Nigeria: Field Coordinator: Vulnerability and Capacity Assessment (VCA)

PROGRAM/DEPARTMENT SUMMARY:

Globally, Mercy Corps’ mission is to alleviate suffering, poverty and oppression by helping people build secure, productive and just communities. This occurs when public, private and civil society actors interact with accountability, inclusive participation and mechanisms for peaceful change. Our global strategy 1) takes an integrated, systems approach, 2) works in partnership with diverse actors, 3) is grounded in evidence and learning, and 4) uses a gender lens. Last year, we improved the lives of 19 million people globally. Mercy Corps manages programs in 43 countries. Working in Nigeria since 2012, Mercy Corps works across 11 states with a focus on the Middle Belt and Northern states through partnerships with USAID, DfID, GHR Foundation, Nike Foundation, MasterCard, and the Foundation for Partnerships in the Niger Delta (PIND). Mercy Corps links peace-building with economic development, focusing on vulnerable populations such as adolescent girls.

Mercy Corps proposes to conduct a vulnerability and capacity assessment (VCA) in three states in Northern Nigeria to better understand the drivers and levers for positive change amidst the sea of ongoing challenges.

VCAs provide a methodology to answer the four key questions to resilience - Resilience to what? Resilience for whom? Resilience for what? Resilience through what? The VCA will help to identify weaknesses in key socio-ecological systems and potential future hazards that may exacerbate such weaknesses; and therefore helping to create a baseline from which changes in resilience can be measured.

Rather than viewing a VCA as a single assessment, Mercy Corps sees VCAs as a well-coordinated series of assessments. These may use established tools or be designed for a specific purpose. Used together they help to develop an understanding of the complex systems communities operate within.

Mercy Corps has developed a vulnerability assessment methodology that aims to understand vulnerability across scales. As such, information will be collected and analysed at the community, regional, and national level. Data driven, top-down, assessments will be complimented by qualitative, bottom-up information collected from communities and stakeholders from across the region.

In developing a vulnerability assessment of Northern Nigeria, Mercy Corps seeks to meet the following objectives:

Inform the development of a broad strategy to reduce chronic poverty for Northern Nigeria.Influence the funding strategies of Northern Nigeria for DFID and other major donors.Identify potential partners and better understand their capacities.Identify drivers of vulnerability to continue to monitor after the initial assessment is complete based on indicators designed in collaboration with DFID.Build the capacity of the DFID country team to facilitate additional vulnerability assessment processes.Contribute to the ongoing efforts of the Mercy Corps’ Resilience Initiative by helping to further understand how VCAs can contribute to resilience-building programmes.

Primary Location: Abuja, Nigeria with regular travel to Borno, Yobe, Jigawa, Katsina, and Zamfara

GENERAL POSITION SUMMARY:

The Field Coordinator will provide overall guidance to all field activities, including ensuring high quality primary data is collected from all locations across Northern Nigeria. The Field Coordinator will be expected to recruit local enumerators and focus group discussion facilitators, provide adequate training, and provide quality control for all data collection. Upon receiving the data, the Field Coordinator will review, clean, and help analyze the information.

The Field Coordinator will provide overall contextual guidance and support to the design and analysis of the VCA. S/he will also significantly contribute to the design and analysis workshops and final report write-up and dissemination. S/he will be responsible for all administration and logistics in field sites, including managing cash flows for a timely and efficient project.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:

Assessment Implementation

Ensure effective implementation of the VCA in the field sites, including meeting deliverables on time, within budget, and according to Mercy Corps and DFID standards.In collaboration with the lead consultant, design and implement relevant focus group discussions, data and information collection for on-going monitoring.Ensures strong communication with the head office in Abuja. Informs lead consultant, logistics, and finance teams in a timely manner of all field needs and challenges.Provides overall security management for the field activities. Reports all security concerns in a timely manner directly to the security focal point in Abuja.Manages relationships with local authorities, local CSOs, and other local organizations.Maintain links and keep current on best practices of resilience and measurement strategies; disseminate technical information and assistance where necessary.

Personal Leadership

Demonstrates flexibility, organization, and ability to maintain positive relationships and composure.Maintain high ethical standards and treat people with respect and dignity.Demonstrate an awareness of his/her own strengths and development needs.

Monitoring & Evaluation (M&E) and Reporting

Oversee the collection of high-quality primary data in a timely and efficient manner.Ensure that focus group discussion leaders facilitate focus groups in an inclusive and respectful manner that encourages honest feedback and open participation.Acknowledges and reports out areas of bias and limitations of data collection methodologies.Manages and synthesizes large amounts of diverse information in a timely manner.Collects secondary data from universities and research organizations around Nigeria.

Representation

Represent Mercy Corps at government, donor, NGO and other relevant events in the field, in close coordination with the Mercy Corps’ Nigeria Country Representative and Regional Resilience Advisor.Coordinate assessment activities (key informant interviews, focus groups) with local government, private sector actors and as well as with other Mercy Corps programs in Nigeria.Proactively form relationships with universities and research organizations to complement primary data collection.

Team Management

Recruit, train, and manage local focus group discussion leaders.Promote accountability by providing timely feedback to all team members.Contribute to country team-building efforts and ensure the integration of all team members into relevant decision-making processes.

Program Support Operations

Coordinate with program, finance, operations, and administration staff to ensure effective systems are in place to support field activities including logistics, procurement, security, administration and human resources.Help design operational policies and practices as needed and in accordance with Mercy Corps regulations.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITY: Focus group discussion leaders.

REPORTS DIRECTLY TO: Mercy Corps’ Nigeria Country Representative

WORKS DIRECTLY WITH: Mercy Corps Regional Resilience Advisor, VCA Lead Consultant, Finance and Operations department.

KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:

Excellent oral, written, presentation and communications skills in English are requiredBA/S or equivalent in education, management, social sciences, international development or other relevant field.A minimum of 3 years of experience including significant experience collecting primary data from focus groups.Familiarity with participatory data collection methods.Experience in Northern Nigeria essential (Borno and Yobe).Experience managing field data collection, including hiring and supervising focus group discussion leadersDeep understanding of the challenges in Northern Nigeria.Understanding of a systems approach and resilience highly desired.High attention to detail and ability to work under pressure and tight deadlines.Experience with universities and research institutes in Nigeria desired.Strong written and oral communication skills in English required, including report development, writing and editing. Hausa language skills essential.Demonstrated attention to detail, ability to follow procedures, meet deadlines and work independently and cooperatively with team members.

SUCCESS FACTORS:

The successful applicant will combine exceptional management skills and technical skills with a focus on qualitative data collection in conflict zones. S/he will have an outstanding ability to develop, implement and manage field assessments. Multi-tasking, prioritizing, problem solving and simultaneous attention to detail and strategic vision are essential. The most successful Mercy Corps staff members have a strong commitment to teamwork and accountability, thrive in evolving and changing environments and make effective written and verbal communication a priority in all situations.

LIVING CONDITIONS/ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS:

This position will be based in Abuja with significant travel throughout Northern Nigeria, including Borno and Yobe states, where security may be particularly difficult at times.

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 MC's policies, procedures, and values at all times and in all in-country venues.

Please submit CV and cover letter addressing the key criteria above, to mercycorpshr@gmail.com with mail subject VCA Field Coordinator.

Closing date: 2 weeks from the date of this advert. Recruitment will be ongoing and may conclude prior to this date.

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