Details of Program Officer

Essential Job Responsibilities:

Program Implementation & Coordination:

·         Assist in planning and coordinating the day-to-day activities of the IFSLS program, ensuring timely implementation of project components.

·         Collaborate with partner financial institutions (IBS Bank and KIMS Microfinance) to ensure activities are aligned with project goals and timelines.

·         Organize and facilitate workshops, training sessions, and meetings with stakeholders, including MSMEs, producer groups, financial institutions, and community organizations.

Product Development Support:

·         Support the Program Manager and Business Development Advisor in the development of new financial products tailored to MSMEs in the livestock value chain.

·         Assist in the coordination of product pilot testing, including identifying pilot areas, tracking progress, and gathering feedback for product improvement.

·         Capacity Building & Technical Assistance:

·         Help in the development and delivery of capacity-building activities for financial institutions to improve their ability to offer inclusive financial products.

·         Assist in organizing training sessions on risk management, operational processes, financial literacy, and business development for partner institutions and MSMEs.

Monitoring & Evaluation (M&E):

·         Support the monitoring and evaluation of program activities by collecting data, tracking key performance indicators (KPIs), and documenting lessons learned.

·         Assist in conducting impact assessments, particularly focused on women, youth, and marginalized groups, to measure the effectiveness of financial products and services.

·         Ensure regular reporting to the Program Manager and donors, highlighting progress, challenges, and areas for improvement.

·         Gender & Social Inclusion:

·         Work with the team to integrate gender equity and social inclusion across all program activities, ensuring that women and youth have equitable access to financial products and services.

·         Assist in organizing community outreach and awareness campaigns to promote financial literacy and participation among women, youth, and other marginalized groups.

·         Stakeholder Engagement:

·         Maintain strong relationships with key stakeholders, including financial institutions, MSMEs, community leaders, and government agencies.

·         Facilitate regular communication and coordination between the project team and external partners to ensure alignment and collaboration on project goals.

Digital Financial Services:

·         Support efforts to strengthen digital financial services for partner institutions, such as mobile banking platforms and agent banking models.

·         Assist in organizing training and capacity-building sessions focused on digital financial inclusion, particularly targeting rural areas and underserved populations.

·         Outreach & Communication:

·         Support the development of program communication materials, including reports, presentations, and success stories, to share program achievements with stakeholders and donors.

·         Assist in organizing exchange events, market fairs, and community outreach efforts to promote financial services and strengthen linkages between MSMEs and financial institutions.

Security

·         Work closely with the country team’s security focal point to ensure communication strategy and products promote and maintain the safety and security of all team members.

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

·         Adhere to Mercy Corps’ safe communication policy and other safeguarding principles with respect to communication.

·         Organizational Learning 

·         As part of our 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 empower all team members to commit 5% of their time to learning activities that benefit Mercy Corps as well as themselves.

Accountability to Program Participants

·         Mercy Corps team members are expected to support all efforts toward accountability, specifically to our beneficiaries and to international standards guiding international relief and development work, while actively engaging beneficiary communities as equal partners in the design, monitoring, and evaluation of our field projects.

·         Skills and qualifications

·         Bachelor’s degree in Development Studies, Business Administration, Economics, or a related field.

·         Minimum of 3 years of experience in program coordination, project management, or a similar role within development programs, preferably related to financial inclusion, livelihoods, or MSME support.

·         Strong understanding of microfinance, MSMEs, and the livestock value chain in Somalia or similar contexts.

·         Experience in supporting program implementation, monitoring and evaluation, and stakeholder engagement.

·         Familiarity with gender equity, social inclusion, and financial literacy programs.

·         Strong organizational and coordination skills with attention to detail and an ability to manage multiple tasks.

·         Strong interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to engage diverse stakeholders.

·         Fluency in English is required; knowledge of Somali is an asset.

·         Competencies:

·         Proven ability to work independently and as part of a team.

·         Demonstrated experience in program management and the ability to meet deadlines and manage competing priorities.

·         Cultural sensitivity and commitment to advancing gender and social inclusion in development programs.

·         Proficiency in Microsoft Office and data collection tools for program monitoring and reporting.

Accountability

Reports Directly To: Program Manager

·         Works Directly With: Business Development Advisor, Country MEAL Manager, GEDSI Coordinator, Knowledge Management and Learning Coordinator, Program Communication Leads, Program Team Leads, Field Officers and other relevant Mercy Corps Somalia staff

https://recruiting2.ultipro.com/MER1024MERCY/JobBoard/90ada9b5-e020-4221-ad4d-1f54e0167025/OpportunityDetail?opportunityId=a6bbe376-4557-4c97-a17a-e5e9af857d45