Program Intern at 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.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Program Intern

Location: Katsina
Position Status: Internship, Full-time
Supervisory Responsibility: None
Reports Directly To: Program Manager

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 the 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 assist to meet the basic needs of vulnerable populations in the areas of food security, shelter, water and sanitation, protection, and livelihoods.
• Northwest Nigeria is currently experiencing a complex crisis and high violence perpetrated by numerous armed actors, including clashes between farmers and herders, criminal gangs, and non-state armed groups. This large-scale violence is fueled by a spiral of attacks and retaliations affecting a significant part of the population.
• Northwest Nigeria has been experiencing pockets of conflict since 2014. The conflict has increased in magnitude affecting approximately 1,087,875 people. Currently viewed as acts of armed banditry, communal clashes, and insurgency, since 2014, the number of people displaced due to armed banditry & kidnapping has increased from 29% to 39% in 2022. In response to the challenges, International Organization for Migration (IOM), Mercy Corps (MC), and the Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD) have partnered to implement the Conflict mitigation and community reconciliation in Northwest (CMCR-NW) pilot program to support the Government of Nigeria's efforts to mitigate conflict and promote community reconciliation in Katsina State.
• The Conflict mitigation and community reconciliation in Northwest (CMCR-NW) is being implemented in 4 local government areas (Batsari, Danmusa, Jibia and Kankara) that have been experiencing insecurities resulting from banditry, farmer-herder, and communal clashes, exacerbated by impact of climate change on the land and water resources.

Essential Job Responsibilities

• Manage the CMCR activities and local travel arrangements.
• Maintain the office systems, including data management and filing.
• Focal point for all the field demands to seek approvals, follow up with program support and program management/team lead on the approvals of Purchase Requests, Purchase Orders, and preparation of payment documents and follow up on approvals, reviews, procurement, and payment processes as per Approval Authority Matrix, and final submission to finance team for pay-out.
• Produce documents, briefing papers, reports, and presentations for the Supervisor.
• Deal with appropriate requests.
• Support in organizing meetings and ensure that the Team is well prepared for those meetings.
• Support in preparing agendas and minutes of meetings.
• Process activity budget, PRs and write activity report.
• Receive, record, and keep custody of supplies such as workshop materials.
• Any other administrative duties as may reasonably be required by the DCOP/COP

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.
• Supervisory Responsibility: None
• Reports Directly To: Program Manager

Knowledge and Experience

• Bachelor’s Degree / HND in Development studies or social sciences with knowledge of conflict and peacebuilding.
• Knowledge of reporting on program implementation with relevant field experience (Minimum of 1 year).
• Proficient in Microsoft Office Skills (Outlook, Excel, PowerPoint, Word).
• Professional, good organizational capacity, good human relationships, motivated, flexible, culturally sensitive.
• Fluency in both verbal and written English is highly preferred. Ability to communicate in Hausa is an added advantage.
• Multi-tasking, coordination, organization, and prioritization skills are essential.
• Ability to work independently and cooperatively with team members required.
• Ability to work under pressure.
• Strong interpersonal, intercultural, and communication skills.

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 to the 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
10th November, 2023.

Method of Application
Interested and qualified candidates should:
Click here to apply online

Note

• 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.