STA – INTERIM GLOBAL DIRECTOR: ENTER ENERGY

AboutMercy Corps

Mercy Corps is a leading international non-profit organization powered by the belief that a better world is possible. Our team of more than 6,000 humanitarians works in over 40 countries to help people triumph over adversity and build stronger communities from within. Mercy Corps fully leverages the expertise of our Energy 4 Impact (E4I) energy access platform to increase access to climate-smart, sustainable energy, improving the lives of millions around the world.

The Program

As of January 2023, over 100 million people are forcibly displaced, and the number of people forced to flee their homes has doubled since 2011. Despite the fact that the average refugee camp is in place for about 18 years, only 10% of refugees in camp settings have access to electricity, with only 19% having access to clean cooking solutions. A recent study calculated that six UN agencies and the International Committee for the Red Cross (ICRC) operate 11,365 diesel and petrol generators in displacement settings, spending more than $100 million per year on fuel and contributing to 194,000 tCO2 greenhouse gas emissions yearly, through the use of diesel power generators alone, leading to the deterioration of the environmental conditions of the already fragile settings where they intervene. Moreover, the financials of this prevailing fossil fuel-based energy supply model do not provide optimization of humanitarian funding.

Investment in clean energy services for the humanitarian sector is critical to attaining universal access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy services (SDG7) and to leaving no one behind. Modern energy access is also a key enabler to economic development and livelihood opportunities, food and water security, reducing environmental degradation, and supporting more peaceful coexistence of refugees and host communities – while lowering greenhouse gas emissions.

Against this backdrop, Mercy Corps developed the Enter Energy Initiative whose vision is to power displaced and host communities in their journey to resilience through clean, affordable and sustainable energy solutions and decarbonize the humanitarian operations that support them.

The main objective of Enter Energy is to provide the enabling environment for reputable energy companies to deploy sustainable, clean, and affordable energy services to improve the socio-economic well-being of displaced and host communities, while contributing to the decarbonization of humanitarian operations. Over the next five years, Mercy Corps seeks to scale this vision to up to 10 countries globally.

The Position

This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced energy access leader with a background in energy access and/or humanitarian interventions to make a real impact to provide interim leadership of the program portfolio until a substantive Director is recruited. The Interim Director will provide portfolio leadership and oversight over the Enter Energy programs in Ethiopia, Somalia and Uganda, which are at various levels of implementation. The Interim Director will report directly to the Regional Director for ESA with dual reporting to the Chief Climate Officer and collaborative working relationships with the Director for Access to Energy at Mercy Corps TRaQ.

Among other tasks, the Interim Global Director will focus on the following responsibilities: a) provide oversight for program implementation quality b) work with the Chief Climate Officer to finalize the vision and pathway to growth for Enter Energy, c) promote partnerships with the private and public sector to deploy the best practices of public-private sector-led renewable energy services provision in situations of displacement; d) support fundraising efforts for Enter Energy to reach scale by building on MC existing donor relationships and establishing new ones.

The Interim Global Director will work closely with MC TRaQ Unit, Regional and Country teams, Programs, New Initiatives, Fundraising, Communications, and Finance teams.

Essential Responsibilities

• Portfolio Implementation Quality

Enter Energy in Ethiopia

• Through regular check-in calls and country visits, provide ongoing technical assistance to the program team including the Humanitarian Energy Plc team for quality implementation according to the Program Quality Standards. This includes implementation of key tasks identified in the handing over work plan. Priority attention should be given to the PUE component of the project this includes developing a clear PUE strategy and action plan to support onboarding business and conducting demand stimulation in the next 3 months
• Work with the Team Lead to finalize and implement the action points from the program learning workshop including the learning agenda and its implementation.  Key priority areas include indicator definition, target setting, and conceptualizing a Power BI dashboard.
• Work with the Complex Program Board and Coordinator to fulfil the Complex Program requirements including board meetings and reporting.
• Work with the Business Development Advisor for any fundraising and business development initiatives.
• Work with Climate Possible and Marketing Teams to develop 3 mins Enter Energy video pitch.
• Manage the Enter Energy expansion grant in coordination with the Director for Energy Access. 
• Provide review and technical input into the donor reports.
• Act as the lead interlocuter for the CT funded THEA program and support the Program Manager (THEA) to successfully implement the research activities for Ethiopia.
• Provide technical oversight over newly funded MECS e-cooking project.
• Support the tariff revision process being led by Humanitarian Energy Plc with support on community consultant and any stakeholder engagement required.
• Work with Chief Climate Officer and Business Devt Advisor to finalize the Apple PREC agreement and streetlight project implementation.
• Support the implementation of the detailed engineering for the Liben Zone

