Market System Development Advisor-Agriculture | Gambella

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 present in Ethiopia since 2004 working to drive bold and transformative ideas, working closely with government, the private sector and civil society actors to build a more resilient country, ensuring that programs are responsive to and influenced by participants and stakeholders. With the launch of Mercy Corps Global Strategy, Pathway to Possibility, the country office is poised to operationalize its three-year strategy with a vision to enhance the resilience of climate- and conflict-affected communities through market systems development for improved livelihoods, access to food, and safe and clean water to thrive in the face of crises. In Ethiopia, our strategy focuses in the four outcome areas: 1) Economically marginalized populations have improved and diversified livelihoods, income, and assets; 2) Pastoralists, farmers, and households have access to sustainably produced, safe, nutritious food; 3) Social cohesion and inclusive governance processes are built in crisis-affected communities; and 4) People have equitable, sustained access to clean water and sanitation for domestic and productive use. Currently, we operate in six regional states – Afar, Gambella, Oromia, Somali, Amhara and South Ethiopia. Working with a diverse base of donors that includes United States Agency for International Development (USAID), European Union, GAC, Hilton Foundation, United Nations (UN), JOA, Sweden, EKN, and other foundations, Mercy Corps Ethiopia empowers people to recover from crisis, build better lives and transform their communities for good. 

Position Title: Market System Development Advisor-Agriculture

Duty Station: Gambella

Open Position:  1

Safeguarding Risk Level: Medium  

General Position Summary 

Integrated Smallholders Farmers Resilience and Livelihood Support (ISRLS)  and  Peace building social cohesion, improved economic/livelihood opportunities and market access Project is a WFP and Hilton Foundation funded projects with the aim of building the resilience and improving livelihoods of smallholder farmers in Gambella region with the specific objectives of increasing agriculture production and productivity, access to market and market linkages, financial inclusion, and promotion of production and consumption of diversified crops to improve nutrition status of the population in target woredas.

The implementation of this projects will improve smallholder farmers productivity, enhance income and build resilience which contributes to country’s vision becoming middle income country by 2030.

Mercy Corps seeks Market System Development Advisor – Agriculture for the Gambella ISRLS Program. This position will be based in Gambella, Ethiopia. The Advisor will report directly to the Area Program Manager and work to support the effort in improving the livelihood options and participations for both the host and refugee community with better economic integration among themselves. He/she will be working with the team to establish a better understanding of the agriculture l markets that can create better opportunities for the target groups.

Essential Job Responsibilities

Strategy & Vision

• Recognizes opportunities for innovative action and create an environment where project teams work together, exchange information, coordinate activities and develop team spirit in project management
• Works closely with project management other team members to contribute to a vision and strategy development and in applying market systems development approaches to refugee and host community contexts

Program management

• Supports the expansion of the high potential markets for Agriculture in target refugees and host communities.
• Work with market actors like inputs suppliers, producers, traders, aggregators, value adders, processors, cooperatives, Agri Businesses, to strengthen their reach in serving the refugees and host communities.
• Supports the team to conduct ‘refresher’ market analysis of crop and livestock markets to generates programmatic understanding about the market opportunities, constraints related to access to inputs, knowledge/skills, limited value addition – will support the team to identify any market shifts caused by recent shocks and stresses.
• Will lead the teams to map the relevant market functions and key market players. Execute quality activities, track results, update any changes in capacities, constraints, and incentives to adopt new market behaviors and develop and implement activities
• Develops key monitoring and measuring indicators, milestones and plans in close collaboration with supervisor and M&E team, and solely responsible for monitoring and reporting all output, outcome and impact indicators for respective market system(s).
• Ensures the program captures and responds to up-to-date information about market developments within respective market systems and global best practices for Economic & Markets Development.
• Build and maintain close relationships with key government partners in Gambella town and the refugee camps, at all levels
• Work closely with the program team and partners ensuring we adhere to humanitarian principles, Mercy Corps’ gender policies, Do No Harm principles and beneficiary accountability standards;
• Integrate community approaches, gender sensitivity and capacity building into all activities;
• Fulfill Mercy Corps Program Management Minimum Standards based on the organization-wide guide.

Team Management

• Familiarize the team with all aspects of agriculture market systems the project is targeting including key actors; governance frameworks (formal and informal); and all support markets and functions.
• Trains and provides mentoring to the teams working with him/under him to acquire knowledge and key tools in market systems Development and facilitation approach and works in field with the objectives to increase their capacities in program implementation effectiveness
• Assist team members with information, tools and resources to improve performance & reach objectives.
• Create and sustain a work environment of mutual respect where team members strive to achieve excellence.

Finance & Compliance Management

• Ensure compliance with donor and Mercy Corps regulations related to emergency programming.
• Draft and/or review scope of work to hire and manage any technical consultants, including review for technical efficacy and contract budget.

Influence & Representation

• Identify, build and manage collaborative partnerships with consortium partners, sub-grantees, donors, local governments and other stakeholders.
• Communicate effectively to ensure overall project targets and donor obligations are met.

Knowledge and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in one of the following subjects: , Economics, Crop Science, Animal Science, Rural Development and agricultural extension and, Agricultural Economics;
• Five to seven years of experience in one of the agriculture in Ethiopia
• Deep understanding and mastery of Markets4Poor approach and Economic & Markets Development facilitation including coaching, relationship building, communicating, entrepreneurialism/business understanding and innovating.
• Experience in working with livestock and crop production in the industry (public and private) actors and institutional stakeholders;
• Demonstrated program implementation and training capabilities;
• Knowledge of participatory analyses, action and results processes;
• Experience in the region is required;

Success Factors

• Fluent in English and one of the local languages in Gambella
• Business minded, entrepreneurial, adaptive, curious, great problem solving skills, unafraid to ask questions, and results motivated.
• He/She will be a tolerant and flexible individual able to work in difficult and stressful environments and follow procedures
• Excellent communication, facilitation and networking skills with a wide range of private, partner and NGO-sector actors
• Computer literate especially in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook)

 GEDSI (GENDER, EQUALITY, DIVERSITY AND SOCIAL INCLUSION)

• Adherence of gender minimum standards
• Support the organization’s commitment to age and gender inclusive team building process
• Work closely with team members and partners, to support capacity-building and gender integration into the programs.
• Promote an inclusive and equitable workplace culture

Supervisory Responsibility

Market System Development specialist -Agriculture

Accountability

Reports Directly To: Gambela area manager

Technical Line Report To: ISRLS and T4P Project Coordinator

Works Directly With: projects team ISRLS and T4P Financial inclusion advisor, ISRLS Field officers, ISRLS Agriculture and Post Specialist ISRLS Financial Inclusion Specialist

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 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.

All qualified individuals are invited to apply for the advertised position. All applications, including a CV, three references, and all applicable official papers, must be sent electronically.

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: October 14 / 4:00 PM