About Mercy Corps

Mercy Corps is powered by the belief that a better world is possible. To do this, we know our teams do their best work when they are diverse and every team member feels that they belong. We welcome diverse backgrounds, perspectives, and skills so that we can be stronger and have long term impact.

Program / Department Summary

Mercy Corps has been present in Ethiopia since 2004 working to drive bold and transformative ideas, working closely with government, the private sector and civil society actors to build a more resilient country, ensuring that programs are responsive to and influenced by participants and stakeholders. Our vision is to enhance the resilience of climate and conflict-affected communities through market systems development for improved livelihoods, access to food, and safe and clean water to thrive in the face of crises. Our strategy focuses on the four outcome areas of: 1) Economically marginalized populations have improved and diversified livelihoods, income, and assets; 2) Pastoralists, farmers, and households have access to sustainably produced, safe, nutritious food; 3) Social cohesion and inclusive governance processes are built in crisis-affected communities; and 4) People have equitable, sustained access to clean water and sanitation for domestic and productive use. Currently we operate in the regional states of Afar, Amhara, Gambella, Oromia, Somali, Sidama, Southern Ethiopia, Tigray and Addis Ababa city administration working with a diverse base of donors that includes United States Agency for International Development (USAID), European Union, GAC, Hilton Foundation, United Nations (UN), JOA, Sweden, EKN, and other foundations.

The USAID-funded Highland Resilience Activity (HRA) will contribute to the Productive Safety Net Program (PSNP) 5’s “Big Push” initiative and has the overarching goal of strengthening resilience among vulnerable households in Ethiopia’s Highlands, resulting in 120,000 PSNP households reaching the graduation threshold. HRA will support these households in moving above the graduation threshold and to where they no longer require social safety net programming for household food security and have the capabilities and assets to withstand regular and predictable shocks. The Activity will achieve this goal by directly supporting households in increasing their on-farm, off-farm, and employment incomes while facilitating improvements in the market systems required to increase demand for goods and services in PSNP communities. HRA is a five-year program that started during October 2023..

General Position Summary

The Inclusive Value Chain Development Advisor will be responsible for guiding analysis and activities to increase participation of PSNP households in crop, livestock, and non-agricultural value chains and develop income-generating opportunities for PSNP farmers and entrepreneurs across the implementation regions. The advisor will also facilitate market linkages, partnerships, and wage employment opportunities for PSNP households in collaboration with region based staff, private sector partners and across regional, zonal and woreda level government institutions. different government structures GoE. The inclusive Value chain Advisor reports to the Market Systems Specialist/Team Lead. To ensure coordination and integration with the major pillars of the program, the advisor will be closely working with team members under the livelihoods and the financial services pillar.

The Advisor will identify and guide opportunities and constraints across value chains/market systems across all regions and link those back to strengthening resilience among vulnerable households . S/he must familiarize themselves and project partners in the cluster with the Concept Note (CN) activity 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 Job Responsibilities

Technical Leadership and Program implementation 

•  Develops own deep understanding of value chain development and market systems strengthening facilitation including coaching, relationship building, communicating, entrepreneurial/business understanding and innovating;

•  Facilitate a clear pathway for inclusive agricultural and non-agricultural value chain development through identifying opportunities and constraints of the PSNP households with a primary focus on women and youth across the six target regions.

•  Participate in the planning, implementing and overseeing of of the market system/Value chain pillar focused on livestock, crop production and non-agricultural sectors/systems to ensure that staff and partners are following work plans, planned activities are implementing as scheduled and the deliverables are meeting  required quantity and quality standards;

•  Provide technical advice, facilitation supports for livestock, crop production and non-agricultural value chains/markets activities for program participants and partners in the program target areas;

•  Lead and Coordinate assessments and analysis in the target regions across diverse market system function to understand constraints and identify opportunities across various private and public actors;

•  Becomes intimately familiar with all aspects of the relevant value chain/market systems the project is targeting including key actors (Producers, retailers, aggregators, traders training providers/TVETs, information service providers, warehouses, transporters, financial service providers, 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 beyond by bringing new ideas and initiatives among the team and overall project and country program;

•  Facilitate Market Information Systems for business linkages to link market actors to opportunities;

•  Work closely access the HRA team and consortium members for creation of better coordination and harmonization of technical activities and strategies planned to improve value chain/market system activities in the local and export markets to contribute to the development of enhancing resilience;

•  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;

Strategy and 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 country-wide strategy development. 

