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 partner to put bold solutions into action — helping people triumph over adversity and build stronger communities from within. Now, and for the future.
Program / Department Summary
Mercy Corps helps communities develop their own ideas to solve Haiti’s most daunting problems by using innovative approaches to bring Haitians new social and economic opportunities and to make their country more secure, productive and just. Established in January 2010, Mercy Corps Haiti has programs in Port-au-Prince, Canaan, Cap-Haitien, and throughout Nippes in the sectors of governance, violence reduction, financial inclusion, agriculture and natural resource management, and public health during the COVID-19 Response and humanitarian response and disaster risk reduction/preparedness. Mercy Corps takes a progressive approach to development that leads communities and entrepreneurs from relief to sustainable livelihoods to resilience.
General Position Summary
The Cash and Markets Program Manager will have responsibility for providing overall leadership, technical support, and strategic vision for all cash-based intervention and market systems development across the country program portfolio, as well as stand-alone DRR programs, the design and implementation of cash-based programming, serving as the co-lead with WFP for the Haiti Cash Transfer Working Group. The Cash and Markets Program Manager will work closely with program teams to ensure that programs use best practices in financial inclusion, humanitarian (primarily cash-based) programming and integrate opportunities to maximize use of technology, such as mobile money, to increase efficiency and effectiveness through humanitarian cash transfer activities. This position will be responsible for managing a portfolio of cash and market strengthening intervention, as well as supporting the Deputy Director of Programs, Director of Programs and Country Director in developing and raising funds for new initiatives with a particular focus on food security, nutrition, and market-based economic recovery programs. The position will supervise key staff (directly or indirectly) and ensure accountability to Mercy Corps policies and donor rules and regulations, while working closely with Mercy Corps team members to build capacity and ensure achievement of program results.
Essential Job Responsibilities
Technical Leadership
- Work with country program staff to identify ways cash and voucher approaches can be more explicitly integrated into existing programming and build their capacity to analyze activities with cash lens.
- Support all facets of program implementation linked to the utilization of cash-based modalities.
- Ensure high quality program design that integrates the different pillars of the country strategy and promotes sustainable, community/market-led approaches, and improve current humanitarian response to be more holistic, including the integration of the sectors of WASH and Protection.
- Build the team’s capacity to conduct a range of assessments to ensure data-driven design and decision-making.
- Stay current on industry trends in DRR, humanitarian response, and market-based approaches, notably the use of cash and technology, as well as food security and protection.
- Provide technical leadership in the Food security cluster and the Cash Transfer Working group; capacity building of the sector and diffusion of the technical materials developed by the CTWG with support from Mercy Corps.
Vision, Influence and Strategy
- Develop a clear vision and strategy for market recovery and cash-based programming, and support development of new programs in line with this strategy.
- Bridge preparedness and response between DRR and humanitarian programming, as well as social safety net programming, where applicable.
Ensure that program implementation is responsive to communities and partners and aligned with Mercy Corps’ principles and values (Vision for Change).
Collaborate with other related Mercy Corps programs to create synergies wherever possible, particularly
MC Haiti’s long term strategy for financial inclusion and market-based solutions.
Coordinate with the MEL department to collect relevant granular data in project locations to inform programming and program design.
Lead market recovery and cash-based programming appeals and proposal processes, including pre-positioning with donors, coordination of the design team, writing, and review.
Program Implementation
- Provide technical guidance and support in all aspects of implementation, management and evaluation within Mercy Corps’ cash programming portfolio.
- Support program teams to establish effective M&E systems to reach desired impacts; and appropriate documentation of lessons learned and recommendations.
- Ensure regular price data collection monitoring.
- Ensure that programs are being delivered on scope, on time, and on budget and in accordance with Mercy Corps program management standards.
- Ensure that market studies and feasibility assessments are carried out in all program areas, and that results are incorporated in program design and strategy.
- Conduct frequent field visits to all program sites, security permitting.
- Ensure implementation of activities and all expenses are in compliance with Mercy Corps, Haitian, and donor requirements and rules.
Team Management
- Create a work atmosphere that promotes professional development of personnel at all levels.
- Contribute to team-building efforts across the Mercy Corps’ cash and market programs and encourage the integration of all team members into relevant decision-making processes.
- Facilitate training and management of staff, particularly national team members.
- Maintain a culture of courtesy and respect
Representation and Coordination
- Liaise with relevant stakeholders including government ministries and local extension agents, donor organizations, humanitarian clusters, local NGOs, project partners, private sector partners and community members to ensure support for and acceptance of Mercy Corps’ projects in relevant technical sectors
- Ensure timely technical support is provided to partners to respond to the capacity gaps identified during assessments
- Serve as co-lead for Mercy Corps with World Food Program at the national Cash Transfer Working Group as well as select Cash Learning Partnership (CaLP) and Electronic Learning Action Network (ELAN) events. This includes developing the agenda, facilitating the meetings, and ensuring follow through of identified action steps.
