Description

Location: Dakar, Senegal

Position Status and duration: Full-time, estimated duration up to 2 years contingent on funding

Language: Required language fluency in French and English proficiency

Eligibility: This role is open to nationals of Senegal and residents with independent right to work in Senegal.

Risk Level : Level 2: Some contact with participants; unplanned non-direct contact with children.

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. 

THE PROGRAM

Mercy Corps is implementing Togg Gu Sell, the Senegal country component of the Regional Clean Cooking Action West Africa (ReCCAWA) Programme, funded by the Government of the Netherlands through the Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO). Running from 2025 to 2028, ReCCAWA aims to accelerate access to clean, affordable, and sustainable cooking solutions by strengthening the enabling environment for clean cooking through improved governance, coordination and standards, enhancing the competitiveness of clean cooking enterprises, expanding access to finance, stimulating consumer demand, promoting women's economic empowerment and inclusion, and strengthening market intelligence systems. Implemented in consortium with SEM FUND, the project works in close collaboration with the Ministry of Energy, Petroleum and Mines, CERER, financial institutions, private sector companies, ReCCAWA regional partners, women's organizations, and local authorities to foster a sustainable, market-driven clean cooking ecosystem in Senegal.

THE POSITION

The Project Manager will provide overall leadership, strategic direction, and operational management for the implementation of the ReCCAWA Programme in Senegal. S/he will be responsible for planning, coordinating, and overseeing all project activities to ensure timely, high-quality, and compliant delivery in accordance with Mercy Corps policies and donor requirements. The Project Manager will lead the project team, manage financial and operational performance, ensure the achievement of technical, institutional, and programmatic results, and foster effective collaboration among consortium partners and key national stakeholders. As the primary focal point for the project, the Project Manager will lead on the communication with the donor and maintain close coordination with ReCCAWA regional partners to ensure alignment, knowledge sharing, and coherence between national and regional interventions, while promoting adaptive management, innovation, and sustainable market systems development within Senegal's clean cooking sector.

Essential Responsibilities

STRATEGY AND PLANNING

• Provide strategic leadership for the implementation of the ReCCAWA Programme in Senegal, ensuring full alignment with the approved project document, Mercy Corps' strategic priorities, and donor requirements.
• Translate the programme's strategic objectives into annual work plans, implementation strategies, operational priorities, and measurable results.
• Ensure effective coordination and integration across all Programme components, including: (Enabling Environment; Supply Strengthening; Access to Finance; Demand Creation; Gender and Social Inclusion; Monitoring, Evaluation, Learning and Knowledge Management (MEL))
• Champion the Market Systems Development (MSD) approach across all interventions to drive sustainable, inclusive, and private sector-led market transformation.
• Ensure the systematic integration of gender equality, social inclusion, climate resilience, digitalization, and environmental sustainability throughout Programme design and implementation.
• Promote adaptive management by using evidence, learning, and data to continuously improve Programme performance and inform strategic decision-making.
• Foster innovation and cross-sector collaboration to maximize the programme's impact, scalability, and long-term sustainability.
• Ensure that Programme interventions contribute to strengthening national systems, building local ownership, and delivering sustainable market outcomes beyond the project lifecycle. 

PROGRAMME IMPLEMENTATION AND STAKEHOLDER COORDINATION

Programme Implementation

• Ensure the program is running on scope, on budget and on time through the set up and constant monitoring of Project Cycle Management tools.
• Develop and regularly update annual work plans, implementation schedules, and activity trackers to ensure efficient Programme execution.
• Coordinate field missions, technical assessments, workshops, and stakeholder consultations across the Programme intervention areas.
• Lead regular project coordination meetings internaly and with external stakeholders to review progress, address implementation challenges, monitor risks, and agree on corrective actions.
• Promote adaptive management by continuously monitoring Programme performance, incorporating lessons learned, and adjusting implementation strategies based on evidence and emerging opportunities.
• Monitor progress against the project log frame, work plan, and key performance indicators, ensuring timely achievement of milestones and deliverables.
• Ensure effective coordination with the Finance, Operations, Procurement, HR, and MEL teams to support efficient Programme delivery and compliance with Mercy Corps policies.

