Position Title MCC Representative for Ethiopia
FTE 1.00
Compensation Type Allowance
Salary Minimum
Benefits MCC covers all basic needs (Travel expenses to and from assignment, food & household, housing, and transportation related to assignment).
Personal Allowance
vacation allowance
Education for children
Retirement Plan
Life Insurance and Death Benefits
Student Loan reimbursement
Resettlement Allowance
Leadership Resettlement Allowance
End-of-term benefits
Personal Allowance
vacation allowance
Education for children
Retirement Plan
Life Insurance and Death Benefits
Student Loan reimbursement
Resettlement Allowance
Leadership Resettlement Allowance
End-of-term benefits
Location City Addis Ababa
Location Country Ethiopia
Location Description The MCC Representative(s) for Ethiopia and the MCC office are located in the Ethiopian capital city, Addis Ababa. Addis Ababa is an international hub for air travel, tourism, and international organizations. The African Union headquarters are in Addis and many international meetings including peace talks are routinely held there. The climate is mild with dry season (Oct – May day-time temperature around 22-28C and nighttime temperatures of 10-12C (although December can get down to about 5C). The rainy season (June -Sept) day-time temperature is around 15-20C and nighttime temperatures are 10-13C. There are two rainy seasons; the short rains usually occur in March-April and the longer rains from June-September. Rainfall patterns are increasingly erratic.
Although Ethiopia is a poor country and ranks very low on the human development index, there are strong signs of economic growth. While there is a small and growing middle class, the average Ethiopian continues to struggle to make a living.
Rapid economic growth in Ethiopia and particularly in Addis Ababa have resulted in vastly increased pressure on an aging infrastructure. The main roads in Addis Ababa are paved, but the high number of cars and the looseness with which local drivers follow traffic rules can make driving in town a stressful experience. There are a variety of transportation options available. Each must be evaluated for safety concerns. Water quality from municipal sources is generally good but boiling or filtering is highly recommended.
The current Rep residence is on the same compound as the MCCE office. Electrical service is subject to interruptions lasting from minutes (frequent) to days (not as common except during the summer rainy season when power load sharing is common as the hydro-electric dams fill). Internet service (either through DSL or through a cell phone network) is usually adequate for audio Skype calls and is expected to improve with upgrades to the infrastructure and privatization of the government owned Ethiotel monopoly. All of the MCC personnel (and a very high percentage of Ethiopians in general) have cell phones, which are relatively cheap to own and use.
MCC Ethiopia compound has a three-bedroom, two-bath house and an ‘unofficial’ shipping-container extra bedroom. There are two staff bathrooms and a shower in the office buildings that can also be used by guests. MCCE Reps have the opportunity to host visitors from MCC or others as they choose. Non-MCC guests are encouraged to make a donation to defray costs of their stay.
General health care options within Ethiopia are adequate for all but the most serious cases. In the Addis Ababa area, there are several good doctors for consultation and basic treatment. Counselling services are available in Addis Ababa. A list of service providers can be found in the Ethiopia Country Guide.
Addis Ababa is quite a cosmopolitan city, with a wide variety of services, products, sporting facilities, churches, and educational opportunities available. There are several Meserete Kristos Church (MKC) congregations in Addis Ababa, with services in Amharic, and a number of English speaking congregations (of a variety of denominations) in the city with a variety of worship styles. A number of excellent international schools can be found in Addis Ababa, including Bingham Academy (recommended for quality of education and affordable price, http://binghamacademy.net), along with several high quality universities and colleges.
There are abundant smaller stores/supermarkets carrying a limited variety of western goods, and countless small vegetable stands that sell a wide variety of local produce. There are numerous health clubs in the Addis Ababa area (some with tennis facilities). There is access to hiking and cycling within Addis Ababa and the surrounding hills (Gulele Botanical Gardens is recommended) but check security before going. Addis Ababa has a sizable number of quality restaurants with Ethiopian, Italian, and other food. Addis Ababa is a good place to live as a family, with some entertainment options (Gast Mall, for example) for children.
