Duties & Responsibilities:

The Cash & Market Systems Specialist position drives the development of programs that make key market systems work better for the people that NRC serves in Ethiopia. The position holder will provide technical leadership on Cash and Voucher assistance and Market Systems strategic development and management of programs that aim to apply a market systems approach within and between Core Competencies (CCs) from new business development and program design to technical support for implementation, monitoring, and closeout. This position represents an exciting opportunity to lead strategic thinking that pushes the boundaries of conventional NRC programming practice through its application of systems thinking.

Additionally, the postholder will serve as the focal point and representative for Cash consortia (e.g. ECHO), Cash Working Group and other platforms on Cash and Markets in country.

The following is a brief description of the role.

Generic responsibilities 

• Technically assist and support CC teams in applying cash-based approaches and market systems in their programs according to established plans of action.

• Identify trends, technical standards and donor priorities in view of market systems and cash programming, including related issues such as self-reliance, durable solutions and climate adaptation within the Ethiopian context.

• Ensure cash and market systems is embedded in CC and country strategies for Ethiopia, ensuring alignment with regional and global priorities. This includes alignment with Durable Solutions strategies (both internal and external).

• Work with the program management and senior country leadership team to support coordination, planning, and providing inputs for key strategic documents, such as the annual plans, CCs budgets, reports, and other ad-hoc strategy, content and advocacy documents.

• Participate in country-level business development activities to secure resources for programs, influence stakeholders, and create an enabling environment for success

• Develop guidelines, SOPs, training materials, and indicators for the integration of cash and market systems across CCs and programming.

• Contribute to the review and advise on adaptations and adjustments of program strategies, approaches and activities for growth and sustainability.

• Engage with local and national authorities, stakeholders, and represent NRC in relevant cash forums, Market systems platforms, clusters, and working groups.

• Provide technical direction and project implementation support for field teams

• Promote the rights of IDPs, refugees, returnees, and conflict-affected populations in line with the advocacy strategy.

• Comply with and adhere to NRC policies, guidance and procedures

• Lead on internal advocacy and building shared understanding with country management and technical colleagues on Cash and Market Systems.

 Specific responsibilities 

• Lead on internal advocacy and building shared understanding with country management and technical colleagues on Cash and Market Systems.

• Ensure sector selection and system framing, market systems research and analysis, and designing systemic interventions to address the root causes of market dysfunctions which disadvantage and exclude vulnerable displacement-affected people; finding strategic leverage points for co-investment and building public and private sector partnerships; monitoring interventions; and adapting strategy in response to results.

• Assist the country office in designing and carrying out market assessments, analysing and designing evidence-based programs, identifying and using appropriate technology and tools/approaches, and carrying out periodic appraisals of cash-based programs.

• Support programme field teams in building the capacity of programme teams in cash and market systems as a foundation for NRC programming and market systems programming as a response.

• Pilot and refining market systems approaches, identifying scalable best practices.

• Assess and support the use/piloting of mobile money in CVA interventions

• Select methodologies for analysing market systems and work with program colleagues and external actors to define a response to NRC program outcomes.

• Support logistics and program colleagues planning, conducting certain types of market analysis.

• Train and mentor staff in market systems approaches to ensure successful program implementation and support them to access additional professional development and technical capacity building as required.

• Support the country office in identifying gaps in terms of capacity to deliver cash-based programs on time and at scale; as well as supporting the activities to be undertaken to increase the country/area teams’ capacity 

• Support critical interactions and decision-making with key actors in selected market systems

• Find pragmatic solutions to process gaps within NRC.

• Ensure documentation of lessons learned, success stories and programme impact of market systems programmes.

• Ensure NRC operational systems enable a diversely-skilled program team to implement a market systems program effectively – including standard operating procedures on engaging and contracting with the private sector, enabling intervention or concept design, and guidance for adaptive management.

• Manage the compilation of activity reports and periodic reports and liaise for review, submission, and dissemination with donors and other relevant stakeholders.

Job Requirements

Competencies

Competencies are important for the employee and the organisation to deliver desired results. They are relevant for all staff and are divided into the following three categories:

 1. Professional competencies 

These are skills, knowledge and experience that are important for effective performance. 

Generic professional competencies for this position: 

• Masters’ degree or equivalent in Economics, International Development, International Relations, Business Management or another relevant field highly preferred.

• 5-7 years of field experience in cash and market systems programming with a focus on markets required. At least 3 years of experience in a management role.

• Understanding and experience of the specific demands of CVA and market-based programming in humanitarian response settings, including but not limited to Ethiopia

• Experience directly building partnerships with the private sector to increase opportunities for displacement affected people. 

• Experience in multi-stakeholder engagement, building value propositions in both peri-urban and rural programming.

• Strong strategic thinker with demonstrated capacity to translate concepts into action, with proven ability to be accountable for all components of the program.

• Previous experience in working in complex and volatile contexts.

• Fluency in English and local language. More than one local language is preferred.

Context/specific skills, knowledge and experience:

• Curiosity about the root causes of market failure, and instinctive ability to compile multi-actor collaborations in response

• Ability to enthuse diverse external and internal actors with multiple incentives around a common plan.

• Ability to network, quickly to generate social capital, and make the deal.

• Substantial experience working on market systems in a humanitarian and/or development context.

• Competent in building networks, strong problem-solving skills, and ability to influence with effective listening, persuasion, negotiation, and other techniques.

2. Behavioural competencies

• Handling insecure environment

• Working with people

• Coping with changes

• Planning and delivering results

• Empowering and building trust

• Communicating with impact and respect

How to apply

Application procedure 

Interested candidates who meet the above criteria are invited to send in their application letters including updated curriculum vitae with day-time telephone number and contact details of three work-related referees only through THIS LINK. Please  attach photocopies of the most relevant educational certificates/testimonials and work experience documents. Applications should reach NRC latest by 30 August 2025 at 5:00pm.

NB: only shortlisted candidates shall be contacted.

“Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply and on-the-job training will be provided!”