Fresher Market Systems Development Officer US Non-profit Jobs – Mercy Corps
Job Title: Market Systems Development Officer
Organization: Mercy Corps
Duty Station: Uganda
About US:
Mercy Corps is an international non-profit organization which implements high-quality, analytical development programmes in very difficult places. Mercy Corps has been operating in Uganda since 2006. It has and continues to implement programs in Acholi and Karamoja sub regions. Mercy Corps is taking a community-led, market driven approach to address poverty and food insecurity needs through interventions that get to the root causes and contributing factors of economic vulnerability. Donors include the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), DFID, Mastercard Foundation, WALMART Foundation, Coca Cola Africa Foundation, US Depart of State (DOS) /PEPFAR, ECHO and Nike Foundation.
Job Summary: The Market Systems Development Officer will implement all aspects of the market systems development strategy in the Apolou Activity. This includes strengthening private sector interventions in livestock and agriculture value chains, as well as scaling up financial inclusion and other products/services as relevant. The MSD Officer will work directly with the MSD Manager to developing agent input/output and aggregator networks, increasing local partners’ access to market information and financial services. The MSD Officer will ensure that private sector led, project-support development is tailored to the unique needs, opportunities and constraints of women and youth and that activities are integrated with all other consortium supported sectors.
Key Duties and Responsibilities:
Strategy & Vision:
- Support the MSD Manager to develop and implement MSD team strategy
- Identify new opportunities for innovation and growth among private sector led interventions
Program Management:
- Actively participate in market assessments in the target communities to determine capacity gaps, business opportunities and potential hindrances that could be mitigated through engagements with public and private sector actors. This will include but not be limited to rapid market assessments, value chain analysis and business support activities for the key stakeholders.
- Identify and engage private sector actors to effectively expand their business models in Karamoja Sub Region. This will include profiling businesses and conducting due diligence on potential partners, support the negotiation process to finalize teaming and partnership agreements, and providing ongoing business development support to key partners.
- Foster ongoing positive cooperation with relevant stakeholders including MSMEs and the public sector to identify, assess and develop networks for potential linkages between market actors, producers and final consumers etc.
- Identify capacity gaps of MSME partner actors in Karamoja, design and conduct tailor made trainings, mentorship and coaching to boost their competiveness in the market and boost returns on investment.
Monitoring and Evaluation:
- Establish procedures and guidelines to monitor and evaluate the progress and impact of economic development support work including setting and measuring benchmarks along results chains;
- Keenly analyze project implementation strategies to identify constraints to program success and provide timely recommendations to inform decision making processes.
- Provide data in support of team’s submission of timely monthly and quarterly reports, strategic reviews, annual reports and midterm evaluations that will be indicative of program progress during implementation.
Finance and Compliance Management: Comply with donor and Mercy Corps regulations related to MSD Activities, contributing to monthly procurement and financial needs and accurate administration of MSD funds.
Influence and Representation:
- Ensure close coordination and sharing of information with relevant stakeholders such as local government authorities and NGOs as and when advised by the line manager.
- Work closely with local government officials, local NGOs and civil society organizations, and other key stakeholders to ensure support for and acceptance of Mercy Corps’ market based interventions.
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.
Qualifications, Skills and Experience:
- The ideal candidate for the Mercy Corps Market Systems Development Officer job placement should hold a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration, Agrobusiness, or other related field
- At least two years of related work experience with the private sector or market facilitation approaches.
- Familiarity with the Karamojong business environment a plus
- Excellent English Language skills, with Nga’Karimojong language skills a plus
- Computer literate with dexterity with Microsoft Office
How to Apply:
All suitably qualified and interested candidates should send their E-mail applications including a cover letter clearly stating the salary requirements, updated CV (with three professional referees), and copies of academic qualifications/certificates addressed to the Senior HR and Legal Manager, Mercy Corps Uganda to: ug-mcjobs@mercycorps.org
Deadline: 23rd February 2018
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