There are many modestly priced vacation opportunities within Ethiopia including historical sites, recreational activities, and other beautiful areas. There is increasingly good bus service at modest prices. With an Ethiopian Residence card one can obtain modestly priced airfares within Ethiopia.
Challenges:
Life in Addis Ababa is similar to life in other large urban centers in Africa, and while generally peaceful includes traffic jams, sometimes irregular electricity, water, and internet, and petty thievery. Addis Ababa residents must be aware of their personal safety, keeping vehicles and homes locked, and protecting items carried on the streets. Most theft is a “crime of opportunity” and can be avoided with care. Armed robbery is rare in the areas of Addis Ababa where the MCC office and the Rep residence are located.
Ethiopia in general is a relatively healthy place to live. Addis Ababa is located at 2500m elevation. A malaria prophylaxis is recommended when visiting areas with elevation less than 2000m. There is generally a higher level of gastro-intestinal diseases than in developed countries, and care must be taken when preparing food (and the choice of where and what to eat). Air quality is generally good but increasing traffic (with no emissions standards), old vehicles, and poor fuel quality can result in a haze over busy roads. Persons with asthma may experience problems.
Being an MCC Rep is a challenging position and requires an individual or a couple with a wide variety of gifts and skills. The position can easily become all-consuming, and it is important to set work and personal limits in order to stay physically and emotionally healthy. The Rep(s) need to visit MCCers and hosting communities, along with keeping up relationships with MKC. There are paved roads between most major cities, but there are also many unpaved areas which can make travel difficult.
One needs to make an effort to balance involvement in the expat world. It can provide one with wonderful support and caring, but the danger is that there are no needs left for Ethiopians to fill in one’s life. Ethiopians are generally very friendly, but it takes time and effort to form deep relationships with them. For families whose children attend one of the international schools, there are many opportunities for children to form relationships with English speakers but less so with Amharic speakers. Domestic staff tend to speak Amharic and minimal English.
Amharic and Oromiffa can be difficult languages to learn. Becoming comfortable with even basic communication in Amharic may take a year or longer, but it is important to develop some Amharic language proficiency even though most of the MCC office work is done in English. Ethiopians really appreciate when non-Ethiopians communicate with them in their languages. It is very nearly a necessity for full understanding during travel and partner project visits. There are numerous programs from which to choose for language study. Amharic takes time and energy to learn but is well worth the investment.
Relationships:
The relationship with our MWC/Anabaptist partner, Meserete Kristos Church (MKC), goes back to the 1950s when the church began. MCC Ethiopia continues to work with MKC, and its related agencies, as a primary partner. Currently, the relationship between the church leadership and MCC is good, and the work partnership is very strong.
MCCE is registered to work in Ethiopia under the Agency for Civil Society Organizations (ACSO) as an international NGO – funding agency. A new NGO law has lifted prohibitions on NGOs and has made it possible for MCC to work openly in peace and some advocacy issues that were formerly prohibited.
Applications Close Date May 31, 2020
Start Date Jan 01, 2021
Start Date Flexible Yes
Term Length 5 Year
Qualifications
All MCC workers are expected to exhibit a commitment to: a personal Christian faith and discipleship; active participation in a Christian church or Christian community; and nonviolent peacemaking. MCC is an equal opportunity employer, committed to employment equity. MCC values diversity and invites all qualified candidates to apply.
Required for all MCC Representative Positions:
Minimum Education Level: BA/BSc or equivalent
Minimum Experience: International experience and MCC experience preferred
Invitations to serve with MCC are contingent on the successful outcome of criminal background check(s).
- Relational Skills: Ability to form, foster and maintain positive, working relationships with MCC service workers, MCC staff, local churches and MCC partners, building trust by demonstrating integrity in actions and communications and modeling the values of the organization. Ability to create an environment on the team that is supportive of staff who may experience oppression or sexual violence.
