Financial Inclusion Manager – Iraq

About Mercy Corps

Mercy Corps is a global team of humanitarians working together on the front lines of today’s biggest crises to create a future of possibility, where everyone can prosper. In more than 40+ countries around the world, over 5,400+ team members work side by side with people living through poverty, disaster, violent conflict, and the acute impacts of climate change. We’re committed to creating global change through local impact — 84% of our team members are from the countries where they work.

Program / Department Summary

Mercy Corps has worked across Iraq’s 18 governorates since 2003, providing support to more than 5 million people affected by war, violence, and displacement. Mercy Corps Iraq focuses on (1) a relief-to-resilience pathway to meet the needs of conflict-affected communities leveraging agency expertise in conflict management and civil society development (2) a humanitarian response that empowers conflict-affected populations to meet their own needs (3) partnering with conflict-affected adolescents to address their diverse needs, promoting leadership and linkages with civil society, as well as access to education, psychosocial support, and economic opportunities; and (4) promoting reconciliation and foster trust across community divisions by strengthening conflict management and prevention mechanisms and enhancing social cohesion.

Mercy Corps Iraq is implementing Promoting Economic Revival of Microbusiness and Agriculture (PERMA 2), an agriculture program that aims to improve the business environment and improve access to financial services as well as reactivate agriculture value chains in Salah al-Din and Ninewa governorates. Efforts toward agricultural and rural economic recovery must target the rehabilitation of both the public and the private (at micro and small enterprise levels) infrastructure through an integrated approach, while also taking into account the social and cultural complexity of Salah al-Din and Ninewa. In response, PERMA 2 has outlined three main objectives aimed at supporting rehabilitation, reconstruction, and overall economic recovery of the agriculture sector in Salah al-Din and Ninewa:

● Financial institutions are providing appropriate and affordable financial services to enable MSMEs to start, re-start and grow agricultural activities;

● Small-scale farmers have improved access to services, inputs, information, infrastructure and markets that increase their productivity and profitability; and

● Local institutions and leaders are promoting intra- and inter-community interactions that contribute to the reintegration of returnees in the agricultural sector and conflict-resolution.

General Position Summary

We are seeking an organised project manager who would oversee all activities involved in the facilitation of access to finance for select agricultural sectors and MSMEs in rural and smaller urban areas to support the reactivation of economic activities in Ninewa and SAD governorates. The manager will manage a small team and consultants to help to achieve the following specific objectives:

• Increase the number of MSMEs and those involved in the Ag sector ability to avail and manage business finances and credit services sustainably
• Support MFIs in SAD and Ninewa to lend to market actors in select value chains
• Support the expansion of Savings and Internal Lending Committees (SILC) groups
• Increasing access to financial literacy training in PERMA target areas

ESSENTIAL JOB RESPONSIBILITIES

Strategy & Vision

• Identify opportunities for the design and development of concept notes and proposals for further programming and portfolio expansion.
• Provide technical support to donors, financial services and government stakeholders in developing its future strategy and policies for the financial service sector in the governorate linked to agriculture.
• Contribute to the technical and operational advocacy strategies of the mission, region, and HQ.

Coordination & Representation

• Coordinate and supervise effectively the activities implementation of the access to finance sector.
• Develop and maintain effective working relationships with all stakeholders – including consortium partners, NGOs, government officials, clusters, UN agencies, and community based organizations – to enhance cooperation and coordination.

Program Management

• Ensure that program implementation is responsive to communities and partners; consistent with Mercy Corps’ relevant program guidelines, principles, values, quality standards and strategic objectives; and complies with donor regulations and policies.
• Oversee program management and administration of teams across various field locations.
• Facilitate planning meetings and support project teams to develop work plans, budget forecasts, and monitoring tools to document inputs, activities, outputs, achievements and lessons learned.

Design & Planning

• Oversee the design, planning, implementation and documentation of access to finance programming to help beneficiaries strengthen capacities to mitigate vulnerabilities and build resilience to shocks and stressors in their communities.
• Provide technical oversight to the field teams and mentor staff in the design and implementation of access to finance activities.

Team Management

• Hire, supervise and build the capacity of team members in relevant technical and management competencies, deepening understanding of their roles and assisting with career development.
• Assist team members with information, tools and resources to improve performance & reach objectives.
• Promote accountability, communicate expectations and provide constructive feedback informally and formally via regular one on ones and performance reviews.
• Create and sustain a work environment of mutual respect where team members strive to achieve excellence.

Finance & Compliance Management

• Ensure compliance with donor regulations and Mercy Corps policies.
• Draft and/or review scope of work to hire and manage any technical consultants, including review for technical efficacy and contract budget.
• Manage the program budget to ensure that spending is donor-compliant and program-effective.

Security

• Ensure compliance with security procedures and policies as determined by country leadership and agency’s global standards.
• Proactively ensure that team members operate in a secure environment and are aware of policies.

Supervisory Responsibility

Direct supervision of staff in the Financial Services program, including SPOs, POs, APOs, Advisors and Consultants.

Accountability

Reports Directly To: PERMA Team Lead

Works Directly With: MEL Team, Program Managers, Reporting & Program Development Manager. Coordinates with Regional Advisors and HQ Regional Program Team.

Accountability to Participants and Stakeholders

Mercy Corps team members are expected to support all efforts toward accountability, specifically to our program participants, community partners, other stakeholders, and to international standards guiding international relief and development work. We are committed to actively engaging communities as equal partners in the design, monitoring and evaluation of our field projects.

Minimum Qualifications & Transferable Skills

• Bachelor degree or equivalent in development, economics, finance, banking, or related field or equivalent practical experience.
• 5 years professional experience in humanitarian or private sector projects that have a financial or MSD focus, preferably in the agriculture sector
• Experience in capacity building of MSMEs and/or financial institutions such as microfinance institutions or banks.
• Familiarity with savings-led microfinance, savings group approaches and SACCOs.
• Team management and/or coordination experience.
• Excellent writing, presentation and communication skills.
• Fluency in spoken and written English. Arabic is preferred.
• Computer literacy including ability to use the advanced functions of MS office to create reports and customized spreadsheets for financial analysis and management reporting purposes.

Success Factors

The successful candidate will be a strong communicator, tasked with motivating and supporting a small team. S/he will have strong management skills and demonstrate strong interpersonal and cross-cultural communication skills and be committed to the values and mission of Mercy Corps. S/he will have the ability to multi-task, set priorities, and work under tight deadlines within a complex team. S/he will take initiative and contribute to team efforts, as well as demonstrate an ability to communicate, assume leadership, and make solid decisions while working remotely from country leadership. S/he will have some knowledge of economic development, banking and/or formal and informal financial services and is able to support intervention teams to scale and progress their activities.

Living Conditions / Environmental Conditions

This position will be based in Erbil with frequent travels to Mosul and SAD. This position is unaccompanied. This location is eligible for hardship allowance and R&R breaks. Travel within Iraq is required to support Mercy Corps Iraq’s offices and programs. This will include the Iraqi Kurdish Region, Center and South Iraq. Living conditions in Erbil are very comfortable, in individual housing with stable water, electricity and internet. There is a wide variety of consumer goods available, including international brands, and many accessible leisure activities.

Mercy Corps Team members represent the agency both during and outside of work hours when deployed in a field posting or on a visit to a field posting. Team members are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner and respect local laws, customs and Mercy Corps’ 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.

Ongoing Learning

In support of our belief that learning organizations are more effective, efficient and relevant to the communities we serve, we empower all team members to dedicate 5% of their time to learning activities that further their personal and/or professional growth and development.

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 theInteragency 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 toMercy 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.