ABOUT MERCY CORPS

Mercy Corps is a global team of humanitarians working together on the front lines of today’s biggest crises to create a future of possibility, where everyone can prosper.

Our mission: to alleviate suffering, poverty and oppression by helping people build secure, productive and just communities. Mercy Corps is powered by the belief that a better world is possible. To do this, we know our teams do their best work when they are diverse, and every team member feels that they belong. We welcome diverse backgrounds, perspectives, and skills so that we can be stronger and have long term impact.

Mercy Corps Europe, formerly known as Mercy Corps Scotland, has been operational in Sudan since 2009 and is facilitating recovery by addressing economic recovery needs and laying the groundwork for long-term development. MC Europe’s work in Sudan has three major components: Civil Society Development, Economic Recovery and Development and Humanitarian Assistance with activities that span many sectors including agriculture, market and livelihoods development, water/sanitation, capacity building, peace building, infrastructure rehabilitation, emergency distribution. MC Europe is committed to long-term programming in Sudan and faces numerous opportunities for expansion. 

PROGRAM SUMMARY

The Strengthening Agricultural Markets and Food Security (SAFE) programme, implemented by Mercy Corps in partnership with the Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) is a SIDA funded USD 13 million programme that aims to improve food security for 41,000 male and female smallholder farmer households through enhanced gender-equitable market access and agricultural production. The programme which initially ran from July 2019 to September 2023 and has been extended to run until Dec 2025. The SAFE programme strengthens the capacities of key market actors, contributing to improved resilience capacities to shocks and stresses. It is guided by a Market Systems Development (MSD) and resilience approaches to sustain food security gains despite the complex risk environment in which smallholder farmers are exposed to. Specifically, the program enables smallholder farmers to increase climate resilient yields, sustainable natural resource management practices, market linkages, gender equity and empowerment of women and girls. 

The program aims to improve the income, food security, and resilience of low-income, marginalized communities in Sudan through three outcomes: inclusive and productive markets, healthy and fertile ecosystems, and gender-equitable communities and markets. To achieve this, the program will deliver outputs such as access to agricultural inputs and information, financial services, and buyers, as well as resilient agriculture and promotion of gender-equitable norms and behaviors. Activities will include promoting access to improved agricultural inputs, digitizing financial services, strengthening savings groups, and promoting 

THE POSITION Summary

Mercy corps Europe is looking for an experienced and qualified Sudanese to fill in the position of Project Engineer. The primary focus of the project Engineer is to support the implementation of SAFE CE -supported construction activities from design to implementation, including logistics and monitoring. The Site Engineer will ensure quality programming through rigorous field visits and supervision of SMART-supported construction activities in Gedaref States. S/he will have direct responsibility for overseeing construction of Agro-processing Hubs,, Grain Stores Hubs, Home Trees Nurseries & Safe for women and adolescent girls and other related construction/rehabilitation works. S/he will be supported by other SAFE CE program staff and supervised by the SAFE Project Lead in Gedaref State. S/he will establish/strengthen good working relationships with all necessary stakeholders including the community and Government offices at all levels, the Contractors, and others. S/he will have to coordinate closely with the Community Mobilization and program team and ensure that all projects implemented are demand-driven and communities comply with MC requirements in terms of contribution. Construction fraud is a serious concern in Sudan, and the Engineer will ensure that potential fraud is quickly identified, and all possible precautionary measures are in place to prevent fraud. 

Reporting to the Project Lead & work closely with supporting program officers and assistants in implementing the program through leadership and direct implementation. 

ESSENTIAL JOB RESPONSIBILITIES 

Program Management:

1. Read and interpret engineering plans and technical specifications and translate them into actionable items and workplans
2. Carryout preliminary survey for various engineering related activity sites and identify construction related standards that are relate to site that have to be taken into consideration.
3. In coordination with other program staff, develop construction plans and material estimates (Bills of Quantities-BoQs)
4. Report the status of all active construction projects on a daily, weekly, and monthly basis.
5. Determine and calculate construction materials usage and make timely procurement/supply requests to ensure work does not come to a standstill or materials are not left unused for long.
6. Inspect and monitor work of contractors regularly for quality assurance and maintain good working relationship with contractors to ensure reasonable value for money
7. Review construction materials testing, interpret the results of such tests and ensure they are according to set standards
8. Establish and adhere to project implementation schedules to ensure timely output delivery

