Mercy Corps Uganda Vacancies

Mercy Corps Market Development Advisor - Lira, Uganda Vacancies


Market Development Advisor - Lira, Uganda

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 Uganda since 2006 and works to catalyze change makers within the Ugandan private sector, civil society and government to create economically dynamic, healthy and secure communities. Our works focus on building resilience and enable economic growth, improve opportunities to attain better health and nutrition, and improved governance and conflict management.
We implement programs in the districts of Pader, Kitgum, Gulu, Agago, and Lamwo in Acholi and entire Karamoja as well as eastern Uganda with funding from USAID, USDA, Walmart Foundation, SDC, DFID as well as other private donations.

Working in consortia with GOAL, VSO and Restless Development, the Driving Youth-led New Agribusiness and Microenterprise (DYNAMIC) program will strengthen systems and facilitate creation of sustainable economic opportunities for disadvantaged youth. DYNAMIC's goal is to increase the number of young people who are in secure employment or self-employment and to promote agricultural market systems for youth.
DYNAMIC will reach over 125,000 out-of-school youth aged 15–24 in eight districts of northern Uganda over five years. Through a market systems development approach, youth already engaged in on-farm activities will move from subsistence to more productive and profitable farming.
DYNAMIC will increase the employability of youth by facilitating access to demand driven technical skills, knowledge and market information. In parallel, DYNAMIC will link agribusinesses and microenterprises to market opportunities and diverse stakeholders, and ensure they can utilize financial services.

General Position Summary

The Market Development Advisor will work to enhance DYNAMIC's ability to deliver high impact market systems development (Making Markets Work for the Poor/M4P/market facilitation) programming; development of market systems development interventions, tools and resources; and the empowerment and upskilling of other DYNAMIC team members to implement market systems development interventions, particularly the Market Development Team, Youth Engagement Team, and their supervising Program Managers.
The Market Development Advisor is an integral member of the Program Management Unit and will contribute to strategic and technical direction for the program. The Market Development Advisor will work closely with the Financial Services Advisor to identify and enable access to financial services as part of the DYNAMIC approach. A successful candidate will have extensive experience designing, implementing and managing large-scale and complex market systems development/M4P programming, preferably for an audience of youth.

Essential Job Responsibilities
Strategic Direction of Market Systems Development:

  • Provide technical oversight and direction on market systems development (Making Markets Work for the
  • Poor/M4P/market facilitation) for or in collaboration with all aspects of DYNAMIC program activities.
  • Develop tools and resources to assist with market development analysis, program design, activities' implementation and M&E. Initial phases of DYNAMIC will specifically focus on thorough market development assessments, partially through youth-led research, as foundational knowledge to design program interventions.
  • Conduct refresher and specialized trainings as needed with staff and partners and design necessary didactic materials (manuals, handouts etc.).
  • Engage in development and rollout of agency tested tools and initiatives to ensure consistent high-quality implementation.
  • Lead and participate in sector identification, intervention design and strategy development of the DYNAMIC program with guidance from the Deputy Program Director.
  • Conduct continuous market intelligence and assessments to inform programming including identification of sectors and value chains that have high potential to benefit the youth.
  • Develop and manage relationship with private sector partners working across program targeted sectors.
  • Conduct pilot studies and research relevant to the program and aimed at informing implementation and learning.
    Mentorship and coaching of partner higher and medium level firms and enterprises.
  • Advise market development team in field activities that may include conducting light due-diligence on potential partners and supporting the negotiation process,
    as requested, in finalizing teaming and partnership agreements; identifying capacity gaps of potential private sector actors, designing and implementing most feasible capacity building activities based on identified gaps; and providing continuous support and oversee activities of the private sector partners.

    Market Development

  • Contribute to the suite of market development resources available to support and promote quality practice in the field.
  • Help mentor and develop technical skills in staff across program field teams.
  • Support in building a more dense, diverse and collaborative network of relationships for market development practitioners and other stakeholders and to broker effective relationships at the country and regional levels.
  • Connect best practices and learning from programs across MC countries to ensure an evolving and effective learning system for improving program implementation.

    Organizational Learning

    As part of our commitment to organizational learning and in support of our understanding that learning organizations are more effective, efficient and relevant to the communities they serve, we expect all team members to commit 5% of their time to learning activities that benefit Mercy Corps as well as themselves.Accountability to Beneficiaries

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

    Supervisory Responsibility

    None.

    Accountability

    Reports Directly To: Deputy Program Director, DYNAMIC

    Works Directly With: Financial Services Advisor, Youth Engagement Advisor, Skills and Learning Advisor, Program Managers

    Knowledge and Experience

  • Bachelor's Degree in business, agribusiness, economic development or other relevant field required; Master's Degree strongly preferred.
  • Track record of success in M4P/Market systems development; business or economic development, with a minimum of 6 years practical experience in the private sector, market development and/or related industry.
  • Dynamic leader who can guide teams to believe in and follow market systems development philosophy.
  • Experience with a wide range of stakeholder and partner management with national/regional companies; international agencies; community-based organizations; small-scale agribusinesses, etc. needed.
  • Strong group process design and facilitation skills, including developing and leading workshops, as well as group consensus building around market development philosophy.
  • Knowledge of agricultural development required.
  • Proven track record in adaptive management in fast-paced, entrepreneurial work environment required.
  • Strong writing, communication, organization, prioritization and negotiating skills.
  • Excellent (English) verbal and written communication skills with a full knowledge of office applications.
  • Willingness to spend much time in the field and work closely with various district-level program teams.
  • Knowledge and experience in business financing for SME's and/or youth engagement is highly valued.Success Factors
  • The ideal candidate has an entrepreneurial, can do spirit who does not take no for an answer. Successful position holder must be able to INFLUENCE a wide range of audiences, from team members to supervisors to donors to private sector actors and other key stakeholders. Negotiation and EXCELLENT communication skills are a must. Ideal candidate should bring a fresh approach to market systems development at scale with a large team across multiple districts with multiple priorities.
  • They must balance in reality of our work with an aspirational approach to market systems development. Ideal candidate is a team player who understands how to mentor and coach our wider team. Ability to juggle multiple priorities at one time but still manage to get the job done is a must.

    Living Conditions / Environmental Conditions

    The position is based in Lira, Uganda and it requires up to 50% travel to Kampala and other field sites in northern Uganda. Lira has a stable security situation and basic amenities. Lira has basic health services and no international schools. Lira is a medium-sized town with INGOs and a few expatriate staff based in town.
    Restaurants and diversions are available. Water and electricity are generally available with occasional outages. The position requires frequent travel to field sites where one will find more basic living conditions. DYNAMIC has a large, well-equipped office in Lira. The field location is ineligible for family members.

    PI98818191

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