Mercy Corps seeks a Crop and Livestock Market System Specialist for the WFP funded Program. This position will be based in Gode, Ethiopia. The Specialist will report directly to the Market System Advisor and work to support livelihood promotion and resilience building in SIIPE intervention woredas of Adadle, Kabridahar, and West Emey, including livelihood development, market system development, livestock, and crop production activities.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:

Strategy and Vision

Support to:

• Develop and strengthen understanding of current livestock management, animal health, animal feeding, and livestock marketing
• Develop an understanding of relevant market systems and sectors including livestock (Goat and sheep) production and trade, animal health inputs, and services to all relevant actors (public and private) participating in those market systems.
• Facilitate inclusive market systems, with emphasis on the inclusion of women and youth, using participatory approaches, coaching, relationship-building, communications, entrepreneurism, and innovative business development.
• Analyze production and trade of live animal feed and fodder and current rangeland management practices, as these relate to the livestock industry, agricultural production opportunities, and challenges, social and legal environment, and practices as it relates to livestock market development as well as all relevant actors (public and private) participating directly or indirectly in livestock marketing.
• Work with Agri-processing companies expand operations and build trade linkages with smallholders and Producer Cooperatives
• Work with 'Union of Agriculture Production Cooperatives’' expands and improves its services for member cooperatives
• Work with farmers to improve access to inputs and strengthened the supply of improved seeds
• Facilitate multi-stakeholder sector forum, to identify challenges and solutions, and cultivate interest

Program Implementation

• Implementation of Livelihood Promotion and Resilience Building for SIIPE Woredas with respect to Livestock and crop production activities.
• Develop partnerships with lead-firm partners (e.g., 'Association of Livestock Traders' and Livestock Bureau, 'Union of Agriculture Production Cooperatives).
• Collect lessons learned from existing livestock sector market improvement initiatives, livestock and crop production marker sectors competitiveness, and crop production marketing; and use these to innovate in ways that strengthen and leverage current practice.
• Actively engage in the identification, development, implementation, monitoring and evaluation, and reporting of program activities with a view to livestock and crop production market system development.
• Liaise with all programs, stakeholders, and actors in the livestock and crop production market systems
• Contribute to the monitoring of key monitoring and measuring indicators, milestones, and plans in close collaboration with supervisor and M&E team, and lead the effort in reporting all output, outcome, and impact indicators for the livestock and crop production market system developments
• Support in ensuring the program captures and responds to up-to-date information on livestock and crop production marketing within respective market systems district, regional and global best practices.

Job Requirements

KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:

• Bachelor’s degree in Crop Science, Animal Science, Rural Development, and agricultural extension and, Agricultural Economics.
• Five years of experience in livestock and crop production marketing in pastoral and agro-pastoral systems of Ethiopia.
• Deep understanding and mastery of Markets4Poor approach and Economic & Markets Development facilitation including coaching, relationship building, communicating, entrepreneurialism/business understanding, and innovating.
• Experience in working with livestock and crop production industry (public and private) actors and institutional stakeholders.
• Demonstrated program implementation and training capabilities. Knowledge of participatory analyses, action, and results processes.
• Experience in the region is required; previous experience in arid and semi-arid parts of Ethiopia is preferred.

 SUCCESS FACTORS:

• Fluent in English and Somali languages
• 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

All 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. 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.