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.
In the Horn of Africa, Mercy Corps has been working in Somalia, Ethiopia and Kenya, since 2004, working in rural, peri-urban and urban areas and engaging in both development and humanitarian work, that seek to integrate approaches, programs and geographies as much as possible. Our partners include government and intergovernmental organizations, academic institutions, development and private sector actors, civil societies, and the participating public.
Program / Department Summary
Mercy Corps has been a leader in the drylands of the Horn of Africa for the last decade, supporting households affected by climate change, drought, conflict and other challenges to adapt and thrive in the face of increasing shocks. Our programming focuses on strengthening livestock production and stimulating markets to be inclusive of smallholder producers and MSMEs, enhancing food and water security, addressing gender inequality and youth opportunities, and strengthening devolved governance outcomes to support dryland communities and break the cycle of humanitarian need. Our approaches lay the foundations for a more food secure and resilient future.
Aligned with Mercy Corps 10-year Regional Livestock Strategy, the Regional Livestock Programme (RLP) is working across the drylands of Kenya, Ethiopia and Somalia to enhance household food security and livelihoods for vulnerable pastoralists and agro-pastoralists. The RLP leverages the significant potential for livestock production and trade within the region by building vibrant and inclusive regional livestock market systems, strengthening livestock production and trade, supporting climate adaptation, and enhancing regeneration and governance of communal and private rangelands.
The Position
The Inclusive Markets Lead for the Regional Livestock Programme will use their in-depth contextual understanding, technical and practical expertise and relationship building skills to define and support the collective delivery of a transformative program for vulnerable livestock producers and micro, small and medium-size livestock-based businesses in the drylands of Somalia, Ethiopia and Kenya.
The Inclusive Markets Lead will oversee the program’s inclusive market systems strategy in collaboration with country-level Program Managers and Trade Corridor Coordinators. S/He is the technical lead for all market systems development, market systems resilience and private sector engagement approaches and activities, working closely with and increasing the technical knowledge and skills of program activity staff. S/He will support implementation teams to identify intervention points and partnership models for systems-level impact while safeguarding that the program is grounded in intersectional gender equality and social inclusion.
S/He will supervise the program’s technical advisors and managers and coordinate intervention approaches and activity integration. S/He will provide technical guidance to all program components and ensure high quality programming that will advance ecological sustainability, commercial viability, growth in public and private investment, gender equality and women and girls’ empowerment.
S/He will coordinate closely with the Monitoring and Results Measurement manager in intervention monitoring, evaluation, accountability, and learning systems to demonstrate impact, while sharing learning across our team and partners.
Essential Responsibilities
VISION AND STRATEGY (30%)
TECHNICAL LEADERSHIP & IMPLEMENTATION QUALITY (50%)
Lead the technical design and implementation of the Regional Livestock Programme. Coordinate closely with Program Managers in the execution of implementation plans, identification of opportunities and barriers to guarantee the program is implemented on time, on scope and on budget. Oversee and support adaptation of approaches and activities in face of a changing context. Establish and lead internal program technical trainings on inclusive market development, private sector engagement, and investment approaches. Oversee the technical capacity of program staff to ensure implementation quality. Co-lead the development and administration of regional and country level operational plans and reports related to inclusive market interventions. Ensure that market intervention strategies include cross-sectoral integration and layering of activities for ecological sustainability, climate change adaptation, commercial viability, growth in public and private investment, gender equality and women and girls’ empowerment. Oversee program-level partnerships specific to inclusive market systems strategy and intervention approaches. Support RLP Monitoring and Results Measurement Manager, Program Director and country-level Program Managers to interpret monitoring results and relevant study findings to strengthen MSD/MiC/PSE approach, intervention design and partnerships (i.e. adaptive management to support MSD/MiC/PSE). Support the development of knowledge management products to increase the program’s understanding of successful implementation strategies; distill learnings and evidence generated into program guidance and thought leadership for internal and external consumption.PROGRAM FINANCE & COMPLIANCE MANAGEMENT (20%)
Support RLP Program and Finance Manager(s) to manage program budgets in coordination with country finance teams. Support the RLP Monitoring and Results Measurement Manager in the measurement and analysis of key performance indicators to inform strategic decision making. Coordinate with the RLP Contracts and Compliance Senior Manager to review and support country team adherence to Mercy Corps and donor policies and procedures.Supervisory Responsibility
The Inclusive Markets Lead will supervise the:
Accountability
Reports Directly To: Regional Livestock Program Director
Works Directly With:
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.
Minimum Qualifications & Transferable Skills
Additional Skills and Capacities -Required
Experience working with major donors, SDC, AFD, SIDA, EU, World Bank or USAID. Ability and willingness to travel freely throughout rural Ethiopia, Kenya and Somalia. Demonstrated ability to foster commitment and build capacity among activity staff and in-country stakeholders. Excellent written and persuasive oral communication skills in English required.Additional Skills and Capacities
Ability to self-manage and succeed in an integrated management model, with demonstrated proactive and flexible nature in resolving problems and finding innovative solutions.Demonstrated attention to detail, ability to follow procedures, meet deadlines and work independently and cooperatively with team members. Strong interpersonal and communication skills and the ability to work effectively with groups to produce high quality results. Cultural sensitivity, patience, flexibility and ability to work well in a multi-sectoral and multi-cultural team and to work closely, understand and support private sector, government and civil society. Ability to work in a fluid and sometimes-stressful environment with unexpected challenges. Skills in participatory learning and action and facilitating collaborative problem solving.Success Factors
The successful RLP Inclusive Markets Lead will have strong technical skills combined with strategic visioning and leadership. S/he will have an outstanding ability to inspire teams to deeply understand gender and youth dynamics and integrate this understanding into activities that enhance program impact and take the program to new levels. S/he will also have proven experience with cross-cultural teams and capacity building, individual staff development, and strong mentoring skills. S/he will have demonstrated ability to follow procedures and meet deadlines with flexibility and creativity in planning and problem solving. The RLP Inclusive Markets Lead will have proven ability to learn quickly, multi-task, prioritize, take initiative and be accountable for results. The most successful Mercy Corps staff 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.
Living Conditions / Environmental Conditions
The position can be based in Ethiopia, Kenya or Somalia. The position requires up to 40% travel to support country programs, which may include travel to insecure locations where freedom of movement is limited and areas where amenities are limited.
Applicants must be a Citizen or Permanent Resident of Kenya, Ethiopia or Somalia. Expatriate benefits are not included in this position.
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.