Mercy Corps
Background
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.
Program / Department Summary
Mercy Corps has been working in Afghanistan continuously since 1986, but work was temporarily halted from late 2021 to early 2022, and with an uncertain funding outlook, the team needs to focus on delivering existing programming while winning new business. Presently, Mercy Corps is working in three locations in Afghanistan with a portfolio of programs aimed at promoting improved prosperity for Afghan citizens through livelihoods and WASH, with additional pilot programming in emergency relief, primarily focused on cash.
General Position Summary
The Program Development Manager plays a critical role in Mercy Corps Afghanistan’s (MCA’s) program development by leading in the identification and design of new funding opportunities that strategically connect programs into a cohesive country portfolio, guided by Mercy Corps Afghanistan’s Senior Management Team (SMT).
The consultant will provide essential support to the Director of Programs (DoP), the Country Director (CD) and the other SMT members in growing the MCA portfolio in a responsible manner. To do that, business opportunities need to be identified and translated into winning proposals.
The consultant will develop program concepts, proposals, donor mapping and a top line fundraising strategy to support the positioning of Mercy Corps Afghanistan (MCA) as leading actor within Afghanistan’s humanitarian response community. The consultant will take stock of the humanitarian context, MCA’s programmatic options and added value, placing the most vulnerable communities at the heart of the program design process.
Consultant Activities & Objectives:
PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT
- Support the application of the agency’s best practices in proposal development efforts.
- Develop sound understanding of external environment and MCA strengths to inform strategic planning and positioning on humanitarian issues and programming opportunities.
- Lead on key program development functions, including but not limited to donor outreach, program design, proposal writing, partnership building, pre-bid assessments, consultant writer recruitment and management—in close collaboration with the DoP and CD.
- Lead the coordination of project proposals with the SMT, program teams, MEL, technical advisors, finance and other required key stakeholders as required.
- Advise the DoP and CD on a fundraising strategy, including the exploration, evaluation and presentation of new project funding opportunities and establishment of new partnerships.
REPRESENTATION AND DONOR ENGAGEMENT
- Where required, coordinate with donors and humanitarian partners, with an emphasis on identifying opportunities for consortium proposals with Mercy Corps as prime or sub
- Keep up to date on relevant donor strategies and track donor trends for potential opportunities.
- Work closely with field teams to influence their engagement and support of program pre-positioning, development and implementation.
- Support targeted assessments that will help create funding opportunities or increase the competitiveness of Mercy Corps in future bids.
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.
Reports Directly To: Director of Programs
Works Directly With: Country Director, Program Managers, Regional Program Team and other global Mercy Corps team members as needed.
Required Experience & Skills
- BA or MA in social science, international development or other relevant field.
- 5-7 years’ experience in program design and proposal development in a wide variety of sectors and geographic locations.
- At least 2-3 years’ experience in field-based program and staff management.
- Experience with emergency response.
- Proven ability to work productively with a wide variety of stakeholders to run both participatory process and meet tight deadlines with an emphasis on producing quality products.
- Experience with a wide range of donors including USAID and European institutional donors.
- Familiarity with other donors, including corporate donors, a plus.
- Experience developing and strong understanding of budget and cost proposal submissions, and personnel and staffing requirements for USAID, BHA, EU (ECHO and DEVCO) FCDO, and other institutional donor proposals.
- Strong representation and relationship-building skills including professional representation (e.g. donors, partner agencies, host governments, etc.)
- Strong negotiation skills and experience developing multiple-partnership arrangements for proposal development.
- Ability to lead teams, handle negotiations and facilitate planning processes.
- Ability to work effectively under tight deadlines and in sparse working environments.
- Exceptional written and interpersonal communication skills an absolute must.
- Native-level spoken and written English.
Success Factors
The successful candidate will be organized, curious and entrepreneurial and possess a passion for creating new opportunities. S/he will have excellent writing, communication, and analytical abilities.
S/he must have a strong ability to develop new business strategies through analysis, donor engagement, and concept development. S/he will be comfortable with a dynamic workplace and capable of rapidly shifting priorities as external circumstances dictate. The successful candidate will have a love of writing, strong interpersonal skills, and a healthy competitive spirit.
Living Conditions / Environmental Conditions
This position can be based anywhere for remote work, but the consultant will be expected to have at least 4 hours of overlap with the working day in Afghanistan. Candidates in neighboring or nearby countries preferred. Travel to Afghanistan to visit the program team is ideal, but not required. Mercy Corps team members represent the agency both during and outside work hours when deployed in a field posting or on a visit/TDY to a field posting. 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.
Fostering a diverse and open workplace is an important part of Mercy Corps’ vision. Mercy Corps is an Equal Opportunity Employer regardless of background. We are committed to creating an inclusive environment.
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 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.
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 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 e-learning courses upon hire and on an annual basis.