About Mercy Corps

Mercy Corps is a leading global organization powered by the belief that a better world is possible. In disaster, in hardship, in more than 40 countries around the world, we collaborate to put bold solutions into action – helping people triumph over adversity and build stronger communities from within now and for the future. Mercy Corps has worked across Iraq’s 18 governorates since 2003, implementing relief and development programming, more than a third of which has focused on the specific needs of refugees and displaced persons. Mercy Corps Iraq current goal is to work with new and existing civil society, public and private sector partners to meet immediate and long-term needs by strengthening communities’ ability to rebuild amidst increasing crisis.

Program Background

The Nineveh Peace and Reconciliation Working Group (PRWG) is a coordination platform that brings together local and international peacebuilding organizations, government as well as UN agencies and donors. The aim of this coordination mechanism is to reduce duplication of peacebuilding programming, address gaps in addition to integrating broader development and systems approaches to peacebuilding, within the geographical scope of Ninewa.

Since its establishment in August 2018, the PRWG was successfully running un-interrupted monthly coordination meetings and two strategic planning sessions whereby different thematic and operational topics relevant to the emerging context in Nineveh have been introduced and discussed. As a result, the members of the PRWG have witnessed improved coordination in terms of design and implementation of peacebuilding programming as well as increased awareness and knowledge of peacebuilding efforts amongst the different local and international actors. Moreover, during its first year, the PRWG hosted number of subject matter experts, government officials and donors. The PRWG, as a coordination mechanism, was also successful in bringing together different clusters/working groups such as the Return Working Group, the Protection Cluster and others with the aim to create a collaborative working environment towards the realization of the ultimate goal against which the PRWG has been established.

General Position Summary

The Peace and Reconciliation Working Group Coordination Lead will be based at Mercy Corps’ Erbil office. They will be responsible for information-sharing, coordination, policy development and advocacy; including engagement with civil society organization in Nineveh and international NGOs, government and donors. They will play a key role in ensuring that the value and impact of PRWG’s work are communicated to a range of key audiences with the goal of improving services to its members and increasing advocacy related to identified key issues. The PRWG Coordination Lead will work directly with the co-Chair of the PRWG Secretariat and the Technical Coordinator and under the overall guidance of GIZ and Expertise France. While the position focuses largely on coordination and representation duties, practical management skills, policy drafting experience and peacebuilding expertise will prove valuable.

Essential Job Responsibilities

Information Sharing/Communication

• Act as focal point for the PRWG (both for external and internal stakeholders).
• Respond to requests for help and information from member organizations, non-member organizations and other stakeholders. Often this requires a high degree of coordination and the collection of sensitive information.
• Effective employment of motivational skills to help facilitate active engagement by members.
• With the Intern, develop a knowledge management system to enable access to easily navigable clearinghouse for members’ data, reports, etc.

Coordination

• Provide overall support to the members via facilitation of regular meetings, operations of the PRWG, and other tasks as needed.
• Serve as primary focal point with the PRWG taskforces and ensure good coordination and working together between the regions and the central level.
• Help maintain high quality governorate-wide coordination by providing support and guidance when needed.
• Foster active collaboration between members of the PRWG to pursue common goals and/or complement their technical expertise.

Policy/Advocacy

• Lead in development and implementation of an Advocacy Strategy that reflects member concerns and interests while mobilizing and leveraging support from member organizations.
• Work with PWG members to regularly update key messages and talking points that can be used generally and also for conversations with specific stakeholders.
• Work with PRWG members to regularly draft policy and positioning papers and briefs in line with collective views on topics of concern.
• Actively engage high profile targets and allies at governorate level, including parliamentarians, to further advocacy objectives.
• Stay informed on global, regional and national opportunities to further advocacy objectives by anticipating key dates and ensuring adequate time to contribute productively. Liaise with relevant consortia to this end.
• Collect, analyze and share information relevant to members and external stakeholders, often with the goal of influencing policies and improving peace and security situation in the country.
• Ensure that PRWG position on specific issues and interests are well represented at relevant platforms and meetings; and as much as possible promote representation by PRWG members themselves.
• Actively build relationships with NGOs, donor and diplomatic communities to expand representation of the PRWG.

