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.

The program

Mercy Corps has been operating in Ethiopia since 2004, working in rural, peri-urban and urban areas in five regional states - Somali, Oromia, Afar, Southern Nations Nationalities and Peoples, Amhara - 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 communities.

Resilience in Pastoral Areas (RIPA) program is a five-year USAID-funded initiative that aims to improve the resilience capacities of households, markets and governance institutions across 22 woredas in the Somali, Afar and Oromia regions. RiPA is designed across four major technical themed components with targeted activities and a ‘Crisis Modifier’ which will allow implementation to pivot the adaptive management approach and respond to humanitarian needs in ways that support, not undermine, long-term development and resilience objectives.

Position Title: SENIOR MARKET SYSTEMS DEVELOPMENT ADVISOR -DIVERSIFIED ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES

 Duty Station: Addis Ababa

Open Position:  1

The program

Mercy Corps has been operating in Ethiopia since 2004, working in rural, peri-urban and urban areas in five regional states - Somali, Oromia, Afar, Southern Nations Nationalities and Peoples, Amhara - 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 communities.

Resilience in Pastoral Areas (RIPA) program is a five-year USAID-funded initiative that aims to improve the resilience capacities of households, markets and governance institutions across 22 woredas in the Somali, Afar and Oromia regions. RiPA is designed across four major technical themed components with targeted activities and a ‘Crisis Modifier’ which will allow implementation to pivot the adaptive management approach and respond to humanitarian needs in ways that support, not undermine, long-term development and resilience objectives.

The Position

The Senior Market Systems Development Advisor-Diversified Economic Opportunities, immediate objective is to develop & facilitate clear pathways for market system development, expansion and technology transfer under the Diversified Economic Opportunities component across RiPA implementation regions.  The Advisor will identify and guide opportunities and constraints of the market system across all clusters and link those back to the overarching objectives and targets of Diversified Economic opportunities. S/he must familiarize themselves and project partners in the cluster with Intervention and Activity Concept Note (CN) development, approval and reporting processes, and ensure CNs originated by project partners in the cluster are efficiently supported and approved by the Addis-based Advisory team.

Essential Responsibilities

Technical Leadership and Project implementation

Develops own deep understanding and mastery of ‘economic and market systems strengthening facilitation’ including coaching, relationship building, communicating, entrepreneurial/business understanding and innovating.

• Facilitate clear pathway for inclusive employment, entrepreneurship and financial service through identifying opportunities and constraints of the people transitioning out of pastoralism with a primary focus on women and youth across Somali, Afar and Oromia regions.

• Coordinate assessments and analysis in PARA clusters across diverse market system function to understand constraints and identify opportunities for employment/job creation across various private and public actors.

• Becomes intimately familiar with all aspects of the relevant market systems the project is targeting including key actors engaged on public and private training providers/TVETs, Banking and Microfinance Institutions, Micro, Small, Medium, Large enterprises, Higher level Educational institutions, Busienss Development Service providers, Information and Technology Service providers, producers, aggregators, processors, warehouses, transporters, employment service providers, intermediary and terminal markets); governance frameworks (formal and informal); and all support markets and functions;

• Strengthens private sector development in the regions and in Ethiopia by bringing new ideas and initiatives to Market System Development team and overall project and country program;

• Facilitate Market Information Systems for business linkages to link enterprises (SMEs) to opportunities

• Designs, conducts, measures and documents assessments of training providers, employers across a wide range, technology providers in particular financial services, employment/labor market services and information,

• Develops key monitoring and measuring indicators, milestones and plans in close collaboration with supervisor and M&E team, and solely responsible for monitoring and reporting all output, outcome, and impact indicators for respective market system(s).

• Conducts her/himself both professionally and personally in such a manner as to bring credit to Mercy Corps and to not jeopardize its humanitarian mission.

• Document processes and achievements to ensure best practices are captured and disseminated. This will include the continual re-evaluation of program activities and information, with resulting activity adjustments in keeping with new insights.

• Produce written reports on program activities, capturing the impacts of activities.

