RESILIENCE MEASUREMENT AND Research Specialist  - resilience knowledge hub 

This position is contingent upon funding 

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.

PROGRAM/ DEPARTMENT SUMMARY

Mercy Corps exists to alleviate suffering, poverty, oppression by building secure, productive, and just communities. Mercy Corps has been present in Zimbabwe since 2002 focusing its interventions on a multi sectoral market systems development portfolio mobilizing communities to promote small-scale agriculture and revive local economies. Its current operations focus on helping smallholder farmers increase their incomes and harvests through the power of technology and increasing urban household access to quality, reliable water, sanitation and hygiene services. Zimbabwe continues to experience recurrent environmental, economic and social shocks affecting the wellbeing of its communities and undermining development investments. Mercy Corps puts resilience at core of its strategy to contribute to the wellbeing of Zimbabweans by building communities’ capacities and strengthening systems and institutions.

GENERAL POSITION SUMMARY

The Resilience Measurement and Research Specialist  for the Resilience Knowledge Hub (RKH) under the Zimbabwe Resilience Building Fund (ZRBF) will be responsible for providing key technical advisory services to RKH for resilience measurement and research. The Resilience Knowledge Hub’s goal is to strengthen the capacity of ZRBF partners (i.e. government and ZRBF ) in understanding and applying resilience and landscape concepts, tools, approaches and methodologies in their work to drive the resilience agenda as outlined in the Zimbabwe Resilience Strategic Framework. The intervention will also play an advisory role in supporting ZRBF consortia partners to conduct context, gender and resilience analyses and  reporting; improve scenario planning, early warning systems and anticipatory action mechanism to inform ZRBFplanning and implementation processes. By doing so the intervention will inform decisions on the Crisis Modifier funding system to strategically sequence, layer, and coordinate ZRBF investments and adapt them to the rapidly changing environment. For the system to function, RKH must serve as a catalyst for generating evidence through strategic resilience measurement and translating it into actionable programme recommendations.

The Resilience Measurement & Research Specialist is integral to achieving the objectives outlined above. Specifically, this individual will be responsible for designing, managing, and supervising RKH’s resilience measurement methodology and system, research protocols, evidence generation and all analytical work.facilitating the aggregation of knowledge, experiences, and best practices from the ZRBF  consortia partnersand ensuring the efficient and effective transfer and application of these lessons across consortia in their implementation plans and crisis modifier mechanisms.

ESSENTIAL JOB RESPONSIBILITIES

RESILIENCE MEASUREMENT

• With support from other Resilience Knowledge Hub members, collecting and leveraging key lessons learned from ZRBF1 to develop a comprehensive and strategic resilience measurement approach and system, and research protocols, including for annual two annual outcome monitoring surveys (OMS).
• Define methodology and process for “sensemaking” sessions with ZRBF partners to analyse and discuss resilience data and generate key insights and programmatic recommendations.
• Work with learning champions from the different partners to collaborate and develop relevant communication products.
• Work closely with the RKH Team Leader and ZRBF consortia partners on developing innovative mechanisms to collect and share RKH and ZRBF  learnings in various forums.

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RESEARCH

• Advise ZRBF partners for conducting informed applied research studies on the impact of resilience building efforts to achieve ZRBF objectives.
• Provide technical guidance to partner research efforts to ensure methodological soundness of research studies and evaluations.
• Designing, managing, and supervising context analysis, scenario planning and mapping studies.
• Support the documentation of research findings and lead on presentation of research findings and contribute to publications and reports.
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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 PARTICIPANTS

• Mercy Corps team members are expected to support all efforts towards accountability, specifically to our participants and to international standards guiding international relief and development work, while actively engaging participant communities as equal partners in the design, monitoring and evaluation of our projects.

SAFEGUARDING RESPONSIBILITIES

• Actively learns 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

ACCOUNTABILITY

Reports Directly To: Resilience Knowledge Hub Team LeaderWorks Directly With: Mercy Corps Zimbabwe Country Office, Regional Resilience Senior Director, Global Resilience Technical Resource & Quality team, Global Gender Advisors and partner organizations

KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE

• University Master's Degree or Advanced University Degree (or equivalent) in development studies, statistics, applied research related to  climate change, Disaster Risk Reduction or other closely related fields. 
• At least 7 years of relevant or associated management experience in resilience measurement and research in an NGO environment.
• Experience in international development and with international organizations, in the field of resilience with strong background in research, monitoring, evaluation and analytics.
• Solid experience in both qualitative and quantitative study design, methodology, data collection and analysis, and interpreting and reporting results.
• Excellent communication skills, including a sound ability to adapt material for different audiences.
• Strong writing skills, including past experience generating substantive written products; excellent verbal communication skills.
• Must be adaptable to and comfortable with shifting priorities.
• Experience in the Zimbabwean context is an advantage.

SUCCESS FACTORS

The successful Resilience Measurement & Research Specialist will be an analytical individual keen to build capacity of partners on resilience measurement and research . S/he will be passionate about collecting lessons learned from former interventions, developing strategic resilience measurement system and tools, and research protocols for a multi-stakeholder platform. . Multi-tasking, prioritizing, problem solving and simultaneous attention to detail as well as strategic vision are essential. The most successful Mercy Corps staff members have a strong commitment to teamwork and accountability, thrive in evolving and changing environments and make effective written and verbal communication a priority in all situations.

SAFEGUARDING AND 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 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)