Dan Royal Job/Vacancies

Regional CoordinatorMercy Corps
Closing date: 04 Oct 2009
Location: - To be determined

Reference: 216734-927

Note: Deadline for this announcement is 31 August.


Location: To be determined: Bogotá, Colombia or Cobán/Guatemala City, Guatemala.

PROGRAM SUMMARY:

Mercy Corps has an exciting new regional portfolio of projects centered on land conflict resolution and sustainable resource management in Latin America, funded by the European Commission and Irish Aid. To coordinate these projects between countries and also within countries, Mercy Corps is looking for a motivated, dynamic individual with good analytical ability and solid experience in the sector to act as a regional coordinator.

In 2003, Mercy Corps initiated a land rights and land conflict resolution program, known as TIERRAS, in the Alta Verapaz Department of Guatemala. The newly EC-funded regional project, entitled “A South-South Approach to Protect Human Rights by Resolving Land Conflicts on Communal Land in Colombia and Guatemala” proposes to export and adapt the highly successful, proven and documented Guatemalan methodologies of alternative land conflict resolution to the remote region of Chocó in the Colombian Darién, as well as to new municipalities in north-western Guatemala.. The proposed action will also work to consolidate the political participation and representation of marginalized groups by increasing awareness on land rights and on national legislation protecting indigenous and afro-descendant rights to communal land, and by strengthening the ability of civil society to advocate at a municipal, national and regional level. The Irish Aid funded “Resources for Equitable Development (REED)” is focused on increasing the emphasis on sustainable resource management in Mercy Corps Latin American programs, particularly in indigenous, afro-descendant and conflict-affected communities across the region.

GENERAL POSITION SUMMARY:

The primary function of the Regional Coordinator is to 1) assist in the replication of the essential elements of the Guatemala TIERRAS project in Colombia; 2) organize logistics and facilitate the implementation of various planned cross visits between the two countries involving Mercy Corps and partner staff as well as community leaders; 3) develop and lead the coordination of baseline and monitoring activities in both countries with a view to evaluate benefits of the program and how they impact the lives of project beneficiaries; and 4) assist the Mercy Corps offices in Guatemala and Colombia in the design and funding of “spin-off” initiatives and projects in line with Mercy Corps’ strategic approach in the region. The Regional Coordinator will elaborate progress reports, incorporating activities and advances in the two countries into comprehensive documents for donors and fundraising purposes, as well as coordinate research and writing of case studies. The Regional Coordinator will liaise with regional institutions of research and higher learning such as CATIE (Costa Rica), Zamorano (Honduras), and ICA (Colombia) to review and share best practices in land conflict resolution elsewhere in the region as well as disseminate lessons learned from the Mercy Corps Project.

The Regional Coordinator will provide support to the National Project Coordinators in Guatemala and Colombia in establishing and strengthening institutional ties between Mercy Corps, NGO partners, local stakeholders and national level decision-makers involved in land rights. The Regional Coordinator will also provide support to the sustainable resource management fellows in both countries in developing appropriate spin-off initiatives and projects. The Regional Coordinator will report directly to the Country Director of either Guatemala or Colombia, but will also liaise closely with the Latin America Regional Program Director and the Program Officers in Edinburgh, Scotland and Portland, Oregon.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:

- Oversee the development of a detailed workplan and timeline for the overall implementation of the regional project in close collaboration with the national coordinators in Guatemala and Colombia
- Become intimately familiar with the TIERRAS project in Guatemala and assist in the replication of successful, applicable elements from the TIERRAS project in Colombia.
- Determine the most opportune timing, organize the logistics and facilitate the implementation of cross visits between the two countries involving Mercy Corps and partner staff as well as community leaders.
- In close coordination with the National Coordinators and SRM fellows in each country, oversee the development of baseline and monitoring activities in both countries and ensure a comprehensive and integrated regional M&E plan is developed and implemented.
- Assist the Mercy Corps offices in Guatemala and Colombia in the design and funding of “spin-off” initiatives and projects in line with Mercy Corps strategic approach in the region, particularly in agriculture value added marketing chains and sustainable natural resources management
- Help the National Coordinators integrate the project with other initiatives in their respective countries.
- Elaborate project program reports in both English and Spanish, incorporating activities and advances in the two countries into comprehensive documents for donors.
- Initiate and coordinate writing of case studies and relevant research related to land conflict and sustainable resource management programming in the region
- Liaise with regional institutions of research and higher learning such as CATIE (Costa Rica), Zamorano (Honduras), and ICA (Colombia) to review and share best practices in land conflict resolution elsewhere in the region as well as disseminate lessons learned from the Mercy Corps Project.
- Support the National Project Coordinators in Guatemala and Colombia in establishing and strengthening institutional ties between Mercy Corps, NGO partners, local stakeholders and national level decision-makers involved in land rights.
- Liaise with the Latin America Regional Program Director and the Program Officers in Edinburgh, Scotland and Portland, Oregon.
- Accept other related responsibilities as assigned by the Supervisor.

Mercy Corps team members are expected to support all efforts towards 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.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITY: None

ACCOUNTABILITY:

- REPORTS DIRECTLY TO: Country Director
- WORKS CLOSELY WITH: National Coordinators in Guatemala and Colombia; Sustainable Resource Management Fellows in Guatemala and Colombia

COORDINATES WITH:

Other Country Director, Program Managers and Staff of both Countries and Finance/Administration Managers, and Latin America Regional Headquarters Staff in Edinburgh and Portland.

As part of Mercy Corps’ agency-wide Organizational Learning Initiative, all team members are responsible for spending 5% of their work time in formal and/or non-formal professional learning activities.

KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:

- Minimum seven years work experience in project implementation and supervision, preferably with international NGOs.
- Citizen of Guatemala or Colombia or resident experience as an expatriate in either of these countries or other countries in Central and South America.
- Understanding of issues regarding land conflict, and the conflict in general in Guatemala and Colombia.
- Creative and ‘out-of-the-box’ thinking.
- Experience in preparing concise project reports with excellent writing skills in both English and Spanish are necessary.
- Experience preparing annual work plans and managing grant budgets
- Experience in writing grant proposals and budgets
- Well-connected in regional networks in agriculture and natural resources management.
- Proficiency in written and spoken English and Spanish mandatory.
- Excellent dialogue and communication skills to work with various levels of diverse groups involved in program implementation.
- Computers skills – internet, word-processing and spreadsheets experience required.
- Experience working with international donors, preferably the EC.

LIVING CONDITIONS/ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS:

The position is based in Bogotá or Guatemala with extensive traveling inside and between both countries. Bogotá is a pleasant, modern city and security is relatively good. The city has all the modern amenities and an efficient mass transportation system as well as plentiful and safe taxis. At 2,800 meters, the weather in Bogotá may be classified as “high altitude”, with a mean temperature of 59° F. There are two distinct rainy seasons (May-July & Oct-Dec) though it can rain on any given day of the year.

If based in Guatemala, the Regional Coordinator will reside in Cobán, Alta Verapaz, or possibly Guatemala City.

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. Staff 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
How to apply
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Reference Code: RW_7UMDCB-36