Project Manager

Position is contingent on new funding -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 Ethiopia since 2004, working in rural, peri-urban and urban areas in five regional states - Somali, Oromia, Afar, Southern Nations Nationalities and Peoples, Amhara - and the capital city of Addis Ababa. We engage in both development and humanitarian work, and seek to integrate approaches, programs and geographies as much as possible.  Our partners include government, academic institutions, development and private sector actors, civil societies and communities. Mercy Corps Ethiopia invites motivated and qualified candidates to apply for the following vacant position.

 Position Title: Project Manager

Location: Addis Ababa

 Number of Positions: One

Program Summary

Mercy Corps has been sub-granted by international NGO Farm Africa to provide technical assistance to Amhara Credit and Saving Institution S.C(ACSI) .  The technical assistance will comprise market systems strengthening activities for financial services, in South Wello and Oromo Zones of Amhara Region. In July 2020, Mercy Corps will begin implementation of the Costed Extension activity for the Financial Inclusion market system project Mercy Corps in partnership with FARM Africa. The project will focus Building on ACSI’s systems and facilities of delivering a range of Interest-free financial products through a dedicated Interest-free Finance Windows, it is important to further strengthen the Interest Free Unit to have business growth vision with clear targets and milestones for scaling and growing the Products offering in different Woredas of Amhara regions.

The project focus building on ACSI’s systems and facilities of delivering a range of Interest-free financial products through a dedicated Interest-free Finance Windows,  importantly the project further strengthen the Interest Free Unit to have business growth vision with clear targets and milestones for scaling and growing the Products offering in different Woredas of Amhara regions. The project equally further strengthen the capacity of ACSI’s frontline staffs, sharia scholars and religious leaders for ACSI to scale up interest free products offerings to the target communities and beyond.

Given the fact that the interest-free financial products offerings are new to ACSI and its stakeholders, the project will provide a follow up technical assistance and coaching services for successful implementation of the project for scalability and wider impact. Based on building on the lessons and approaches of community mobilization and awareness creation on interest free financial products and services, the project will partner with AEMFI to facilitate more trainings and awareness creation for ACSI staffs as per YKC (Know your customer) principles and requirements.

Building on lessons learned and experiences in the piloting phase, G4F MSD project will scale up approaches that were successful and introduce new approaches to improve and expand digital financial services for Muslim population in the target areas, through use of technology, such as Mobile and Agent Banking, and further customization of interest-free financial products to mobile banking agents. In this scaling up phase, G4F MSD project will continue productive partnerships with ACSI and Mobile technology providers for strengthening mobile banking agents for the expansion of interest-free financial services and products to rural agricultural areas. Internal sharia compliance, in addition to customer uptake and satisfaction will be monitored in order to address current challenges and ensure products are inclusive.

Globally, and in Ethiopia, Mercy Corps is a leading practitioner of market systems development (MSD) approaches to poverty reduction, with particular expertise in implementing MSD programs and Financial Inclusion in developing countries, fragile and conflict-affected contexts. This project will apply our market systems and Financial Inclusion expertise to ACSI and its customers in the contexts of the Amhara region, with the objective of finding sustainable inclusive financial systems ( Islamic Finance). This program is part of a broader portfolio of markets and Financial Inclusion programming for Mercy Corps in Ethiopia. 

The program has three objectives / outcomes:

1.      Financial service providers expand and strengthen their interest-free financial services;

2.      Financial service providers develop improved customer handling and client protection systems and services

3.      Improved digitalization microfinance product through mobile platforms/agent banking

 General Position Summary

The Project manager will lead Financial Inclusion market system related activities of the project through its second phase to implement and build on the successes under the previous phase of the pregame, in which ACSI was supported to establish the first Interest-Free window for an MFI in Ethiopia, to work with ACSI to further strengthen and expand these services. The project manager will lead all activities to work closely with ACSI and Farmer Africa. In addition the p[project manager will provide recommendations and guidelines for Financial Inclusion of the project activities which would involve Farm Africa and ORDA in scaling up and rolling out activities even further.  This position requires key skills in M4P and Financial Inclusion knowledge particularly Islamic Finance; relationship management within the team, with partner organizations stakeholders, and community members; and project management.

This is a new cost extension program, so the project Manager will be responsible for building the program team and spearheading the design of programming from the start. The project manager will serve as an in-house technical expert on the project and will be expected to shape, implement and influence the project activities and deliverables.  Furthermore, the individual will support the senior management in identifying and developing local technology collaboration and partnerships that will be critical in shaping the team understands of financial inclusion landscape and adoption of digital financing in Ethiopia.

