Consultant - Partnership Advisor / Ukraine

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. Mercy Corps’ Ukraine response meets the humanitarian needs of vulnerable Ukrainians and other war and conflict-affected people. In 2022 and 2023, Mercy Corps’ Ukraine response reached more than 2.5 million people with emergency cash, food, psychosocial support, and information campaigns. Notably, nearly all our programming has been delivered in partnership with civil society organizations through a granting program that matches humanitarian action with capacity strengthening, and with peer international NGOs through a consortium in Ukraine. Building on a substantial program addressing needs through MPCA/Cash in the Eastern and Southern regions of Ukraine, the portfolio is expanding to include a Rapid Response Mechanism and resilience programming focusing on supporting local value chains and SMEs. Purpose / Project Description: Mercy Corps Ukraine has a strong commitment to support a locally-led response. To date, Mercy Corps has partnered with over 100 organizations throughout the Ukraine response. The purpose of this project is to help Mercy Corps grow meaningful partnerships with civil society and, through these partnerships, deliver quality services to the people of Ukraine.
Consultant Activities: The Consultant will:

• Develop guidelines for the partner innovation fund – a small grants fund for locally-led organizations that will support seed funding for new projects.
• Work with a local partner to support innovative solutions to due diligence.
• Develop a livelihoods proposal with direct implementation through partners.
• Organize partner meeting for September that would bring together all Mercy Corps Ukraine partners to share experience, network and strategize on future partnerships engagement initiatives.
• Following the partner meeting, draft recommendations for future partnership engagement for Mercy Corps Ukraine.
• Finalize Mercy Corps Ukraine’s Partnerships Principles.

Consultant Deliverables: The Consultant will:

• Guidelines for the partner innovation fund.
• Draft recommendations on due diligence process optimization.
• Livelihoods project proposal developed with partners.
• Agenda for the partner meeting developed in close consultation with partners and MC Ukraine staff.
• Recommendations for future partnerships engagement.
• Finalized Partnerships Principles.

Timeframe / Schedule: July 1, 2024 – October 30, 2024 The Consultant will report to: Mercy Corps Ukraine Deputy Director The Consultant will work closely with: Mercy Corps Ukraine Country Director, Program Leads, Program Managers, MEL Lead, Finance Director, Subawards & Compliance Manager. Required Experience & Skills:

• University Degree/Masters in international studies, social, economic or other relevant field is desired.
• Proven technical expertise in partnership approaches, civil society development and/or capacity strengthening of local partner organizations.
• At least 7-10 years of senior experience in the humanitarian and/or development field.
• Strong knowledge of, and experience with organizational development of CSOs in challenging environments.
• Proven record of developing successful program proposals.
• Effective verbal and written communication, multi-tasking, organizational, and prioritization skills are necessary.
• Excellent oral and written English is required, and Ukrainian proficiency strongly preferred.

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
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 MCs policies, procedures, and values at all times and in all in-country venues.