MARKET SYSTEM DEVELOPMENT (MSD) COORDINATOR-DEO

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.

Mercy Corps has been operating in Ethiopia since 2004. In partnership with civil society organizations, academic institutions, 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, Amhara, Gambella, Oromia, Somali, and South Nations, Nationalities and People’s Region (SNNPR), and in Dire Dawa Administration and the capital city of Ethiopia, Addis Ababa – 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.

Program / Department Summary

Mercy Corps has been present in Ethiopia since 2004 and acts on behalf of people who have become disenfranchised and poor. We stand with Ethiopia to find and access opportunities, and to be part of lasting and meaningful transformation in the country. Mercy Corps seeks to be influential with government and development actors toward a more resilient country where poverty is tackled through the eyes of those who understand it best. This translates into ensuring that the population is financially stable, healthy & nourished, educated & informed, and that natural resources are accessible, shared, and utilized sustainably. 

Mercy Corps is implementing a five-year, Feed the Future USAID-funded Resilience in Pastoral Areas y (RiPA North) focused on: stimulating increased production, productivity, and marketing through more competitive livestock and livestock products markets; increasing communities’ resilience; improving alternative livelihood options through essential skills transfer; improving food security and nutrition, and contributing to the wider knowledge on pastoral development.  The program is operating in Afar, Somali, and Oromia regions.

Mercy Corps is looking for a strong Market System Development (MSD) Coordinator who will have the responsibility to support technical teams in targeting, monitoring of activities, performance checking, and outcome monitoring. 

General Position Summary

The Market Systems Development (MSD) Coordinator is responsible for coordinating RiPA Component 2 (Diversified and Sustainable Economic Opportunities for People transitioning Out of Pastoralism). He/she will be a key member of the Market Systems Development unit. The MSD Team uses a market-systems, community-led approach to stimulate economic growth creating wealth and jobs for the poorest while maximizing investment from the private and public sectors. The MSD team is composed of technical expertise in the areas of employment, Skill training, Business Advisory, Energy, and financial services. Its main sectors include Employment, MSME development, Business enabling environment, and financial services. 

Essential Job Responsibilities

• Oversee and coordinate field-level MSD team and activities to ensure quality and timely delivery of planned activities.
• Provide technical leadership to field team in planning, organizing, implementing, monitoring, reporting, and evaluation of RiPA MSD focused activities related to Diversified economic opportunity component.
• Advises the Cluster Program Manager related to MSD-related activities and supports to ensure better RiPA overall implementation in the cluster.
• Manages the entire MSD portfolio for the region and is ultimately responsible for the delivery of its mandate to the teams, projects, and management of the region.
• Manage relationships with relevant government stakeholders, public and private partners including key actors (Skill training institutions, Business development service providers, Solar energy companies, MSMEs, and investment bureau) in the target area for better support markets and functions.
• Facilitate private sector engagement in his/her respective responsibility in the region by bringing innovative ideas and initiatives to the MSD team.
• Work closely with all RiPA component team members to ensure activity integration to better achieve overall RiPA goal.
• Contributes to the key monitoring and measuring indicators, milestones, and plans in close collaboration with MSD and M&E team, and solely responsible for monitoring and reporting all output, outcome, and impact indicators for respective market system component(s);
• Ensures the program captures and responds to up-to-date information about market developments within respective market systems.
• Represent Mercy Corps professionally in the responsibility areas to bring credit and to maintain its humanitarian and development mission.
• Other duties as assigned.

INFLUENCE & REPRESENTATION

• Liaise with local government officials, local NGOs and civil society organizations, local religious leaders, and other notables to ensure support for and acceptance of Mercy Corps programs.
• Maintain close working relationships with donors, other humanitarian and development organizations, and local partners, including representing Mercy Corps at local coordination meetings as assigned.
• Conduct himself/herself both professionally and personally in such a manner as to bring credit to Mercy Corps and to not jeopardize its humanitarian mission.
• Team management
• Build effective relationships with program teams implementing RAISE-DFS based on mutual trust, collaboration, urgency, and curiosity
• Assist team members with information, tools, and resources to improve performance & reach objectives.
• Promote accountability, communicate expectations and provide constructive feedback informally and formally
• Create and sustain a work environment of mutual respect where team members strive to achieve excellence.
• Support hiring and orientation of team members with a focus on MSD

GEDSI (GENDER, EQUALITY, DIVERSITY AND SOCIAL INCLUSION)

• Adherence of gender minimum standards
• Allocate budget for GESI related activities and staff capacity building on GESI
• Make sure GESI issues are properly reflected during program management
• Support the organization’s commitment to age and gender inclusive team building process
• Promote an inclusive and equitable workplace culture
• Support Staff Capacity Building on Increase staff knowledge of GEDSI
• Coordinate with GEDSI Technical Team Improve gender-responsiveness of program /Project MEAL system
• Increased commitment to Gender Equality Diversity and Social inclusion

Supervisory Responsibility

RIPA Diversified Economic Opportunity MSD specialists and officers 

Accountability

Reports Directly To: Component 2 MSD specialists and officers 

Technical Line Report To: Diversified Economic Opportunity Team Lead

Works Directly With: Component two team Lead, MSD advisors, teams across the four components, other administrative, finance, and operations staff in-country.

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.

Knowledge and Experience

• Experience in the private sector is strongly preferred
• Bachelor’s degree in agribusiness, economics, business administration or other related fields, or commensurate private sector or field experience is required
• Minimum of 5 years’ experience in the private sector or working with other agencies in market systems facilitation, agribusiness, or financial services
• Ability and willingness to drive motorcycles are greatly preferred.

Success Factors

• Fluent in English and Aff Afar
• Business-minded, entrepreneurial, curious, great problem-solving skills, unafraid to ask questions, and results motivated.
• Excellent communication, 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 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.