Stakeholder Coordination and Partnership Management

• Serve as the primary focal point for coordination with consortium partner SEM FUND and ensure effective collaboration throughout Programme implementation and regular coordination meetings.
• Maintain strong working relationships with the Ministry of Energy, Petroleum and Mines, CERER, SENACCA, commercial banks, microfinance institutions, clean cooking enterprises, women's organizations, local authorities, and other key national stakeholders.
• Coordinate closely with ReCCAWA regional partners and RVO to ensure alignment between national and regional interventions, facilitate knowledge sharing, and promote the adoption of regional best practices aiming at complementarity across ongoing intiatives.
• Convene and facilitate regular coordination meetings, technical working groups, and multi-stakeholder dialogue platforms to strengthen collaboration and collective action across the clean cooking ecosystem.
• Identify and proactively resolve implementation bottlenecks, partnership challenges, and operational issues to ensure smooth Programme delivery.
• Represent Mercy Corps in national and regional coordination forums, technical meetings, and sector events, strengthening the organization's visibility and strategic partnerships within Senegal's clean cooking sector.

TECHNICAL OVERSIGHT

The Project Manager will provide overall technical oversight and quality assurance across all Programme components, ensuring that activities are implemented in line with the project's objectives and deliver sustainable market systems outcomes. Specifically, the Project Manager will :

Enabling Environment

• Oversee the operationalization and effective functioning of the National Clean Cooking Task Force.
• Lead the establishment and institutional strengthening of the Senegal National Clean Cooking Association (SENACCA).
• Coordinate national stakeholder engagement on clean cooking standards, testing, and quality assurance in collaboration with CERER and regional ReCCAWA partners.
• Facilitate Public-Private dialogue to strengthen policy implementation, sector coordination, and private sector engagement.

Enterprise Development

• Oversee the delivery of Business Development Support (BDS) to clean cooking enterprises.
• Supervise enterprise diagnostics and the development of tailored business improvement plans follwed by high-quality coaching, mentoring, and technical assistance.
• Support enterprises in expanding market access, strengthening competitiveness, and improving investment readiness.
• Promote the development and strengthening of inclusive and sustainable distribution networks, including last-mile delivery systems.

Access to Finance

• Facilitate strategic dialogue and partnerships with commercial banks, microfinance institutions, investors, and other financial actors aiming at strengthening access to financial products for Clean Cooking entreprises.
• Support enterprises in becoming investment-ready through financial and business capacity strengthening.
• Promote access to carbon finance and other innovative financing mechanisms to enhance enterprise growth and market sustainability.

Demand Activation

• Oversee the design and implementation of gender-responsive behaviour change and consumer awareness campaigns.
• Strengthen women-led distribution networks and support women's participation as entrepreneurs, sales agents, and community champions.
• Promote the use of digital communication and marketing tools to enhance consumer outreach, engagement, and behaviour change. 

MEAL (MONITORING, EVALUATION, ACCOUNTABILITY & LEARNING)

• Oversee the implementation of the project's MEAL framework, ensuring compliance with Mercy Corps and donor requirements.
• Monitor progress against the project log frame, work plan, and key performance indicators, ensuring timely achievement of results and adaptative management when necessary.
• Ensure high-quality data collection, analysis, reporting, and data quality standards for reporting, Programme review an to feed the learning agenda.
• Ensure effective beneficiary accountability and feedback mechanisms are integrated into Programme implementation.

FINANCIAL & OPERATIONAL MANAGEMENT

The Project Manager will:

• Ensure effective financial and operational management of the project in compliance with Mercy Corps policies and donor requirements.
• Monitor on a monthly basis project budgets, expenditures, forecasts, and burn rates to ensure efficient use of resources and timely delivery of activities.
• Identify and mitigate programmatic, financial, and operational risks while ensuring appropriate internal controls and compliance standards are maintained.

