Anticipatory Action Specialist

Anticipatory Action Specialist

Location: Kathmandu

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. Mercy Corps has been operating in Nepal since 2005, implementing programs in food security, agriculture, market development, financial services, youth engagement, climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction. We take a systems-based approach in our programming, with the aim of improving the lives and potential of vulnerable individuals and communities across Nepal.

Program / Department Summary

Strengthening Anticipatory Action in Nepal (SAAN) is a 2-year project supporting communities most impacted by frequent flood disasters in Sudurpaschim and Madhesh Provinces by transforming disaster response systems to shift from a traditional reactive approach to a proactive disaster response (known as Anticipatory Action – AA). The program aims to enhance disaster preparedness and response by leveraging established models and flood resilience expertise to partner with communities to proactively mitigate the impact of riverine floods, offering a faster, more cost-effective, and dignified proactive approach compared to traditional reactive humanitarian responses.

The purpose of the proposed project is to provide a swift, cost-effective, and dignified alternative to traditional disaster preparedness, by fortifying communities in Madhesh and Sudurpaschim provinces, as well as local governments, with the necessary knowledge and infrastructure needed for early and timely action in the face of climate-induced floods and droughts. This will support at-risk communities to proactively mitigate the impacts of disasters, while concurrently enhancing the reliability of forecasting by fostering stakeholders’ confidence through more effective utilization of National Meteorological and Hydrological Services (NMHS) forecasting systems and working closely with government and private sector partners.

General Position Summary

The Technical Specialist for Anticipatory Action (AA) will oversee activities related to preparing, implementing, scaling up, and learning from Anticipatory Action initiatives aimed at minimizing the impacts of floods and other hazards in Nepal.

He/she will provide technical leadership, strategic management, and operational oversight for the overall implementation of AA projects in MC portfolio and will serve as the strategic liaison with Government line departments, project partners, AA platform in country. Under the technical responsibilities, the position will be accountable to enhance Business Development capacity to demonstrate AA approach, interpret hazard specific forecast mechanisms, risk analysis, setting triggering and early action in line with existing early warning system.

As gender and social inclusion (GESI), governance and environmental compliance are cross-cutting and core components of all MC programs and is required to own these components to ensure GESI sensitivity and integration, governance practices and environmental compliance are integrated into the program activities.

Essential Job Responsibilities

The specific duties and responsibilities of the Anticipatory Action Specialist include, but are not limited to, the following:

Partnership and Coordination

• Work closely with the Department of Meteorology, local governments, and provincial governments to generate impact-based forecast bulletins and plan for timely humanitarian actions based on forecasts.
• Establish strong relationships with partner organizations, local governments, TCCF local representatives, NGOs, and other stakeholders, including DHM and NDRRMA.
• Serve as a liaison between governments, local partners, donors, and international organizations to ensure coordination and collaboration in implementing anticipatory action systems.
• Facilitate partnerships to strengthen shared understanding and alignment among actors involved in risk management, early warning systems, and disaster response.

Anticipatory Action Framework Development

• Define protocols and standard operating procedures for linking early warning (EW) to anticipatory actions, including clearly defining roles for risk monitoring and early action implementation.
• Lead or support the development of anticipatory action frameworks, ensuring integration of local, regional, and global data.
• Collaborate with technical experts to refine models and thresholds for triggering early interventions before crises fully unfold.

Risk Assessments and Early Warning Systems

• Conduct detailed risk assessments to identify early warning signs and triggers that prompt anticipatory actions.
• Design and roll out systems that link early warning systems to financing mechanisms, enabling rapid disbursement of funds when triggers are activated.
• Ensure alignment with government systems and humanitarian protocols, making the anticipatory action system sustainable and adaptable.

Capacity Building and Training

• Develop and deliver training programs to build capacity among project teams, governments, and partner organizations on anticipatory action processes, risk assessments, and early interventions.
• Equip stakeholders with tools and knowledge to effectively operate anticipatory action systems and scale them across sectors.

Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning

• Develop monitoring systems to track the effectiveness of anticipatory actions and adjust plans based on real-time data.
• Lead the documentation and dissemination of lessons learned, best practices, and success stories to improve the anticipatory action framework and inform future project designs.
• Contribute to the evaluation of the project’s impact, including cost-effectiveness and Return on Investment (ROI) analysis.

Advocacy and Influence

• Advocate for the adoption and institutionalization of anticipatory action approaches at the policy level within governments, donor agencies, and international forums.
• Work with government entities to incorporate anticipatory action into national disaster risk reduction strategies and frameworks.
• Develop advocacy and influence strategies for national-level private and government stakeholders to expand nexus interventions beyond the program area.

