Mercy Corps Internal Risk Management Group Coordinator Jobs in Uganda

Mercy Corps Internal Risk Management Group Coordinator Jobs in Uganda

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.

We help people overcome poverty and conflict. Working with communities, we leverage local logic to help people transform their lives.

To grow more food, earn higher incomes and ultimately advocate for their needs. We see global challenges as an invitation to pioneer innovative, sustainable solutions.

During our 34-year history, our work has improved more than 170 million lives in more than 115 countries around the world.

IRMG Background

In line with global trends, international non-government organizations in Uganda are increasingly identifying fraud, corruption, safeguarding lapses and code of conduct breaches, including sexual exploitation and abuse, as growing risks to the aid sector's ability to deliver accountable and high impact programs.

As well as undermining program effectiveness, these issues also have the even more serious potential to compromise the safety and protection of program participants or staff and erode the trust of the populations being served by aid agencies and the sector as a whole.

Thus, in the interests of accountability and safeguarding, the management and mitigation of these risks must be taken seriously.

In order to address these challenges, forty-six INGOs based in Uganda have taken the initiative to form an Internal Risk Management Group (IRMG) – attended only by country directors.

The members of the IRMG envisage the creation of a safe space to discuss misconduct and risk issues, raise awareness of risks with the entire INGO community, and share information and experience, including best practice in detecting misconduct and handling allegations.

Organizations will support and learn from each other, share information and generally increase the risk management capacity and accountability of the humanitarian and development sector in Uganda.

The IRMG will be facilitated by a full time coordinator, hosted by one of the members line managed by an elected steering committee of INGO directors.

The goal of the IRMG will be to increase the safety of INGO program beneficiaries and improve the overall impact, accountability and effectiveness of INGO programs in Uganda.

The specific objective of the group will be to reduce or mitigate the risks of fraud and corruption, SEA and other breaches of organizational codes of conduct by INGO staff and third parties such as local partners, sub awardees, vendors, contractors and local volunteers.

Overall Responsibility

To coordinate Internal Risk Management initiatives by the INGO IRMG, including facilitating assessments, development of guidelines, facilitating training, and coordinating internal and external communications for the group, including advocacy.

Key Tasks, Duties and Responsibilities

Facilitate monthly meetings of the IRMG, and support information gathering and analysis to support effective discussions during these meetings.

Coordinate assessment of risk management and accountability practices among INGOs working in Uganda. The objective of the assessment will be to map out and analyze current NGO accountability standards and approaches to risk management and mitigation in Uganda, and identify gaps, synergies and points of commonality – including the most frequent patterns of fraud and misconduct in Uganda, with practical recommendations for how to address them;

Based on the results of assessment, support preparation of guidelines for risk management and accountability for INGOs in Uganda;

Facilitate awareness raising sessions and training to increase INGO capacity to prevent, mitigate and respond to risks. This will include curriculum development taking into account the needs and priorities of INGOs of varying sizes.

Coordination of data collection to contribute to the discussion led by donors on “the costs of doing business” to have effective systems in place and an estimation of what the “return on investment” will be for INGOs and donors;

Support advocacy by the group to a wide range of donors and UN agencies;

Support active engagement with

the UNHCR led Steering Committee on Refugee Feedback, Referral and Resolution Mechanism (FRRM) and the common system that UNHCR plans to pilot in a number of settlements.

Coordinate communication between the IRMG and donors, the Ugandan Government and other stakeholders.

Coordinate establishment and support to subgroups of IRMG member staff on specific topics, identified in the risk assessment, during the workshops or in other IRMG learning and sharing forums.

Conduct overall administrative management of the initiative including work planning, budget management and reporting to donors.

Qualifications, Knowledge and experience

The position will be open to national and international candidates with strong skills and a proven track record at a senior level in risk management or a related field.

B. Sc. or MA university degree in human resources, business administration, finance, accounting or a related business field is required (A certification in the field will be an advantage, e.g. CPA, CIA).

5 years+ related work experience with a business or not-for-profit organization;

Strong background in compliance, safeguarding and internal controls; experience in auditing or investigating wrongful conduct

Thorough understanding of aid accountability, codes of conduct, and principles around protection and safeguarding.

Ability to work with various administrative and program levels in the organization;

Strong organizational and research skills with a broad understanding of various program sectors and activities;

Extensive knowledge of compliance and safeguarding donor rules, regulations including USAID, ECHO, DFID, UN, etc.

Strong inter-personal skills, diplomacy, tact and ability to achieve results collaboratively with individuals not under supervisory control.

Skilled in collecting, synthesizing and analyzing data.

Ability to deliver training and prepare training materials.

Self-motivated and able to deliver without close supervision.

Living/Environmental Conditions

The IRMG Coordinator will be based in Kampala with travel field locations in Uganda. Kampala provides a secure living environment. The location is secure with unlimited freedom of movement beyond the house/office. Staff have access to medical, electricity, water, etc.

Mercy Corps Team members represent the agency both during and outside of work hours when deployed in a field posting or on a visit/TDY to a field posting. Team members are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner and respect local laws, customs and Mercy Corps policies, procedures, and values at all times and in all in-country venues.

Qualifications, Knowledge and experience