Description

Background:
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. 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 has developed a Crisis Analysis (CA) function to support our programming in the most complex contexts, including Syria, Lebanon, Palestine, Ukraine, and others. The Crisis Analysis supports Mercy Corps’ in-country programming as well as the wider humanitarian and development response in the region through the provision of quality, timely and relevant analytical products. This analysis is grounded in Mercy Corps’ position as an operational NGO, keeping our products constructive and relevant for humanitarian, early recovery, and development responders and donors within a given crisis. The work leverages Mercy Corps’ Crisis Analysis to support ongoing and emerging policy and advocacy efforts underpinned by a bespoke body of evidence and grounded in contextual realities.

Purpose / Project Description:
Mercy Corps’ Regional Crisis Analysis team is creating a roster of consults with expertise in humanitarian cash programming to support upcoming research projects. Specifically, the team is looking for experts with programmatic, coordination, and/or research experience in MPCA, Cash Plus, Digital Cash, and/or Anticipatory Cash programming. The consultant should be capable of qualitative research design, coordinating and conducting key informant interviews,and independently writing research findings into publication-level reports. Experts with quantitative analysis skills are 
welcome to apply, though such skills are not required, as the planned cash research is qualitative Further, the planned cash research is centred on Yemen; therefore, experts with experience in the Yemen context will be prioritised. However, experts with experience elsewhere are encouraged to apply, as the geographic scope of Crisis Analysis cash research is likely to expand. Lastly, based on the current research plan, experts specialising in cash programming coordination (particularly its linkages with social protection systems) and digital cash delivery are especially encouraged to apply.

Consultant Deliverables:
◼ Develop a research design, based on qualitative data collection and analysis, to gain information from cash actors in the field about operational realities as related to the topic at hand.
◼ Arrange and conduct key informant interviews (remotely or in-person) with a wide variety of actors working in the context of interest, such as cash actors, social protection actors, coordination bodies, and financial service providers.
◼ Synthesize the collected qualitative data into a polished research paper, in collaboration with the Crisis Analysis Team.

Timeframe / Schedule
The consultant should be available for the duration allocated to the research product, which generally spans a threemonth period from inception to paper submission.

Reporting Line
The Consultant will report to the Regional Crisis Analysis Senior Manager

Working Relationships:
The Consultant will work closely with:
• Crisis Analysis team
• Mercy Corps’ country teams

Required Experience & Skills: 
• Extensive experience (>5 years) researching humanitarian cash programming, with at least one project concerning the Middle East/North Africa region. In this case, specific citations of the relevant publication(s) isrequired.
• Significant experience (>1 year) supporting the Yemen response is highly valued; specifically, cash 
programming in a management of coordination role for an INGO. Experience working within local NGOs or the UN is valued.
• Master’s degree or equivalent experience in political science, international relations, public policy, economics, or related field.
• Demonstrated experience writing research papers published by a humanitarian actor or UN agency.
• Peer-reviewed academic publications are valued.
• Excellent English-language analytical writing skills.
o Fluency in Arabic is valued.

Application Requirements
• An up-to-date CV highlighting relevant cash programming experience.
o Highlight experience working on the Yemen context; if no Yemen experience, then MENA-related 
experience. 
• A recent and relevant writing sample (in lieu of a cover letter), preferably a humanitarian report or humanitarianrelated academic publication.
• Proposed day rate
• Availability

Team Efficiency and Effectiveness
Achieving our mission starts with how we build our team and collaborate. By bringing together individuals with a variety of experiences, backgrounds, and perspectives, we strengthen our ability to solve complex challenges and drive innovation. We foster a culture of trust and respect, where every team member is valued for their contributions, empowered to reach their full potential, and motivated to do their best work.

We recognize that building a strong and effective team is an ongoing process, and we remain committed to learning, improving, and growing together.

Equal Employment Opportunity
Mercy Corps is an equal opportunity employer that does not tolerate discrimination on any basis. We actively seek out different 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 team members are expected to support all efforts toward accountability, specifically to our stakeholders and to international standards guiding international relief and development work, while actively engaging communities as equal partners in the design, monitoring and evaluation of our field projects. 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