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. We help people overcome poverty and conflict. Working with communities, we leverage local logic to help people transform their lives. To grow more food, earn higher incomes and ultimately advocate for their needs. We see global challenges as an invitation to pioneer innovative, sustainable solutions. During our 34-year history, our work has improved more than 170 million lives in more than 115 countries around the world. Mercy Corps Ethiopia invites motivated and qualified candidates to apply for the following vacant position.

 Position Status: 

3 month, Full-Time 

 Open Position: 

one

 Program Description

Mercy Corps has been operating in Ethiopia since 2004. In partnership with civil society organizations, 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, Gambella, Oromia, Somali, Amhara and South Nations, Nationalities and People’s Region (SNNPR) – 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 on 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.

Mercy Corps is seeking a dynamic and passionate Market Systems and Youth Employment Advisor to provide technical leadership to the implementation of a USAID-funded multi-year Resilience in Pastoral Areas Activity (RiPA), North, as well as to other Ethiopia programs focused on MSD and Youth Employment.  RiPA North takes a systems approach to improve the resilience capacities of households, markets and governance institutions across 22 woredas in the Somali, Afar and Oromia regions. The activity integrates four technical components and a ‘crisis modifier’ intervention which is aimed at protecting development gains against shocks and stresses. The components include: 1) Improved Disaster Risk Management (DRM) systems and capacity; 2) Diversified and sustainable economic opportunities for people Transitioning out of Pastoralism (ToPs) particularly youth and women; 3) Intensified and sustained pastoral and agro-pastoral production and marketing; 4) Improved and sustained nutrition and hygiene practices; and 5) Crisis modifier. The RiPA North CoP will be responsible for overall management of the activity including consortium partnerships and relationships with a wide range of stakeholders at different levels including close collaboration and coordination with RiPA South.

The Youth Employment and Market Systems Advisor will provide overall technical leadership in MSD and YE to the RiPA program, with specific attention to Components 2 and 3.

 Essential Job Responsibilities

 TECHNICAL LEADERSHIP

• Provide technical oversight to Component 2 of the Resilience in Pastoral Areas Program, focused on Market Systems and Youth Employment, until the new CoP is in place
• Facilitate the development and review of Intervention and Sub-Activity Concept Notes for On and off-farm market systems development  and youth employment activities across Components 2, ensuring inputs are relevant and appropriate to local context
• Facilitate understanding of market systems development approaches across program components, among local partners and Government Stakeholders
• Support analysis of Components 2 and 3 market assessments and ensure integrated  Interventions are designed that will contribute to wider program vision and strategy
• Work with Team Lead/s to strengthen program systems for integrated planning and implementation across all program components
• Partner with the CLA team and other component senior advisors to facilitate regular review and reflection sessions, integrated and comprehensive interventions implementation with team members, against the program’s theory of change, to understand progress against results an
• Lead necessary written inputs on component 2, including quarterly reporting

 TECHNICAL SUPPORT AND LEARNING

• Provide regular mentoring and technical assistance to team members in the implementation of markets systems activities, including refresher workshops as necessary to ensure approaches are responsive to culture and context
• Facilitate regular learning sessions related to market system development, grounding examples in Ethiopia’s pastoral area context
• Provide review and/or support development of sub activity concept notes across component 2 to ensure a market systems based approach
• Provide on-site and remote guidance with respect to market systems activity implementation, ensuring guidance is tailored to local culture and context
• In partnership with the CLA and M&E teams, facilitate the collection, review and reflection on data related to markets system development; provide feedback and inputs into continuous improvement of market-system monitoring
• Regularly participate and input into monitoring, research and learning processes with respect to market systems development
• Support the capture of lessons and best practices, as well as inputs into quarterly report

 PARTNERSHIP AND REPRESENTATION:

• Represent the Resilience in Pastoral Areas program to donors and implementing partners
• Provide assistance with presentations and talking points, as needed, to team members, ensuring the highest quality content
• Facilitate building private sector partnerships that can further MSD and YE objectives of Mercy Corps Ethiopia

 Security

• Work closely with the country team’s security focal point to develop and maintain systems that promote the safety and security of all team members.
• Ensure that programs are designed and implemented with a clear analysis and understanding of security.

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.

Knowledge and Experience

• BA/S or equivalent in social science, international development, management or public administration, business administration or other relevant field related to youth programming.
• A minimum of 5 years relevant technical experience in using systems strengthening / market systems development (MSD) methodologies and youth employment programming.
• Experience using capacity building and mentoring approaches with individuals and institutions
• Demonstrated ability to build and foster an adaptive team culture and a record of accomplishment in strategic visioning, leadership, and inspiring teams.
• Demonstrated ability to build and maintain relationships with host governments, other donor-funded projects and stakeholders, local organizations, and partners
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills in English.

 Success Factors

The successful Senior MSD Advisor will possess excellent leadership skills, with the ability to maintain a broad perspective. He/she will undertake innovative approaches, be agile in the conceptualization of new program ideas, and will be well versed in strategic thinking and planning. The ideal candidate will have a strong curiosity for understanding and working effectively within the complex cultural, political, security and social environment of Ethiopia. He/She will be an excellent communicator, multi-tasker, and able to work in ambiguous situations. He/She will be a tolerant and flexible individual able to work in difficult and stressful environments and follow procedures. The successful candidate will be focused on team-building and capacity-building of team members; be a strategic thinker, have strong skills in design monitoring and evaluation of development programs and maintain a sense of humor.

Living Conditions / Environmental Conditions

The position will be based in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia with regular travels to the field. This position requires up to 40% of travel by air and road to field offices in relatively secure environments.

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

Fostering a diverse and open workplace is an important part of Mercy Corps’ vision. Mercy Corps is an Equal Opportunity Employer regardless of background. We are committed to creating an inclusive environment.