ABOUT MERCY CORPS

Mercy Corps is a leading international non-profit organization powered by the belief that a better world is possible. Our team of more than 6,000 humanitarians works in over 40 countries to help people triumph over adversity and build stronger communities from within. Mercy Corps fully leverages the expertise of our Energy 4 Impact (E4I) energy access platform to increase access to climate-smart, sustainable energy, improving the lives of millions around the world.

ABOUT ENTER ENERGY

As of January 2023, over 100 million people are forcibly displaced, and the number of people forced to flee their homes has doubled since 2011. Despite the fact that the average refugee camp is in place for about 18 years, only 10% of refugees in camp settings have access to electricity, with only 19% having access to clean cooking solutions. A recent study calculated that six UN agencies and the International Committee for the Red Cross (ICRC) operate 11,365 diesel and petrol generators in displacement settings, spending more than $100 million per year on fuel and contributing to 194,000 tCO2 greenhouse gas emissions yearly, through the use of diesel power generators alone, leading to the deterioration of the environmental conditions of the already fragile settings where they intervene. Moreover, the financials of this prevailing fossil fuel-based energy supply model do not provide optimization of humanitarian funding.

Investment in clean energy services for the humanitarian sector is critical to attaining universal access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy services (SDG7) and to leaving no one behind. Modern energy access is also a key enabler to economic development and livelihood opportunities, food and water security, reducing environmental degradation, and supporting more peaceful coexistence of refugees and host communities – while lowering greenhouse gas emissions.

Against this backdrop, Mercy Corps developed the Enter Energy Initiative whose vision is to power displaced and host communities in their journey to resilience through clean, affordable and sustainable energy solutions and decarbonize the humanitarian operations that support them.

The main objective of Enter Energy is to provide the enabling environment for reputable energy companies to deploy sustainable, clean, and affordable energy services to improve the socio-economic well-being of displaced and host communities, while contributing to the decarbonization of humanitarian operations. Over the next five years, Mercy Corps seeks to scale this vision to up to 10 countries globally.

ENTER ENERGY – GLOBAL DIRECTOR

This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced leader with a background in energy access, energy markets, private sector development and/or humanitarian interventions to make a real impact. The Enter Energy Global Director will lead the realization of the Enter Energy vision across countries and in conjunction with key internal and external stakeholders and partners.

The Enter Energy Global Director will spearhead the Global Enter Energy Hub: an ecosystem support actor that builds evidence, collects best practices, forms or supports new partnerships, tests innovations, raises and helps deploy finance, and advocates with key stakeholders to remove barriers to the quicker deployment of sustainable humanitarian energy solutions. A key deliverable of the Global Hub is provision of technical support to the country programs to ensure quality implementation.

The Enter Energy Director will: a) finalize the vision and pathway to growth for Enter Energy, also lead advocacy for the Enter Energy model to become the reference model for humanitarian agencies that want to power their own operations and programming in situations of displacement; b) promote partnerships with the private and public sector to deploy the best practices of public-private sector-led renewable energy services provision in situations of displacement; c) lead the blended fundraising efforts for Enter Energy to reach scale by building on MC existing donor relationships and establishing new ones d) provide oversight for quality program implementation

