ADVOCACY & GOVERNMENT RELATIONS (AGR) OFFICER – ZCRA PROGRAM

Zurich Climate Resilience Alliance (ZCRA) PROGRAM

Mercy Corps Indonesia (MCI) is a local Indonesian non-profit organization, which will implement humanitarian, and development assistance programs throughout the country. MCI mission is to empower people in Indonesia to become healthy, productive, and resilient communities. Resilience means an ability to recover form or adjust easily to misfortune or change.

Program Summary

The climate challenge: The climate has changed and will continue to change, already having a disastrous impact on people and posing a long-term threat to human wellbeing. The impacts of this change are disproportionately felt by the most vulnerable across all parts of the world, particularly in rapidly urbanizing, but also in rural areas. The systemic nature of the problem and its urgency are unprecedented. Climate and weather-related events such as floods, storms and heatwaves impact 1.7 billion people.

The problem statement: the programme has identified the following key challenges:

• The resources needed to support communities to adapt to climate change and to cope with its consequences are inadequate and fragmented, and not reaching those most impacted by climate change.
• There is a lack of investment in ex-ante risk reduction and adaptation measures to avert and minimise losses and damages.
• There is a lack of coordination and collaboration across humanitarian, development and climate actors creating duplications and gaps.
• There is limited knowledge of climate risks by communities and a lack of resilience building to these climate risks at local, national and international level.

Our vision as a joint Climate Resilience Alliance will be in the shape of a joint Theory of Change. The Alliance helps create, through multiple climate hazard resilience programming, a climate-resilient future where communities in different contexts – large and small, urban and rural – are adapted to a changing climate. We focus on those most vulnerable and most in need and enable them to thrive. We bring our evidence from ground-truthed programmes to scale to achieve systemic change.

What we want to achieve: We continue to seek transformative change at scale, building on our community programmes to influence policy and practice at the local, national and global level. We will call for funding and action that supports adaptation measures that are scalable and sustainable. We ensure resilience building and adaptation is mainstreamed across other humanitarian and development action. We will:

1. Implement community programming through the use of our established tools (the Climate Resilience Measurement for Communities – CRMC) ; and our Post Event Review Capability, PERC) in a targeted number of communities in select countries based on agreed criteria. We will achieve impact at scale by adding local or national advocacy, leveraging results for securing funding or other support to needed interventions, and undertaking relevant research
2. Supplement community work with knowledge production and research at the programming and country level including research or evidence that a) supports decision-making following application of the CRMC b) illustrates the problem (e.g. Lack of funding and action leading to losses and damages) and c) makes the case for appropriate interventions (EWS, locally led adaptation, etc.)
3. Create advocacy strategies to ensure local and national policy and practice supports climate resilience (both in those communities and nationwide – and laddering up to global)
4. Identify ways to ensure further integration of science/climate data in humanitarian and development work, and how they can support resilience building.

Our success is based on credible impact by community-driven programming, from which knowledge and evidence of good practice can be generated, which will help us provide the national or sub-national level advocacy to achieve the systemic change we have identified needs changing. Research will support us with the necessary in-country or global evidence. We both implement interventions ourselves and have a plan for creating intervention pipelines that can be invested into by other funders or by government.

Mercy Corps continues leading influence and advocacy of the Alliance, as well as implementing the programmes in Jordan, Indonesia and Nepal. In order to implement the programme in Indonesia, Mercy Corps will partner with Yayasan Mercy Corps Indonesia (YMCI) to implement Phase 3 Alliance Programme the funding will be provided from January 2024 to December 2027.

Semarang, Central Java

ADVOCACY & GOVERNMENT RELATIONS (AGR) OFFICER – ZCRA PROGRAM

General Position Summary

The Advocacy and Government Relation Officer (AGR) is responsible for leading the pathway of the policy advocacy, including but not limited to: policy dialogue, discussions, one-on-one in-depth meeting with local partners, focus group discussions, and other relevants meeting. AGR duty is to promote and protect interests through collaboration with government agencies and officials, these activities can involving lobbying, research, and public outreach in the relevance with Climate Change Adaptation and Disaster Management context. Role of AGR including:

• Use evidence-based research and official data sources
• Focus on results that benefit the greatest number of people
• Develop advocacy strategies that align with the organization’s mission and goals
• Build and maintain relationships with government officials, lobbyists, and community members
• Prepare reports, policy papers, and position statements and ensure compliance with government regulations
• Represent the organization at events and public forums
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to ensure alignment on messaging

This includes the role of providing input to the regulatory framework together with program partners, developing the advocacy methods, organizing knowledge and learning form scientific evidences, and contributing to reports. This role is also important to maintain the good quality of climate resilience policy development based on learning from various case studies in different locations in Central Java.

The successful candidate will be proactive and motivated, with a demonstrated ability to plan and implement program activities creatively, as well as the skills to analyze scenarios and utilize pathway to implement the policy advocacy. She or he will also have a strong understanding of good practice in climate resilience related policy development. Experience in the DRR and climate sector is essential. Given the highly-dynamic and adaptive nature of the ZCRA programme, this is a vital role and is suited to a proactive, creative person with excellent analysis skills and attention to detail.

