SENIOR MARKET SYSTEMS DEVELOPMENT ADVISOR - IQLAAع, JORDAN

About Mercy Corps

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.

Program / Department Summary

Mercy Corps has been operating in Jordan since 2003. In partnership with civil society organizations, the private sector, and the government, Mercy Corps Jordan has reached more than 3.4 million Jordanians and displaced populations in the country. Working throughout Jordan Mercy Corps is driven by the mission to contribute to the emergence of a peaceful, resilient and prosperous Jordan which is inclusive of youth and women. We seek to build a future for Jordan in which all people feel secure, believe in the goodness of communities and institutions around them, and are on a sustainable path toward economic self-reliance. Our strategic directions focus on promoting strong communities and governance, peace and social cohesion and environmentally sustainable and inclusive economic growth.

Mercy Corps is seeking a Senior Market Systems Development (MSD) Advisor to guide the technical design and implementation of the five-year, $75m USAID-funded Informal Livelihoods Advancement Activity (Iqlaaع) program. Iqlaaع aims to put Jordanian Micro and Small Enterprises (MSEs) on a path to recovery after the extraordinary crisis that the businesses have faced, help them access the safety net measures in Jordan, and, most importantly, regain productivity and growth. This will be achieved through activities and grants to get MSEs back to work, link them back to markets, and put them on a track to formalization and growth.

General Position Summary

In close collaboration with the Chief of Party (CoP) and the DCoP, the Senior MSD Advisor will be driving the vision for programme implementation, and providing a strategic steer on the day-to-day implementation of activities through an MSD lens. The Sr. MSD Advisor will support staff to apply the different components of an MSD framework to different sectors, from identifying strategic areas of focus (sectors or cross-cutting areas) to setting vision for sustainable systemic change, designing and implementing interventions and monitoring results. The Sr. MSD Advisor will guide and mentor programme staff to apply the MSD approach to diagnose market systems challenges and design and deliver quality programme implementation. A key focus of the role will be to build MSD capacity in the programme’s Senior Management Team and ensure that the MSD approach is embedded throughout implementation.

Essential Job Responsibilities

STRATEGY AND VISION

• Provide a general framework describing the components (core exchange, supporting functions, and rules) of a functioning and inclusive market system, and work with the team to apply the principles to evaluate and diagnose specific sectors

• Building on market system diagnostics, support the team to set the vision for systemic change within selected market sectors. Collaborate with intervention leads to design, prioritize and implement:

• Sector specific intervention strategies

• Partnership strategies

• Feasibility checks for each intervention

• Guide strategy and planning for the implementation of the Results Framework, coordinating closely with the DCOP Technical.

• Identify opportunities for advancing the technical vision of the programme in line with its systemic change objectives, and lead the decision-making process for ensuring any gaps are addressed using a systems-change approach

• Guide the facilitation of market actors, providing strategic inputs in meetings and workshops with government, NGOs, private sector, and community partners to revise plans and promote partner acceptance/buy-in.

PROGRAM MANAGEMENT

• In collaboration with Iqlaaع senior management team (SMT), develop program management processes that support the MSD approach
• Lead the development of market assessments, involving direct stakeholders as well as public and private sector actors working within the target value chains and market systems.
• Contribute to decisions related to business grant funding, ensuring investments are sustainable and do not distort the market. Lead the consultation process with local market actors in the design and implementation of grant funding activities
• Lead the development of concept notes and programme approach documents for new activities
• In coordination with the Program Quality and Learning (PQL) team, monitor the implementation of activities through regular field visits and assessments to ensure program quality and impact. Document approaches, successes and lessons learned.
• Coordinate with procurement, logistics, security, administration and human resources teams to ensure operational systems support field activities.
• Provide technical review of partnership engagement designs, scopes of work and key deliverables.
• Providing training and capacity building on MSD to the Iqlaaع’s partners, stakeholders and clients and other stakeholders, as directed/guided by the COP

KNOWLEDGE MANAGEMENT & LEARNING

• Building on support provided during the start-up phase, ensure the team - and especially the Senior Management Team - understand the different components of MSD frameworks and supporting them to apply these frameworks in a technically rigorous way to different sectors
• Provide strategic input into the development of Iqlaaع learning questions, research plan, monitoring, evaluation and learning (MEL) and PQL in collaboration with Iqlaaع SMT
• Identify key learning needs and scope for case studies and learning documents
• Closely support the development of learning documents, playing a key writing and development role as assigned
• Work with regional MSD advisor to identify training needs and capacity gaps
• Provide day-to-day MSD coaching to members of Iqlaaع team, with the support from the regional MSD advisor as required.

ACCOUNTABILITY TO PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS

• Mercy Corps team members are expected to support all efforts toward accountability, specifically to our program participants and to international standards guiding international relief and development work, while actively engaging program participant communities as equal partners in the design, monitoring and evaluation of our field projects.

Supervisory Responsibility

Number of direct reports is to be determined

Accountability

Reports Directly To: Iqlaaع Chief of Party

Works Directly With: Iqlaaع DCOP, Component Leads and PQL Director, finance and operations teams, HQ Regional Program team, HQ and Regional Technical Support Unit

Knowledge and Experience

• At least 7 years of experience advising or managing MSD programs, at least 5 years in senior advisory or management roles on MSD-related projects in the field
• USAID prior experience, ideally working on programs targeting MSEs
• Deep understanding of MSD methodology, frameworks and their operationalization in the form of strategic formative research
• Demonstrated experience integrating MSD tactics with NGO procurement and administration systems
• Experience designing or implementing a risk buy-down co-financing facility
• Prior experience in the MENA preferred
• Arabic speaking preferred

Success Factors

A successful candidate will have a demonstrated ability to lead and communicate effectively with team members and other stakeholders of varied work styles and cultures, follow procedures and meet deadlines with flexibility and creativity in planning and problem solving. This position requires an ability to think creatively about changing norms that lead to greater opportunities for economic growth at household, community and institutional levels. S/he will have a proven ability to learn quickly, multi-task, prioritize, take initiative, and be accountable for results, understand the larger picture while remaining focused on the details, problem solving, work within a complex and sensitive setting and to follow laws and security protocols. The most successful Mercy Corps team 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

This position is based in Amman, Jordan which is an accompanied post. Jordan is a middle income country with excellent education, medical, and other facilities in the capital Amman. Jordan is a very safe country with excellent communications, transportation, and housing infrastructure. Although neighboring countries continue to experience political unrest, Jordan has been a stable monarchy for over 30 years and the destination preference for many people from the Middle East to relax or gain access to available services.

Mercy Corps team members represent the agency both during and outside work hours when deployed in a field posting or on a visit/TDY to a field posting. Team members are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner and respect local laws, customs and Mercy Corps’ 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. 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.