PROGRAM SUMMARY:
Mercy Corps has been operating in Uganda since 2006 and works to catalyze change through the Ugandan private sector, civil society and government to create resilient, economically inclusive, healthy, and secure communities. Our work focuses on building resilience and enabling economic growth, improving opportunities to attain better health and nutrition, improving governance and conflict management, and bridging humanitarian response with longer term development outcomes. We implement programs in Acholi, Karamoja and West Nile Sub-regions, as well as eastern Uganda and the greater Kampala area with funding from USAID, Sida, US State Department, SDC, DFID as well as other private donations.
Mercy Corps is starting a new program in consortium with The Palladium Group and DanChurchAid to pilot the market systems development approach to refugee response. The project aims to support 5,000 refugees and host community members (1,500 refugee farmers, 2,500 host community farmers) in at least 8 villages in Bidibidi and Palorinya settlements, and in 8 sub counties around the settlements in Yumbe and Moyo districts. The project aims to develop a stronger market system to build sustainable livelihoods for refugee and host communities. The project will adopt a market systems development approach, working to leverage the private sector to provide inputs to farmers; offtake goods from production; as well as provide agricultural and post-harvest handling training so farmers can use agricultural land effectively and earn an income. The project will work closely with private sector partners who aim to expand operations in target geographies for increased business performance while also improving access to markets for farmers and traders.

GENERAL POSITION SUMMARY:
Mercy Corps is looking for an experienced, qualified Ugandan to fill the position of Program Officer with a focus on the Livelihoods and Market Development/Economic Development sector. Reporting to the Program Manager in Yumbe or Program Manager in Palorinya, depending on the location, the Program Officer will support implementation of the livelihoods/market development component which will include support for farmers and farmer groups; evouchers or cash for agricultural inputs;; formation and support for income generating activities and market linkages to ensure sustainable incomes are developed. Additional support will also be needed on entrepreneurship, trade and Innovation Centre development. As needed, program officers will be expected to support all interventions of the program. Specific activities will include strengthening relationships with existing community structures, assessing beneficiaries based on vulnerability criteria; mobilizing community members for assessments and registration of beneficiaries; development of platform for evouchers or other platform for access to agricultural inputs; implementation of evoucher and input distributions; post-distribution monitoring; overseeing agriculture extension trainers and other mentorship for IGAs. S/he will be a creative, action-oriented problem solver with strong experience in partnership management.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:
1. Planning, developing and implementing humanitarian cash transfer activities
2. In coordination with Program Manager, mobilize community members, taking care to identify those who fit the pre-established vulnerability criteria, for registration and other activities.
3. Support and lead community sensitization activities around livelihoods activities in two zones of focus in Bidibidi Settlement or Palorinya Settlement. Identify specific topic areas of information needed and develop clear communications plans to effectively disseminate information.
4. Support development of platform to implement evouchers or other platform to distribute agricultural inputs with linkages to local traders.
5. Support identification and development of IGA groups and entrepreneurs/traders; support development of specific IGA and business plan; cash grants and ongoing support.
6. Support development of strategy and implementation of capital grants to IGA groups, traders and enterprises for livelihood activities along with ongoing support.
7. Coordinate with other field teams as needed to ensure continuity in the programs.
8. Documentation, Monitoring, Evaluation and Reporting
9. Under guidance of Program Manager and M&E Officer, participate in any market assessment and baseline/endline data gathering needs.
10. Support the development of vulnerability criteria and beneficiary registration tool.
11. Work closely with supervisor to capture data for measuring output and impact of the program; and to ensure accurate and timely flow of information from the field. Specific data collection would include post-distribution monitoring and after action reviews for key activities. Continuous improvement of activities will be expected based on this information.
12. Prepare and submit timely weekly, monthly, and quarterly reports that will be indicative of program progress during implementation. Respond to queries if and when necessary.
13. Maintain proper filing system.
14. Collaboration/Networking
15. Establish and maintain good coordination and working relationships with Office of the Prime Minister, UNHCR local government officials, and other NGOs/CBOs, representing Mercy Corps and soliciting participation in activities where appropriate and as directed.
16. Conduct himself/herself both professionally and personally in such a manner as to bring credit to Mercy Corps Uganda and to not jeopardize its humanitarian mission.
17. Organizational Learning: As part of Mercy Corps Uganda’s 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 the program as well as themselves.
18. Any other related duties assigned

KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:
• Bachelor’s Degree in relevant field is preferred.
• 2-3 years experience in humanitarian response activities, preferably in livelihoods OR Market Systems Development/M4P/market facilitation a MUST.
• Strong community mobilization experience a must.
• Strong writing, communication, organization, prioritization and negotiating skills.
• Excellent (English) verbal and written communication skills.
• Strong computer literacy with a full knowledge of office applications.
• Excellent attention to detail and ability to complete tasks in a timely manner.
• Excellent teamwork abilities and interpersonal skills.
• Demonstrated flexibility, creativity and enthusiasm as well as a willingness to learn and to be continually adaptive within a dynamic and often self-directed working environment mandatory.
• Proactive, problem-solving action orientation is essential.
• Organization will prioritize candidates from West Nile or with extensive experience in West Nile.

HOW TO APPLY:
Applications: Submit your application including a cover letter CV (with 3 referees), and latest copy of academic qualifications/certificates to the Senior HR & Legal Manager, Kampala Head Office ,
E-mail applications to ug-mcjobs@mercycorps.org
Deadline for Submission: Close of business by 5:00pm August 3 , 2017 Only short-listed candidates will be contacted by Mercy Corps. ‘Mercy Corps Uganda is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer. Any canversing will lead to disqualification. Qualified women are encouraged to apply