- Represent Mercy Corps in the CLIO DRR/Humanitarian Response Commission and other coordination mechanisms.
- Interface with OCHA and the Directorate Générale de la Protection Civile (DGPC) during humanitarian responses, and with MAST on social safety net programming
Supervisory Responsibility
Supervisory responsibility for Cash /financial inclusion team members, as well as Cash /financial inclusion M&E staff
AccountabilityReports Directly To:** Deputy Director of Programs - Emergencies
Works Directly With: Mercy Corps Haiti Program Managers, Administration, Finance and Logistics departments, World Food Programme and other key members of the CTWG and the Financial Service Providers. Also works directly with relevant Mercy Corps headquarters units as necessary, including Mercy Corps’ Economic and Market Development Team, Financial Services Team, Humanitarian Response Advisors, and program support and finance units.
Accountability to Participants and Stakeholders
Mercy Corps team members are expected to support all efforts toward accountability, specifically to our program participants, community partners, other stakeholders, and to international standards guiding international relief and development work. We are committed to actively engaging communities as equal partners in the design, monitoring and evaluation of our field projects.
Minimum Qualification & Transferable Skills
- Masters degree in economics, business, international development, social sciences, international relations or other relevant field preferred.
- Minimum 3 years’ relevant professional experience implementing DRR, emergency response, or cash transfer programming, preferably with strong experience in food security and mobile cash transfers in insecure or transitional environments.
- Strong facilitation, consensus-building skills, and attention to detail.
- Experience working with and building the capacity of national staff and national partner organizations.
- Experience working with the private sector and building shared value partnerships.
- Familiarity and experience with USAID regulations preferred.
- Must be able to work independently while being a strong team player.
- Fluency in written and oral French and English is required, Creole a plus.
Success Factors
The successful Program Manager will have the ability to multi-task, set priorities, and work under tight deadlines within a complex team. S/he will demonstrate strong interpersonal and cross-cultural communication skills and be committed to the values and mission of Mercy Corps. S/he will take initiative and contribute to team efforts, as well as demonstrate an ability to communicate, assume leadership, and make solid decisions while working remotely from country leadership.
The most successful Mercy Corps staff members have a strong commitment to teamwork and accountability, thrive in evolving and changing environments and make effective written and verbal communication a priority in all situations.
Living Conditions / Environmental Conditions
Haiti is a country of 11 million people and is the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere. The country has been wracked by a series of major natural disasters since 2010 including earthquake, hurricanes, and drought. Haiti suffers from chronic high unemployment, severe environmental degradation, food insecurity, and health issues like cholera exacerbated by low levels of access to water and poor infrastructure. Nonetheless, Haiti also has great beauty including beaches and mountainous national parks. Its international airport provides daily flights to multiple destinations in the US, as well as access to DR, Canada, Paris, Cuba, Panama, Curacao, and other locations in the Caribbean.
The position is based in Port au Prince, which is estimated at around 2.5 million people. Although infrastructure is also poor in the capital, comfortable housing with water and electricity are readily available. There are many places to eat in all price ranges, as well as shops, and supermarkets which are comparable to a US supermarket. Self-drive is permitted, however driving can be challenging, and traffic is often very heavy.
While the position is posted as accompanied (partner only), the security situation in Haiti is fluid, with potential for prolonged periods of instability and restricted movement, including disruptions to schools and commerce. Access to basic medical services is available, however any complicated medical issues would require treatment elsewhere.
Ongoing Learning
In support of our belief that learning organizations are more effective, efficient and relevant to the communities we serve, we empower all team members to dedicate 5% of their time to learning activities that further their personal and/or professional growth and development
Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
Achieving our mission begins with how we build our team and work together. Through our commitment to enriching our organization with people of different origins, beliefs, backgrounds, and ways of thinking, we are better able to leverage the collective power of our teams and solve the world’s most complex challenges. 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.
We recognize that diversity and inclusion is a journey, and we are committed to learning, listening and evolving to become more diverse, equitable and inclusive than we are today.
Equal Employment Opportunity
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.
We are committed to providing an environment of respect and psychological safety where equal employment opportunities are available to all. We do not engage in or tolerate discrimination on the basis of race, color, gender identity, gender expression, religion, age, sexual orientation, national or ethnic origin, disability (including HIV/AIDS status), marital status, military veteran status or any other protected group in the locations where we work.
Safeguarding & Ethics
Mercy Corps is committed to ensuring that all individuals we come into contact with through our work, whether team members, community members, program participants or others, are treated with respect and dignity. We are committed to the core principles regarding prevention of sexual exploitation and abuse laid out by the UN Secretary General and IASC and have signed on to the Interagency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme. We will not tolerate child abuse, sexual exploitation, abuse, or harassment by or of our team members. As part of our commitment to a safe and inclusive work environment, team members are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner, respect local laws and customs, and to adhere to Mercy Corps Code of Conduct Policies and values at all times. Team members are required to complete mandatory Code of Conduct elearning courses upon hire and on an annual basis.