The Project manager will also be a member of the MC Economic and Markets Development (EMD) Team, which uses market systems development to stimulate economic growth to create wealth and jobs for the poorest while maximizing investment from the private and public sectors. As a member of the EMD team, the Project manager will contribute analytical thinking and innovative approaches and will support integration and harmony of approaches across all Mercy Corps Ethiopia market-driven programming.  The EMD team is also expected to contribute up to 20% of its collective time towards new program development.

As project Manager, this position will require cross-agency leadership and close coordination with FARM and ORDA team members. As a new, innovative area of programming, which is also a priority for Mercy Corps, the program is expected to generate significant learning that will inform similar programs in Ethiopia. The project Manager will be responsible for putting in place a robust M&E system for the program, and managing a learning agenda, working closely with the program MEL team and the Country MEL Manager. The project Manager is expected to play a lead role in maintaining close working relationship with government authorities at the Regional Level and with donor representatives from SIDA, as well our partner stakeholders FARM Africa and ORDA. They will also play a lead role in representing Mercy Corps’ work externally, through participating in relevant coordination and learning events.

Mercy Corps is seeking an experience and entrepreneurial leader with experience of managing market systems development programs with focus on financial market systems in Amhara region-contexts.

Essential Job Responsibilities

the project manager is responsible management and implementations of MC’s thematic areas of financial systems development. Key job function include the following:

Strategy and vision

●     Support the Director of Programs and the Durable Solutions Director to develop a vision and strategy for applying financial market systems development approaches to Amhara region contexts specifically to the target community.

●     Recognize opportunities for innovative action and create an environment where alternative viewpoints are welcome;

 Program management

●     Lead the conceptualization, implementation and continual improvement of Mercy Corps’ SIDA-funded program with the partnership of Farm Africa in Amhara region;

●     In coordination with senior program team members, lead program start-up, management, administration and closeout. Ensure implementation is on time, target and budget.

●     Lead assessments and analysis across all target locations (including needs, markets and conflict), drawing on external technical expertise as needed;

●     With support from the Director of Programs and the Senior Financial Inclusion Advisor, develop detailed program designs based on assessment outcomes and develop detailed activities planning workshops which involve all key stakeholders;

●     Ensure that financial market system work captures and responds to up-date information about financial market systems development within respective financial market systems and global best practices for economic markets developments particularly the financial inclusion systems

●     Build and maintain an excellent working relationship with FARM Africa and ORDA, our partner in implementation, based on trust and close coordination;

●     Lead the process of developing partnership frameworks to support program implementation, partner agreements and ensure partner capacity building;

●     Coordinate, manage and motivate the program team, ensuring they have clear objectives / individual work plans as part of performance management, and receive meaningful feedback on their performance;

●     Advise/guide the project team to develop detailed plan for the implementation of selected activities, including roles, period, and desired outcomes.

●     Ensure that the program is managed adaptively, through periodic reflection exercises and use of MEL data and develop, implement, monitor progress of work plans that can be adaptively managed.

●     Submit high quality reports to donors and manage all required documentation and reporting required by the donor;

●     Develop final report providing summary of activities and recommendations for the next phase of the project which will be implemented by ORDA and FA

●     Build and maintain close relationships with key government partners in Amhara region, at all levels;

●     Monitor work and targets closely to ensure that the program is able to provide maximum benefit to our beneficiaries within its timeframe;

●     Work closely with the program team and partners ensuring we adhere to humanitarian principles, Mercy Corps’ gender policies, Do No Harm principles and beneficiary accountability standards;

●     Integrate community approaches, gender sensitivity and capacity building into all activities;

●     Fulfill Mercy Corps Program Management Minimum Standards based on the organization-wide guide and adhere to Mercy corps, donors and Government policies and procedures;

●      Facilitate relationships within the four market systems that are implementing by FA and ORDA

 proposal development

●     Support the design of new proposals working on market-based approaches particularly financial inclusion systems  in Ethiopian contexts, including participating in design workshops;

●     Work closely with field teams to influence their engagement and support of program pre-positioning, development and implementation. 

 Team Building and Management

●     Lead and manage recruitment and training of all team members for the program, working closely with Mercy Corps’ Human Resources Department;

●     Oversee the documentation and filing system for the program, and ensure that information is organized according to the reporting and auditing needs. Ensure required levels of confidentiality;

●     Work closely with the 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 work;

●     Develop the capacity of the program team, deepen understanding of their roles and assist with career development;

●     Promote accountability, communicate expectations and provide constructive feedback

●     Create and sustain a work environment of mutual respect where team members strive to achieve excellence.

