Senior Market System Development(MSD)Technical Advisor-Livestock/Crop Production

Position :- Senior Market System Development(MSD)Technical Advisor-Livestock/Crop Production

Location: Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Number of positions: one    

Position Status: Full-time Regular

 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.

Mercy Corps has been operating in Ethiopia since 2004, working in rural, peri-urban and urban areas in five regional states - Somali, Oromia, Afar, Southern Nations Nationalities and Peoples, Amhara - and the capital city of Addis Ababa. We engage in both development and humanitarian work, and seek to integrate approaches, programs and geographies as much as possible.  Our partners include government, academic institutions, development and private sector actors, civil societies and communities.

Program / Department Summary

Mercy Corps is implementing a five year, Feed the Future USAID funded Resilience in Pastoral Areas (RiPA North) aimed to improve the resilience capacities of households, markets and governance institutions across the Somali, Afar and Oromia regions, collectively contributing to enhanced food security and inclusive economic growth for targeted community.

RIPA, implemented by Mercy Corps, CARE, and local partners and government has four development focused intervention areas aimed at building resilience. Additional crisis response activities are cementing development gains.

He/she will closely work with Senor MSD Advisor in the program, field level MSD coordinators and specialists and with other component team members (i.e. Disaster Risk Management (DRM), Diversified and Sustainable Economic Opportunities for people transitioning out of Pastoralism, improved and sustained nutrition and Hygiene, Collaboration Learning and Adaptation (CLA) Team), Cross cutting team (e.g. Peace building and Gender advisors) and with RiPA consortium members to ensure better synergy of efforts and resources uses to maximize program achievements.  

Essential Job Responsibilities

• Participate in the planning, implementing and overseeing of MSD activities focused on livestock, feed/fodder and Crop production to ensure that staff and partners are following work plans, planned activities are implementing as scheduled and the deliverables are meeting required expectations;
• Provide technical backstopping and facilitation supports for livestock (e.g. dairy, fattening), crop, feed/fodder production intensification activities in the program target area;
• Provide technical backstopping for field level MSD team (Afar, Somali and Oromia) to better implement planned activities.
• Work closely with other component teams and consortium members to create better coordination and harmonization of activity implementation to create alignment with program implementation approach (i.e. market systems approach) to contribute for resilience development for households and market in the program target area;
• Facilitates the implementation of planned Trainings of Trainers (TOTs) and cascading trainings to program participants in collaboration with field team;
• Participate in monitoring and evaluation of field activities and develop regular progress reports in in area of his/her responsibilities.
• In close collaboration with team leader, work closely to create good communication and smooth working relationships with RIPA stakeholders.
• Assist on development, design and proposal writing for related programming as needed.

Strategy & Vision

• Recognize opportunities for innovative action and create an environment where alternative viewpoints are welcomed.
• Set direction by prioritizing and organizing actions & resources to achieve objectives and contribute to countrywide strategy development. 

Program Management

• Ensure that program implementation is responsive to communities and partners and consistent with Mercy Corps’ relevant program guidelines, principles, values, quality standards and strategic plan.
• Ensure that beneficiaries are effectively targeted according to established vulnerability criteria.
• Support the development of MoUs and contracts in collaboration with other team;
• Oversee a training program for program partners.
• Develop program implementation strategies, including partnership frameworks, beneficiary targeting and distribution process as well as WASH, psychosocial and capacity building of partners.
• Integrate community approaches, gender sensitivity and capacity building into all activities as appropriate.
• Ensure program implementation is on time, target and budget, using effective M&E systems to reach desired impacts.
• Create and maintain systems ensuring effective and transparent use of financial resources for timely and informative reporting in line with donor and Mercy Corps policies and procedures.
• Fulfill Mercy Corps’ Program Management Minimum Standards based on the organization-wide guide.
• Ensure all interventions adhere to Mercy Corps’ Gender Policy, Do No Harm principles, and beneficiary accountability standards.

 Finance & Compliance Management

• Ensure compliance with donor and Mercy Corps regulations related to emergency programming.
• Draft and/or review scope of work to hire and manage any technical consultants, including review for technical efficacy and contract budget.

Influence & Representation

• Identify, build and manage collaborative partnerships with consortium partners, sub-grantees, donors, local governments and other stakeholders.
• Communicate effectively to ensure overall project targets and donor obligations are met.

GEDSI (GENDER, EQUALITY, DIVERSITY AND SOCIAL INCLUSION)

• Understand and aware GDI related priorities of the country office and contribute for the realization of priorities (continually work to understand and be aware of the gender diversity and inclusion priorities of the country office and contribute in the execution)
• Promote gender equal and inclusive workplace culture in a day-to-day interaction with a team member, partners and program participants.

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.

 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.
• Team members are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner and respect local laws, customs and MC's policies, procedures, and values at all times and in all in-country venues.

Knowledge and Experience

• MSc/MA in Animal science, Agricultural Science, Agricultural Economics, Agribusiness, Business Administration, Marketing and/or related field.
• Minimum of 5 years’ work experience with NGO and/or profit-making agribusiness working with vulnerable, marginalized and pastoralists/agro-pastoralist groups.
• Minimum of three years proven experience supporting innovative value chain development through market system approach to disseminate techniques/technologies that support intensification of pastoral production system.
• Proven understanding of the pastoral production system, pastoral area extension service support situation, market facilitation and natural resource management.
• Experience on supporting commercial livestock and/or livestock inputs (e.g., feed, veterinary services) development to create better access for vulnerable in the context of pastoral area.
• Strong English communication and writing skills.
• Strong communication and facilitation skills, with good understanding of relevant cross-cultural issues; and
• Knowledge and experience in implementing donor funded development activities (desired).

Success Factors

Define the specific behavior and attitudes critical to success in the position at time of hire and as it develops over time in paragraph form (soft skills).

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.