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 Nigeria’s Cash and Voucher Assistance portfolio has grown over the last 10 years. In 2023/2024, there is approximately NGN1000M in asset transfers across the entire Mercy Corps Nigeria portfolio delivered through cash and vouchers.
With increased cash transfers as a core component of national social protection programming, Mercy Corps is poised to expand influence and footprint in the insecure context in the NE, NW and the middle belt through innovative financial solutions for the vulnerable communities graduating them to early recovery stage. Hence, this role will represent Mercy Corps Nigeria in the entire national conversation on cash and voucher assistance and financial inclusion interventions.
General Position Summary
This position provides technical oversight on all Mercy Corps Nigeria Cash & Voucher Assistance and Financial Inclusion interventions, including identification of appropriate channels and methods for delivery of conditional and unconditional cash and access to financial services to the communities.
This position will be part of the Technical Support Unit and hosts Mercy Corps Nigeria’s think tank on everything cash and voucher and financial inclusion solutions.
The position coordinates activities on a technical level, collaborating with humanitarian and early recovery sector leads in Food Assistance, Shelter & Settlements, WASH, Nutrition, Protection, ERMS. This position also works closely with the market systems intervention leads in our peace
building, water security, resilience, and adolescent programs. This position is an active member of CVA technical group both at the regional and national level and keep the management informed about any development in CVA and financial inclusion space in Nigeria.
Essential Job Responsibilities
Thought Leadership:
Establish and rely on a robust primary and desk research framework for building a compelling body of evidence to drive innovations and adaptations within cash and voucher assistance, and financial inclusion activities in Mercy Corps and external collaborators.
Develop position papers on emerging trends, relying of support from Mercy Corps Nigeria Analytics Team.
Be the voice of clarity and go-to person in CVA, and financial inclusion interventions framework for Mercy Corps Nigeria program leads and leadership.
Troubleshoot emerging issues within the interventions in Mercy Corps Nigeria and provide alternative solutions pathways to the affected program.
Grow Mercy Corps influence in the Nigeria Cash Working Groups (national and regional level), to be measured by the quality of feedback Mercy Corps gets from members of the group.
Identify new training opportunities for team members in Mercy Corps Nigeria, and work with Program Leads to outline appropriate schedules for team members to benefit from the trainings.
Provide inputs to the design and implementation of training in any areas related to the Cash an inclusion activities for staff, communities and project beneficiaries.
Financial Inclusion Programing:
Identify and integrate best practices and trends in the financial inclusion space in programs and proposals.
Develop, adopt and implement financial inclusion models to increase access to financial products and services for the targeted communities.
Provide targeted training to the communities in financial and life skills by developing contextually relevant curriculum.
Work closely with the MEL team to monitor, evaluate and document impact and learnings from the trainings.
New Business Development:
Scope for new opportunities for collaborative cash and voucher, and financial inclusion interventions within Nigeria.
Design lead for technical approaches in CVA/financial inclusion interventions proposed in new opportunities and applications.
Program Management and Capacity Development:
Provide technical input to the Program Teams across the MCN portfolio in setting up and operationalizing cash and voucher assistance and related financial inclusion interventions whenever needed
Strengthen the capacity of the Cash and Voucher and financial inclusion team members ensuring fluent communication channels, sustained integrity and compliance in delivery processes, adaptation to evolving contexts, as well as ensuring that assistance is provided with integrated financial inclusion.
Participate and facilitate coordination and collaboration with other agencies.
Coordinate closely with the Program Leads and relevant administrative and finance staff to ensure proper logistics, administration, human resources and transport needs of the projects are availed within MC policy and with the maximum benefit to the projects.
Manage the CVA platforms used by MCN, i.e. NAGIS and RedRose, ensuring information sharing with other field-level teams.
Other duties as assigned.
Finance & Compliance Management:
Ensure compliance with donor, sector and Mercy Corps regulations related to emergency cash
transfer interventions.
Support Program Leads and team members in budget tracking and projecting.
Draft and/or review scope of work, contracts to hire and manage any technical consultants, including review for technical efficacy and contract budget
Influence & Responsibilities:
Provide effective and impactful representation of Mercy Corps to the Nigeria Cash Working Group, CaLP, and any other community of cash and voucher practitioners.
Safeguarding Responsibilities:
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.
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:
This role will supervise Sector Coordinators.
Accountability
Reports Directly To: PaQ Director
Works Directly With: Program Leads and Sector leads (Food Assistance, Nutrition, WaSH, Shelter Protection and GBV, GEDSI), HSSD, DoP, PAQ unit, MEL, and Field Program Managers.
Knowledge and Experience
Bachelor’s Degree in relevant field or equivalent master’s degree is preferred.
5 years of experience in project implementation or working with local partners or in any role that includes training and capacity building of staff or partners.
Demonstrated skills in planning, organizing and reporting.
At least seven years of cash transfer and financial inclusion programs in Nigeria.
Proven understanding of cash and voucher mechanism, as well as CVA scene and coordination architecture in Nigeria
Ability to work under pressure.
Strong interpersonal, intercultural and communication skills.
Excellent oral and written skills and computer skills.
Verbal and written fluency in English is must, and with other local languages is highly recommended.
Success Factors
Strong Work Ethic, having the ability to learn the most efficient way of learning the most efficient way to complete tasks and finding ways to save time while completing daily assignments.
Dependability and Responsibility, having the ability to come to work on time, are there when they are supposed to be, and are responsible for their actions and behavior. Adaptability, being adaptable and maintaining flexibility in completing tasks in an ever-changing workplace.
Mercy Corps team members represent the agency both during and outside work hours.
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.
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 IASCand 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.
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 ([email protected]).
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.
Note that Mercy Corps upholds a strict policy against accepting any form of bribe in our recruitment process. We prioritize fairness and transparency in our selection process.