Mercy Corps works in Dollo Ado and Gode field offices in the Somali region to improve the livelihoods, economic opportunities, and food security for refugees and host communities through this WFP-funded award. Mercy Corps engages people in socio-economic activities through user groups acknowledging their capacities, thus improving the quality of their lives and building their resilience for possible shocks in the future, while contributing to self-reliance in the long term. Mercy Corps interventions focus on strengthening market systems, diversifying livelihoods and income, and improving resilience capacities by promoting financial, livestock, and crop market activities.

The Market Systems Officer will facilitate and implement market system-related activities of the project through its second phase, 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. 

 The Market Systems Officer will also be a member of the MC Economic and Markets Development (EMD) Team, which uses market systems development to stimulate economic growth to create wealth and jobs for the poorest while maximizing investment from the private and public sectors. As a member of the EMD team, the Market Systems Officer will contribute analytical thinking and innovative approaches and will support integration and harmony of approaches across all Mercy Corps Ethiopia market-driven programming. The EMD team is also expected to contribute up to 20% of its collective time towards new program development.

 ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:

 The Market Systems Officer is responsible to facilitate the implementation of MC’s thematic areas of financial systems development. Key job functions include the following:

• Participate in market assessment validation and activities planning workshop, which will involve all key stakeholders.
• Be part of the project team to develop a detailed plan for implementation of selected activities, including roles, timeframe, desired outcomes
• Supporting establishment and promotion of VSLAs and RuSACOs in the intervention woredas.
• Participating to develop, implement, monitor the progress of work plans that can be adaptively managed
• Represent MC lead component of the project by guiding the implementation of activities as implemented by WFP
• 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 CNs and resultant Activity Reports are developed to the appropriate standard

Adhere to Mercy Corps, donor, and government policies and procedures

Job Requirements

KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:

• 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 another related field, or commensurate private sector or field experience is required
• Minimum of 3 years experience in the private sector or working with other agencies in market systems facilitation, agribusiness, or financial services

 SUCCESS FACTORS:

• Fluent in English and Somali
• 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
• Computer literate especially in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook)

How to Apply

Interested candidates are encouraged to apply for the position advertised. All applications submitted to the Mercy Corps office or electronically 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, 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 empowering women and youth.”            

DEADLINE FOR ALL APPLICATIONS: 05 February 2022/ 4:00 PM

 Please send non-returnable applications and credentials to one of the following addresses: et-recruitment@mercycorps.org

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