Position Description
Location Monrovia, Liberia
Position Status Full-time, Regular
Salary Level National
Current Team Member N/A
Safeguarding Risk Level- 3

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.

Department Summary

As an organization, Mercy Corps is committed to accountability to all our stakeholders, including the people we serve, and to the resources that are entrusted to us. Mercy Corps takes a participatory approach in engaging with local communities throughout the program design and implementation. A Community Accountability Reporting Mechanism (CARM) and safeguarding are an essential part of Mercy Corps’ commitment to excellence and integrity by providing individuals, organizations, local groups, and other stakeholders a means of raising concerns about potential staff misconduct or sharing feedback or programmatic activities (positive and negative) with Mercy Corps, independently from program operations. In the context of Liberia, rolling out and implementing CARM and safeguarding will ensure that the Liberia team will continue to uphold Mercy Corps’ high standards of accountability.

General Position Summary

The Accountability and Safeguarding Senior Officer plays a critical role by providing leadership and strategy in accountability and safeguarding, with a focus on: Community Accountability Reporting Mechanisms (CARM), Safeguarding (SG), and Ethics. The role provides essential advice to the program team, whilst supporting them in the design and implementation of CARM, SG, and ethics approaches that result in the delivery of impactful programs that are responsive to community needs. This position plays a key role in ensuring that MC and industry standards for CARM, SG, and ethics are met, strengthening the quality of the programming, promoting learning, and building the capacity of team members in these domains.

Essential Job Responsibilities

Community Accountability Reporting Mechanism (CARM)

• Lead the participatory development of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for CARM.
• Develop processes to ensure the integration of feedback and evidence-based learning into program implementation.
• Facilitate the establishment of the program work plan for the rollout of CARM, including processes, procedures, forms, and budgetary guidance.
• Follow-up with programmatic teams to ensure that appropriate CARM feedback is efficiently directed through the correct channels.
• Develop a yearly work plan identifying priority areas and targets and following up regularly on its implementation.
• Comply with and ensure compliance with global data protection and privacy standards while confidentially receiving, following up on, and reporting on CARM feedback received.
• Conduct orientation sessions for program staff, consultants, enumerators, partners and other stakeholders on CARM.
• Ensure functioning CARM database with features for data visualization.
• Support MEL/CLA Lead and Assistant on CARM analytics, strengthening processes for using CARM data for learning and improved programming, and preparing country aggregations and reports.
• Adapt and diversify CARM IEC based on specific programmatic needs and context.
• Expand CARM work to include community engagement and communication, in line with the Accountability to Affected Population (AAP) framework.
• Together with program teams, and HQ, lead CARM assessments and evaluations and document findings and lessons learned.
• Support the quarterly quality assurance process of the CARM system.
• Produce monthly internal reports on CARM itself, in response to feedback received via training and awareness session evaluation forms.
• Facilitate connection between program leadership and additional headquarters support and resources as needed.
• Other duties as assigned by supervisor.

Safeguarding

• Champion safeguarding policies and accompanying policy guidance support materials and assist in promoting the prevention of sexual misconduct, sexual exploitation, and abuse (SEA) within the programs.
• Work with individuals and teams within the program to help ensure the program and operation are integrating safeguarding measures.
• In partnership with relevant teams, identify, map, and regularly update local support services available to survivors. Lead safeguarding risk assessment for the programs.
• Collaborate with the Director of Programs to review partners’ SG self-assessments and develop tailored action plans to enhance capacity and systems.
• Act as a resource to the program senior management as they work to fulfill their responsibilities and obligations under Mercy Corps’ and donor’s Safeguarding policies and response mechanisms.
• Work with Mercy Corps country safeguarding co-Investigators for safeguarding-related inquiries and investigations related to programs.
• Help build trust and confidence in the program’s reporting, investigation, and follow-up systems and foster a climate where team members feel confident and comfortable coming forward with issues.
• Conduct safeguarding awareness sessions for program teams, partners, and other stakeholder.

Ethics

• Play a crucial role in ensuring that Mercy Corps Liberia operates with integrity, adheres to ethical standards, and complies with relevant laws and regulations. This support involves developing, implementing, and overseeing ethical policies and procedures, as well as providing guidance to employees and leadership on ethical matters.
• Conduct training sessions to educate employees on ethical standards, policies, and procedures.
• Provide ongoing communication and awareness campaigns to reinforce ethical behavior.
• Serve as a point of contact for employees seeking guidance on ethical concerns.
• Consult with management and employees to address ethical dilemmas and provide recommendations for resolution.
• With approval from the Country Director, conduct or oversee investigations into alleged ethical violations, ensuring a fair and thorough process.
• Establish mechanisms to monitor and assess the organization’s ethical climate.
• Prepare and present regular reports to the Country Director on ethics-related matters.

REPORTING STRUCTURE

Reports Directly to: Director of Programs; dotted line to Country Director on confidential ethics issues

Works Directly with: Senior leaders (key personnel and component leads), MEL Manager, MEL/CLA Lead, MEL Officers, Operations, Finance and the People and Culture team.

CAPACITY BUILDING

• Lead orientation sessions for staff and partners on CARM, safeguarding and ethics.
• Together with HR, lead integration of CARM and safeguarding training into new employee onboarding.
• Train staff on receiving complaints and feedback and on community sensitization, particularly on informing communities and handling feedback on sensitive subjects of potential staff misconduct.

COORDINATION

• Collaborate with other actors to develop referral maps and mechanisms for communities where MC implements programs.

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.

Knowledge and Experience

• Excellent writing skills in English. Proven report writing skills are required.
• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent in relevant field is required.
• At least four years of related work experience, preferably with an international or local Non-Governmental Organization (NGO).
• Proven experience in data collection, data entry, data/information management and analysis.
• Proven experience in developing or contributing to accountability frameworks, standard operating procedures (SOPs) for feedback mechanisms.
• Experience and training in handling sensitive information – Core Humanitarian Standards (CHS) training is an advantage, including Gender-Based Violence (GBV), Protection from Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (PSEA) and Child Protection knowledge and capacities.
• The ability to work closely in a team, be patient, adaptable, flexible, able to improvise and work in an environment that is often stressful.
• Good interpersonal skills with the ability to communicate and negotiate clearly and effectively at all levels, considering cultural and language challenges. Tact and diplomacy are essential.
• Understanding of preventing sexual exploitation and abuse, child safeguarding and how other types of code of conduct issues may arise in CARM mechanisms and best practices for raising awareness of and responding to those concerns.

Success Factors

Critical problem-solving skills and the ability to work out methods of delivery in very different

operating contexts. S/he will be highly motivated, and capable of working without direct supervision. S/he will demonstrate attention to details, will be committed to working long hours, be able to work closely with a diverse team of individuals in a highly intense and fluid work and security environment and be willing to travel regularly to Mercy Corps field offices and project sites.

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

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.

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.