Private Sector Engagement Specialist - Sudan

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

Mercy Corps has been operational in Sudan since 2004, and currently has a country office in Khartoum and field offices in South Darfur, South Kordofan, North Kordofan and Gedaref states. We work with Sudanese communities to build resilient scalable solutions that interrupt the cycle of fragility and crisis due to conflict and climate change by improving food and water security, peace and governance and enabling economic opportunities in the agricultural sector. Our programs in Sudan cover the triple nexus approach with a range of projects interlinking the humanitarian, development and peace sectors. Under our development programs, Mercy Corps Sudan team is engaging with different private sector actors to help pioneer market system based approaches to responding to the multiple crisis which Sudan faces. This growing portfolio of Market Systems Development (MSD) projects aims at a more market-driven vision for crisis response - one that leverages the capacities of non-aid actors in local and global economic systems, and that ultimately gives crisis-affected individuals the ability to drive their own decisions and secure their own lives and livelihoods.

The Position

Mercy Corps is looking for an experienced Private Sector Engagement Specialist to support its expanding portfolio of Market Systems Development (MSD) projects Sudan. He/she will foster new private sector  market-based relationships that strengthen connections between private businesses and smallholders farmers / herders. The Private Sector Engagement Specialist will collaborate with private sector partners and the different MSD project teams to develop a pipeline of interested private sector partners to engage in co-design of activities. The role will also drive technical implementation of marketing and private sector engagement activities planned under our portfolio of MSD projects. He / she will act as focal point for PSE-related activities in the Sudan team both internally within Mercy Corps and with external stakeholders.

Essential Job Responsibilities

TECHNICAL IMPLEMENTATION

• Drive technical implementation of marketing and private sector engagement activities in close collaboration with the MSD Portfolio Lead and other Project Managers overseeing MSD projects in Sudan.

• Support the design and implementation of a catalytic project activities under contract mechanism designed to spur private sector investment in the portfolio of MSD programs, incentivize the broad participation of market systems actors, and facilitate entry of new actors and new investment into the agriculture and livestock sector.

• Provide leadership, management, and direction to field-level PSE activities under our MSD programs, including engagement with local MSME project partners, as needed.

• Establish productive partnerships with key private sector actors to increase the volume and sale of target value chain commodities sold on both the informal and formal markets within Sudan.

• Design and implement activities that promote private sector engagement in our target market systems that results in new private investments and new market-based relationships between private businesses and smallholders.

• Identify opportunities to engage with the private sector including climate smart production, strengthening existing private sector networks, fostering innovative input supply models, identifying last-mile input delivery solutions, and increase access markets in relation to our portfolio of MSD project.

• Provide technical input in leading PSE design component for Mercy Corps Sudan proposals, including liaising with private sector actors to identify engagement opportunities and key entry points;

• Conduct himself/herself both professionally and personally in such a manner as to bring credit to Mercy Corps and to not jeopardize its mission.

REPRESENTATION & STRATEGY

• Act as focal point for PSE-related activities in the Sudan team both internally within Mercy Corps and with external stakeholders;

• Coordinate closely with private enterprise, industry associations, farmer-based organizations, local authorities, national government offices, and other implementers to ensure coordinated and impactful activities under our MSD program.

• Strategize how Mercy Corps Sudan engages with the private sector by Program and location. Lead on the development of a Sudan specific Private Sector Engagement Strategy

• Lead in identifying, building, and managing relationships with potential private sector actors to support specific projects and initiatives.

• Promoting Mercy Corps approach of working with the private sector to enhance the reach and impact of our work, at key workshops, conferences, and events, and with relevant government departments, partners, donors, and private sector actors.

• Keep Country Management Team and relevant Mercy Corps colleagues informed about the private sector environment in Sudan.

SECURITY

• Ensure compliance with security procedures and policies as determined by country leadership.

• Proactively ensure that team members operate in a secure environment and are aware of policies.

Supervisory Responsibility

Program Administrative Assistant (MSD Portfolio)

Accountability

Reports Directly To: MSD Portfolio Lead

Works Directly With: Director of Programs, MSD Specialist, Director of Finance, Director of Operations, Program Performance & Quality Director & MSD MEL Specialist

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

• This position requires a Bachelor or Master’s Degree in Management, Engineering, Economic or Social Science.

• An experienced (at least 5 years) social or development expert with substantive knowledge and experience of private sector engagement initiatives for development projects;

• Proven experience in Market Systems Development Livelihoods, Resilience, Financial inclusion, Renewable energy, Social Accountability and/or related fields in a management capacity

• Has demonstrated experience/understanding of both humanitarian and development work and how solutions and resilience work can bridge them

• Administrative capacity and planning skills to manage a large team of national staff of multiple sectors.

• Excellent communication skills, both verbally and in written.

• Proven solid analytical and problem solving skills.

• Excellent writing and verbal skills in English is required.

• Extensive travel to program areas is required.

Success Factors

The ability to interact effectively with international and national personnel is required. A demonstrated ability to multi-task, meet deadlines and process information in support of changing program activities is necessary. A professional standard of program, finance and procurement ethics as well as the willingness and ability to enforce compliance with Mercy Corps and donor policies and procedures is essential. The post must be willing to travel to Mercy Corps field offices and project sites.

Living Conditions / Environmental Conditions

The position is based in Khartoum, Sudan and it requires up to 60% travel to support country programs, which may include travel to insecure locations where freedom of movement is limited and areas where amenities are limited.  Housing is individual accommodation and the location is accompanied. Mercy Corps team members represent the agency both during and outside work hours when deployed in a field posting or on a visit to a field posting. Team members are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner and respect local laws, customs and Mercy Corp’'s policies, procedures, and values at all times and in all in-country venues.

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.