Program / Department Summary
The developing economies within the Caribbean are dependent on sectors vulnerable to climate patterns like fisheries, agriculture and tourism. Natural resources like coral reefs, mangrove forests and fresh water systems critical to both the ecology and economies of these communities are deteriorating. Without intervention, annual losses caused by climate change in the Caribbean are estimated to reach $22 billion by 2050. Caribbean SIDS need resilience strategies that will enable these largely coastal communities to survive and thrive through the climate crisis.
Since the record-breaking 2017 hurricane season, Mercy Corps has implemented small business and economic resilience projects in Puerto Rico, Haiti, St. Martin, US Virgin Islands, and The Bahamas. Building on our commitment to vulnerable livelihoods in the Caribbean, Mercy Corps’ Caribbean Resilience Initiative helps micro and small business owners to improve business outcomes and develop new, more resilient revenue streams. This is done through digital financial inclusion, access to new technology and financial services, access to training and mentorship.
The Position
The Livelihoods Officer is responsible for ensuring effective high-quality implementation of the key deliverables of livelihoods-focused projects under the Caribbean Resilience Initiative. Projects include small grants, training and mentorship for micro and small enterprise owners in the region, primarily (but not limited to) Puerto Rico and The Bahamas. The Livelihoods Officer will identify and manage small business training facilitators. Training is to be facilitated both in-person and remote (online). Activities will also include conducting focus group discussions, livelihood baseline assessment and continuously monitoring the impact of the project against agreed-upon indicators; Identifying market supply, demand, access routes and prices for goods and services and working with elderly business owners, people with disabilities, women, youth and the general community to strengthen their livelihoods.
Essential Responsibilities
PROGRAM MANAGEMENT
Identify and prioritize strategic sectors of focus, identify market, community and government actors to partner with or support in economic resilience activities;
Assist with the development of additional proposals related to livelihood development.
Implement all cash transfer programs (small grants) according to Mercy Corps’ guidance on best practices for cash transfer programming (cash transfers directly relating to livelihood programs (CFW));
Procure training resources and facilitators according to Mercy Corps’ procurement and service contract policies;
Integrate Mercy Corps’ gender policy, procedures and best practices throughout all livelihoods programs;
Ensure integration of industry best practices such as SPHERE, SEEP MERS, and CaLP Guidelines on E-transfers and Minimum Requirements for Market Assessments;
Assist with documentation of case studies and lessons learned to benefit future Mercy Corps programs;
Monitoring and evaluating the impact of all related project activities
Travel to local program locations for in-person training sessions and periodic monitoring activities.
COORDINATION
Coordinate with counterparts, including the UN, local partners, government officials, military actors and other INGOs and donors to implement programs to complement but not overlap; synchronize economic recovery efforts with other sectoral programs of MC and other agencies as appropriate (i.e. water-sanitation);
Develop relationships with relevant local government bodies and the private sector.
Be the key focal point between VSLA groups, and relevant stakeholders including local authorities and private banks, where necessary.
Supervisory Responsibility
None
Accountability
Reports Directly to: Director, Caribbean Resilience Initiative
Works Directly with: Program Officer, MEL Officer, Global Livelihoods Technical Support Unit and various regional operational teams as well as HQ program units and departments
Accountability to Participants and Stakeholders
Mercy Corps team members are expected to support all efforts toward accountability, specifically to our program participants, community partners, other stakeholders, and to international standards guiding international relief and development work. We are committed to actively engaging communities as equal partners in the design, monitoring and evaluation of our field projects.
Minimum Qualifications & Transferable Skills
A BA/S or equivalent in the relevant field required, MA/S preferred.
2+ years of professional experience with projects directly implementing livelihoods activities (economic development, small business support, entrepreneurship training, etc.) including project oversight and management.
Strong M&E background and skills; strong analytical and writing skills are essential.
Effective multitasking, organizational, prioritization skills are necessary.
Fluent in Spanish and English language is required.
Proven ability to communicate effectively with colleagues from various backgrounds and cultures.
Proficiency with MS Office software required (Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint).
Prior NGO or international development experience preferred.
Ability to travel to program sites in Puerto Rico and The Bahamas
Success Factors
The successful Livelihoods Officer will recognize that Mercy Corps’ ability to function successfully depends on the ability to understand the context in which programs operate. This person must have the ability to provide leadership to the team and build bridges with other program teams. S/he will have excellent negotiation and communication skills providing continued development of donor and partner relationships. S/he will bring a positive approach to the job, embracing challenges as opportunities to innovate, and will write well and communicate in a manner that is confident and clear, yet diplomatic, enabling him/her to forge positive working relationships with donors and other stakeholders. The successful candidate will demonstrate a strong commitment to teamwork and accountability and believe in organizational learning. The most successful Mercy Corps staff members make effective communication a priority in all situations and maintain a sense of humor.
Living Conditions / Environmental Conditions
The position may be remote or based in one of our US HQ locations (Portland, Or or Washington DC) or San Juan, Puerto Rico and it requires up to 25% travel to program locations in Puerto Rico and The Bahamas. Travel may include US headquarters offices in Portland and DC, or other Caribbean locations.
Mercy Corps team members represent the agency both during and outside work hours when deployed in a field posting or on a visit 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
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 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 to adhere to Mercy Corps Code of Conduct Policies and values at all times.
As a safeguarding measure, Mercy Corps screens all potential US-Based employees. Any offers of employment or continued employment are dependent on the successful completion of the screens which include, but are not limited to our Background Check and Interagency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme processes,
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.
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
Fuente: jobs.jobvite.com
Jornada completa, parcialmente remoto.
$50,000 - $50,000/año.