At Mercy Corps, we are driven by the unwavering belief that a better world is within reach. Our mission takes us to the frontlines of disaster, through the depths of hardship, and across more than 40 countries worldwide. Together, we forge powerful solutions, empowering individuals to triumph over adversity and cultivate resilient communities from within.
This is our mission, today and tomorrow.
Position Available: Natural Resource Management (NRM) Advisor
Location: Katsina
Employment Type: Full-time
Position Status: Full-time, Regular
Reports Directly To: Program Manager
Works Closely With: The Senior MEL Officer, Senior Program Officer, Infrastructural Advisor, Technical Support Unit: Climate, and PAQ
Program / Department Overview
Mercy Corps has been actively engaged in Nigeria since 2012, focusing our efforts on empowering adolescent girls, fostering economic and market development, and mitigating conflict. Our humanitarian response began in 2014 when the Northeast insurgency forced millions into displacement. With the support of institutional donors, foundations, and private corporations, we continue to provide critical assistance in food security, shelter, water and sanitation, protection, and livelihoods.
The Northwest region of Nigeria now faces a complex crisis marked by high levels of violence involving multiple armed actors, including conflicts between farmers and herders, criminal groups, and non-state armed organizations. This violence has led to loss of life, destruction of assets, erosion of institutional and socioeconomic structures, and has left communities bereft of livelihoods. Over 200,000 people have been displaced, with approximately 60,000 seeking refuge in neighboring Niger Republic. Between November 16th and December 30th, 2021, 969,757 people were displaced in the Northcentral and Northwest geopolitical zones, with 39% of them originating from the Northwest, and a significant 18% from Katsina.
General Position Summary
As the Natural Resource Management (NRM) Advisor, your role will be to provide strategic guidance, analysis, and leadership to communities and local governance structures on various NRM-related matters. This includes policy, management, development, land and water use, environmental conservation, and research and development. You will spearhead climate-related approaches and ensure NRM compliance while formulating and overseeing projects to meet climate and NRM requirements.
Your responsibilities will encompass the identification and establishment of natural resource management committees. You will work closely with the Senior Program Officer to identify and implement immediate conflict prevention or mitigation measures. This might involve rehabilitating critical infrastructure along transhumance corridors. You will also act as the custodian of community action plans, setting the stage for the implementation of social cohesion and infrastructure projects.
Collaborating closely with the Infrastructure Advisor, you will contribute to the execution of specific community projects. Moreover, your role will extend to disseminating key findings and lessons learned through research briefs, white papers, and reports in partnership with the communications team.
Essential Job Responsibilities
Research, Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning:
- Lead the design, implementation, and interpretation of community natural resource maps and communicate key findings.
- Provide timely strategic technical advice, document processes and results for program teams, community stakeholders, and external partners.
- Conduct community-level natural resource situational analyses and disseminate findings to stakeholders, documenting best practices.
- Assist in developing and implementing a robust NRM monitoring plan.
Capacity Building:
- Assess training needs for project staff, government staff, and beneficiaries and develop relevant training materials.
- Provide technical support to project staff in NRM, focusing on community-based natural resource management and operational action plan development.
- Contribute to the creation of technical guidelines, manuals, and information materials.
Program Implementation:
- Support the identification of intervention sites, program participants, and project activities.
- Oversee the site selection process for on-the-ground interventions in consultation with stakeholders.
- Review costed community action plans for implementation and support the development of technical consultancies related to NRM.
Program Quality Oversight:
- Review national and local policy and legislative frameworks related to land use planning, commodity production, water management, and sustainable forest management.
- Analyze past and ongoing initiatives for lessons learned and synergies.
- Profile the project landscape, working with state governments, including Land & Survey and Forestry sectors, on mapping current land use and natural resource management.
Technical Leadership:
- Provide safeguard and gender implementation support to enhance project and initiative quality and ensure compliance with internal policies.
- Offer guidance on improving implementation to meet project targets and compliance standards.
Team Management:
- Foster a work environment of mutual respect, striving for excellence.
- Promote accountability, communicate expectations, and provide constructive feedback through regular performance reviews.
- Support other team members with resources to improve performance and achieve objectives.
Finance & Compliance Management:
- Ensure compliance with donor and Mercy Corps regulations in project implementation.
Influence and Representation:
- Build and manage collaborative partnerships with Consortium partners, local governments, and stakeholders.
- Effectively communicate to ensure project targets and technical quality standards are met.
- Participate in coordination meetings and workshops at both local and state levels as delegated.
Organizational Learning:
- Dedicate 5% of your time to learning activities that benefit Mercy Corps and your professional growth.
Accountability to Beneficiaries:
- Support efforts towards accountability to beneficiaries, engaging them as equal partners in project design, monitoring, and evaluation.
Knowledge and Experience
- Minimum of a BA/B.Sc in a relevant field; MA/MS/MBA or equivalent preferred, particularly in Natural Resources Management, Environmental Sciences, related Biological Management, or related fields.
- A minimum of 4 years of working experience in a similar context.
- Familiarity with global and localized climate change priorities, standards, and compliance requirements.
- Understanding of global NRM and climate frameworks applicable to local resource-related issues.
- Strong grasp of relevant cross-cultural issues in a highly insecure environment.
- Previous experience in sustainable NRM management, including implementation, monitoring, and evaluation.
- Demonstrated capability in policy formulation.
- Expertise in forestry, water, and land management and development.
- Understanding of national and regional/global issues related to NRM.
- Excellent interpersonal skills, proven ability to motivate and inspire, and adeptness in promoting teamwork in a multicultural context.
- Experience in supporting institutional capacity building.
- Demonstrated attention to detail, ability to follow procedures, meet deadlines, work independently, and collaborate effectively.
- Strong negotiation and coordination skills.
- Fluency in English; fluency in Hausa is a plus.
Diversity, Equity & Inclusion:
We are committed to enriching our organization with diverse perspectives, backgrounds, and ideas. We believe that embracing diversity and fostering an inclusive environment strengthens our teams and enables us to tackle the world’s most complex challenges. We are on a journey toward greater diversity, equity, and inclusion, continually learning and evolving.
Equal Employment Opportunity:
Mercy Corps is an equal opportunity employer that does not tolerate discrimination. We actively seek out diverse backgrounds, perspectives, and skills to strengthen our global impact. We are committed to providing a respectful and psychologically safe work environment where equal employment opportunities are available to all.
Safeguarding & Ethics:
At Mercy Corps, we prioritize the safety, dignity, and respect of all individuals we engage with. We adhere to core principles for preventing sexual exploitation and abuse as outlined by the UN Secretary-General and IASC. Child abuse, sexual exploitation, abuse, or harassment by or of our team members is strictly prohibited. We uphold professional conduct, respect local laws and customs, and adhere to the Mercy Corps Code of Conduct Policies and values.
Application Closing Date:
29th September, 2023.
Method of Application:
Interested and qualified candidates should
Note:
- Applicants should combine their CVs and Cover Letters in a single document addressing the position requirements.
- Female candidates who meet the qualifications are strongly encouraged to apply.
- Application review will be conducted on a rolling basis.