GESI Advisor

This position is contingent on securing funding

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 

Mercy Corps has been operating in Somalia since 2008 with dedicated skilled staff and programs funded by multitude of donors including the United Nations (UN), USAID, Swiss Development Cooperation (SDC), ECHO and Private Foundations. Mercy Corps’ overall country goal is building a peaceful and prosperous Somalia where all people feel secure, are economically empowered, and are meaningfully engaged. Mercy Corps’ current portfolio in Somalia focuses on humanitarian response and resilience; inclusive economic growth; enhancing trust and accountability between communities and their government; and improving youth livelihood and education opportunities. Through the Peace and Governance Pillar- Mercy Corps works to increase participation, trust, and accountability between communities and their government. We strengthen the capacity of formal and informal government structures through context-specific training and promote local community participation, especially of minority groups, in all processes of governance. Mercy Corps works with youth to provide solutions to chronic poverty and unemployment, including vocational skills and training, creating links to employers, and supporting start-up businesses. We promote youth leadership to ensure they have a seat at the table in community-related decisions. We develop and manage savings groups, particularly for internally displaced youth and women. We also provide training in marketable skills and then place participants in apprenticeships to get on-the-job experience.

• Leads the technical design for the Women to Women Security programme, including leading GESI and conflict assessments during the inception period, based on participatory data collection and analysis, and co-creating recommendations with the programme team based on findings.

• Lead participatory processes to develop a Gender, Equality and Social Inclusion programme strategy to guide GESI integration and priorities across the life of the programme. These priorities will include but not be limited to participatory and inclusive dialogue processes, increasing women’s confidence and advocacy skills, capacity building of women’s rights organisations and responding to the gendered needs of men and boys.

• Support the programme team, including partners, on gender, equality and social inclusion integration including conducting capacity building and training.

• Provide technical support to implementing partners in the design and implementation of participatory and inclusive dialogues and delivery of micro-grant funded projects.

• Conduct regular community consultations to ensure programming remains gender, age, and socially sensitive and on-track.

• Represent the programme’s gender and social inclusion strategy, analysis, and research with external stakeholders including at workshops, conferences and annual learning events.

• Work with programme teams to ensure a do no harm approach to gender-focused and inclusive programing is implemented and that appropriate protections are in place for participants.

• Coach new and ongoing programme staff on gender and social inclusion engagement best practices

• Conduct frequent supervisory visits to the programme locations to monitor project implementation and ensure project quality and support staff to reflect and iterate based on ongoing feedback.

• Work with the MEL Lead for the effective design and integration of gender sensitive monitoring and evaluation systems (including SADD) and protection monitoring methodologies into all stages of the programme; ensure that output and impact data are captured, and data is used to optimise programme quality.

• Assist teams in using vulnerability frameworks and targeting that enable inclusiveness and help teams to identify individuals and households with specific needs.

• Develop and maintain effective working relationships with all stakeholders working in GESI in the Somalia country team to enhance cooperation and coordination.

• Attend relevant GESI coordination meetings and/or represent Mercy Corps in other relevant forums and ensure that information is shared internally and with other sectors, as appropriate; contribute to thought leadership in this area of expertise.

• Identify and nurture strategic GESI partnerships with other organisations/institutions in the country, particularly the delivery partners for other ISF-funded projects to enable coordination and synergies across workstreams.

• Liaise with MC’s Regional GESI Advisor on agency-wide GESI policies and for cross-learning.

• Support management to ensure that the Mercy Corps GESI Minimum Standards are implemented.

• Ensure the team complies with FCDO ISF GESI Requirements

• Ensure activities promote gender equality, conflict sensitivity, and environmental awareness by applying Do No Harm and Mercy Corps’ Gender Equality policy

• 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

• Other assigned tasks, as necessary

• Actively learns about safeguarding and integrates it into their work, including safeguarding risks and mitigations related to their area of work.

• Practices the values of Mercy Corps including respecting the dignity and well-being of participants and fellow team members.

• Encourages openness and communication in their team; encourages team members to submit reports if they have any concerns using reporting mechanisms e.g., Integrity Hotline and other options.

• A university degree in International Development, Gender Studies, Social Works, Business Management or other related field. Master’s degree preferred.

• At least Seven years of experience in international development work, with a minimum of Five years directly in a GESI advisory position including extensive experience working on GESI and conflict/security/peacebuilding related issues in Somalia.

• A strong understanding of and experience implementing projects related to the Women, Peace and Security (WPS) agenda. Experience supporting the delivery of the Somalia or UK WPS National Action Plan is desirable.

• Substantial background in GESI and development work including experience conducting training, analysis and programme integration and engaging in advocacy.

• Experience supporting the capacity building and development of women’s rights organisations and women-led organisations.

• Comprehensive knowledge of GESI norms and standards as well as holistic and practical methods towards implementing protection mainstreaming and integrated protection outcomes.

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills in English. Somali fluency is strongly preferred.

• Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to communicate (verbally and written) and negotiate clearly and effectively. Tact, diplomacy and cultural awareness are essential.

• Strong proficiency in Microsoft Office applications including Excel and Word

Mercy Corps is an equal opportunity employer that does not tolerate discrimination on any basis. We actively seek out different 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.

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. Team members are required to complete mandatory Code of Conduct elearning courses upon hire and on an annual basis.

As an applicant, if you witness or experience any form of sexual misconduct during the recruitment process, please report this to Mercy Corps Integrity Hotline (integrityhotline@mercycorps.org).