Media Engagement

• Implement media relations strategy to promote awareness, understanding and support for PRWG’s work and the NGO community in Iraq;
• Support the Senior Communication and Reporting Officer to prepare material for press briefings and interviews; drafts press statements and press releases;
• Set up a regular system of media monitoring, monitor the media, social media and web usage and adapt editorial priorities accordingly;
• Engage with the media and maintain a strong relationship with local and international journalists;
• Keep abreast of developments, trends, and technologies with a strong understanding of social media and other press office functions as relevant.

Management/Administration

• Work with the PRWG Secretariat to discuss strategic goals, new ideas aimed at strengthening the PRWG influence, annual work plans, and other strategic documents.
• Support the PRWG Secretariat by inviting government officials including key security actors, local government officials, KRI officials, etc. to PRWG meetings, based on need.
• Ensure the logistical arrangements of the monthly and quarterly meetings.
• Follow-up with the PRWG members on their update of the 5Ws reporting tool.
• Ensure that the Senior Communication and Reporting Officer prepare the monthly and quarterly meeting agendas in consultation with the PRWG Coordination Lead, the Technical Coordinator and the PRWG members.
• Work with the Technical Coordinator in leading and moderating monthly and quarterly meetings.
• Conduct bilateral meetings with the PRWG members to establish ownership and effective contribution in the technical and operational issues related to PRWG.

Accountability to Beneficiaries

• 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.

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 expect all team members to commit 5% of their time to learning activities that benefit Mercy Corps as well as themselves.

Accountability

Reports Directly To: The co-Chair to the Secretariat,

Works Directly With: Technical Coordinator

Supervisory Responsibility:** Senior Communication and Reporting Officer.

Knowledge and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in international development, policy, Middle East Studies, social sciences or other relevant field or equivalent through experience.
• 7+ relevant years of experience in communication, advocacy and public affairs in a conflict or post-conflict setting with international NGO.
• Strong research and analysis skills.
• Knowledge of advocacy and policy change related to peace and reconciliation space.
• Experience in administration and coordination of coalition or Secretariat functions a plus.
• Documented results related to the position’s responsibilities.
• Strong communication, inter-personal, facilitation and diplomatic skills.
• Fluency in English, both written and verbal, with strong writing and editing skills. Knowledge of Arabic is a plus.

• Proven high profile management, coordination and advocacy experience in development context.

• Strong experience in communication in relation to INGO/Humanitarian sector;

• Excellent communication skills, including presentations (PowerPoint or Prezi) with strong attention to detail;

• An understanding of NGO operations in a conflict or post-conflict setting is required;

• Fluency in English, both written and verbal, and strong writing and editing skills are required;
• Experience in emergency response and conflict/IDP setting is desired
• Familiarity with humanitarian principles and response architecture (such as UN-led coordination mechanisms); and post-conflict and reconciliation mechanisms is preferred.

Success Factors

The successful candidate will have excellent interpersonal skills with the ability to get the message across wide range of people by adopting a range of styles, tools and techniques appropriate to the audience and nature of the information. They will possess the ability to work collaboratively with colleagues to achieve organisational goals. They will demonstrate adaptability at identifying priority activities and adjusting priorities as required; allocating an appropriate amount of time and resources for completing work; ability to work under pressure and to tight deadlines. The successful candidate will be able to present sound and well-reasoned arguments to convince others. They will be able to work with ambiguity and constantly changing set of circumstances and issues. They will demonstrate creativity and initiative in transforming ideas into practical reality. They will be able to apply up to date technologies to tasks.

Living Conditions / Environmental Conditions

The position is based in Erbil, Iraq and it requires up to 20 % travel to other field locations. The role is unaccompanied, and housing is in shared apartments. The team member must follow all security protocols at all times. This position is eligible for R&R breaks and hardship allowance.

Mercy Corps team members represent the agency both during and outside 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.

Fostering a diverse and open workplace is an important part of Mercy Corps’ vision. Mercy Corps is an Equal Opportunity Employer regardless of background. We are committed to creating an inclusive environment.

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