Consultant - Resilience Open Call

Oct 21, 2019 | Mercy Corps
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Mercy Corps’ resilience approach helps communities identify and address underlying causes of vulnerability, identify ecological, social and economic shocks and stresses that stall or reverse gains in food security, and strengthen resilience capacities to achieve positive, inclusive change. We are a leader in innovative programming that is widely recognized by donors and policy makers for evidence-based solutions that have lasting impact and build resilience. Resilience is a priority that is woven throughout all programming, and involves using a systems-based approach that builds on proven solutions, new ideas and information, and integrates multiple sectors and partnerships to strengthen food security and livelihoods, economic development, conflict management, governance, natural resource management and climate change adaptation. In order to support country teams to operationalize resilience programming, Mercy Corps is seeking to expand our network of specialists, with expertise in a range of areas, to provide short-term support to resilience programs

Purpose / Project Description

Resilience thinking deepens our collective understanding of complex and dynamic systems, and how to best intervene in these contexts. To navigate these systems, we use adaptive management and our five resilience questions. Mercy Corps’ Strategic Resilience Assessment (STRESS) framework provides a guiding approach for creating resilience strategy and road map for the future programming. Mercy Corps seeks qualified advisers, facilitators, designers, coaches and analysts to become part of our network of resilience practitioners. Consultants serving as resilience advisors will directly lead, and/or build the capacity of teams to implement, core aspects of our resilience programming and influence initiatives, including assessments, strategy development, design and application of adaptive management tools, resilience monitoring and evaluation systems, research syntheses, and learning products.

Objectives

Resilience Technical Support

  • Provide technical support to Mercy Corps’ program managers of resilience programs ensuring high-quality, impactful implementation in resilience.
  • Provide technical support to regional resilience team members composed of regional resilience program directors and managers, as well as technical team members.
  • Deliver of capacity building support visits, facilitation of training workshops and designing/disseminating tools and resources.
  • Increase team capacity to apply Mercy Corps’ resilience approach a more widely within the country program portfolio. This may include supporting teams to use risk and resilience assessments (e.g. STRESS) and program-level assessment findings on an on-going basis to inform and adapt program design/approaches.

Risk Assessments

  • Lead or build the capacity of teams to carry out risk and resilience assessments at multiple scales, including to inform strategy and programmatic interventions
  • Support high quality incorporation of resilience measurement plans and resilience learning mechanisms to document and communicate resilience impact.
  • Guide ongoing technical support for resilience measurement and evaluation; analyze results and produce data or research reports and briefs

Resilience Thematic areas

Facilitate integration of core agency technical approaches and best practices (e.g. gender and youth integration, market systems development) into resilience-focused programs.

Consultant Activities (Illustrative)

The Consultant will:

  • Design and carry-out an assessment process based on the STRESS methodology
  • Support field teams in data collection (MEL), to ensure quality control and learning
  • Create tools and resources for program teams;train partners as needed
  • Draft proposals based on Mercy Corps resilience programming approaches
  • Design and facilitate learner-centered workshop on resilience using adult learning methods
  • Consultant Deliverables and Schedule

Consultant deliverables and project schedule will be determined by the scope of each project, but may include training and facilitation material, assessment reports, research reports, learning briefs, case studies, or policy briefs.

Required Experience & Skills

  • 5-10 years of experience working in international relations/development with NGOs, governments, multilateral organizations, think-tanks or private companies required;
  • Experience in adaptive management (program design and implementation), including USAID’s CLA (Collaborate, Adapt and Learn) framework;
  • Experience carrying out (or designing)  risk, market, or organizational assessments;
  • Experience  conducting research and analysis, including data collection, coding and synthesizing qualitative data;
  • Experience in program design and implementation with systems-level, resilience lens
  • Experience in multi-stake holder facilitation techniques geared towards effective adult learning;
  • Experience in tool design and development
  • Experience in writing case studies and proposals, including, but limited to,  USAID, US Dept. of State, USDA, DFID, SIDA and others
  • Experience in leadership development, coaching and mentoring
  • Effective verbal and written communication, organizational and prioritization skills;
  • Ability to work effectively with an ethnically diverse team in a sensitive environment;
  • MA/MSc in international relations, development, economics, anthropology or related degrees preferred.

Timeframe and Level of Effort

  • Part-time consultancy positions will be filled on a rolling basis, beginning October 1, 2019.
  • Prior to selection for a project, a specific Scopes of Work will be shared with consultant and agreed upon for each project. Travel may be required for some projects.