Resource Mobilization and Financing

• Contribute to the development of proposals and funding requests for expanding or scaling anticipatory action interventions.
• Secure flexible financing mechanisms to ensure anticipatory actions can be triggered when needed, based on predefined criteria and risk assessments.

Representation and Reporting

• Represent Mercy Corps in meetings, workshops, and other forums, including communities of practice.
• Prepare high-quality reports and other documentation to communicate program achievements and challenges to donors, partners, and internal stakeholders.

Others

• Conduct himself/herself both professionally and personally in such a manner as to bring credit to Mercy Corps and to not jeopardize its humanitarian mission.
• Mercy Corps as a humanitarian agency is expected to response as and when crisis and humanitarian situation engulfs. As an MC employee, all staff are expected to be part of humanitarian and emergency response in addition to their regular roles and responsibilities in such situations.
• Other duties as assigned by the direct Supervisor, Director of Programs and or the Country Director.

Security

• Ensure compliance with security procedures and policies as determined by country leadership.
• Proactively ensure that team members operate in a secure environment and are aware of policies.

Organizational Learning

As part of our commitment to organizational learning and in support of our understanding that learning organizations are more effective, efficient, and relevant to the communities they serve, we expect all team members to commit 5% of their time to learning activities that benefit Mercy Corps as well as themselves.

Accountability to Beneficiaries

Mercy Corps team members are expected to support all efforts toward accountability, specifically to our beneficiaries and to international standards guiding international relief and development work, while actively engaging beneficiary 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 MC’s policies, procedures, and values always and in all in-country venues.

Supervisory Responsibility: N/A

Accountability

Reports Directly to: Senior Project Coordinator

Works Closely with: Director of Programs, Technical lead, Local implementing partner(s); private sector partner(s); and Mercy Corps Data Managment and Evaluation (DM&E), Finance/Compliance, and Operations team members

Knowledge and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in disaster risk management/Climate change, social sciences, international development or other relevant fields.
• At least 5 years of professional experience, preferably in Disaster Emergency Response, Recovery, Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) and Anticipatory Action Programs.
• Clear understanding on Anticipatory Action, DRR, Climate Change, resilience programing, strong knowledge of development and emergencies field dimension and national and global movement.
• Solid understanding and knowledge of Humanitarian Architecture, National/ Global drivers of DRR, CCA, Anticipatory Action, Emergency, and social development programming.
• Proficient in crafting and executing impactful communication strategies for diverse audiences.
• Ability to build and maintain strong relationships with key stakeholders.
• Skillful in analyzing policies and developing persuasive advocacy materials.
• Familiarity with National DRM/CCA policies, strategies and working with Provincial and municipal government structures for
• DRR, EWS and climate and weather information and integration of DRR into formal planning processes and budgeting procedures.
• Flexible, demonstrated attention to detail, ability to follow procedures, meet deadlines and work independently, cooperate and coordinates team activities and workflow.
• Excellent negotiation and representation skills and the ability to work comfortably with culturally diverse staff under tight deadlines and often stressful situations.
• Experience representing the organization and its interests to a diverse range of local stakeholders, private sector actors, Government and partners.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills; ability to develop good relationships with government stakeholders, donors and a wide range of actors required.
• Effective writing and organizational skills for report development, identifies lessons learned, analysis and develop presentations.

Proficiency in computer skills.

Success Factors

A successful candidate will have the ability to live and work closely with a diverse team of individuals in a highly intense and fluid work and security environment with a capacity to spark innovative approaches to programming and inspire groups to collaborate closely to implement high-quality programs. They will have a proven ability to learn quickly, take initiative, and be accountable for results, with an ability and willingness to remain mobile for short-term and/or long-term as necessary within the region, based on programmatic needs. An ability to work independently and as part of a team, with curiosity about and sensitivity to new cultures, a desire and ability to learn and grow, both personally and professionally, and a great sense of humor.

The most successful Mercy Corps team members have a strong commitment to teamwork and accountability, thrive in evolving and changing environments and make effective written and verbal communication a priority in all situations. Mercy Corps Team members represent the agency both during and outside of work hours when deployed in a field posting or on a visit/short-term assignment to a field posting. Team members are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner and respect local laws, customs and MC’s policies, procedures, and values at all times and in all in-country venues.

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

Mercy Corps 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 Misconduct Disclosure Scheme — SCHR 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 must complete mandatory Code of Conduct eLearning courses upon hire and annually.

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).

Travel Required: Yes. Frequent Travel to Field