Consultant - Market Systems Development: PERMA - Remote

Description

Background:

Mercy Corps is a leading global organisation 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.

Purpose / Project Description:

Mercy Corps implements a variety of programming throughout the Middle East in response to the diverse humanitarian and long-term development needs of the region. Mercy Corps has ongoing programs in Syria, Yemen, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, and Palestine. Mercy Corps is committed to delivering high quality, high impact programming that reaches communities or individuals in need, wherever they are.

Mercy Corps Iraq is implementing Promoting Economic Revival of Microbusiness and Agriculture (PERMA 2), an agriculture program that aims to improve the business environment and improve access to financial services as well as reactivate agriculture value chains in Salah al-Din and Ninewa governorates. Efforts toward agricultural and rural economic recovery must target the rehabilitation of both the public and the private (at micro and small enterprise levels) infrastructure through an integrated approach, while also taking into account the social and cultural complexity of Salah al-Din and Ninewa. In response, PERMA 2 has outlined three main objectives aimed at supporting rehabilitation, reconstruction, and overall economic recovery of the agriculture sector in Salah al-Din and Ninewa:

●    Financial institutions are providing appropriate and affordable financial services to enable MSMEs to start, re-start and grow agricultural activities;

●    Small-scale farmers have improved access to services, inputs, information, infrastructure and markets that increase their productivity and profitability; and

●    Local institutions and leaders are promoting intra- and inter-community interactions that contribute to the reintegration of returnees in the agricultural sector and conflict-resolution.

Consultant Objectives:

• Develop, support and communicate PERMA programme strategy to key internal and external stakeholders, including the donor, potential donors
• Work with consultants and team members, ensuring that activities are moving ahead seamlessly and are in line with the MSD approach. Support project team to design scale up interventions in line with the MSD approach
• Support the development of PERMA donor reports, case studies, assessments and learning documents
• Provide the team with mentorship, capacity building and training on market systems development as needed
• Provide support in onboarding PERMA Team Leader, as needed

Consultant Activities:

The Consultant will conduct the following activities:

• Review PERMA Quality Improvement Plan and collaborate with consultants and project team members to establish clear project milestones and timelines.
• Conduct regular meetings and progress reviews to ensure activities are on track and aligned with the Market Systems Development (MSD) approach.
• Provide technical assistance and expertise to design and implement interventions MSD approach.
• Provide guidance and support to consultants, addressing any challenges or bottlenecks in project implementation.
• Participate in stakeholder meetings, including donor meetings, to ensure programme strategy is well communicated and understood
• Support the project team to develop case studies that demonstrate PERMA’s impact
• Provide ongoing support and coaching to team members on the MSD approach as required.

Consultant Deliverables:

The Consultant will develop the following deliverables.

1. Clearly outlined key deliverables, deadlines and dependencies
2. Regular meetings with team members, with an agenda, meeting minutes, and clear action items
3. Documented technical assistance on implementation strategy and approach
4. Documented inputs on bottlenecks and challenges along with key recommendations
5. Documented inputs on case studies, learning documents and success stories

Timeframe / Schedule:

Estimated LOE is 30 working days between February - August 2024

The Consultant will report to:

Director of Programmes - Iraq

The Consultant will work closely with: PERMA Team Leader, Director - Markets, PERMA Financial Inclusion Manager, PERMA Agribusiness Manager, Mercy Corps Iraq PaQ Team

Required Experience & Skills:

• Bachelor’s degree required. Formal training in Market Systems Development or M4P preferred.
• 5-7 years of experience in international development work, with a minimum of three years in a program management or technical advisor role, including proposal design.
• Minimum of 2-3 years of experience in Market Systems Development technical work -including experience with program design, partnership building, technical advising, and/or learning and research.
• Experience working in fragile contexts and humanitarian settings preferred.
• Strong writing skills required.
• Strong presentation and representation skills required.
• Fluency in English required.

TO APPLY

In order to be considered, this application requires the candidate to apply to both (2) related consultant postings titled:

1. Consultant - Market Systems Development: Middle East & Europe – Remote
2. Consultant – Market Systems Development: PERMA (2) – Remote (this posting)

Applicants must please submit the following to each related posting:

• CV
• A cover letter that addresses your experience directly related to elements detailed in the Scope of Work including the Required Experience and Skills section

**Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
**Achieving our mission begins with how we build our team and work together. Through our commitment to enriching our organisation 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
**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 team members are expected to support all efforts toward accountability, specifically to our stakeholders and to international standards guiding international relief and development work, while actively engaging 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 venues.