Enter Energy in Somalia

• Through regular check-in calls and country visits, provide ongoing technical assistance to the program team for quality implementation.
• Act as the technical back-stopper for the grid transmission and PUE components of the program and support the team with the implementation of the partner subawards.
• Provide review and technical inputs into the donor reports.
• Together with the country team and the MCE Desk, manage the relationship with Carbon Trust/FCDO including opportunities for program expansion.
• Provide technical support to the team to execute the USAID iRiS funded Baidoa PUE study being carried out by ANKA.

Enter Energy in Uganda

• Work with the General Legal Counsel and Chief Climate Officer to complete the registration for the Uganda commercial entity.
• Review and finalize with the General Legal Counsel and the Uganda legal advisors the MEMARTS.
• With the support of Uganda team, continue engagements with UECCC and the World Bank team on the submitted proposal.
• Monitor other pipeline proposals submitted by the Uganda team which involves de-risking finance to be managed by Humenergi Uganda including the AfDB CAW, KOICA proposal and the revision of the previously submitted Mitigation Action Facility proposal.

• Business model/vision definition for Humanitarian Energy Plc
  • Support the Chief Climate Officer and the Business Development Advisor to complete the business and strategic plan development for Humanitarian Energy Plc including coordinating the consultant’s work internally, monitoring schedules and deliverables and assignment completion/close of contract.
  • ,.

• Fund-raising, Partnerships promotion and Advocacy
  • Represent the Enter Energy Initiative internally and externally, focusing on enhancing visibility through communication materials and channels; and at dedicated fora (e.g. working groups, conferences, events
  • Analyze new business opportunities (e.g requests for proposal) and make go/no go recommendations

Supervisory Responsibility

Direct supervision: Business Development, Legal and Financial consultants

Dotted line/Indirect supervision: Enter Energy country team leads

Accountability

Reports directly to: Regional Director ESA

Reports with a dotted line to: TrAQ Director for Energy Access

Works directly with: Regional and Country Program Teams, New Initiatives, Corporates and Foundations, private and public sector companies, humanitarian energy stakeholders

Accountability to Participants and Stakeholders

MC team members are expected to support all efforts towards accountability, specifically with 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 programs.

Minimum Qualifications & Transferable Skills

Qualifications

●   Graduate or Postgraduate Degree in Business Management, Economics, Finance, International

Development, Energy, Environment, Climate Change or other relevant subject.

Experience

●   7+ years’ experience in leading and shaping innovative initiatives.

●   Advocacy and relationship building and management experience with UN and other NGOs.

●   Positive track record in establishing partnerships with private and public sector organizations.

●5+ years’ experience in NGO fundraising, business development and proposal preparation, ideally in an energy access and humanitarian response context

Skills & Knowledge

●Clear visioning and leadership skills to be able to positively influence internal and external stakeholders.

●   Ability to develop partnerships and strong and effective relationships with multiple stakeholders.

●Excellent organization and project management skills. Ability to manage multiple projects and meet deadlines.

●Successful track record in program fundraising (for projects of $100,000 to $10 million), especially in energy access and humanitarian response

●   Extensive network with public donors, private foundations and other relevant stakeholders

●Strong written and oral communication skills. Ability to prepare high-quality proposals and concept notes and communicate complex ideas in a user-friendly way.

●   Strong analytical and research skills

●   Ability to work with a diverse mix of professionals and different cultures.

●   Fluent English a must

●   Fluent French an advantage

Success factors

●   Big vision and innovative thinker

●   Team player

●   High energy

●   Attention to detail and a focus on results

●   Ability to think outside the box, to see the big picture and connect the dots

●   Ability to work calmly under pressure

●   A can-do and collaborative mindset

●   Willingness to travel internationally, sometimes at short notice

●   Passion for working in the development and impact sector

●   Close alignment with the mission and values of Mercy Corps

Living Conditions / Environmental Conditions

The position is based in Uganda and it requires up to 30% travel, which may include travel to insecure locations where freedom of movement is limited and areas where amenities are limited.

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

MC 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, colour, 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.