Market Systems Development specialist

Essential Job Responsibilities

Key Responsibilities

• Conduct detailed market research, mapping, and analysis to understand the dynamics, constraints, and opportunities within targeted value chains such as agriculture, livestock, and fisheries.
• Analyze the impact of shocks (drought, conflict, etc.) on market systems and recommend strategies to make them more resilient and adaptive.
• Identify opportunities for innovative action and create an environment where alternative viewpoints are welcomed.
• Identify key market actors relevant for the SERRI program and analyze their roles, incentives, and relationships within the market system.
• Design and support implementation of market-based interventions that address the systemic issues hindering market functionality, ensuring that these interventions contribute to long-term recovery and resilience.
• Develop and lead the strategic direction for market systems development (MSD) initiatives to support sustainable livelihoods, economic recovery, and resilience.
• Conduct market assessments and value chain analyses to identify opportunities for interventions and inform programming decisions.
• Monitor and analyze market trends and shocks to adapt program strategies and ensure that interventions remain relevant.
• Oversee the implementation of MSD activities, ensuring alignment with program goals and objectives.
• Provide technical guidance and support to field teams in implementing market-based interventions such as value chain upgrading, market linkage development, and business service provision.
• Facilitate business-to-business (B2B) linkages, fostering partnerships that enhance market access for smallholder farmers, pastoralists, and other vulnerable groups.
• Offer targeted support to community groups, such as VSLAs and cooperatives, by providing necessary resources and delivering tailored training on farming as a business to enhance their capacity and productivity.
• Contribute to the development of program strategies, work plans, and reports, ensuring alignment with organizational goals.

Reporting

• Capture and document the lessons learned and success stories from the program’s implementation.
• Ensure all required program reports are developed, contributed to, and submitted on time.
• Collaborate closely with the MEAL team to guarantee data accuracy and share relevant data promptly to support reporting cycles.

Representation

• Represent Mercy Corps and uphold its values in coordination and partner meetings within the area of operation.
• Ensure clear and effective communication to meet overall project targets and fulfill donor obligations.
• Exhibit flexibility, resilience, and maintain positive relationships while managing challenges.
• Demonstrate high ethical standards, treating all individuals with respect and dignity.

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.
• 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

Reports Directly To: Program Manager

Works Directly With: SERRI team, other Sector specialists, MEL Officers, Finance, HR and Operation field teams.

Knowledge and Experience

• University degree in Economics, Agriculture economics, Business Development, International Development, or a related field. A master’s degree is preferred.
• Minimum of 5 years of experience in market systems development, value chain development, or private sector development, preferably in fragile or conflict-affected environments.
• Proven track record of working with private sector actors, producer groups, and market stakeholders in developing countries, with specific experience in emergency or resilience programs being a strong asset.
• Strong understanding of market systems development (MSD) approaches, such as Making Markets Work for the Poor (M4P), and experience with value chain analysis.
• Experience and expertise in working with the private sector and developing market-based solutions that are inclusive of marginalized groups, such as women and youth.
• Proven ability to facilitate partnerships between market actors and to navigate complex stakeholder environments.
• Strong analytical, communication, and report-writing skills, with experience in presenting complex concepts to diverse audiences.
• Excellent training needs assessment and community mobilization skills and demonstrated ability to work productively with farmers and youth groups.
• Report writing experience with strong analytical skills and proven ability to work against tight deadlines.
• Excellent ability to monitor on-the-ground activities and integrate beneficiary feedback into programming.
• Must be able to work independently once in the field and show initiative.
• Willingness and ability to travel regularly to all program target locations in Somalia.
• Must be able to work independently and show initiative.
• Proficient in Microsoft Word, Excel and email.
• Good spoken and written English.

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.

Success Factors

The successful candidate will combine exceptional skills and experience in working with diverse cross-cultural teams, commitment to local capacity building the ability to engage local stakeholders in project design and implementation, and strong mentoring skills. S/he will be focused on the capacity building of program staff, have strong program support skills, good information management skills, and the ability to work simultaneously on multiple tasks and while meeting deadlines. Willingness and ability to work effectively with a wide variety of people.

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.

Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply for this position.