Mercy Corps

INGO Forum Access Advisor

Mercy Corps  •  Republic of the Sudan (Onsite)  •  4 days ago
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Job Description

Position is contingent to funding
Location:Rovingwith a primary base in either Nyala or Khartoum and at least 50% travel
Position Status: Full-time
Salary Level:
Risk Level:☐Level 3       XLevel 2☐Level 1 
(Level 3: Frequent contact with participants, direct contact with children, access to sensitive data, and/or high level of accountability.  
Level 2: Some contact with participants; unplanned non-direct contact with children.
Level 1: Likely to have no contact with participants or sensitive data) 
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 / Department / Team

Sudan INGO Forum

Sudan is facing one of the most severe humanitarian crises globally, marked by widespread displacement, disease outbreaks, and confirmations of famine in several ‘hunger hotspots.’ In an effort to coordinate INGO efforts and establish a common voice for INGOs operating in Sudan, the INGO forum was established in 2009 as a key representation platform. To date, the forum is made up ofmore than 80 membersoperating across the country, including in some of the most difficult to reach parts of Sudan.

The INGO Forum is a permanent member of the Humanitarian Country Team (HCT) and the Inter-Cluster Coordination Group (ICCG). It co-leads the Humanitarian Access Working Group (HAWG), alongside OCHA and spearheads collective engagement with Government and other Authorities as well as with donors. The forum also leads collective advocacy nationally, regionally and internationally through its Advocacy Working Group (AWG) and in close coordination with the regional Inter-Agency Working Group (IAWG) and Member liaison offices in key donor/diplomatic capitals around the world.
Since 2023, the situation in Sudan hasdramaticallyshifted as state and non-state actors wage a brutal conflict. The situation in non-Sudanese Armed Forces - controlled areas is particularly dire, with humanitarian access severely restricted and the absence of United Nations (UN) presence exacerbating the challenges. As humanitarian needs continue to escalate, there is an urgent need for an interim solution to address critical gaps in coordination, common services and aid delivery.
To this end, the three core tenants of the INGO Forum’s work include:
  • Coordinated aid delivery– Enhancing operational alignment across organizations to maximize humanitarian impact.
  • This includesestablishing an NGO-led coordination mechanismunder the Sudan INGO Forum to provide immediate, effective, and well-managed humanitarian responses in these areas to ensure that urgent needs are met and operations are not disrupted.
  • Common service provision– Offering essential support, analysis, and shared resources to facilitate NGO operations.
  • This includes common negotiation support i.e. for access or against BAI, collective advocacy efforts, information sharing, donor and stakeholder engagement, security and admin SOPs and collective position papers, etc.
  • Stakeholder coordination andrepresentation–Engaging with donors, UN agencies, authorities, and the broader humanitarian system to advocate for improved response conditions.
  • There is of course a convening and facilitation role included in this representation function

The Position

The Access Advisor is a senior member of the Sudan INGO Forum Secretariat, responsible for leading the Forum’s collective engagement on humanitarian access. The Access Advisor operates as both a system-level coordinator and an INGO advocate, in that itoperates simultaneously at theinter-agency and Forumlevels,and the ability to hold both with confidence,clarity of mandateandsoundjudgement is central to its effectiveness.The role requires the ability tomanage relationships and – at times contradicting – priorities ofauthorities, inter-agency counterparts, donors and within the Forum membership when advancing agreed collective positions.
At inter-agency level, the Access Advisor co-chairs the Humanitarian Access Working Group (HAWG) alongside OCHA. The HAWG is co-owned by its members,including the INGO Forum,and is the principal system-wide mechanism for coordinating access strategy and engagement across Sudan. The HAWG operates under the HCT Access Strategy (January 2026). The Access Advisor represents INGO interests within this structure and shares accountability for its implementation and review.
At Forum level, the Access Advisor is responsible for developing, finalizing, and driving the Forum’s Access Engagement Strategy — a distinct, INGO-owned instrument that articulates collective INGO priorities, positions, and boundaries on access. The Access Engagement Strategy informs, but is not subordinate to, the HAWG’s system-wide framework.
The role includes responsibility for managing internal collective discipline and expectation-setting among Forum members, recognizing that fragmented compliance, partial consensus, or bilateral action on access issues can expose individual INGOs to political, operational, or reputational risk.
Essential Responsibilities
1.Co-Chairing the Humanitarian Access Working Group (HAWG)
As HAWG co-chair alongside OCHA, the Access Advisor co-leads the inter-agency access architecture and shares accountability for the HAWG’s effectiveness as a strategic advisory body to the HCT.
  • Jointly lead and facilitate HAWG meetings, set agendas, and ensure the group functions as a strategic advisory body rather than an information-sharing forum.
  • Provide the HC, DHC, and HCT with evidence-based advice and recommendations on access trends and constraints, including quarterly reporting on the HCT Access Strategy.
  • Oversee HAWG workstreams and ensure follow-through on agreed action plans.
  • Develop and apply clear escalation thresholds distinguishing issues to be managed locally from those requiring collective or senior-level escalation.
  • Ensure INGO perspectives and priorities are not subsumed by broader inter-agency agendas.

