisis-affected areas in a conflict-sensitive manner.
• Integrate community approaches, conflict and gender sensitivity and capacity building into conflict mitigation and governance activities as appropriate.
• Provide technical and sector inputs to/ during planning, organizing and coordination of project monitoring processes, assessments, surveys, researches and evaluations.
• Support the PM in ensuring that the overall goal and specific objectives align to the conflict mitigation, resolution and prevention components of the project.
• Develop a detailed activity plan identify and implement immediate conflict prevention or mitigation measures and submit to the PM for review and re-alignment with the main work plan within the first month of employment
• Compile and submit in time for review; evidence-based weekly, monthly, quarterly, bi-annual and annual technical reports and activity plans
• Develop and submit weekly and monthly activity plans in time for review and prior to implementation.
• Ensure integration and coordination with other components within the project for the attainment of holistic project impact.

Capacity Building and Learning:

• Develop a clear capacity-building plan to build the technical capacity of project staff on Conflict prevention and mitigation skills that are relevant to the project through training and continuous mentoring.
• Provide conflict-sensitive and governance analysis, trainings and technical assistance to team and Consortium partners.
• Contribute to the development and standardization of best practices, in collaboration with Consortium partners.
• Disseminate key findings and lessons learned to internal and external stakeholders, in collaboration with Consortium partners.
• Strengthen linkages with other internal resources, including the LMS, Digital Library, Hub, and Connect, to enhance organizational learning where relevant to M&E.

Team Management:

• Sustain a work environment of mutual respect you and other team members strive to achieve excellence.
• Promote accountability, communicate expectations and provide constructive feedback via regular performance reviews.
• Provide other team members with information, tools and other resources to improve performance and reach objectives

Finance & Compliance Management:

• Ensure compliance with donor and Mercy Corps regulations related to the project implementation.

Influence and Representation:

• Identify, build and manage collaborative partnerships with Consortium partners, local governments and other stakeholders.
• Communicate effectively to ensure project implementation targets and technical quality standards are met.
• Participate in coordination meetings and workshops to the project at both Local and State level as delegated.

Security:

• Ensure compliance with security procedures and policies as determined by country leadership.

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.

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

Accountability Reports Directly to:

• Programme Manager, works closely with the Senior Program Officer, Senior MEL, NRM Advisor, Technical Support Units: strategic learning, research, amd PAQ.

Knowledge and Experience

• Minimum BA/S in relevant field or other similar fields; MA/MS/MBA or equivalent preferred in, International Relations, Research, Development Studies or another relevant field.
• Minimum of 4 years of working experience in a similar context.
• Strong management skills, with good understanding of relevant cross-cultural issues in a highly insecure environment.
• Experience working and supporting research studies and assessments in Taraba and Adamawa state strongly preferred
• Experience in supporting institutional capacity building.
• Demonstrated attention to detail, ability to follow procedures, meet deadlines and work independently and cooperatively with team members.
• Excellent writing, editing and analytical skills and ability to formulate well-targeted documents
• Ability to work independently in a fast-paced and often demanding environment
• Experience in an NGO (local or international) or research institution.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills; ability to develop good relationships with a wide range of actors required.
• Fluency in English; fluency in Hausa is a plus.

Success Factors

• S/he will be capable of multi-tasking, rapid decision-making, have initiative, drive and a lot of energy, as well as high emotional intelligence, constructive communication skills and proven experience with capacity building.
• S/he will be committed to long-term program sustainability and the delivery of high-impact activities at the community level.
• Successful Mercy Corps team members have a strong commitment to teamwork and accountability, thrive in evolving and challenging environments, and make effective written and verbal communication a priority.

Living Conditions / Environmental Conditions

• This position is based in Yola, Adamawa State and it requires frequent travel to other project field locations in Adamawa and Taraba States, as well as Abuja.
• Considering the frequent travel from/to different field locations, this position will require flexibility in terms of accommodation and logistics.
• Housing in the field will be in hotels or guesthouses where available. Security in the field locations requires additional vigilance and accessibility will be reassessed continuously.
• Access to good medical services in the field is limited. Phone communication, internet, electricity and water is available but might be erratic. The location is not eligible for hardship and R&R benefits.
• Given the nature of the response, working hours require flexibility and working through weekends/evenings might be necessary.

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 a 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, colour, 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 the prevention of sexual exploitation and abuse laid out by the UN Secretary-General and IASC and have signed on to the Interagency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme. 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 adhere tothe 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.

Application Closing Date
23rd February, 2023.

• Applicants should have their CVs and Cover Letters in one document addressing the position requirements.
• Female candidates who are qualified are strongly encouraged to apply.