Key Expert 3: Value chain and business development expert

Description

Position pending funding

Position opened to national applicants

About Mercy Corps

Mercy Corps is powered by the belief that a better world is possible. To do this, we know our teams do their best work when they are diverse and every team member feels that they belong. We welcome diverse backgrounds, perspectives, and skills so that we can be stronger and have long term impact.

The Programme

This opportunity focuses on providing technical assistance to strengthen economic transformation in areas affected by conflict and migration in Ethiopia. The specific objective of the contract is to support and enhance the capacity of the local economy to generate employment opportunities within existing and potential value chains. These efforts will target refugees, internally displaced persons (IDPs), returnees, and host communities, fostering inclusive economic development and resilience.

The Position(General Position Summary)

The expert will work closely with stakeholders to strengthen value chains, foster the inclusion of vulnerable populations into financial systems, and design innovative financing mechanisms to create sustainable economic opportunities. By facilitating platforms for information exchange between communities and businesses, the expert will support refugees, internally displaced persons (IDPs), returnees, and host communities in building resilience and contributing to local economic development.

Essential Responsibilities

STRATEGY AND PLANNING

• Collaborate with programme leadership to develop and implement strategies for enhancing value chain development in conflict- and migration-prone regions.

• Support the identification and prioritisation of value chains with high potential for economic transformation and job creation for vulnerable populations.

• Coordinate with local and regional stakeholders to align programme goals with broader economic development strategies and policies.

• Facilitate the integration of innovative financing mechanisms and inclusive practices into strategic planning processes.

• Lead the development and dissemination of reports on key performance indicators related to value chain activities, ensuring data-driven decision-making.

• Support the programme team in mobilising resources and partnerships necessary for executing strategic priorities effectively.

• Monitor progress and provide actionable insights to refine strategies and improve programme outcomes.

REGIONAL SYSTEMS AND SUPPORT FUNCTIONS

• Review and support country team adherence to Mercy Corps and donor policies and procedures;

• Assist in capturing and disseminating best practices on operations, finance and HR systems across country teams to ensure highest quality and standards.

• Provide dedicated support to country team in the event of an emergency or start up of a complex program that requires additional resources.

• Collaborate with country finance leads in producing bi-annual master budgets.

HUMAN RESOURCES, SAFEGUARDING AND DIVERSITY

• Support Mercy Corps global and regional initiatives for human resources, including safeguarding and diversity, and talent development;

• Collaborate with the people team to promote staff access to high quality learning opportunities, with a special emphasis on national team member development;

RISK MANAGEMENT

• Engage and support the programme team to ensure that adequate risk management systems are in place;

• Collaborate with country leadership to support preparedness and response to major disruptive events;

• Engage with country team on the internal audit process to track findings and ensure country team compliance with IA findings and recommendations;

• Engage with country level Ethics and Assurance managers as well as the global Ethics and Assurance department to track and analyze trends and needs across countries;

Supervisory Responsibility

N/A

Accountability

Reports Directly To: Key Expert 1: Team Leader

Works Directly With: Programme team (Key and Non-Key Experts), country leadership and heads of Finance, Operations and HR departments.

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 Qualification & Transferable Skills

Qualifications and skills

• Master’s Degree in economics, or business studies, or a relevant, directly related discipline, or, in its absence, equivalent relevant professional experience of minimum 10 years.

General professional experience

• Minimum 5 years professional experience in support to value chains development in Sub Saharan Africa;

• An excellent verbal and written command of English is required.

Specific professional experience

• Minimum 3 years of experience relating to inclusion of vulnerable population into financial services;

• Minimum 3 years of experience relating to value chains analysis;

• Minimum 3 years of experience relating to design or implementation of innovative financing mechanisms;

• Minimum 1 year experience relating to creating/strengthening platforms/services for information exchange between communities and business services cross-border.

Success Factors

The successful candidate will demonstrate exceptional coordination, and relationship-building skills, with a particular focus on fostering collaboration among diverse stakeholders in value chain development. They will excel at facilitating partnerships and driving innovative approaches to engage and include vulnerable populations in economic systems. A strong ability to navigate complex challenges, think strategically, and adapt to evolving priorities is essential.

The ideal candidate will possess excellent interpersonal and cross-cultural communication skills, enabling them to build trust and maintain productive relationships with community members, business leaders, and development partners. A commitment to inclusivity, flexibility, and openness to new ideas will support continuous improvement and innovation in value chain initiatives. A positive attitude, a collaborative spirit, and the ability to inspire and motivate teams will be key to achieving success. Fluency in English is essential for clear communication and report writing.

Living Conditions / Environmental Conditions

The position is based in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia and it may require up to 40% travel to support country programme, which may include travel to insecure locations where freedom of movement is limited and areas where amenities are limited.  Housing for this role is in individual housing and staff will have access to good medical services and the living situation is of a high standard.

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. 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.

Keywords

Value chainBusiness developmentEconomic transformationFinancial systemsInnovative financingEconomic opportunitiesData-driven decision-makingHuman resourcesRisk managementSafeguardingDiversityTalent developmentRisk management systemsEmergency reliefEthics and AssuranceInternational relations