MSD Technical Specialist

Position Title:  Market System Development Technical Specialist

(Intensified and Sustained Pastoral and Agro-pastoral production and marketing)

Primary Location: One in Jijiga, Somali region

Current Employee: New  

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.

Mercy Corps has been operating in Ethiopia since 2004. In partnership with civil society organizations, private sector, and the government, Mercy Corps Ethiopia has reached more than five million Ethiopians with interventions to save lives and build secure livelihoods. Our programs emphasize market-driven solutions, reinforce social bonds, and help communities build resilience to the impacts of climate change. Currently in six regional states – Afar, Gambella, Oromia, Somali, Amhara and South Nations, Nationalities and People’s Region (SNNPR) – Mercy Corps Ethiopia is driven by the mission to contribute the emergence of a peaceful, resilient, and prosperous Ethiopia which is inclusive of youth and women. Our strategic directions focus in promoting inclusive and dynamic markets; promoting peace and social cohesion through strengthening formal/informal governance structures and citizen engagement; improved natural resource governance; and integrated humanitarian response.

The MSD Team is comprised of technical expertise in the areas of production, marketing, employment, input/output markets, post-harvest technologies and financial services. The main sectors include livestock, crop/fodder, livestock products, energy, financial services, enterprises development and related sectors.

Essential Job functions

• Participate in the planning, implementing, monitoring, evaluation and reporting MSD activities within the cluster;
• Provided technical support in the area of responsibilities for MSD activities to ensure the planned activists are implemented timely and with required deliverable quality;
• Work on the identification of the innovate ways/opportunities to support Market systems development activities and facilities the innovate ideas in to action through creating the enabling environment for exchange of information within the MSD team and actors;
• Provide support on the areas of his/her technical expertise to MSD Coordinators and team members to ensure better implementation of RIPA in the cluster;
• Facilitate and coordinates markets systems assessment, organizing validation workshops and stakeholder platforms/events in the cluster;
• Support capacity building efforts for market actors (i.e. private, public) on the MSD approaches, identification of the market system opportunities/constraints through conducting continues system analysis, develop approaches/modalities to support the establishment and/or expansion of the high potential medium and small scale private business enterprises in markets areas focused on livestock, crop/fodder, access to finance, none agricultural/off farm activities and other related under RIPA component areas;
• Facilities the development of short-term strategies and its implementation linkages creation between market actors (i.e. inputs suppliers, producers, traders, processors, cooperatives and financial service providers like Banks, MFIs,) to improve outreaches in the target community;
• Facilitates the implementation of the impactful activities by market actors to create job opportunities for youth and women in the RIPA target areas;
• Participate in regular field visits to assess the activities implementation progress, give technical advises/mentor and provide feedback(s) for further improvement;
• Closely work with supervisor and M&E team during the development of monitoring tools/measuring indicators, milestones development, and monitoring/ reporting of output and outcome in his/her area assigned;
• Ensures the program properly captures, documented and updated relevant information in the livestock/Crop production and marketing of RIPA program;
• In collaboration with cluster MSD team, work to build and maintain close relationships with key government partners and local implementers;
• Represent Mercy Corps professionally in cluster areas so as to bring credit and to maintain its humanitarian and development mission;
• Compile and submit regular updates/reports (weekly, monthly and quarterly); and
• Other duties as assigned by his/her supervisor

Team Management

• Build effective relationships with program teams implementing production, marketing, diversified economic opportunities, based on mutual trust, collaboration, urgency and curiosity;
• Promote accountability, communicate expectations and provide constructive feedback formally and informally;
• Create and sustain a work environment of mutual respect where team members strive to achieve excellence;

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 toward 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; and
• 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.

Knowledge and Experience

• Minimum of Bachelor’s degree in the areas: Economics, Agriculture (i.e. Plant/Animal Science), Agricultural Economics, Rural Development, Agribusiness, Marketing and other related subjects;
• Minimum of 4 years’ experience in private sector and/or NGOs working focused on MSD (program coordination, facilitation, providing technical supports), agribusiness and/or financial services;
• Good understanding on the Markets4Poor approach and Markets development facilitation including coaching, relationship building, communicating, entrepreneurialism/business understanding and innovating;
• Experiences in supporting livestock/crop production, financial service providers, industries (public and private) , institutions and stakeholders;
• Knowledge of participatory analyses, action and results processing;
• Experience/exposures to the location/region he/she applied for;

Reports Directly to: Cluster Market Systems Development Coordinator  

Works Directly with: Component Leads, MSD Advisors, respective field office MSD specialties and Administration/operations team.

Success Factors

• Fluent in English and local language for the location applied: Somali (capable in all require basic skills: reading, listening, speaking and writing);
• Business minded, entrepreneurial, curious, great problem solving skills, unafraid to ask questions, and results motivated;
• Excellent communication, presentation, facilitation and networking skills with a wide range of actors across geographical areas;
• Computer literate especially in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook)

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.

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 theInteragency 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 toMercy Corps Code of Conduct Policiesand values at all times. Team members are required to complete mandatory Code of Conduct elearning courses upon hire and on an annual basis.

Living conditions / environmental conditions

The position is based in Jijiga.. 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 professionally and respect local laws, customs, and Mercy Corps 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.

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.

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: 15 October 2023/ 4:00 PM