Support tendering and procurement processes for construction activities

1. Responsible for the daily implementation of engineering related project activities and monitor progress at assigned works
2. Mobilize community to fully participate in the project implementation including in-kind contribution for items such as local materials and local labor to ensure sustainability and participate in community construction management committee meetings.
3. Supervise and be responsible for all technical aspects of project implementation, ensure they are completed in a timely, efficient and accurate manner according to standard engineering methods.
4. Ensure that environmental aspect of project sites are well incorporated during construction and post construction phase, and that environmental mitigation plans for impacts are developed and are followed

Monitor and advise on construction safety practices

1. Ensure an integrated approach to program implementation in order to maximize resource utilization and synergy between the staff and different MC programs in the area

Collaboration, Networking, Representation and Coordination

• Maintain good coordination and working relationships and soliciting participation in activities where appropriate and as directed to create synergy, share experiences and obtain support for program objectives.
• Liaise with the state and locality level Government officials and other stakeholders to increase access to and use of productive resources by women and girls
• Manage and supervise the activities of the National Partner (NGO) that SAFE will be partnering with to implement gender related activities.
• Conduct regular community consultations to ensure programing remains gender sensitive and responsive to evolving needs.
• Conduct himself/herself both professionally and personally in such a manner as to bring credit to Mercy Corps and to not jeopardize its humanitarian mission. Respect local laws, customs and MC's policies, procedures, and values at all times and in all in-country venues. 
• Carry out translations and assist in any other task or duty as assigned 

Documentation, Monitoring, Evaluation and Reporting

• Integrate gender into the program’s Monitoring, Evaluation, learning (MEL) and reporting on the gender thematic area by ensuring formulation of relevant indicators, participating in assessments, surveys and ensuring sex and Gender disaggregated data to inform adaptive decision making
• Conduct monitoring visits to assess the effectiveness of program activities and adjust as required.
• Prepare and submit timely weekly, monthly, and quarterly reports that are indicative of program progress. Respond to queries when necessary and maintain a proper filing system as required
• Provide follow up on recommendations and solutions where there are problems in implementation.

 Security 

• Ensure compliance with security procedures and policies as determined by country leadership.
• Proactively ensure that team members operate in a secure environment and are aware of policies. 

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 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.

SAFEGUARDING RESPONSIBILITY 

• Actively learns about safeguarding and integrates it into their work, including safeguarding risks and mitigations related to their area of work

• Practices the values of Mercy Corps including respecting the dignity and well-being of participants and fellow team members

• Encourages openness and communication in their team; encourages team members to submit reports if they have any concerns using reporting mechanisms e.g., Integrity Hotline and other options

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITY; None 

ACCOUNTABILITY

Reports Directly To: The Project Lead

Works Directly With: Program officers, program assistants, and Support Departments, (Finance, Operations, Logistics & Human resources) and other MC staff.

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 

• University degree in Civil or Construction Engineering
• At least 5 years of professional relevant experience, including buildings/ community structures, road and concrete construction, supervision works and multiple construction projects.
• Experience working with an international NGO and working directly with communities will be an advantage
• Willingness to work in and frequently travel to the field spending most time there.
• Ability to interact effectively with a wide variety of people and monitor contractors.
• Skills in networking, teamwork, and community consultations essential.
• Good reporting, communication, and representation skills. 
• Good computer skills including proficiency with various engineering software and MS Office Suite 
• Good verbal and written English and Arabic, communication, organizational, prioritization and negotiation skills.
• Demonstrated flexibility, creativity, and enthusiasm as well as a willingness to learn and to be continually adaptive within a dynamic and often self-directed working environment.
• Good knowledge and experience of Gedaref state and local context is preferred.
• Demonstrated knowledge of applying Do No harm frameworks concepts and approaches in high-risk security areas is an advantage.

SUCCESS FACTORS 

An ability to support programmatic objectives, willingness to work in rural areas, analytical, creative problem solving, negotiation, coaching and mentorship abilities. Should have a strong capacity to influence mindsets and drive behavior change. A strong results orientation, good interpersonal skills and an impeccable professional person with clear ethical standards and willing to comply with Mercy Corps and donor policies and procedures

ORGANIZATIONAL LEARNING

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.

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. By applying for this role an applicant confirms that they have not previously violated an employer’s sexual misconduct, sexual exploitation and abuse, child safeguarding or trafficking policy. 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 e-learning courses upon hire and on an annual basis. As an applicant, if you witness or experience any form of sexual misconduct during the recruitment process, please report this to Mercy Corps Integrity Hotline (integrityhotline@mercycorps.org).

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.

LIVING CONDITIONS / ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS

The position is based in Gedaerf.

Mercy Corps team members represent the agency both during and outside work hours when deployed in a field posting or on a visit/short term assignment 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.