Job Description / Responsibility

Mercy Corps Nigeria’s humanitarian program aims to provide assistance to populations affected by the crisis in Northeast Nigeria. With funding from the Bureau of Humanitarian Affairs (BHA), Mercy Corps is scaling-up and expanding its humanitarian response in Northeast Nigeria to reach more beneficiaries with additional assistance in a wider geographic area under the project titled Transitioning Households to Recovery from Vulnerability (THRIVE) in Jere.

The THRIVE program will provide context-specific humanitarian assistance with the goal of initiating early recovery in 3 wards in Jere LGA: Mairi, Mashamari and Dusuman.

The two-year consortium project will operationalize an area-based approach to advance participants from lifesaving assistance and life-sustaining assistance to life-building support. Under the Protection sector, the implementation is focused on GBV Prevention and response activities through WINN, the implementing partner. Under the protection, the overarching goal is for crisis-affected IDPs, returnees, and host communities in Jere LGA to live in safe, dignified, and resilient communities.

General Position Summary

The Social Cohesion Intern will be responsible for providing administrative and field support to the Social Cohesion Officer in mainstreaming social cohesion strategies across all sectors of implementation in the THRIVE program. Support the implementation of activities by sectors and partners and ensure conflict-sensitive approaches are applied.

Ensure participants including IDPs, returnees and host communities have a smooth pathway to interventions.

He/She will work directly with the Social Cohesion Officer to support administrative tasks as well as field activities in mainstreaming social cohesion, conflict mitigation and re-integration activities under the THRIVE program.

The Intern is to ensure close interactions with host community members and local governance structures to promote awareness and facilitate the establishment of sustained community-based schemes for promoting social cohesion. S/he will report directly to the Social Cohesion Officer and will work closely with other sectors.

Essential Job Responsibilities

Support the Social Cohesion Officer to ensure program progress according to the developed schedule and work plan.

Support in organizing area-based committee community monthly meetings, community mobilization and sensitization/awareness.

Support in ensuring equal representation of various community groups in the implementation of activities.

Keep the program officer and management updated about the security situation in the project implementation area.

Support the documentation of lessons learned and success stories on the program.

Support in making routine field visits within the program areas to ensure social cohesion strategies are adhered to.

Adherence to all MC policies and procedures as outlined in the MC policies and procedures manual.

Conduct himself/herself professionally and personally in such a manner as to bring credit to Mercy Corps and not jeopardize its humanitarian mission in the country of operation.

Ensure all interventions adhere to Mercy Corps’ Gender Policy, Do No Harm principles, and beneficiary accountability standards.

Other duties as assigned.

Finance & Compliance Management:

Ensure compliance with donor and Mercy Corps regulations related to emergency programming.

Proactively ensure that members operate in a secure environment and are aware of policies.

Security:

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.

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 participants and to international standards guiding international relief and development work, while actively engaging participants' communities as equal partners in the design, monitoring and evaluation of our field projects.

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.

Accountability:

Reports Directly To: Social Cohesion Officer

Works Directly With: Finance, Program, MEL, and Operation Teams, Partners

Educational Requirements

Diploma or Bachelor's Degree from a recognized university.

Experience Requirements

1 year or less working experience with a local or international NGO working with marginalized communities.

Additional Job Requirements

Strong interpersonal, communication and presentation skills and capacity to maintain relations with the community

Experience in building and maintaining strong/productive relations is required.

Proficiency in computer use particularly Microsoft Office (Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint) is preferred.

Knowledge of Hausa and any other local languages is an added advantage.

Demonstrated attention to detail, ability to follow procedures, and team building experience and ability to meet deadlines.

Willingness to spend much time in the field and work closely with program target groups.

Success Factors:

Strong work ethics, having the ability to learn 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 and be there when they are supposed to be and are responsible for their actions and behaviour.

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 and procedures and values always and in all in-country venues.