• Conduct frequent field visits to all project sites - spend up to 50% of time in the field.

Accountability to Participants and Stakeholders

Mercy Corps team members are expected to support all efforts toward accountability, specifically to our program participants, community partners, other stakeholders, and to international standards guiding international relief and development work. We are committed to actively engaging communities as equal partners in the design, monitoring and evaluation of our field projects.

 Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

Achieving our mission begins with how we build our team and work together. Through our commitment to enriching our organization with people of different origins, beliefs, backgrounds, and ways of thinking, we are better able to leverage the collective power of our teams and solve the world’s most complex challenges. We strive for a culture of trust and respect, where everyone contributes their perspectives and authentic selves, reaches their potential as individuals and teams, and collaborates to do the best work of their lives. 

We recognize that diversity and inclusion is a journey, and we are committed to learning, listening and evolving to become more diverse, equitable and inclusive than we are today.

 Equal Employment Opportunity

Mercy Corps is an equal opportunity employer that does not tolerate discrimination on any basis. We actively seek out diverse backgrounds, perspectives, and skills so that we can be collectively stronger and have sustained global impact. 

We are committed to providing an environment of respect and psychological safety where equal employment opportunities are available to all. We do not engage in or tolerate discrimination on the basis of race, color, gender identity, gender expression, religion, age, sexual orientation, national or ethnic origin, disability (including HIV/AIDS status), marital status, military veteran status or any other protected group in the locations where we work.

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.

Safeguarding & Ethics

·       Mercy Corps is committed to ensuring that all individuals we come into contact with through our work, whether team members, community members, program participants or others, are treated with respect and dignity. We are committed to the core principles regarding prevention of sexual exploitation and abuse laid out by the UN Secretary General and IASC and have signed on to the Interagency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme. We will not tolerate child abuse, sexual exploitation, abuse, or harassment by or of our team members. As part of our commitment to a safe and inclusive work environment, team members are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner, respect local laws and customs, and to adhere to Mercy Corps Code of Conduct Policies and values at all times. Team members are required to complete mandatory Code of Conduct elearning courses upon hire and on an annual basis.

Job Requirements

Minimum Qualification and Transferable Skills

• MA/S or BA in Business, Economics, Finance, Agriculture, Agribusiness, Agricultural economics, or related field

• 2-3 years for MA/S and 3-5 years for BA work experience with for profit organization, non-governmental organization (NGO) or profit agribusiness working with vulnerable, marginalized and pastoralists/agro-pastoralist groups.

• 3+ years’ proven experience in innovative value chain development or business models using best practices.

• Knowledge and experience working on alternative livelihood issues in the pastoral areas, especially associated with individuals transitioning out of pastoralism.

• Experience with the development, implementation & compliance of donor funded programs including USAID agreements and strong understanding of USAID rules, regulations, and compliance issue.

• Established ability to manage and communicate effectively with team members of varied work styles.

• Demonstrated flexibility and creativity in planning and problem solving.

• Experience working with host governments, national and international NGOs.

• Excellent oral and written communication skills in English

•  Preference given to candidates with prior experience in Ethiopia.

• Internationally recognized qualification in project or program management or a commitment to obtain the qualification in the early months of work.

Success Factors

A successful candidate will have a demonstrated ability to lead and communicate effectively with team members of varied work styles and cultures, follow procedures, and meet deadlines with flexibility and creativity in planning and problem solving. S/he will have a proven ability to learn quickly, multi-task, prioritize, take initiative, and be accountable for results, understand the larger picture while remaining focused on the details, problem solving, work within a complex and sensitive setting and to follow laws and security protocols. The most successful Mercy Corps team members have a strong commitment to teamwork and accountability, thrive in evolving and changing environments and make effective written and verbal communication a priority in all situations.

Ongoing Learning

In support of our belief that learning organizations are more effective, efficient and relevant to the communities we serve, we empower all team members to dedicate 5% of their time to learning activities that further their personal and/or professional growth and development.

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 to all applicant’s personal inquiries are not permitted.

How to Apply

Register using the following link CLICK HERE

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: 18 March2023/ 4:00 PM