Agricultural Support Program (UASP) specialist in Mercy Corps

Будь ласка, надсилайте свої резюме: Program Officer in Mykolaiv | Mercy Corps Ukraine

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. 

The Program Summary

Mercy Corps’ Ukraine crisis response seeks to meet the humanitarian needs of vulnerable Ukrainians and other conflict-affected people in Ukraine. Ukraine’s vital agricultural sector has been heavily impacted by the ongoing war, including for the predominant smallholder producers, leaving producers to salvage harvests, find new markets for their products, and plan for future growing seasons amidst uncertainty and incomplete information.

Since November 2023, with support from the Howard G. Buffett Foundation (HGBF), Mercy Corps has been implementing the “Ukraine Agricultural Support Program” (UASP), which aims to recover and protect livelihoods, increase economic stability and self-sufficiency, and facilitate early recovery for household-level subsistence farmers, small farming businesses and medium farming enterprises in targeted areas in Ukraine. Support includes grants to farmers designed to support them in adapting their agribusinesses to the new reality they face. Therefore, Mercy Corps helps to increase economic stability and self-sufficiency, and facilitate early recovery for smallholder subsistence farmers and small and medium sized farming enterprises in 13 oblasts of Ukraine, out of which 8 eastern and southern oblasts (Sumy, Chernihiv, Kharkiv, Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia, Dnipro, Mykolaiv and Kherson) are priority areas. In parallel, Mercy Corps empowers women farmers affected by the war by providing them with targeted consultancy support, access to agricultural knowledge, and financial capital, enabling them to adopt innovative farming techniques, enhance productivity and income, and build their resilience against current and future shocks.

The Position

Under the direct supervision of Agriculture Coordinator, the Program Officer will support implementation of agriculture support activities of UASP. S/he will be primary responsible for preparation and management of agreements with program farmers (including subsistence, small, and medium-sized). This role ensures that all documents are of high quality and properly signed, prepares and initiates payment documents for grant disbursement, and monitors the proper utilization of grant funds (including receiving and verification respective reports from program participants). The Program Officer will also provide support in assessment of the business ideas from farmers as needed, ensuring that all aspects of the program are in alignment with Mercy Corps’ goals. S/he at the same time should promote Mercy Corps values through various entry points in the project and preserve staff moral and enthusiasm for the project work.

Essential Responsibilities

• Draft and prepare agreements with program farmers, ensuring that all terms and conditions are clear and in line with program objectives.
• Prepare and initiate payment documents for grant disbursement, ensuring timely and accurate processing of funds.
• Provision of permanent support to program participants in terms of documentation process.
• Work closely with local partner organisation team specifically engaged in documentation process, ensuring prompt and timely signing grant agreements.
• Ensure all documents related to agreements and payments are of high quality and comply with organizational standards.
• Monitor and control the utilization of grants by program participants, ensuring compliance with grant agreements and effective use of resources.
• Review and verify reports of grant utilization from farmers, providing feedback and ensuring accurate documentation of expenditures.
• Maintain a systematic record-keeping system for all contractual documents and associated correspondence.
• Maintain good working relations within Mercy Corps and other organizations in the area of responsibility.
• Adherence to all MC policies and procedures as outlined in MC policies and procedure manuals.
• Conduct themselves both professionally and personally in such a manner as to bring credit to Mercy Corps and to not jeopardize its humanitarian mission.
• Perform other tasks as requested by the project management.

 Safeguarding responsibilities 

• Actively learn about safeguarding and integrates it into their work, including safeguarding risks and mitigations related to their area of work.
• Practice the values of Mercy Corps including respecting the dignity and well-being of participants and fellow team members.
• Encourage openness and communication in their team; encourage team members to submit reports if they have any concerns using reporting mechanisms, e.g., Integrity Hotline and other options.

Supervisory Responsibility NoAccountability

Reports Directly To: Agriculture Coordinator

Works Directly With: Ukraine Agricultural Support Program (UASP) implementation team

Accountability to Participants and Stakeholders

Mercy Corps 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.

Minimum Qualification & Transferable Skills

• University degree in agriculture, economics, public/business administration, or other related field.
• Proven experience in contract management, budgetary control, and business plan evaluation.
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to assess complex financial and business documents.
• At least 3 years of overall working experience. Experience of working with an international humanitarian/development organization is an asset.
• Good understanding of agriculture sector in Ukraine.
• Strong attention to detail, with excellent document handling and organizational skills.
• Good communication, presentation and reporting skills.
• Full working proficiency in both oral and written English and Ukrainian.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office programs.
• Knowledge of Sphere standards and other training in humanitarian response preferred.

Success Factors

To be successful in this role we expect you to have: meticulous attention to detail, robust analytical skills, and effective communication and collaboration with stakeholders. Strong multi-tasking, organizational, prioritization skills are necessary. Accuracy and attention to details are necessary; a comprehensive understanding of the needs of agriculture sector in Ukraine in the current crisis and possible solutions. Proven experience in agriculture, livelihoods, economic recovery and resilience programming.

Living Conditions / Environmental Conditions

During the field trips living conditions will be adjusted to the field conditions.

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.

Team Engagement and Effectiveness 

Achieving our mission starts with how we build our team and collaborate. By bringing together individuals with a variety of experiences, backgrounds, and perspectives, we strengthen our ability to solve complex challenges and drive innovation. We foster a culture of trust and respect, where every team member is valued for their contributions, empowered to reach their full potential, and motivated to do their best work.

We recognize that building a strong and effective team is an ongoing process, and we remain committed to learning, improving, and growing together.

Equal Employment Opportunity

Mercy Corps is an equal opportunity employer committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all employees and qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, color, sex, sexual orientation, religion or belief, national origin, age, disability, marital status, veteran status, or any other characteristics protected under applicable law.

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 Ethics 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.

As an applicant, if you witness or experience any form of sexual misconduct during the recruitment process, please report this to the Mercy Corps Integrity Hotline ([email protected]). 

Deadline for submission of applications: 24 February 2026

Mercy Corpscreated a workplace for the employment of persons with disabilities and veterans, and proper working conditions for that vacancy, but it does not limit those who can apply for this vacancy.