They will work closely with MC Technical Support Unit, Regional and Country teams, Programs, New Initiatives, Fundraising, Communications, and Finance teams.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Oversight for quality program implementation
  • Through regular check-in calls and country visits, provide ongoing technical assistance and portfolio management oversight to the Enter Energy programs in Ethiopia, Uganda, Somalia and Jordan to ensure quality implementation according to the Mercy Corps Program Quality Standards
  • Act technical back-stopper for program implementation in the various countries, working closely with the program team, country leadership and TRaQ
  • Work with the Complex Program Board and Coordinator to fulfil the Complex Program requirements including board meetings and reporting
  • Provide program management for the Enter Energy Expansion grant
  • Together with the country team and the MCE Desk, manage the donor relationship with including opportunities for program expansion
• Vision and Pathway to Growth
  • Lead the development and creation of a pathway to scale for the implementation of the Enter Energy Initiative’s vision and strategy including the development of a strategic and business plan for Humanitarian Energy Plc.
  • Supervise the collaboration with internal stakeholders to determine the most appropriate legal set-up for the scale up of the Humanitarian Energy venture.
  • Closely liaise with implementing countries teams to ensure correct leverage of existing programs and clear understanding of regulatory framework to contextualize the Enter Energy Initiative
  • Leverage humanitarian energy initiatives to ensure complementarity toward maximization of impact (e.g. derisking financial mechanisms)
• Partnerships promotion and Advocacy
  • Lead advocacy efforts within the humanitarian sector to encourage partner agencies to adapt and tailor the Enter Energy model to their operational and programmatic commitments to decarbonize their interventions in situations of displacement
  • Develop alliances and partnerships with potential partners from the humanitarian, private and public sectors
  • Represent the Enter Energy Initiative internally and externally, focusing on enhancing visibility through communication materials and channels; and at dedicated fora (e.g. working groups, conferences, events, humanitarian cluster structure)
• Fundraising
  • Lead the Global Enter Energy Hub’s efforts to identify and secure new donor funding for the Enter Energy initiative, in close collaboration with MC Programs, New Initiatives, Fundraising, Communications, and Finance teams
  • Build relationships with existing and new donors, including development agencies, development financing institutions, corporate trusts and foundations, and other potential targets
  • Lead the preparation of high-quality bids, proposals and concept notes which are consistent with the vision of the Enter Energy Initiative and tailored to the needs of the donor. Some proposals will be solicited, while others will be unsolicited and bespoke
  • Analyse new business opportunities (e.g requests for proposal) and make go/no go recommendations

Supervisory Responsibility

Direct supervision: Business Development, Legal and Financial consultants

Dotted-line/Indirect supervision: Enter Energy country team leads,

Accountability

Reports directly to: Regional Director, East and Southern Africa

Reports with a dotted line to: TRaQ Director for Energy Access

Accountable to: the Enter Energy Complex Board, chaired by the Chief Climate Officer

Works directly with: TRaQ Unit, Regional and Country Program Teams, New Initiatives, Corporates and Foundations, private and public sector companies, humanitarian energy stakeholders

Accountability to Participants and Stakeholders

MC team members are expected to support all efforts towards accountability, specifically with 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 programs.

REQUIREMENTS

Qualifications

• Undergraduate Degree in Business Management, Economics, Finance, International Development, Energy, Environment, Climate Change or other relevant subject.

Experience

• 7 years’ experience in leading and shaping innovative initiatives, including in humanitarian settings and/or energy sectors
• Advocacy and relationship building and management experience with UN and other NGOs
• Positive track record in establishing partnerships with private and public sector organizations
• 5 years’ experience in NGO fundraising, business development and proposal preparation, ideally in an energy access and humanitarian response context

Skills & Knowledge

• Clear visioning and leadership skills to be able to positively influence internal and external stakeholders
• Ability to develop partnerships and strong and effective relationships with multiple stakeholders
• Excellent organization and project management skills. Ability to manage multiple projects and meet deadlines
• Successful track record in program fundraising (for projects of $100,000 to $10 million), especially in energy access and humanitarian response
• Extensive network with public donors, private foundations and other relevant stakeholders
• Strong written and oral communication skills. Ability to prepare high-quality proposals and concept notes and communicate complex ideas in a user-friendly way
• Strong analytical and research skills
• Ability to work with a diverse mix of professionals and different cultures
• Fluent English a must
• Fluent French an advantage

Personal Qualities

• Big vision and innovative thinker
• Team player
• High energy
• Attention to detail and a focus on results
• Ability to think outside the box, to see the big picture and connect the dots
• Ability to work calmly under pressure
• A can-do and collaborative mindset
• Willingness to travel internationally, sometimes at short notice
• Passion for working in the development and impact sector
• Close alignment with the mission and values of Mercy Corps

OUR VALUES

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.

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

MC 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, colour, 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

MC team members represent the agency both during and outside work hours when deployed in a field. Team members are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner and respect local laws, customs and MC’ policies, procedures, and values at all times and in all in-country venues.

MC 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. 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 MC 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.

Accountability to Project Participants

MC team members are expected to support all efforts towards accountability, specifically to our program 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 field projects.