- Supervisory Skills: Ability to manage/supervise personnel, which includes staff appointments and terminations, performance appraisals, interpreting and enforcing policies, conflict resolutions/problem solving and development of staff (in cooperation with the Human Resources Department).
- Computer Literacy: Ability to use email programs, navigate the internet, locate resources, use Microsoft Excel and Word. Ability to navigate and use MCC specific databases for the purpose of planning, monitoring, evaluation, and recording.
- Adaptability: Ability to adapt as needed to work effectively in ambiguous or changing situations and with diverse individuals and groups.
- Analytical Thinking: Ability to analyze and synthesize information to understand issues, identify options and support sound decision making.
- Planning and Organizing: Ability to develop, implement, evaluate and adjust plans to reach goals, ensuring the optimal use of resources.
- Initiative: Ability to be proactive and persistent in efforts, identifying opportunities and needs then taking action for resolution.
- Teamwork: Ability to work collaboratively with others to achieve organizational goals, taking actions that respect the needs and contributions of others.
- Communication: Ability to listen, to model open communication and foster good will among others.
- Self-awareness: Ability to understand one’s own emotional framework, maintain a non-defensive posture and manage personal reactivity when leadership is challenged.
- Cross cultural/multi-cultural awareness: Ability to work with issues of equity in a cross-cultural setting.
- Financial Management: Ability to successfully manage MCC resources within a country program.
- Program, Monitoring and Evaluation: Ability to understand and implement Program, Monitoring, Evaluation, and Results based management.
- Previous experience in making well-informed, effective and timely decisions, taking into consideration impact and implications within local and regional context.
- Demonstrated ability to serve as MCC Representative without bias or conflict of interest, with ability to withstand intense pressure from local constituents.
For this specific assignment:
Minimum Education Level: Bachelor’s degree in social science, international development, health, agriculture, agricultural economics, migration, or peace to match with MCCE Ethiopia’s core areas of programming.
Minimum Experience: Three to five years international experience with MCC or similar organization.
Required for Ethiopia:
- Related degree necessary for work permit
- Creativity and Innovation: Ability to generate new approaches and viable solutions.
- Organizational Awareness: An understanding of the structure and organizational culture of large non-profit organizations, such as MCC, and ability to work successfully within the structure to achieve results.
- Development of Others: Ability to foster worker development by providing a supportive learning environment.
- Partnering: Ability to seek and build alliances that further MCC objectives and benefit all people.
- Conflict Resolution: Ability to bring conflict and dissent between others into the open to arrive at constructive solution while maintaining positive relationships with all parties.
- Risk Taking: Ability to identify, assess and manage risk while striving to attain objectives.
- Strategic Thinking: Ability to understand and process complex information and exercise sound judgment, considering the situation, the issues and the key players. Is able to propose course(s) of action that further the objectives, priorities and vision of the program and/or MCC.
- Team Leadership: Assumes a leadership role in helping others achieve excellent results.
- Writing Skills: Can communicate ideas and information in writing to ensure that information and messages are understood and have the desired impact.
- Hospitality: Offers warm welcome to workers, MCC visitors and partners.
Job Synopsis The MCC Representative (Rep) oversees all aspects of the MCC Ethiopia (MCCE) program including field programming and supervision of local staff, and possibly SALTers and Service Workers (NGO legislation has limited work permits to one, but a recent change opens the door to one-year volunteers). The Rep works closely with the MCCE Program staff to set direction for programming in Ethiopia and is responsible for monitoring and evaluating current programming as well as developing future involvements and personnel placements. The Rep represents MCC to partners and within Ethiopia more broadly.
An MCC Rep role may be filled with a married couple sharing the role, with a single person, or with a married candidate whose spouse is not interested in a Rep role, in which case MCC would discuss possible roles for the spouse. MCC will consider a variety of options to support the Rep in their roles and responsibilities, based on the qualified candidates who apply.
