Economic Development Lead - Gulu

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.

Programme Summary

Present in Uganda since 2006, Mercy Corps Uganda’s aim is to catalyse change through the Ugandan private sector, civil society, and government to create resilient, economically inclusive, healthy, and secure communities.

We have 15 programmes across Uganda with a total portfolio value of $80m, including support from FCDO, USAID, US State Department, French Development Agency, Conrad Hilton Foundation and other private sector foundations. With strong presence across the country, we have offices in Kampala, Rhino Camp, Yumbe, Moroto, Kotido, Amudat, Kaabong, Karita, and Karenga.

The Climate Smart Jobs Programme (CSJP) is a £39 million four year FCDO funded programme that seeks to grow climate smart agribusinesses to create jobs, support climate smart land management and services, as well as innovation on climate adaptation and mitigation, and remove barriers that stop businesses from getting deals done. Under Component (4) of the CSJP: Climate Smart Land Management Services, (worth approx. £8.5m) Mercy Corps will lead a consortium of partners to implement three overall outputs  under the ‘REVIVE’ programme, focusing on stimulation of supply, demand, and a supportive enabling environment for improved ecosystem services across Northern Uganda.

General Position Summary

The Economic Development Lead will have responsibility for successful delivery of the REVIVE programme in close collaboration with the Team Leader. They will have responsibility for ensuring all approaches and activities will be technically robust and are in line with the overall objective of REVIVE/Component 4 of CSJP. They will provide overall technical leadership in collaboration with all other technical leads (Monitoring, Results and Learning Lead, EClimate Smart Land Management and Services Lead and the Gender and Social Inclusion Advisor). They will serve as technical focal point for the programme and will provide FCDO and other stakeholder representation on all economic growth and private sector engagement related aspects.

The Economic Development Lead will be responsible for implementing a market-led approach, together with private sector and government actors, across Northern Uganda to cultivate a business enabling environment that encourages uptake of climate smart agriculture and sustainable land management and services. The technical lead is expected to have expertise in market systems, private sector engagement, crop agriculture (agronomy) value chains, financial inclusion and economic empowerment of youth and women, and some knowledge of climate smart agriculture and sustainable land management.

Essential Job Responsibilities

Programme Management & Technical Oversight

• Provide technical leadership and strategic support activities in cooperation with key project stakeholders, including national and international partner organisations, local civil society organisations, local and national government officials, other international agencies on the ground, and key donors.
• Provide oversight of all Inception Phase technical assessments;specifically on coordination of the market system assessment
• Provide technical leadership and guidance to program and partner staff, ensuring best practice approaches are used for evaluating business models and supporting Uganda’s economy and business environment;
• Lead the process of developing partnerships with and growing a vibrant network of key ‘Lead Firm’ actors, such as large businesses and government partners who will contribute to proposed initatives;
• In collaboration with lead firms - private and public sector partners, identify training needs and facilitate training and technical assistance through program and partner staff for targetted farmers and micro and small enterprises (MSMEs); and
• Coordinate with procurement, logistics, security, administration, infrastructure and human resources teams to ensure operational systems support field activities.

 Research and Monitoring and Evaluation and Learning:

• Support relevant team members and/or consultants during inception phase technical assessments
• Provide on-going support to teams on data collection processes for completeness, accuracy, and timely submission.
• Work closely with the Team Leader and the MEL team to ensure monitoring and evaluation is practical and reflects best practices for measuring climate smart agriculture and sustainable land management and services
• Nurture partnerships with universities, research institutions, and other organizations to produce case studies, assessments, and other learning documentation, and influence them to drive innovation and positive change.

Ethics and Integrity

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

 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 Programme Participants

• Mercy Corps team members are expected to support all efforts toward accountability, specifically
  to our participants and to international standards guiding international relief and development work, while actively engaging participant 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 

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITY: None

Reports Directly To: Team Leader

Works Directly With: All team members of the REVIVE programme, including partners, Deputy team leader and program officers/assistants, Technical leads and advisor, Research team, Operations, HR and Finance teams

 Knowledge and Experience:

• A minimum of 5 years of experience in increasingly proficient management and/or technical support in climate, market systems development, agri-enterprise development and economic development programming;

●      Advanced degree in Business Management, Agribusiness, Agricultural Economics, or Economics with major focus on rural livelihoods, agribusiness, or resilience;

• Demonstrable experience in developmenting business financial models and evaluating common business analysis tools required;
• Working knowledge of Uganda’s economy and business environment, particularly in the context of rural development and Northern Uganda;
• Demonstrated ability to interact effectively with a range of partners including private sector, banks, government, research insititutes and civil society;
• Fluency in English is required. Ability to communicate in the local languages (Acholi, Alur, Karamojong, Lango, Lugbara, Luo, Pokot) is highly desirable;
• Experience working in large scale complex programs and challenging environments; and
• Experience working for FCDO funded programmes is preferable

Success Factors

The successful Economic Development Lead will have a demonstrated ability to lead and communicate effectively with team members of varied work styles and cultures, follow procedures and meet deadlines with flexibility and creativity in planning and problem solving. S/he will have a proven ability to learn quickly, multi-task, prioritize, take initiative, and be accountable for results, understand the larger picture while remaining focused on the details, problem solving, work within a complex and sensitive setting and to follow laws and security protocols. The most successful Mercy Corps team members have a strong commitment to teamwork and accountability, thrive in evolving and changing environments and make effective written and verbal communication a priority in all situations.

Competencies:

• Strategic Thinking
• Results-oriented
• Impact and Influence
• Collaboration/Teamwork
• Adaptability/Change Management
• Communication skills

Living Conditions/Environmental Conditions

The Economic Development Lead position will be based in Gulu, Uganda with at least 40% travel to domestic sites. Travel to other locations for regional representation may be required. At times evening and weekend work may be required to meet deadlines and at times of shocks and stresses.

Mercy Corps team members represent the agency both during and outside of work hours when deployed in a field posting or on a visit/STA to a field posting. 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. 

Ongoing Learning

In support of our belief that learning organisations 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.

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.

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. 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.

Please note that this position is contingent upon donor approval and funding.

Closing date for applications: March 18th 2022