Bachelor’s degree required; formal training in Market Systems Development or M4P preferred., 5-7 years of experience in international development, with at least three years in program management or technical advisory roles., Minimum of 5 years of experience in Market Systems Development and key Economic Opportunities areas, including program design and partnership building., Excellent writing, presentation, and representation skills; strong English required, Arabic or Russian preferred..
Key responsibilities:
Support country teams in designing and delivering impactful economic recovery and market systems development programs.
Engage donors and assist in business development by writing competitive proposals and conducting assessments.
Provide technical leadership and capacity building through training and development of program guidelines.
Contribute to research and learning initiatives related to economic opportunities and market systems development.
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POWERED BY POSSIBLE
The world is more fragile than ever. Food shortages have left millions of people hungry, while violent conflict has sent millions on the run. From poverty and malnutrition to natural disasters and climate change, it’s easy to see a world of insurmountable challenges. Instead, we see an opportunity to create transformative change.
We see the world differently.
In crisis, we believe in the power of human potential. In struggle, we believe in the ability of communities to grow stronger.
So we act differently.
We understand that communities are the best agents of their own change and local markets are the best engines of long-term recovery. In more than 40 countries, we partner to put bold solutions into action, helping people triumph over adversity and grow stronger from within. For the refugee who dreams of rebuilding her country, for the mother who wants a healthy future for her children — for millions of people filled with the power of possibility —Mercy Corps connects people to the resources they need to build better, stronger lives.
We create transformative change.
Mercy Corps has responded to nearly every global emergency over the past 20 years.
Since 1979, we have provided $3.7 billion in lifesaving assistance throughout the world. Each year we infuse millions of dollars into local economies through small business loans and grants to provide livelihoods for the world’s most vulnerable people. We are empowering more than 100,000 youth trapped by violent conflict to overcome the profound stress of war and become change makers in their communities.
We are powered by the belief that a better world is possible.
Join us.
Location: Remote (ideally within similar time zones of MENA/Europe region)
Background:
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. Mercy Corps implements a variety of programming throughout the Middle East and Europe 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, Palestine, Ukraine, and Georgia. Mercy Corps is committed to delivering high quality, high impact programming that reaches communities or individuals in need, wherever they are.
Purpose / Project Description:
Mercy Corps has a growing portfolio of Market Systems, Private Sector Engagement and Economic Opportunities programs in the Middle East, North Africa and Europe. As such, we are seeking to develop a pool of technical experts in this area with strong contextual knowledge and expertise in the region to support specifically our Business Development work and Technical Program Quality Support.The Economic Opportunities and Market System Consultantswill support country teams in the region to grow their capacity to design and deliver high quality and impactful economic recovery and market systems development (MSD) programs. Their support includes program design and development, share best practices and innovation within the industry, write competitive proposals for submission to donors andconduct specific assessments and analysis. Applicants will join our RegionalEconomic Opportunities and MSD consultants' rosters and broadly, consultant activities will be determined based on the needs of each assignment. However, scopes of work could take the form of literature review, analyses, inputs into strategic documents, and providing technical leadership and capacity building to country offices.
Technical Coverage: This consultancy includes experts in the following Sub-sector areas:
Market System Development – across sectors (Water Security, Food Security, Economic Opportunities, Energy etc..)
Markets in Crisis
Market System for Employment (MSD4E)
Jobtech
Green Jobs
Youth Employment
Private Sector Engagement
Financial Inclusion (Digital)/Access to Finance
Blended Finance
Social Impact Financing
Climate Finance
Consultant Objectives:
Engage donors and support business development for economic recovery and market systems development projects in the Middle East, North Africa and Europe including writing competitive proposals for submission to donors
Contribute to program quality through delivering training to country teams, project participants, or implementing partners on subjects pertaining toEconomic Opportunities and MSD including: Financial Inclusion, Youth Employment and Agriculture
Lead/support in grant implementation by assisting program teams in developing relevant SOPs and program guidelines, leading on relevant project activities
Contribute to Mercy Corps’ Evidence and Learning agenda through the development and execution of research and learning pieces around peacebuilding and good governance sub-sectors, as well as to agency-wide opportunities to advance thought leadership.
Consultant Activities:
As mentioned above, consultant activities will be determined based on the needs of each assignment. Specific examples of assignments will include one or more of the following activities:
Proposal Development and Design:
Support strategy development work at country level, in collaboration with the Institutional Donors Engagement (IDE) Team, Technical Resources and Quality Unit (TRaQ), regional and country focal points
Support country team with engagement to donors to increase awareness and interest in MSD & Economic Opportunities
Provide technical advice on concept notes, proposals, donor presentations, strategy documents and research
Guide the development of assessments and prepositioning documents, ensuring they align with strategic objectives
Provide guidance or training to country teams on MSD approaches and principles in support of prepositioning with strategic donors
Analysis and Assessments:
Contributing toward learning documents and evaluations for external audiences, including donors and other MSD practitioners
Conduct secondary data collection and prepare literature review pieces.
Develop data collection tools, train enumerators and conduct analysis using Mercy Corps and donors guidelines.
Prepare conflict analysis or context assessment reports.
Lead workshops with country teams to understand findings and provide tailored recommendations for the programs.
Review work plans and project logframes.
Program Quality & Capacity Building
Provide technical support to ensure programs meet high-quality standards
Lead the maintenance, technical orientation, rollout, socialization, and sustainability planning for newly established technical working groups.
Lead/support grant implementation by assisting program teams in developing relevant SOPs and program guidelines, leading on relevant project activities
Design training material tailored to Mercy Corps programs needs.
Deliver training at country and regional level.
Prepare reports on the training conducted.
Develop standalone country and/or program level gender strategies/action plans
Lead participatory strategy/ action plan workshops on a program/country or regional level.
Consultant Deliverables:
Specific deliverables and timeline will be determined based on the needs of each assignment.
These will be discussed and agreed between the consultant, the program and the regional team at the start of the assignment.
Deliverables could include at least one or more of the following:
Country-level strategy documents that reflect the MSD approach
Tailored communication materials that highlight the MSD approach in alignment with priority donors
Documented discussions and action items as a result of progressing new business opportunities
Development of concept notes, proposals, and/or prepositioning materials
Assessment reports, research or learning pieces.
Timeframe / Schedule:
Consultancy timeframe / schedule will be determined based on the needs of each assignment. These will be discussed and agreed between the consultant, the program and the regional team at the start of the assignment.
The Consultant will report to:
Deputy Regional Director- Programs, Middle East, North Africa and Europe and closely work with Mercy Corps Economic Opportunities Team.
The Consultant will work closely with:Regional Technical team, Regional Evidence and Learning team, Country Directors, Directors of Programs, Program Managers, Regional and Global Business Development teams.
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 5 years of experience in Market Systems Development and other key Economic Opportunities technical areas -including experience with program design, partnership building, technical advising, and/or learning and research.
Experience working in the MENA and Eastern Europe required. Experience working in fragile contexts and humanitarian settings preferred.
Excellent writing skills required.
Strong presentation and representation skills required.
Very strong English skills, Arabic or Russian skills preferred
Application:
To apply, please submit your CV, sub-sector speciality/expertise, and daily rate.
Required profile
Experience
Spoken language(s):
English
Check out the description to know which languages are mandatory.