Government jobs in South Africa

SENIOR GOVERNANCE ADVISOR

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Full Time

Mercy Corps has been present in Ethiopia since 2004 working to drive bold and transformative ideas, working closely with government, the private sector and civil society actors to build a more resilient country, ensuring that programs are responsive to and influenced by participants and stakeholders. Our vision is to enhance the resilience of climate and conflict-affected communities through market systems development for improved livelihoods, access to food, and safe and clean water to thrive in the face of crises. Our strategy focuses on the four outcome areas of: 1) Economically marginalized populations have improved and diversified livelihoods, income, and assets; 2) Pastoralists, farmers, and households have access to sustainably produced, safe, nutritious food; 3) Social cohesion and inclusive governance processes are built in crisis-affected communities; and 4) People have equitable, sustained access to clean water and sanitation for domestic and productive use. Currently we operate in the regional states of Afar, Amhara, Gambella, Oromia, Somali, Sidama, Southern Ethiopia, Tigray and Addis Ababa city administration working with a diverse base of donors that includes USAID, EU, GAC, Hilton Foundation, UN, JOA, Sweden, EKN and other foundations.

The Senior Governance Advisor is responsible for setting the strategy for governance approaches across the different thematic areas of RIPA-North, particularly related to government and community disaster risk management (DRM) and natural resource management (NRM) and government nutrition services. The Advisor will play a key role in providing capacity building, expert technical support, oversight, and monitoring of governance activities. The Advisor will develop and implement governance activities in coordination with the three regional government stakeholders and project staff. The 20‑month position focuses on building the capacity of government stakeholders and building local implementing partners’ operational and technical capacity, engaging government, increasing coordination among formal and informal stakeholders, and mobilizing communities to undertake collective action.

• Strategy and vision
  • Develop a strategy for influencing government institutions to invest in community DRM and rangeland management plans.
  • Develop a strategy and roadmap for government ownership and financing of climate information services.
  • Review the sustainability prospects of key community governance institutions (e.g., DRM Councils and Rangeland Councils) and develop a strategy for improving sustainability.
• Program Management
  • Collaborate with component teams and field teams in day‑to‑day coordination with regional government officials and community structures on program delivery, joint planning, capacity strengthening strategies and activities, and measurement.
  • Support integration of cross‑cutting aspects of the program such as gender equality, peace building and social cohesion, youth, climate adaptation, and resilience into the country‑level institutional strengthening strategy.
  • Support RIPA field teams in socializing the program with local and country government stakeholders, traditional leaders, local civil society organizations, and other relevant stakeholders to ensure support and acceptance of RIPA programmes.
  • Lead implementation of country‑level context and government capacity assessment processes, including managing staff or consultants, coordinating across Mercy Corps/CARE and consortium partner teams, and joint mapping of formal and informal governance structures with key stakeholders.
  • Prepare regular country context updates including analysis of governance planning and budgeting cycles and political windows of opportunity, and advise on how these may affect implementation of RIPA North activities.
  • Refine and implement regional‑contextual strategies for community mobilization and engagement in governance processes.
  • Work with RIPA component Leads and CoP to develop and strengthen community mobilization, civil society strengthening, and government officials’ community engagement skills, including facilitation, consultation, negotiation, and participatory planning and budgeting.
  • Mentor participating officials in good governance skills, including planning and conducting regular awareness‑raising and consultative meetings with government and communities on issues related to DRM, NRM, Gender and Nutrition planning.
  • Support the Institutionalization of Learning Systems Strengthening by providing strategy and direction for country‑level implementation, maintaining a monitoring system to measure overall performance of the governance system in the field office.
  • Design and facilitate community and government learning events to review progress, highlight challenges and identify solutions.
  • Contribute country‑level information on complementary activities by partners and collaborating agencies to support program coordination at the household and community levels.
  • Convene and facilitate meetings between governance structures at different levels and across geographies to promote communication and collaboration within and between government authorities.
  • Lead governance knowledge‑management activities with CO and field offices, documenting processes.
  • Coordinate with the Learning and Accountability (CLA) team to document governance practices and outcomes.
  • Produce written reports on program activities, capturing impacts of activities, with input from the CLA team.
  • Participate in the agency‑wide governance practitioners learning exchange network.
  • Ensure communication of governance concepts within the organization, with partners and other stakeholders.
  • Organize feedback sessions and other platforms at the CO and field office level with partners, beneficiaries, and stakeholders.
• Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning
  • Mentor officials in good governance skills, including planning and conducting regular awareness‑raising and consultative meetings with government and communities.
  • Maintain a monitoring system for governance system performance, as described above.
  • Design and facilitate community and government learning events to review progress, highlight challenges and identify solutions.
  • Contribute country‑level information on complementary activities by partners and collaborating agencies for program coordination.
  • Convene and facilitate meetings between governance structures at different levels and across geographies to promote communication and collaboration.
  • Lead governance knowledge‑management activities with CO and field offices, documenting processes.
  • Coordinate with CLA team to document governance practices and outcomes.
  • Produce written reports on program activities, capturing impacts of activities.
  • Participate in the agency‑wide governance practitioners learning exchange network.
  • Ensure communication of governance concepts within the organization, with partners and other stakeholders.
  • Organize feedback sessions and other platforms at the CO and field office level with partners, beneficiaries, and stakeholders.
• Finance and Compliance Management
  • In collaboration with the country program’s operations and finance departments, ensure proper financial management, procurement, administration, human resources and logistics needs of the program are conducted within Mercy Corps policy and with maximum benefit to the program.
  • Monitor adherence to grant agreement, Mercy Corps policies and procedures and relevant external rules and regulations, including those of the government of Ethiopia.
  • Ensure compliance with USAID and Mercy Corps regulations.
• Influence and Representation
  • Liaise with and represent RIPA‑North governance approaches and outcomes to USAID and other cooperating sponsors and stakeholders.
  • Represent Mercy Corps at government, donor, NGO and other relevant events in the field, in close coordination with the Country Director.
  • Ensure close coordination and information sharing with consortium partners, sub‑grantees, local government and other implementers, as well as with other Mercy Corps programmes.
• Organizational Learning
  • Commit 5% of time to learning activities that benefit Mercy Corps and self, as part of our learning commitment.
• Accountability to Beneficiaries
  • Support all efforts towards accountability to program participants and international standards guiding international relief and development work, actively engaging beneficiary communities as equal partners in design, monitoring and evaluation of field projects.
• Supervisory Responsibility
  • This position does not have any direct supervisory responsibility.

