AGENCY PROFILE/SUMMARY:
Mercy Corps is an International Humanitarian organization operating Water and Sanitation, Economic Development, Livelihoods, Capacity Building, Emergency Response, Health and Nutrition, and similar sectors in the regions of SNNPR, Somali, Oromia, Addis Ababa and Dire Dawa. Mercy Corps operates in 42 countries to promote community-led and market-driven development; strategically focused on countries and regions in transition, Mercy Corps takes a progressive approach by supporting communities, entrepreneurs, governments and the private sector to move from relief activities to long-term and sustainable economic growth. Mercy Corps has been operational in Ethiopia since 2004, delivering strategic, long-term approaches to address the challenges of hunger, poverty and climate change. With a well-established reputation in the areas of market systems development, inter-community relationship sensitivity, and emergency (nutrition) response, Mercy Corps studies the Ethiopian market to promote diverse livelihoods; evaluates urban issues, including climate resistance and economic opportunities; supports communities and local partners to develop plans for natural resource uses and sustainability; and, through all this, builds resilience.
Position Title: Market Development Officer
Primary Location: Tum maji woreda / Bench Maji zone in SNNP Region
Open Position: 1
PROGRAM/DEPARTMENT SUMMARY
General Position Summary
· Recognize opportunities for innovative action and create an environment where alternative viewpoints are welcomed.
· Set direction by prioritizing and organizing actions & resources to achieve objectives and contribute to countrywide strategy development.
· Develop and organize activities to secure resources for programs and convince stakeholders to provide support.
· Develops her/his own deep understanding and mastery of ‘economic and market systems strengthening facilitation’ including coaching, relationship building, communicating, entrepreneurialism/business understanding and innovating;:
· Coordinate and organize market assessment validation and activities planning workshop, which will involve all key stakeholders.
· Advise/guide the project assistance officers to develop detailed operational plan for implementation of selected activities, including roles and responsibilities, timeframe, desired outcomes
· Develop, implement, monitor progress of work plans that can be adaptively managed
· Support project officers through capacity building, coaching and mentoring to improve their performance in executing planned activities in their respective target woredas
· Ensure that market systems work captures and responds to up-to-date information about market developments within respective market systems and global best practices for Economic & Markets Development.
· Manage all required documentation and reporting required by the donor and government
· Support the project team lead on developing draft monthly, quarter, mid-term and annual report which will be submitted to project manager for review and further input
· Regularly travel to the field to implement major activities and guide/support assistance officers in planning and implementing sub activities. Furthermore regularly visit field activities to assess progress and provide formal and informal feedback.
· Adhere to Mercy Corps, donor and government policies, rules, regulation and procedures
· Respect the values, norms and the culture of beneficiary communities and local laws at all time
· Ensure compliance with donor and Mercy Corps rules, regulations and procedures related to emergency and development programming.
· Participate or contribute in draft and/or review scope of work to hire and manage any technical consultants, including review for technical efficacy.
· Identify, build and manage collaborative partnerships with consortium partners, donors, local governments and other stakeholders including beneficiary community members.
· Communicate effectively to ensure overall project targets and donor obligations are met.
· Ensure compliance with security procedures and policies as determined by country leadership.
· Proactively ensure that team members under her/his supervision operate in a secure environment and are aware of policies.
· 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.
· 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, rules, regulation and procedures, and values at all times and in all in-country venues.
· Bachelor’s degree in economics, business administration, agribusiness, Agricultural economics or other related field, or commensurate private sector or field experience is required
· Minimum of 3 years’ experience in private sector or working with other agencies(government or NGOs) in market systems facilitation, agribusiness or financial services
· Deep understanding and mastery of Markets4Poor approach and Economic & Markets Development facilitation including coaching, relationship building, communicating, entrepreneurialism/business understanding and innovating.
· Familiar with all aspects of the relevant market systems including key actors, micro-financial institutions (MFIs), banks, Insurances, mobile banking agencies, information service providers, employment recruiting agencies, inputs suppliers, producers, traders, transporters, intermediary and terminal markets governance frameworks (formal and informal); and all enabling and support markets and functions;
· Experience of working with pastoral communities in Ethiopia is required and experience of the context of south Omo and Bench Maji zone is an asset for consideration
· Team player and proven problem solving skill