• Develop and organize activities to secure resources for programs and convince stakeholders to provide support.  

Teamwork/Management 

• Create and sustain a work environment of mutual respect where team members strive to achieve excellence.

• Promote accountability, communicate expectations and provide constructive feedback via regular performance reviews. 

• Supervise, hire and orient new team members as necessary. 

• Provide training, oversight and support to local staff in relevant technical or organizational area 

• Provide team members with information, tools and other resources to improve performance and reach objectives

• Contribute to country team-building efforts, help team members identify problem solving options and ensure the integration of all team members into relevant decision-making processes.

Finance & Compliance Management 

• Ensure compliance with donor and Mercy Corps regulations

• 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.

• Provide regular report on program activities as required by the program

• Draft and/or review scope of work to hire and manage any technical consultants, including review for technical efficacy and contract budget.

Representation 

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

• Develop fruitful relationships with private sector actors engaged in the value chain/market systems

• Maintain good working relationships with donors, other humanitarian and development organizations and local partners including representing Mercy Corps at local coordination meetings if assigned

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

• Conduct himself/herself both professionally and personally in such manner as to bring credit to Mercy Corps and to not jeopardize its development and humanitarian mission 

 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. 

Accountability to Beneficiaries: Mercy Corps team members are expected to support all efforts towards accountability, specifically to our beneficiaries and to international standards guiding international relief and development work, while actively engaging beneficiary communities as equal partners in the design, monitoring and evaluation of our field projects.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITY: 

None

ACCOUNTABILITY: 

REPORTS DIRECTLY TO: Market Systems/Value Chain Specialist/Team Lead

WORKS DIRECTLY WITH: CoP, DCoP, Implementation Team Lead, Livelihoods specialist/Team Lead, Financial Services Specialist/Team Lead, MEL/CLA Director,  On farm Enterprises advisor, Business Development advisor, Private investment advisor, Gender, youth and social inclusion advisor, Field Level Technical specialists

Job Requirements

KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:  

•  BA/BSc in Agricultural Science, Agricultural Economics, Agribusiness, Business Administration, Marketing and/or related field. MA/MSc preferred

•  5 years’ work experience with for profit, 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

•  Expertise/Experience across the highland areas of Ethiopia, research, extension, market facilitation, value chain development and natural resource management.

•  Experience in commercial crop, livestock, non-agricultural value chain development

•  Strong written and oral communication skills in English, including report development, writing, and editing.

•  Strong communication and facilitation skills, with good understanding of relevant cross-cultural issues.

•  Experience in the private sector is strongly preferred.

•  Knowledge and experience in implementing donor funded development activities desired.

Success Factors

A successful candidate should have experience and expertise leading, coordinating and adaptively  managing Value chain and market system development activity both in the agriculture and non-agriculture sector taking into adaptive programming. they should also 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 should 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.

Living /Environmental Conditions:

The position will be based in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia with regular travels to the field. This position requires up to 50% of travel by air and road to field offices in relatively secure environments. 

Mercy Corps team members represent the agency both during and outside work hours when deployed in a field posting or on a visit/TDY to a field posting. Team members are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner and respect local laws, customs and MC's policies, procedures, and values at all times and in all in-country venues.

Fostering a diverse and open workplace is an important part of Mercy Corps’ vision. Mercy Corps is an Equal Opportunity Employer regardless of background. We are committed to creating an inclusive environment.

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

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.

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.

How to Apply

All qualified individuals are invited to apply for the advertised position. All applications, including a CV, three references, and all applicable official papers, must be sent electronically.

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: 10 November 2023/ 4:00 PM

CLICK HERE to apply