About Mercy Corps

Mercy Corps has been operating in Ethiopia since 2004, working in rural, peri-urban and urban areas in Six regional states: Somali, Oromia, Afar, Southern Nations Nationalities and Peoples(SNNP), Amhara, Gambela and the capital city of Addis Ababa. We engage in both development and humanitarian work, and seek to integrate approaches, programs and geographies as much as possible. Our partners include government, academic institutions, development and private sector actors, civil societies and participating public. Mercy Corps has a growing portfolio of programs in Ethiopia that focus on food security; agriculture and livestock market systems development; maternal and child health and nutrition; youth economic productivity; resilience and humanitarian response. In Ethiopia, some of our donors include USAID, SIDA, EU, DFID, and WFP.

Mercy Corps Ethiopia invites motivated and qualified candidates to apply for the following vacant position.

Position Title: Market System Officer

 Duty Station: Gambella

 Open Position: 1

 Program / Department Summary

Mercy Corps is committed to supporting the Government of Ethiopia (GoE) to address the challenge posed by the large influx of refugees into the country. Ethiopia has the second largest refugee population in Africa, second only to Uganda. The official refugee population is more than 905,000 individuals, composed of mainly South Sudanese (48%), Somalis (28%), Eritreans (18%), and Sudanese (5%) living in 25 refugee camps in peripheral regions of the country. The largest populations are in Gambela Region (44% of refugees) and Somali Region (28%)

Mercy Corps has extensive expertise in developing sustainable solutions to complex humanitarian challenges. We employ a systems-strengthening approach to improve human and social capital; and to link, strengthen and expand systems critical to improving household incomes and resilience at the individual, community and systems level.

 Mercy corps in partnership with DCA is about to implement a market system program that is WFP Funded (supported by SIDA and DANAID) in the Gambella region

Mercy Corps is planning to conduct market system assessments to better understand needs and opportunities, focusing on Gamblella region including all the refugee camps.

General Position Summary

Mercy Corps seeks Market System Development specialists for the Gambella RISING Program. This position will be based in Gambella, Ethiopia. The Specialist will report directly to the Market System Development advisor and work to support the effort in improving the livelihood options and participations for both the host and refugee community with better economic integration among themselves. He/she will be working with the team to establish a better understanding of the agriculture, the labor and financial markets that can create better opportunities for the target groups.

 The Market Systems Officer will facilitate and implement market system related activities of the project from assessment and activities selection and planning to implementation of activities to providing recommendations to represent Mercy Corps and WFP in scaling up and rolling out activities even further. 

 ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:

The Market Systems Officer is responsible to facilitate implementation of interventions in different markets in labour, Finance, and Agriculture markets. Key job functions include the following:

• Participate market assessment validation and activities planning workshop, which will involve all key stakeholders.
• Be part of the project team to develop detailed plan for implementation of selected activities, including roles, timeframe, desired outcomes
• Participating to develop, implement, monitor progress of work plans that can be adaptively managed
• Facilitate key relationships within the four market systems.
• Ensure that market systems work captures and responds to up-to-date information about market developments within respective market systems and global best practices for Economic & Markets Development.
• Prepare all required documentation and reporting required and submit to Market System Specialist  
• Regularly visit field activities to assess progress and provide formal and informal feedback.
• Ensures concept notes and Activity Reports are developed to the appropriate standard

·       Assist team members with information, tools and resources to improve performance & reach objectives.

·       Work closely with a gender adviser and make sure that program activities and intervention ideas are in line with a gender and MSD strategy

• Create and sustain a work environment of mutual respect where team members strive to achieve excellence
• Adhere to Mercy Corps, donor and government policies and procedures
• Adhere and promote mercy Corps standards on gender equality, diversity and inclusion in a work place and during program implementation 

Job Requirements

• Deep understanding and mastery of Markets4Poor approach and Economic & Markets Development facilitation including coaching, relationship building, communicating, entrepreneurialism/business understanding and innovating.
• Familiar with all aspects of the relevant market systems including key actors, micro-financial institutions (MFIs), banks, Insurances, information service providers, inputs suppliers, producers, traders, intermediary and terminal markets governance frameworks (formal and informal); and all support markets and functions;
• Bachelor’s degree in economics, business administration, agribusiness, or other related field, or commensurate private sector or field experience is required
• Minimum of 3 years’ experience in private sector or working with other agencies in market systems facilitation, agribusiness or financial services

 SUCCESS FACTORS:

• Fluent in English and one of local langue’s of Gambella is an advantage 
• Business minded, entrepreneurial, adaptive, curious, great problem solving skills, unafraid to ask questions, and results motivated.
• Excellent communication, facilitation and networking skills with a wide range of private, partner and NGO-sector actors
• Willingness to learn and flexible to adopt to the changing environments of implementing a market system program 
• Computer literate especially in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook)

How to Apply

*All interested candidates are encouraged to apply for the position advertised. All applications submitted to the Mercy Corps office include a CV, three references, and all relevant official documents. Applications will not be returned and will not be retained for future recruitment efforts. In order to ensure fairness to all applicant’s personal inquiries are not permitted.

Only candidates that are short-listed will be acknowledged and called for interviews.

“Mercy Corps is an equal opportunity employer promoting gender, equity and   diversity. Qualified female and young candidates are strongly encouraged to apply. We are committed to empower women and youth.”                      

 DEADLINE FOR ALL APPLICATIONS: 23 November 2020/ 4:00 PM

 Please send non-returnable applications and credentials to one of the following address:  

 et-recruitment@mercycorps.org

 Note: Please make sure that you mention the position title in the subject line of your email application.

OR:   Mercy Corps Recruiter Addis Ababa: P.O. Box 14319 Arbaminch: P.O. Box 33 , Jijiga: P.O. Box 225    Negelle Borena: P.O. Box 116 Dire Dawa: P.O. Box 974