Essential Job Responsibilities

STRATEGY AND VISION

1. Support Mercy Corps’ policy and advocacy related to climate resilience, DRR and climate change adaptation, sustainable and resilient livelihood at the local and sub-national level, and lead field-based resilient livelihood development and communications work in close collaboration with the national team.
2. Advise and support the development and implementation of Zurich Climate Resilience Alliance work at the country level
3. Seek the potential collaboration with the local, sub-national and national stakeholders to leverage project’s impact

TECHNICAL IMPLEMENTATION

1. Support Project Coordinator in develop, co-develop, and implement advocacy strategies to promote program’s interests
2. Support Project Coordinator/Local Lead in Leading advocacy efforts on identified advocacy priorities, including other stakeholders
3. Integrating evidences collected through knowledge management into position statement or papers in consultations with ZCRA team and other stakeholders.
4. Build and maintain good working relationships and contact with stakeholders, such as the

Governments, donors, the business community, NGOs and media to progress ZCRA’role in supporting the ecosystem

1. Propose and promote creative solutions for advocacy tactic and strategy in the programme
2. Provide timely update and advice to stakeholders and the management team on advocacy issues or other issues that arise.
3. Develop and maintain partnerships with external partners on their Advocacy strategies.
4. Co-Develop content of the local policy development, in terms of mainstreaming scientific evidence into relevant contextual baseline for any development and/ or planning programme
5. Develop advocacy strategies to influence local and provincial stakeholders in order to maintain good reputation and network of ZCRA
6. Collect data, analyse the complaints and feedback mechanism accountability
7. Take a proactive approach to constantly reviewing and improving the ZCRA programme’s policy advocacy, and looking for ways to use information to identify gaps and potential improvements to the programme, and alignment with YMCI Minimum Standards
8. Travel to field locations as required for  programme implementation and data gathering quality.

COORDINATION AND REPRESENTATION

1. Deliver sound coordination and information sharing and accurate and timely reports are submitted to Project Coordinator / Local Lead
2. Representing ZCRA program and MCI (as necessary) in relevant climate resilience forum and or policy dialogue, and actively promote program interest and agenda
3. Build and maintain close links with Zurich Resilience Alliance partners at the local and sub-national level Regularly convey information to Mercy Corps’ Zurich Resilience Alliance team
4. Along with the partners and in collaboration with the ZCRA national team, implements the policy advocacy initiative
5. Support the works of resiliency that come from partners initiative and Serve as focal person in the field for Mercy Corps’ stakeholders, maintain respectful and constructive relations, and ensure regular meetings and ongoing coordination with local authorities/partners and community leaders
6. Build network, especially at the local and sub-national level, to establish and maintain strategic relations with relevant local and international stakeholders, to continually inform, challenge, and improve resilient livelihood strategy, and program development.
7. Document lessons learned and success stories on the project

SAFEGUARDING RESPONSIBILITIES

1. Actively learns about safeguarding and integrates it into their work, including safeguarding risks and mitigations related to their area of work.
2. Practices the values of Mercy Corps including respecting the dignity and well-being of participants and fellow team members.
3. 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.

Knowledge and Experience

• Education: University degree (Bachelors/Masters) in environment, development studies, urban and regional planning, or related field.
• Minimum 5 (five) years of practical experience in policy advocacy or providing consultancy in a comprehensive framework to local governments /stakeholders
• Been involved in a program/workshop that took case studies in Pantura, Central Java
• Experienced in articulating the formulation of technocratic policy recommendations into practical and implementable inputs.
• Reliable understanding of urban and regional development, including interactions between urban-rural systems and/or upstream-downstream interactions in the ecosystem landscape;
• Experience in managing relations among various actors, including the government, donors, the business community, NGOs and media
• Good understanding of Climate Change Adaptation, Disaster Risk Reduction and spatial planning policies;
• Ability to write professional written reports in both English and Indonesian.
• Demonstrated, developed facilitation and engagement skills.
• Knowledge on climate change and DRR (Disaster Risk Reduction) will be an advantage.
• Strong computer and data analysis skills (e.g., MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and other qualitative and quantitative statistical analysis tools)
• Fluency in English and Bahasa Indonesia, both written and spoken, is required.
• Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability

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 Indonesia 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. 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).

Accountability to Participants and Stakeholders

Mercy Corps Indonesia team members are expected to support all efforts toward accountability, specifically to 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 projects.

How to Apply

Please send your CV and a cover letter that specifically addresses how you will handle this job responsibilities via https://www.mercycorps.or.id/peluang and fill in the position code:

“049-AGR- ZCRA”

The vacancy will be closed on 31 March 2025 and only shortlisted candidates will be contacted for interview. We look forward to hearing from those who are interested in taking this opportunity to grow and develop with us.

Thank You,

Human Resources Department

Mercy Corps Indonesia