Market Systems/Value Chain Technical Lead – Ethiopia Highlands Resilience Activity

**This position is pending funding

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 Program / Department / Team

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 in 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 currently seeking a qualified Market Systems/Value Chain Technical Lead to support implementation of the anticipated, USAID-funded Highlands Resilience Activity (HRA) in Ethiopia. HRA will contribute to the Productive Safety Net Program (PSNP) 5’s “Big Push” initiative and has the overarching goal of strengthening resilience among vulnerable households in Ethiopia’s Highlands, resulting in 120,000 PSNP households reaching the graduation threshold. HRA will support these households in moving above the graduation threshold and to where they no longer require social safety net programming for household food security and have the capabilities and assets to withstand regular and predictable shocks. The Activity will achieve this goal by directly supporting households in increasing their on-farm, off-farm, and employment incomes while facilitating improvements in the market systems required to increase demand for goods and services in PSNP communities. HRA will be a five-year program with an expected start date during mid to late 2023.

The Position

The Market Systems/Value Chain Technical Lead will provide HRA staff and partners with technical leadership and expertise in market systems development and climate-resilient crop & livestock value chain development. The Technical Lead will play a critical role in the design, implementation, and management of the program’s technical strategy and specific activities in close collaboration with local, national, and international partners and stakeholders. The Technical Lead will also manage technical teams and supervise staff.

Essential Responsibilities

PROGRAM QUALITY – RESILIENT MARKETS AND VALUE CHAINS

• Provide technical leadership and direction to program staff, participants, and diverse partners, including government, civil society organizations, communities, and households.
• Ensure high-quality program design for relevant technical areas, develop client-centered and market-driven approaches to deliver measurable impact, and ensure technical and operational excellence in the execution of program activities and services.
• Take leadership in identifying, addressing, and adapting to program quality needs and gaps as they arise. Collaborate with other senior technical staff to problem solve.
• Supervise and/or review the work of technical consultants.

PROGRAM AND TECHNICAL LEADERSHIP

• Oversee activities that are responsive to communities and partners and consistent with Mercy Corps’ relevant program guidelines, principles, values, quality standards, and strategic plan.
• Explore ways to increase women’s, girls, and boys’ participation in all aspects of the crop and livestock value chains.
• Proactively pursue partnerships with private sector and civil society actors to expand rural supply and value chains and increase the availability of needed products and supplies in rural markets. Support increased private sector investment in target areas.
• Work in close collaboration with the Livelihood Specialist to expand rural livelihoods opportunities through market expansion and introduction of new private-sector driven income opportunities.
• Provide training and support for HRA staff and partners.
• Integrate locally-driven approaches, gender sensitivity, and capacity building into all activities, as appropriate. Certify all interventions adhere to Mercy Corps’ Gender Policy, Do No Harm principles, and program participant accountability standards.
• Ensure program strategies and activities represent global good practice for market development and resilience programming.
• Engage with relevant government agencies to improve rules, regulations, and infrastructure to support improved rural market systems.

LEARNING AND IMPACT

• Work with the HRA Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) team to ensure that monitoring and evaluation aligns with program objectives, captures technical learning, and incorporates learning into program adjustments.
• Lead market and value chain assessments and develop learning products, such as case studies and short articles. Contribute to dissemination of learning products among program stakeholders.

INFLUENCE & REPRESENTATION

• As needed, represent Mercy Corps at program, government, donor, NGO, or other relevant events, in close coordination with HRA leadership.

• Coordinate activities with consortium partners, subgrantees, local government, and other implementers, as well as with other Mercy Corps programs.

• Work in close collaboration with the global markets team to spread learning across programs and countries.

Supervisory Responsibility

Required to supervise teams of technical staff. The number of direct and indirect reports is to be determined.

Accountability

Reports Directly To: HRA Deputy Chief of Party

Works Directly With: The HRA Team, HQ Technical Support Unit, implementing partners

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

• Degree in Agriculture, Agricultural Economics, Economics, Business, Marketing, or related field (Master’s Degree preferred).
• Minimum of 5 years of demonstrated experience with US Government or other similar development programs focused on value chain or market systems development, including improving financial services for the poor, with experience in Ethiopia.
• Proven experience in program design, execution, operations, team leadership, and performance measurement and management.
• Demonstrated ability to collaborate with diverse stakeholders including national and subnational government, donors, donor-funded programs, private sector actors, and civil society organizations.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills in English.
• Familiarity with USAID rules, regulations, and requirements preferred.

Success Factors

The successful Market Systems/Value Chain Technical Lead will combine deep technical skills and experience collaborating with and supporting a variety of partners from the public and private sectors. Must be flexible, creative, and enthusiastic about inclusive economic growth and resilience strengthening. Candidates must be self-starters who are able to manage competing priorities, learn quickly, take initiative, and be accountable for results. They will also have proven experience working with cross-cultural teams and partner capacity building. 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 is based in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia and requires up to 40% travel by road and air to field offices in often insecure environments.

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.