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. We help people overcome poverty and conflict. Mercy Corps has humanitarian and development operations in Addis Ababa, Somali, Afar, Oromiya, SNNPR and Gambella regions. Working with communities, we leverage local logic to help people transform their lives. To grow more food, earn higher incomes and ultimately advocate for their needs. We see global challenges as an invitation to pioneer innovative, sustainable solutions. Mercy Corps Ethiopia invites motivated and qualified candidates to apply for the following vacant position.

 Position Title: MSD Project Specialist

 Duty Station: Addis Ababa

 Open Position: 1

 Program / Department Summary

• Mercy Corps is one of the four partners in a four – year Program, entitled Expanded Livelihood Improvement for women and youth (Expanded LI-WAY) program will be financed by the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands (EKN) in Ethiopia. EKN is interested in creating jobs and improving the income s of poor women and youth in Addis Ababa through expanding the current LI-WAY program. Led by SNV – Netherlands (Development Organization. The program utilizes a market System Development approach to contribute to sustainable poverty reduction and social stability in Addis Ababa. LI-WAY will work to mobilize, catalyze and enable market- based solutions to create jobs and increase income for women and youth. The consortium, led by SNV additionally comprises Techno- serve and Save the Children. The program aims to improve market functions, support- service effectiveness, and the business environment. Mercy Corps will lead all activities related to Labor Market System development.
• The Market System Development Coordinator will lead implementation of labor market systems intervention areas and activities in close relation with Growth, Microenterprise, Skills and other potential Market systems including financial services for LI-WAY ensuring harmonization between this work that of MC’s broader leadership in Market system development. In addition, He/she will be responsible to coordinate, support and lead the LIWAY MSD advisors and MSD specialist and provide the necessary technical support for the effective implementation of the designed interventions in the labor market system.

General Position Summary

• The Market Systems Development Specialist will be responsible to facilitate the implementation of intervention/s primarily across all Labor Sector activities and in close relation with Growth, Microenterprise, Skills and other potential Market systems among private and public sector partners across all sub cities of Addis Ababa.
• The Market System Development Specialist will work closely with Mercy Corps Program Team leader, EKN Coordinator and Market Systems Development and monitoring, learning and knowledge management advisor/s primarily with in Mercy Corps and across consortium partners. She/he will engage in implementation of live interventions and an ongoing deep sector analysis to identify intervention ideas and provide inputs, data and information to design new intervention activities.

Essential Job Responsibilities

• The Market Systems Development Specialist is responsible for overseeing the implementation of ongoing and new priority intervention areas primarily in Labor Market systems and ensuring cross sectoral integration with other sectors led by other consortium partners.

Key job functions include the following: -

• Develop deep understanding and mastery of ‘Economic & Markets Development facilitation’ including coaching, relationship building, communicating, and entrepreneurialism/business understanding and innovating
• Follow up and update intervention implementation progress against work plans
• Monitor, follow up and update progress of public and private implementing partner’s work plans against achievement and report against key monitoring and result measurement plans

Strategy & Vision

• Recognize opportunities for innovative action and create an environment where alternative viewpoints are welcomed.
• Set direction by prioritizing and organizing actions & resources to achieve objectives and contribute to countrywide strategy development.
• Develop and organize activities to secure resources for programs and convince stakeholders to provide support. 

Program Management

• Oversee program startup and ongoing program management and administration of teams across various field locations. 
• Ensure that program implementation is responsive to communities and partners and consistent with Mercy Corps’ relevant program guidelines, principles, values, quality standards and strategic plan.
• Ensure that beneficiaries are effectively targeted according to established vulnerability criteria.
• Develop partners’ MoUs and contracts & oversee a training program for program partners.
• Develop program implementation strategies, including partnership frameworks, beneficiary targeting and distribution process as well as WASH, psychosocial and capacity building of partners.
• Integrate community approaches, gender sensitivity and capacity building into all activities as appropriate.
• Ensure program implementation is on time, target and budget, using effective M&E systems to reach desired impacts.
• Create and maintain systems ensuring effective and transparent use of financial resources for timely and informative reporting in line with donor and Mercy Corps policies and procedures.
• Fulfill Mercy Corps’ Program Management Minimum Standards based on the organization-wide guide.
• Ensure all interventions adhere to Mercy Corps’ Gender Policy, Do No Harm principles, and beneficiary accountability standards.

Finance & Compliance Management

• Ensure compliance with donor and Mercy Corps regulations related to emergency programming.
• Draft and/or review scope of work to hire and manage any technical consultants, including review for technical efficacy and contract budget.

Influence & Representation

• Identify, build and manage collaborative partnerships with consortium partners, sub-grantees, donors, local governments and other stakeholders.

Communicate effectively to ensure overall project targets and donor obligations are met.

GEDSI (GENDER, EQUALITY, DIVERSITY AND SOCIAL INCLUSION)

• Understand and aware GDI related priorities of the country office and contribute for the realization of priorities (continually work to understand and be aware of the gender diversity and inclusion priorities of the country office and contribute in the execution)
• Promote gender equal and inclusive workplace culture in a day-to-day interaction with a team member, partners and program participants.

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. 

Job Requirements

KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:

• Good understanding of Markets Systems Development (aka Making Markets Work for the poor-M4P) approach and facilitation including coaching, relationship building, communicating, open and willing to work on new initiatives
• Familiar with all aspects of the relevant market systems including key actors, job matching service providers, information service providers, employers of different scale, micro-finance institutions (MFIs), banks, Insurance’s 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, livelihood programs, rural development, agribusiness or financial services
• Excellent communication, organizational and prioritization skills and the ability to multi-task and support and/or fill multiple positions at one time.
• Demonstrated attention to detail and ability to follow procedures, meet deadlines and work both independently and cooperatively with team members.

 SUCCESS FACTORS:

• Fluent in English and Amharic
• Business minded, entrepreneurial, adaptive, curious, great problem-solving skills
• Experience working collaboratively with teams from diverse backgrounds
• Strong presentation, reporting, and communication skills, facilitation, and networking skills with a wide range of private, public, and NGO-sector actors
• Excellent computer skills using MS Office 365 Suite of products

How to Apply

 DEADLINE FOR ALL APPLICATIONS: 13 December 2021/ 4:00 PM

Interested & qualified candidates should submit their Updated CV, Application Letter & other supporting Credentials via: et-recruitment@mercycorps.org or through mail to Mercy Corps Ethiopia Addis Ababa: P.O. Box 14319, Arbaminch: P.O. Box 33 , Jijiga: P.O. Box 225, Negelle Borena: P.O. Box 116, Dire Dewa P.O. Box 974 or in person at Gambella Mercy Cops Office

NB: mention "Market System Development Project Specialist" in the subject line of your email application. Applications will not be returned and will not be retained for future recruitment efforts. In order to ensure fairness to all applicants 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.”