RISK MANAGEMENT

• Ensure compliance with Mercy Corps' risk management policies, donor requirements, and safeguarding standards.
• Lead the identification, assessment, and monitoring of programmatic, operational, financial, and partnership risks throughout the project lifecycle.
• Maintain and regularly update the project risk register and the issue log, ensuring appropriate mitigation measures are implemented and monitored.
• Strengthen risk awareness among project staff and partners by promoting a culture of accountability, compliance, and continuous improvement. 

TEAM MANAGEMENT AND CAPACITY BUILDING

• Provide leadership, guidance, and day-to-day supervision to the project team, fostering a collaborative, inclusive, and high-performing work environment.
• Build the technical and managerial capacity of team members through coaching, mentoring, and targeted professional development.
• Set clear performance objectives, conduct regular performance reviews, and provide timely feedback to ensure high-quality Programme delivery.
• Promote teamwork, knowledge sharing, innovation, and continuous learning across the project team.

 SAFEGUARDING RESPONSIBILITIES

The Project Manager will promote a culture of safeguarding by ensuring that all project activities are implemented in accordance with Mercy Corps' Safeguarding, Protection from Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (PSEA), Child Safeguarding, and Code of Conduct policies. S/he will ensure safeguarding principles are integrated throughout Programme implementation, foster a safe and inclusive environment for staff, partners, and participants, ensure compliance with mandatory safeguarding requirements, and promote timely reporting and appropriate management of safeguarding concerns in line with Mercy Corps policies and procedures.

Supervisory Responsibility

The Project Manager will directly supervise the Clean Cooking Market Systems Lead, Gender, Social Inclusion and Behaviour Change (SBC) Lead, Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning (MEAL) Manager, and technical consultants, providing leadership, technical guidance, performance management, coaching, and capacity building to ensure effective project implementation and high-quality delivery of results.

Accountability

Reports Directly To: Country Manager

Works Directly With: Regional Technical Teams; Country Finance, Operations, HR, Procurement, and MEAL Teams; Awards Management Team; SEM FUND and other consortium partners; the Ministry of Energy, Petroleum and Mines; CERER; SENACCA; financial institutions; ReCCAWA regional partners; RVO; and other key public and private sector stakeholders involved in the implementation of the ReCCAWA Programme.

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

• Master's degree in Energy, Environmental Sciences, Economics, International Development, Business Administration, Project Management, or a related field.
• Minimum 8 years of progressively responsible experience managing complex, donor-funded development programmes, preferably in clean cooking, renewable energy, climate resilience, energy access, or market systems development.
• Demonstrated experience in leading multi-stakeholder partnerships, including government institutions, private sector actors, financial institutions, development partners, and civil society organizations.
• Proven experience applying Market Systems Development (MSD) or private sector-led development approaches, with strong knowledge of enterprise development, access to finance, and value chain strengthening.
• Experience managing consortium projects, multidisciplinary teams, consultants, and implementing partners, with strong leadership, coaching, and people management skills.
• Strong Programme and financial management skills, including planning, budgeting, donor compliance, risk management, and results-based management.
• Experience overseeing MEAL systems and using evidence to support adaptive Programme management.
• Excellent stakeholder engagement, negotiation, communication, and representation skills, with the ability to build strategic partnerships at national and regional levels.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, organizational, and decision-making skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English and French are required; knowledge of local languages is an asset.
• Strong commitment to gender equality, social inclusion, safeguarding, accountability, and Mercy Corps' values and Code of Conduct. 

Success Factors

The successful candidate will be a strategic and results-oriented leader with strong Programme management and stakeholder engagement skills. S/he will demonstrate the ability to lead multidisciplinary teams, build effective partnerships, manage competing priorities, and deliver high-quality results in a dynamic environment. Strong analytical, communication, and problem-solving skills, together with a commitment to MSD, adaptive management, gender equality, safeguarding, and accountability, will be essential for success in this role.

Living Conditions / Environmental Conditions

The position is based in Dakar, and it requires up to 40% travel to support field level implementation programs, 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

Team Engagement 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 committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all employees and qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, color, sex, sexual orientation, religion or belief, national origin, age, disability, marital status, veteran status, or any other characteristics protected under applicable law.

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 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 ([email protected]).