Mercy Corps is powered by the belief that a better world is possible. To create a better world, 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.

Program / Department Summary

Mercy Corps began work in Niger in 2005 in response to the severe food crisis at that time.

Our programming has since expanded to include a focus on early recovery, food security, resilient

livelihoods, peace and good governance, financial inclusion, and youth economic opportunity, along with continued humanitarian response. Drawing on a skilled team of more than 135 colleagues, Mercy Corps has assisted more than one million vulnerable Nigeriens as well as Malian and Nigerian refugees over the years. We currently work in the regions of Niamey, Tahoua, Tillaberi, and Maradi, and implement cross-border programming with Mali and Burkina Faso.

Mercy Corps is seeking a qualified Graduation Lead for an anticipated, five-year USAID Resilience Food Security Activity (RFSA) in Niger. The Activity will contribute to food and nutrition security for households and communities in vulnerable areas of Niger.

General Position Summary

The Graduation Lead will ensure the effective design, planning, and implementation of a Graduation Approach for the Activity. The Graduation Lead must have an in-depth understanding of and experience with entrepreneurship-based graduation models, preferably for complex food security and resilience programs. The Lead will oversee capacity strengthening efforts and ensure that the Graduation Approach integrates effectively with the overall Activity framework and goals; centers the role of local implementing partners; emphasizes evidence-based practices; and maximizes inclusion of marginalized groups.

Essential Job Responsibilities

STRATEGY & VISION

● Lead the design, planning and implementation of the Graduation Approach tailored to the Activity goals and objectives, and facilitate adaptations based on new evidence and learning.

● Coordinate closely, work with, and support Activity leadership and consortium partners to promote effective integration of the Graduation Approach across program components, ensuring alignment with donor requirements and priorities.

● Work closely with Mercy Corps and partner staff to ensure inclusive targeting for Graduation Approach activities, with a particular focus on women, youth, and marginalized groups.

● Work closely with the Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) team to integrate Graduation considerations in data collection and analysis tools.

● Contribute to any program-related research to ensure that relevant Graduation aspects are incorporated.

PROGRAM MANAGEMENT

●Conduct periodic monitoring of field activities; ensure quality of Graduation Approach interventions; and provide ongoing coaching and mentoring to staff.

● Document processes and achievements to ensure impact and best practices are captured and disseminated. This will include the continual re-evaluation of program activities and information, with resulting adjustments based on new insight and learning.

● Develop targeted Graduation capacity strengthening interventions for Activity and partner staff.

● Oversee the development of implementation work plans, ensuring timely delivery of Graduation Approach milestones and outputs.

● Support budget management and forecasting related to Graduation Approach activities, ensuring resources are utilized effectively.

INFLUENCE & REPRESENTATION

● Identify, build, and manage collaborative partnerships with key stakeholders, which may include consortium partners, donor representatives, and local government officials.

● Develop relationships and linkages with organizations implementing other donor-funded programs focused on Graduation in Niger.

● Conduct regular community consultations to ensure programming remains responsive to the context.

● Collect and share lessons learned and best practices from Mercy Corps’ experience implementing the Graduation Approach, both internally and externally.

● Represent the program at local, national, and international forums related to livelihoods and resilience programming, contributing to the program’s thought leadership in the Graduation Approach.

SECURITY

● Work closely with the Country Team security focal point to develop and maintain systems that promote the safety and security of all team members.

● Ensure that activities are designed and implemented with a clear analysis and understanding of security.

Supervisory Responsibility

Expected to supervise a team of technical staff. The number of direct and indirect reports will be determined at a later stage.

Accountability

Reports Directly To: Chief of Party

Works Directly With: Activity team members; Mercy Corps’ Country MEL team; Mercy Corps’ HQ Regional Program Team; Mercy Corps’ HQ Technical Resources and Quality Unit; and partner organizations.

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 projects.

Knowledge and Experience / Qualification and Transferable Skills

● MA/S or equivalent experience in development studies, international relations, business administration, or related field.

● At least five years (or at least seven years with a BA/S) of experience with design and implementation of the Graduation Approach, with at least five years based in country programs.

● Experience with large and complex programs addressing resilience, agriculture, natural resources management, agribusiness, peacebuilding, and conflict management is preferred.

● Skills in participatory learning, facilitating collaborative problem-solving, and capacity strengthening for program staff and partners.

● Demonstrated capacity to lead the collection, analysis, and utilization of information from a range of sources to ensure effective integration of the Graduation Approach throughout the program cycle.

● Strong understanding of gender, age, and other locally significant socio-cultural factors in the context of food and nutrition security and resilience programming.

● Knowledge of USAID rules and program administration, management, and reporting procedures and systems is preferred.

● Prior humanitarian and/or development experience working in a context similar to Niger.

● Fluent oral and written French.

● Strong oral and written English language skills are highly desired.

● Excellent computer skills (especially MS Office applications) and ability to use information technology as a tool and resource.

Success Factors

The successful candidate will have excellent teamwork and interpersonal communication skills, with demonstrated ability to work effectively in complex environments, adapt to evolving priorities, manage competing demands, and meet deadlines under pressure. S/he will combine strong capacity strengthening expertise, creativity, initiative, participatory leadership, and tactful decisiveness in achieving set objectives. Multi­tasking, prioritizing, problem solving, and simultaneous attention to detail and strategic vision are essential. S/he must have the confidence and humility to work effectively with a diverse group of people and be sensitive to political and cultural nuances. S/he must be able to consistently apply excellent judgment to a variety of demanding and fast-changing situations, while working as part of a large Activity team.

Living Conditions / Environmental Conditions

The Graduation Lead will be based in Niamey with regular travel within Niger. Staff in Niamey have good access to essential services, such as medical care, electricity, and water. This position requires up to 50% of travel by road or air to field locations with potential security considerations and/ or in climatically harsh conditions. The position is not accompanied but is eligible for R&R and hardship pay. This position requires obtaining medical clearance through the successful completion of a medical assessment by an external third party prior to deployment and following any medical evacuation if applicable. If you are not medically cleared and Mercy Corps cannot reasonably accommodate a medical condition if required, you may not be able to deploy for/return to this position. This position requires for non-Nigerien, obtaining an entrance visa from the GoN before any deployment in country.

Mercy Corps team members represent the agency both during and outside of 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 Mercy Corps’ policies, procedures, and values at all times and in all in-country venues.

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.

Level of Education: Bachelor Degree

Work Hours: 8

Experience in Months: No requirements