B. Forum Access Engagement Strategy

The Access Advisor leads the finalization, implementation, and ongoing management of the Forum’s Access Engagement Strategy.
  • Lead collective engagement and develop and maintain common Forum positions on barriers to access, including bureaucratic and administrative impediments throughout Sudan.
  • Translate collective positions into practical guidance for members on routine administrative demands.
  • Support collective prioritization and safeguarding of strategic access routes and border crossings.

C. Member Coordination and Capacity Building

  • Serve as the primary access focal point for Forum members and support Area Coordinators on state-level access issues.
  • Facilitate structured information exchange and access briefings.
  • Translate principles and policy positions into practical field-level decision support.
  • Coordinate training on access negotiation, IHL, and Joint Operating Principles.

D. Analysis, Monitoring, and Reporting

  • Maintain up-to-date access, conflict, and stakeholder analysis.
  • Monitor access trends and provide structured updates to the Forum and Steering Committee.
  • Ensure analysis distinguishes systemic access trends from routine operational friction.
  • Draft high-quality access analyses, briefs, and reports for the Forum and HAWG.

D. Safeguarding Responsibilities

Actively learns about safeguarding and integrates it into their work, including safeguarding risks and mitigations related to their area of work.

  • Practices the values of Mercy Corps including respecting the dignity and well-being of participants and fellow team members.
  • 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.
Supervisory Responsibility
None
Accountability
Reports Directly To:INGO Forum Director
Works Directly With:Advocacy Manager,Area Coordination Leads,Steering Committee, HAWG members
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
  • A graduate degree in a relevant field or equivalent experience 
  • 10 years of experiencein access-focused roleswith NGOs, the UN system or other humanitarian/development actors  
  • Experience living and working in complex humanitarian or fragile contexts with strong understanding of humanitarian principles, international humanitarian law (IHL) operations and coordination mechanisms 
  • Proven experience managing humanitarian access analysis, negotiation and strategy work and a demonstrable understanding of current humanitarian trends and issues 
  • Experience representing organizations in humanitarian coordination platforms (inter-agency platforms, NGO forums, etc.) 
  • Strong data analysis and interpretation skills 
  • Proven network and relationship building skills 
  • A demonstrable ability to manage a diverse workload and prioritize tasks in a complex and fluid environment 
  • Fluency in English (written and spoken) 
Desirable Requirements
  • Previous humanitarian experience in Sudan, Chad or South Sudan 
  • Existing relationships with relevant stakeholders including NGOs, UN agencies, donors, national authorities and regional counterparts 
  • Working knowledge of Arabic and French a plus 
Success Factors
The successful candidate will have proven experience working well in high pressure and high stress environments. S/he will be a strong communicator, have excellent organizational skills, and be proactive and engaging. S/he will have experience navigating a variety of cultural contexts and will exercise sensitivity in engagements accordingly.
Living Conditions / Environmental Conditions
The position is based ineither Nyala or Khartoumand it requires up to 40% travel to supportother areas, which may include travel to insecure locations where freedom of movement is limited and areas where amenities are limited.Accommodation for this role will be arranged in a guesthouse through Mercy Corps or another hostingorganisation
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
TeamEngagementand 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 SchemeWe 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 Policiesand values at all times. Team members are required to complete mandatory Code of Conductelearningcourses 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).
Mercy Corps

About Mercy Corps

POWERED BY POSSIBLE

The world is more fragile than ever. Food shortages have left millions of people hungry, while violent conflict has sent millions on the run. From poverty and malnutrition to natural disasters and climate change, it’s easy to see a world of insurmountable challenges. Instead, we see an opportunity to create transformative change.

We see the world differently.

In crisis, we believe in the power of human potential. In struggle, we believe in the ability of communities to grow stronger.

So we act differently.

We understand that communities are the best agents of their own change and local markets are the best engines of long-term recovery. In more than 40 countries, we partner to put bold solutions into action, helping people triumph over adversity and grow stronger from within. For the refugee who dreams of rebuilding her country, for the mother who wants a healthy future for her children — for millions of people filled with the power of possibility —Mercy Corps connects people to the resources they need to build better, stronger lives.

We create transformative change.

Mercy Corps has responded to nearly every global emergency over the past 20 years.

Since 1979, we have provided $3.7 billion in lifesaving assistance throughout the world. Each year we infuse millions of dollars into local economies through small business loans and grants to provide livelihoods for the world’s most vulnerable people. We are empowering more than 100,000 youth trapped by violent conflict to overcome the profound stress of war and become change makers in their communities.

We are powered by the belief that a better world is possible.

Join us.

Industry
Nonprofit & NGOs
Company Size
5,001-10,000 employees
Headquarters
Portland, OR
Year Founded
1979
Website
mercycorps.org
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