• (Required) Bachelor’s degree in political science, Social Sciences, Democracy and Governance, International Development, Environmental Science, Natural Resource Management/Disaster Risk Management, Social science, Statistics, International Development or equivalent combination of education & work experience.
• (Desired) MA Degree in Political Science, Social Sciences, Democracy and Governance, International Development, Environmental Science, Natural Resource Management/Disaster Risk Management, Social science, Statistics, International Development, or related field with required or demonstrated equivalent work experience.
• Knowledge and working experience with various levels of Ethiopian Governance System.
• Ability to work in a consortium‑led programme.
• 4 to 5 years of proven relevant field management in governance system.
• Strong track record of managing programmes with engagement with or work through governance system and addressing relevant cross‑cultural issues.
• Demonstrated experience working in, collaborating, or partnering with different government offices or departments and ability to represent the organisation professionally and appropriately.
• Highly organised, detail‑oriented and analytical.
• Training and facil skills tailored to cross‑cultural contexts.
• Computer skills: Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and others.
• Strong oral and written communication skills in English including report development, writing and editing.
• Ability to meet deadlines and follow procedures; work independently and cooperatively with team members.
• Demonstrated interpersonal skills in working with multidisciplinary teams.
• Firm belief in teamwork, gender equality, sensitivity to HIV/AIDS, participatory approach and sustainability.
• Proficiency in English, both verbal and written.

Asuccessful candidate will have the ability to live and work closely with a diverse team of individuals in a highly intense and fluid work and security environment, with capacity to spark innovative approaches to programming and inspire groups to collaborate closely to implement high‑quality programmes. They will have proven ability to learn quickly, take initiative and be accountable for results, with the willingness and ability to remain mobile for short‑term and/or long‑term as necessary within the region.

The position is based in Addis Ababa with up to 40% travel to project sites in Somali, Oromia and Afar regions.

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.

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.

Mercy Corps is committed to ensuring that all individuals we come into contact with through our work are treated with respect and dignity, and that we do not tolerate child abuse, sexual exploitation, abuse or harassment.

All qualified individuals are invited to apply. All applications, including a CV, three references and all applicable official papers, must be sent electronically. Only short‑listed candidates will be acknowledged and called for interviews. Deadline for all applications: 22 January 2024, 4:00 PM.