Program Officer – Market Systems Development

Program Officer- Market Systems Development-DREAMS

Position Description

Location: Yumbe, Uganda

Position Status: Full-time, Regular

Reports to: Senior Program Officer

Salary Level: 2,236,410/=

Current Team Member: New Position

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. Operating in Uganda since 2006 with proven track-record of providing market-oriented solutions focused on humanitarian response, food security, market systems development, peacebuilding, and resilience, Mercy Corps applies market-driven solutions in communities across the Country, equipping individuals and households with the knowledge, skills, and confidence to improve  their access to markets, livelihoods, health, nutrition, and security, to improve their overall resilience. Our programs focus on:

• Strengthening market systems to enable inclusive economic growth and resilience
• Strengthening governance structures, to prioritize and advocate for community needs, making informed decisions, and allocating resources in a participatory, transparent, and accountable manner.
• Building institutional capacity to enable communities to attain better health, nutrition, and sexual reproductive health outcomes
• Meeting the immediate needs of refugees and hosting communities, while strengthening market systems and resilience capacities.

Since 2016, Mercy Corps has been responding to the refugee crisis in Uganda.  Our interventions cover both the settlements in Northern Uganda and Urban centers where refugees have congregated.

Program Summary

The Delivering Resilient Enterprises and Market Systems (DREAMS) program is a collaboration between three leading organizations in the field of global poverty alleviation: Village Enterprise, Mercy Corps, and IDinsight. The DREAMS program aims to improve the well-being of 150,000 women, children, and men over the course of the five years.  Targeting refugees and host community members in the West Nile region of Uganda, our innovative approach is layering two evidence-based models[1] – poverty graduation and market systems development – to achieve increased household income, savings, and assets: improved food security and wellbeing.

GENERAL POSITION SUMMARY:

The Program Officer-Market Systems Development will be responsible for the implementation of the different Market Development activities under DREAMS. The PO-MSD is responsible for project implementation, designing interventions, managing partnerships and resources and will support impact measurement via several MEL assessments. The PO-MSD will ensure accountability to Mercy Corps policies and donor rules and regulations. He/she will report to and work with the Team Leader to engage in program representation to stakeholders, relevant government entities, partners, other implementers, and external stakeholders.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:

Planning, developing, and implementing market development activities

• Support market assessments in the target geographic areas to assess current situation, economic opportunities, and resources, needs and potential programs as well as
• In coordination with the Team Leader and local partners, plan, implement and monitor market development
• Review and support PSAs (Private Sector Actors) in developing training materials for businesses, provide capacity building support to PSAs to improve their training approaches and to, where necessary, participate in capacity building sessions for PSA and micro enterprises.
• Support private sector partners to mobilize targeted microenterprises to fully participate in the market and other opportunities promoted by the
• Take lead in identifying private sector partners with the right skill and will for systemic change interventions, lead the PSA on boarding process and take lead in managing the partnerships to     ensure attainment of project outputs, objectives, and
• Compile reports on PSA activities, review PSA reports and request for PSA payments according to milestones

Collaboration/Networking

• Establish and maintain good coordination and working relationships with OPM, UNHCR, district and sub-county leaders, representing Mercy Corps, and soliciting participation in activities where appropriate and as
• Ensure close coordination and sharing of information with relevant stakeholders such as local government, NGOs, and local authorities, as appropriate and advised by the line

 Representation and Coordination

• Be the focal person for coordination, partnership, and related activities with several local level private sector services providers and related
• Liaise with OPM, UNHCR, local government officials, local NGOs and civil society organizations, and other notables to ensure support for and acceptance of DREAMS’ market-based
• Maintain close working relationships with development organizations, and local partners, including representing DREAMS at local coordination meetings as
• Conduct himself/herself both professionally and personally in such a manner as to bring credit to Mercy Corps Uganda and to not jeopardize its humanitarian

 Documentation, Monitoring, Evaluation and Reporting

• Work closely with the monitoring and evaluation staff to capture data for measuring output and impact of the program; and to ensure accurate and timely flow of information from the
• Prepare and submit timely weekly, monthly, and quarterly reports that will be indicative of program progress during implementation. Respond to queries if and when
• Maintain proper filing

 Organizational Learning: As part of Mercy Corps Uganda’s 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 the DREAMS program as well as themselves.

 Accountability to Beneficiaries: Support all efforts towards accountability, specifically to direct program participants, engaging them as equal partners in the design, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of our field activities.

 ETHICS AND INTEGRITY:

• All Mercy Corps staff are expected to behave ethically and demonstrate the highest level of integrity in their professional and personal life. Mercy Corps has zero tolerance to any form of fraud, corruption, abuse, harassment, or Any breach of our policies or misconduct will lead to disciplinary action or may lead to termination.

KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:

• Bachelor’s Degree in business, agribusiness, agriculture, economic development, or other relevant fields required.
• Background in business or market/economic development, with minimum of 3 years’ practical experience in the private sector, NGO working with Private Sector or related
• Experience with market facilitation, supporting systemic change and promoting supporting services indirectly, highly
• Experience working in refugee settlements is preferred.
• Excellent (English) verbal and written communication skills. Language skills in Lugbara, Aringa, Kakwa, Juba-Arabic, highly valued.
• Strong computer literacy with a full knowledge of office
• Strong writing, communication, organization, prioritization and negotiating
• Excellent teamwork abilities and interpersonal
• Excellent attention to detail and ability to complete tasks in a timely
• Demonstrated flexibility, creativity, and enthusiasm as well as a willingness to learn and to be continually adaptive within a dynamic and often self-directed working environment
• Willingness to spend much time in the field and work closely with program target groups.
• Knowledge of the agricultural, service, trade, and industry sectors, highly
• Experience working with very small, small, and medium sized companies in a development

MUST POSES A VALID MOTORCYCLE DRIVING PERMIT. 

Others:

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITY:

None.

Accountability

 Reports Directly To: Senior Program Officer

 Works Directly With: Finance and Operations Team, other Program Officers, partners, and senior gender officer.

Success Factors.

The ideal candidate must have the ability and curiosity to work comfortably and effectively in the cultural, relatively poor infrastructure of West Nile/Yumbe. S/he must be an excellent communicator, have a strong sense of humour, multi-tasker, and able to work in difficult and often stressful environments. S/he must be committed to the work of Mercy Corps and the objectives of this program. S/he must demonstrate their dedication with a strong work ethic, attention to detail and creativity in planning and problem solving.

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.

Equal Employment Opportunity

Mercy Corps is an equal opportunity employer that does not tolerate discrimination on any basis. We actively seek out individuals with 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 based on 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. 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.

 To Apply:

Interested applicants must submit their Cover Letter & CV saved in 1 document as a PDF of no more than 5 pages by 20th August 2024.

Please note that any application submitted that does not follow the above instructions will be automatically discarded.

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

Locals with the required qualifications are encouraged to apply.

Mercy Corps does not charge any fees at any stage of the recruitment process.