Mercy Corps Shares Progress Toward its Vision for Racial and Ethnic Diversity

29 June 2021

Global organization’s updates include workplace inclusivity and diversity in recruitment, hiring and promotion pathways

PORTLAND, Ore. — The global organization Mercy Corps details progress towards realizing its Vision for Racial and Ethnic Diversity, announced by the global leadership team in Summer 2020. 

“Bringing together a diverse range of identities, experiences and perspectives is the only way to tackle complex crises and create a future where everyone can prosper. We remain committed to changing the structures and policies that perpetuate systemic injustice,” says Mercy Corps CEO Tjada D’Oyen McKenna. “Dismantling discriminatory systems is more complex than the things we can measure easily and it doesn’t happen overnight. We have continued work to do and we will hold ourselves and our sector accountable.” 

Through this vision, Mercy Corps has committed to:

  • Increase diversity in recruitment and hiring;
  • Foster an inclusive workplace environment to support diversity;
  • Create equitable pathways to elevate diverse talent.

Specifically, as of June 2021 the organization has made the following progress towards its goals, to be achieved by 2023:

  • 22% of Global Senior Leadership positions are occupied by individuals who identify as Black, Indigenous, or Person of Color, or a citizen of Africa, Asia, Central / South America, or the Middle East. (2023 Target: 30%)
  • 11% of Executive Team positions are occupied by individuals who identify as Black, Indigenous, or Person of Color, or a citizen of Africa, Asia, Central / South America, or the Middle East. (2023 Target: 25%)
  • 43% of Mid-Level positions are occupied by individuals who identify as Black, Indigenous, or Person of Color, or a citizen of Africa, Asia, Central / South America, or the Middle East. (2023 Target: 55%)
  • 40% of Mercy Corps Regions and Countries have talent strategies, metrics, and action plans to develop regional and country-level talent into leadership roles. (Goal: 100%)

As part of the commitment to create equitable pathways for diverse talent at all levels of the organization, Mercy Corps formed a partnership with Historically Black Colleges and Universities to introduce students to careers in the international aid and development sector. Earlier this year, Mercy Corps expanded the internship program to also partner with Hispanic-Serving Institutions to create similar opportunities for Hispanic and Latinx students. Together, these internship programs will contribute to a more diverse talent pool not only for Mercy Corps but for the sector as a whole.

This Vision for Racial & Ethnic Diversity is one critical piece of Mercy Corps’ broader diversity, equity and inclusion efforts. Mercy Corps is committed to creating a culture of belonging, where all team members are valued for who they are and given equal opportunity to grow and succeed, with no discrimination on the basis of their race, color, gender identity, gender expression, religion, age, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status, national or ethnic origin, disability, marital status, military veteran status or identification with any marginalized community in the 40+ countries where we work.