Civil Society Engagement Coordinator (Applications will only be accepted if submitted through the URL link provided)

About 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. Mercy Corps is powered by the belief that a better world is possible. To do this, we know our teams do their best work when they are diverse, and every team member feels that they belong. We welcome diverse backgrounds, perspectives, and skills so that we can be stronger and have long term impact.

The Program

The NGO Network is a coordination body of non-profit organizations working in the Middle East. The key focus of its members is to support local NGOs and their role within the humanitarian response. The implementation mechanisms include remote management modality. The NGO Network is led by its Steering Committee and managed by the Representative. Currently the NGO Network Secretariat expands its capacities and services and looks for additional staff who will support effective coordination within our committed small team.

The Position (General Position Summary)

The Civil Society Engagement Coordinator will lead on development of the NGO Network crucial objective – enhanced principled partnerships with local organizations and civil society initiatives. To implement sustainable aid programs NGO Network members partner with several NGOs, CBOs and initiatives. The Civil Society Engagement Coordinator will strengthen voices of the local stakeholders within the NGO Network itself as well as will reach out to a broader spectrum of civil society organizations. He/She will be responsible for mapping the civil society actors within two of the Middle East countries. He/She will conduct liaison to include the civil society actors into the coordination mechanism and hear their voices/perspectives regarding the current humanitarian needs and ways of delivering aid to communities so those can be presented to key donor entities.

This role also supports the NGO Network Representative in his/her duties, and as part of the Secretariat is engaged with organizational and administrative matters along with translations and ensuring that the Arabic language is being promoted and used.

The Civil Society Engagement Coordinator’s aim is to engage, include, empower, and support local leadership of the civil society actors so they can be drivers of change.

Essential Responsibilities

CIVIL SOCIETY ENGAGEMENT AND PARTNERSHIPS

• Develop NGO Network approach to engagement with the civil society actors.
• Network with civil society actors in the two selected Middle East countries.
• Promote locally led response, principled and equal partnerships, Grand Bargain and Charter for Change commitments.
• Address perceptions, language, and cultural gaps between international and national members of the NGO Network.
• Strengthen local NGOs engagement and leadership within the NGO Network and the overall response.
• Map and mobilize local civil society actors (NGOs, CBOs, initiatives) for potential engagement with NGO Network coordination (formally and informally) and build trustworthy relationships with those. Prepare a database with available local partner organizations.
• Support discussion and actions regarding Partners’ selection mechanisms.
• Support mutual capacity development and learning between local NGOs and international NGOs.
• Lead the work of the local NGO sub-group.
• Help to ensure that local NGOs are familiar with the humanitarian coordination architecture and keep them informed of opportunities (including funding announcements).
• Support the NGO Representative in developing common best practice mechanisms in working with local NGOs.

ORGANIZATION AND COORDINATION

• Provide overall support to the NGO Network Secretariat.
• Engage in information sharing and communication within the NGO Network. Set up an appropriate way for providing an NGO Network newsletter and manage dissemination.
• Schedule, coordinate and lead various membership meetings.
• Take notes at meetings.
• Provide simultaneous informal English-Arabic translations during NGO Network meetings.
• Manage organizational matters of the NGO Forum working group meetings.
• Support development of feedback mechanisms.
• Support NGO Network donor reporting, M&E, and proposal writing.
• Monitor training opportunities for humanitarian and development workers and share information about those with NGO Network membership.
• Monitor context and facilitate NGO Network information exchange related to operational challenges and lessons learnt (e.g., monitoring, finance, assessments).
• Support revision of membership applications which are submitted by the local organizations and recommend potential new local members for the NGO Network.
• Liaise with other coordination bodies in the Middle East Region.

REPRESENTATION, COMMUNICATION AND LEADERSHIP

• Serve as a voice of local communities and actors who do not have access to key stakeholders. Represent perspectives of local NGO Network members when meeting donors. Support development of key civil society advocacy messages.
• Advise the NGO Network Representative with a clear picture about local NGOs and local communities’ perspectives, requests, and perceptions on how aid should be delivered and what are the most pending needs. Work closely with the Information Management Officer to gather relevant data.
• Support communication initiatives of the NGO Network. Develop key advocacy messages of the NGO Network on principled partnerships, localization, local leadership through an inclusive and participatory process of working with all members.
• Work closely and support the NGO Network Representative in his/her duties. Take on delegated tasks by the NGO Network Representative or the Steering Committee.
• Act as the NGO Network Representative in his/her absence

Supervisory Responsibility

none

Accountability

Reports Directly To: NGO Network Representative

Works Directly With: Liaise with the NGO Network membership, and the Information Management Senior Officer

Minimum Qualification & Transferable Skills

• Professional track record of 4-5 years’ experience working in program management and/or coordination.
• Proven strong experience of working with civil society, communities, developing partnerships, accountability, capacity building and localization in the humanitarian-development-peace sector.
• Experience of working in one of the Middle East countries: Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, Turkey or Iraq.
• Ability to build strong and trustworthy relationships with local actors.
• Strong advocate for principled partnerships and localization. Experience in communications and advocacy is an asset.
• Excellent organizational skills and attention to details.
• Proven problem-solving approach and negotiation skills, ability to bring people to agree on common goals.
• Analytical skills and ability to work with others to develop strategy into action and communicating and influencing this to a wider audience. Representation and leadership experience.
• Demonstrated ability to work independently, creatively, innovatively, and effectively with limited direct supervision. Self-starter, champion of the new initiatives, action oriented.
• Ability to plan and prioritize his/her work well.
• High-level interpersonal and communications skills with the ability to write clearly in English and Arabic. Ability to provide informal simultaneous translations.
• Diplomatic and networking skills, ability to influence and liaise effectively with key stakeholders.
• Trustworthy and able to adhere to confidentiality. Strong work ethic and ability to take responsibility for his/her actions.
• Motivated to learn, develop leadership skills, and take new responsibilities.
• Fluent Arabic and English (spoken and written).
• Willingness to sign information confidentiality agreement.
• Experience of working in NGO coordination is an asset.
• Familiarity with gender mainstreaming and inclusion is an asset.

Success Factors

The successful candidate will be highly committed to support the key role that local organizations play in delivery of humanitarian aid. At the same time, he/she will have a talent to build connections and trustworthy relationships with local actors. Good self-driven organizational skills and inclusive approach is essential in this role as well as adherence to confidentiality.

Living Conditions / Environmental Conditions

N/A

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. 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 elearning courses upon hire and on an annual basis.