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

PROPEL is a multi-country youth employment and market systems development program implemented across Uganda, Senegal, Liberia, and Tanzania. The program adopts a market-driven, private sector-led approach to addressing the persistent challenge of youth unemployment and underemployment, with a deliberate emphasis on reaching young people who are not in employment, education, or training (NEET). PROPEL addresses systemic constraints to youth employment and supports the development of scalable and sustainable livelihood pathways. The program is implemented by Mercy Corps in partnership with Junior Achievement Africa.

The Position

The Program Officer supports the implementation of PROPEL at country level by coordinating field-level activities, managing partner engagements, and ensuring effective delivery of program interventions. Working under the supervision of the Country Program Manager, the role contributes to operationalizing market systems approaches through private sector partnerships, youth-focused interventions, and ecosystem strengthening. The Program Officer plays a key role in ensuring that program delivery is responsive to local market realities, informed by ongoing analysis, and aligned with the needs of NEET youth.

Essential Responsibilities

PROGRAM IMPLEMENTATION & COORDINATION

The Program Officer supports the execution of program activities at field level, ensuring that implementation is timely, coordinated, and aligned with program objectives and market realities.

• Coordinate day-to-day implementation of program activities across assigned locations or sectors
• Support rollout of interventions including training, job placement initiatives, and enterprise development activities
• Ensure effective coordination with implementing partners and service providers
• Monitor activity progress and flag implementation challenges to the Program Manager
• Maintain accurate documentation of field activities and outputs

PRIVATE SECTOR ENGAGEMENT & DELIVERY SUPPORT

The Program Officer supports engagement with private sector actors and facilitates implementation of market-driven interventions that create employment opportunities for youth.

• Assist in identifying and engaging private sector partners, including lead firms and local enterprises
• Support coordination of apprenticeships, internships, and job placement opportunities
• Facilitate communication between program teams and private sector partners
• Track partner participation and support follow-up to ensure delivery of agreed commitments
• Support efforts to promote private sector ownership and participation in program activities

YOUTH ENGAGEMENT & SEGMENTATION (NEET FOCUS)

The Program Officer plays a key role in implementing youth-focused interventions, ensuring that activities are targeted and responsive to the needs of different youth segments, particularly NEET populations.

• Support identification, mobilization, and registration of youth participants based on defined segmentation criteria
• Assist in delivery of tailored interventions for NEET youth, including skills development and job readiness support
• Track participation and progression of youth across different pathways
• Support inclusion of women, marginalized groups, and vulnerable populations
• Ensure that field-level activities respond to barriers affecting youth participation, such as access and mobility constraints

PARTNERSHIP COORDINATION & ECOSYSTEM SUPPORT

The Program Officer supports coordination with key stakeholders and contributes to strengthening linkages across the local ecosystem.

• Maintain regular communication with local partners, including training providers, community structures, and private sector actors
• Support organization of stakeholder meetings, workshops, and coordination forums
• Assist in mapping and engaging ecosystem actors relevant to youth employment
• Contribute to strengthening linkages between youth, employers, and service providers
• Support alignment of field activities with broader program and partner initiatives

MEAL & REPORTING SUPPORT

The Program Officer contributes to data collection, monitoring, and reporting processes to support evidence-based program implementation.

• Support collection of program data, including activity outputs and participant tracking
• Assist in maintaining accurate records in line with MEAL requirements
• Contribute to preparation of weekly, monthly, and quarterly reports
• Support documentation of lessons learned and success stories from field activities
• Ensure timely submission of field data to the MEAL team

SAFEGUARDING RESPONSIBILITIES

The Program Officer integrates safeguarding principles into all aspects of program implementation, ensuring the dignity, safety, and well-being of participants and communities. The role promotes safe, respectful engagement and applies appropriate risk mitigation measures in all activities. The Program Officer always upholds Mercy Corps’ values and code of conduct. They remain vigilant to safeguarding risks and promptly report any concerns through established reporting mechanisms.

Supervisory Responsibility

None

Accountability

Reports Directly To: Program Manager – PROPEL
Works Directly With: MEAL Officer, Finance and Operations Teams, Implementing Partners, Private Sector Actors and PROPEL program at Junior Achievement Africa, the major consortium partner.

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

• Bachelor’s degree in Economics, Development Studies, Business, or a related field
• Minimum of 3–5 years of experience in program implementation, preferably in youth employment or livelihoods programming
• Experience working with private sector actors or market-based approaches
• Understanding of youth employment challenges, particularly among NEET populations
• Experience supporting data collection, reporting, and program monitoring processes
• Strong coordination and stakeholder engagement skills
• Ability to work effectively in field-based and dynamic environments

Success Factors

The successful candidate will demonstrate strong organizational and coordination skills, attention to detail, and the ability to work collaboratively with diverse stakeholders. They will be proactive, adaptable, and capable of translating program plans into effective field-level implementation. A strong commitment to achieving results and supporting youth employment outcomes is essential.

Living Conditions / Environmental Conditions

The position is based in Kampala and it requires up to 90% travel to support field level implementation programs, which may include travel to insecure locations where freedom of movement is limited and areas where amenities are limited.

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.

• Coordinate day-to-day implementation of program activities across assigned locations or sectors
• Support rollout of interventions including training, job placement initiatives, and enterprise development activities
• Ensure effective coordination with implementing partners and service providers
• Monitor activity progress and flag implementation challenges to the Program Manager
• Maintain accurate documentation of field activities and outputs
• Assist in identifying and engaging private sector partners, including lead firms and local enterprises
• Support coordination of apprenticeships, internships, and job placement opportunities
• Facilitate communication between program teams and private sector partners
• Track partner participation and support follow-up to ensure delivery of agreed commitments
• Support efforts to promote private sector ownership and participation in program activities
• Support identification, mobilization, and registration of youth participants based on defined segmentation criteria
• Assist in delivery of tailored interventions for NEET youth, including skills development and job readiness support
• Track participation and progression of youth across different pathways
• Support inclusion of women, marginalized groups, and vulnerable populations
• Ensure that field-level activities respond to barriers affecting youth participation, such as access and mobility constraints
• Maintain regular communication with local partners, including training providers, community structures, and private sector actors
• Support organization of stakeholder meetings, workshops, and coordination forums
• Assist in mapping and engaging ecosystem actors relevant to youth employment
• Contribute to strengthening linkages between youth, employers, and service providers
• Support alignment of field activities with broader program and partner initiatives
• Support collection of program data, including activity outputs and participant tracking
• Assist in maintaining accurate records in line with MEAL requirements
• Contribute to preparation of weekly, monthly, and quarterly reports
• Support documentation of lessons learned and success stories from field activities
• Ensure timely submission of field data to the MEAL team

• Strong coordination and stakeholder engagement skills
• Ability to work effectively in field-based and dynamic environments

• Bachelor’s degree in Economics, Development Studies, Business, or a related field
• Minimum of 3–5 years of experience in program implementation, preferably in youth employment or livelihoods programming
• Experience working with private sector actors or market-based approaches
• Understanding of youth employment challenges, particularly among NEET populations
• Experience supporting data collection, reporting, and program monitoring processes