Challenges Occasional overnights; Occasional evening and weekend work; Occasional long days; Work requires healthy boundaries; Local church not supportive to LGTBQ+ persons; Local area not supportive to LGTBQ+ persons
Key Responsibilities MCC Vision and Mission: Be the carrier/communicator of institutional identity in relationship to: Local partners, church, government, other international NGOs, MCC workers: national staff and, as applicable, SWs. Nurture understanding of and respect for MCC values and witness. Reflect upon and communicate the spirituality of the team.
Oversight of Country Program: Direct and oversee implementation of regional priorities and country-specific strategies:
• Prepare and administer long-term country strategies.
• Plan, monitor, report and evaluate projects.
• Facilitate, coordinate and respond to disasters, including those that generate unexpected additional resources and require shifts in focus of time/energy and requiring development of immediate and/or short-term plans.
• Understand and ensure compliance with local laws.
• Coordinate and strengthen local advisory committees.
Administration:
• Oversee the day-to-day operations of the MCCE office.
• Act as the link between MCC in North America and the staff, service workers and partners in Ethiopia, and as such, oversee responding to emails, preparing reports, sending updates to staff, partners, and supervisors, and maintaining documentation. This is a large part of the job so an ability to be at a desk doing paperwork is necessary.
• Manage MCCE’s budget.
• Appoint (in collaboration with HR) and supervise all SWs and national staff; develop levels in the organization as needed.
• Manage MCCE resources and ensure resource stewardship across the country.
• Prepare, monitor and evaluate annual goals and objectives in the context of a multi-year strategic plan.
• Prepare and monitor budgets in accordance with strategic and annual plans and in alignment with Financial Management Policies and Ethiopian law.
• Develop and monitor financial record-keeping and reporting, taking corrective action where needed.
• Develop and maintain lists of inventories of equipment, including computers, vehicles, etc. along with replacement plans.
• Maintain and update registration documents for Ethiopia and as applicable for work in neighboring countries in the Horn of Africa.
• Receive and respond to worker reports.
• Ensure maintenance of personnel records and other documents for MCC Records and Archives.
• Manage Material Resources distribution as needed.
Partner Development & Management: Responsible for overall partnership development and management, which includes:
• Select, build, maintain and strengthen relationships with partners.
• Ensure managing/overseeing MCC’s written and financial reporting.
• Plan and coordinating meetings with partners and periodic program visits.
• Identify capacity building needs and opportunities for partners.
Program Planning & Development:
• Work closely with MCCE program staff and MCCE’s Advisory Committee, develop and update a multi-year strategic plan for MCC Ethiopia, and communicate this vision to partners and staff.
• Use this multi-year plan to develop annual plans, annual budgets, and any new partnerships and service worker assignments.
• Convene regular meetings with the Advisory Committee for advice, feedback and evaluation.
Worker Supervision & Support:
• Select, orient, supervise, support, and motivate MCC workers including international service workers and national staff:
• Negotiate suitable service assignments and write assignment descriptions.
• Select highly qualified service workers and national staff using predetermined criteria based on job content and organizational values.
• Provide orientation for new workers, including language study.
• Create an environment where all individuals are comfortable openly addressing concerns/opinions.
• Ensure spiritual, emotional and professional support for workers.
• Monitor relationships between workers and partners with whom they work.
• Implement MCC Human Resource policies and assist in policy interpretation for workers.
• Conduct timely performance appraisals and end-of-term reports for service workers.
• Ensure workers’ compliance with MCC values and witness.
• Develop and/or monitor compensation, benefits and policies for national staff.
• Organize and lead staff meetings, a yearly retreat, and annual All Partner Meeting.
• Mentor and support national staff and, as applicable, service workers.
• Identify needs and opportunities for professional development.
• Oversee MCCE’s YAMEN, IVEP
More Information
- Address Addis Ababa
- Qualification BA/BSc