 Finance and Operations Management

●     Ensure compliance with donor and Mercy Corps’ regulations related to programming and operations.

●     With support of the Operations Manager, ensure adequate operational systems are in place to provide for program implementation;

●     Ensure proper logistics, administration, human resources and transport needs of the program are conducted within Mercy Corps policy;

●     Manage the program budget as the primary budget holder;

●     Exercise sound judgment to ensure program expenses are reasonable, allocable and prudent. Ensure all program funds are spent in accordance with donor rules and regulations. Work with Director of Programs to forecast expenditure surpluses and deficits to enable adjustments;

●     Strictly follow Mercy Corps’ Fraud and Prevention guidelines.

 Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning

●     Work with MEL team members working on the program to seek support from them particularly the Country MEL Manager;

●     Ensure that the program team is continually gathering and digesting operating environment data and activity reports, and that teams are holding frequent activity review sessions to continually re-examine the relevance and impact of their programming;

●     Coordinate and share information with the Director of Programs and Financial Inclusion advisor to ensure overall project targets and donor obligations are being achieved. Advise on suggested improvements, as required;

●     Working with the MEL team, develop a Learning Agenda for the program, and support successful execution of learning and impact studies;

●     Ensure program teams have community complaint and feedback mechanisms in place and that complaints and feedback being received are responded to within a timely manner.

 policy, advocacy, Representation

●     Represent Mercy Corps at academic events, conferences, media forums, and other events; contribute to thought leadership on MSD with focus on Financial Inclusion system in Ethiopia;

●     Identify and nurture strategic partnerships with other organizations and institutions working on Amhara region;

Knowledge and Experience

●     Bachelor’s degree required. M.A, M.S., M.Sc., or equivalent in a field related to economics, Accounting and Finance, Business administration/business management ,agribusiness, other  commensurate private sector or field experience is required or subject with relevance for market systems development/Financial services system are preferred;

●     At least 7-10 years’ experience working in international development;

●     At least 5 years’ experience of working on market systems development programming or financial services systems, including:

o   Undertaking market assessments and writing market assessment reports

o   Participating in the design of MSD programs and Financial Inclusion supporting proposal development

o   Supporting development of robust results measurement systems, measuring impact on beneficiaries and system change

o   Demonstrating strong theoretical and applied knowledge of the field of expertise.

o   Have potential experience in private sector or working with other agencies in market systems facilitation, agribusiness or financial services

·         Deep understanding and mastery of Markets 4 Poor approach and Economic & Markets Development facilitation including coaching, relationship building, communicating, entrepreneurialism/business understanding and innovating.

·          Familiar with all aspects of the relevant market systems including key actors, micro-financial institutions (MFIs), banks, Insurances, information service providers, inputs suppliers, producers, traders, intermediary and terminal markets governance frameworks (formal and informal); and all support markets and functions;

●     At least 5 years’ of senior-level leadership and team management experience; 

●     Practical field experience working in high land of Ethiopia in contexts of Amhara Region is preferred;

●     Demonstrated success building, managing and leading a team of professionals in a fast-paced challenging environment with high standards for success (with limited burnout).

●     Strong writing, communication, organization, prioritization and negotiating skills.

●     Excellent coordination and representation experience is needed, especially in building and maintaining strong/productive relations with implementing and strategic partner agencies and government agencies;

●     Excellent MEL, data analytics and quantitative skills are strongly preferred;

●     Strong financial management experience required.

●     Willingness and ability to travel frequently 50% of his/her time to Mercy Corps project sites and field locations, including traveling to insecure environments, is required;

●     Fluency in English and Amhariceis required.

●     B7Bachelorb s degree in economics, business administration,

 Success Factors

The successful candidate will possess excellent leadership skills, with the ability to maintain a broad perspective. He/she will undertake innovative approaches, be agile in the conceptualization of new program ideas, and will be well versed in strategic thinking and planning. The ideal candidate will have a strong curiosity for understanding and working effectively within the complex cultural, political, security and social environment of Ethiopia. He/She will be an excellent communicator, multi-tasker, and able to work in ambiguous situations. He/She will be a tolerant and flexible individual able to work in difficult and stressful environments and follow procedures. The successful candidate will be focused on team-building and capacity-building of team-members; be a strategic thinker, have strong skills in design monitoring and evaluation of development programs and maintain a sense of humor.