Mercy Corps is an international development organization that works
in 40 countries across the globe in disaster response and preparedness,
peace building, civil society strengthening, and economic development
(www.mercycorps.org).
Mercy Corps is a team of 3700 professionals helping turn crisis into opportunity for millions around the world. By trade, we are engineers, financial analysts, drivers, community organizers, project managers, public health experts, administrators, social entrepreneurs and logisticians. In spirit, we are activists, optimists, innovators and proud partners of the people we serve.
Mercy Corps works in Nepal to increase resilience to shocks, expand economic opportunities and foster social inclusion through supporting agricultural livelihoods, reduci
Mercy Corps is a team of 3700 professionals helping turn crisis into opportunity for millions around the world. By trade, we are engineers, financial analysts, drivers, community organizers, project managers, public health experts, administrators, social entrepreneurs and logisticians. In spirit, we are activists, optimists, innovators and proud partners of the people we serve.
Mercy Corps works in Nepal to increase resilience to shocks, expand economic opportunities and foster social inclusion through supporting agricultural livelihoods, reduci
Detailed Job Description / Requirements:
Vacancy Announcement
Mercy Corps is an international, non-governmental
humanitarian relief and development agency that exists to
alleviating suffering, poverty and oppression by helping people build
secure, productive, and just communities. Mercy Corps works in 40
countries, and has been present in Nepal since 2005. Mercy Corps’
current work in Nepal focuses on agriculture & food security,
disaster risk reduction, microfinance, and youth engagement.
Mercy Corps invites applications from all potential Nepali candidates for the position of:
Market System Development Specialist - 01 Position
(Full time based in Kathmandu with frequent field visits)
Market System Development Specialist will work directly with, Program
Manager, Program Team, DM&E department and partner institutions to
help execute integrated resilience-focused programs. The Market
Development Specialist will be responsible for overall coordination and
implementation of all aspects of the market system development
components of the project. She/he will be required to design and apply a
wide variety of market development tools and approaches in order to
facilitate linkages between market actors and strengthen the sub-sector
value chain towards beneficial outcomes for the farmers.
Please refer to nepal.mercycorps.org for the full position description before applying.
“Fostering a diverse and open workplace
is an important part of Mercy Corps’ vision, and we strongly encourage
people from all backgrounds, especially women and members of
disadvantaged groups to apply. Mercy Corps is an Equal Opportunity
Employer”.
Interested potential candidates are requested to submit a CV and cover letter by November 04, 2015 to the address below.
Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted for an interview. Telephone enquiries will not be entertained.
Attn: Senior Human Resources Officer
[Please mention the title of the Position on the subject of the e-mail while applying]
Email to: jobs@np.mercycorps.org
POSITION DESCRIPTION
Position Title: Market System Development SpecialistDuty Station: Kathmandu Based with frequent visits to the fields
Position Category: Full-time AND Regular
Salary Level: Officers - Level 5
Current Employee: New Position
BACKGROUND:
Mercy Corps is an international, non-governmental humanitarian relief and development agency that exists to alleviate suffering, poverty and oppression by helping people build secure, productive, and just communities. Mercy Corps works in 40 countries, and has been present in Nepal since 2005. Mercy Corps’ current work focuses on helping build the absorptive, adaptive and transformative potential of vulnerable individuals and communities across Nepal. The goal is attained through a systems-based approach to market development, financial services, disaster risk reduction, climate change adaptation and youth engagement.
PROGRAM/DEPARTMENT SUMMARY:
On April 25, 2015, a devastating earthquake with a magnitude of 7.8 on the Richter Scale struck Nepal, causing significant loss of life and injuries as well as extensive damage to infrastructure, including roads, markets, buildings and eco-systems. As a result, Mercy Corps launched a significant emergency response in areas of shelter, non-food items, cash transfers, water and sanitation programs 9 earthquake affected `districts of Nepal. Among 9 district primary focus is given to four most affected districts: Nuwakot, Kavre, Sindhupulchowk and Dolakha. The immediate emergency relief distribution is now over and shifted it into 18 months longer-term integrated resilience-focused programs for the recovery phase in 4 priority districts.
Building resilience of most vulnerable communities and households through disaster risk reduction initiatives and improving access to financial services to revive locale economy are the primary objectives of recovery program. Specifically related to the economic development sector, Mercy Corps is implementing activities that increase the incomes of marginalized families in remote areas, build markets that are more competitive and inclusive of the poor, expand access to financial services and strengthen livelihoods for the poor that add value to local economic development.
GENERAL POSITION SUMMARY:
Work directly with, Program Manager, Program Team, DM&E department and partner institutions to help execute integrated resilience-focused programs. The Market Development Specialist will be responsible for overall coordination and implement all aspects of the market system development component of the project. She/he will be required to design and apply a wide variety of market development tools and approaches in order to facilitate linkages between market actors and strengthen the sub-sector value chain towards beneficial outcomes for the farmers.
Key responsibilities include integration of market-development approaches into the integrated resiliencefocused program methods and tools utilized in the program; for example market mapping, and value chain analysis integration with risk assessments and mitigation planning to facilitate identification of marketdriven solutions in the target areas. The Market System Development Specialist will work directly under Head of DRR and Earthquake Recovery program and plan/implement activities in close coordination/collaboration with DRR Project Manager and Access to Finance-Program Manager. S/he will provide capacity building for local producers, private sector and local implementing partners including assisting them in developing market linkages, business product/plan development, branding and promotional activities. S/he will lead research on identifying market based livelihood opportunities and work with Technical and Vocation Education Training (TVET) for development of skills and practices of target households.
ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:
- Undertake market assessments and research to identify potential commodities and processes.
- Coordinate market-development program activities together with DRR Project Manager, Access to Finance Project Manager and local partner.
- Develop strategy and tools for market development in program activities, incorporating into DRR and Access to Finance component, and M&E activity reports as well as feedback from relevant stakeholders.
- Develop linkages between relevant businesses e.g. private sector, TVETs, Financial institutions, both for input and output markets ensuring reliable supplies.
- Coordinate with financial services team for initiating loans through MFIs/Cooperatives, helping local financial institution to develop disaster recovery loan products and facilitate interaction with rural market actors as necessary and appropriate
- Facilitate linkage with business development agencies (local input suppliers, TVETs etc) or directly provide capacity building to financial institution, local producers and other actors in the value chain(s).
- Contribute to the development of training curricula and materials
- Provide capacity building and supervise local NGO partners in market development in program activities.
- Coordinate with DM&E team to develop tools and facilitate its implementation to collect feedback, capturing and documenting learning.
- Work together with Head DRR & Earthquake Recovery and Program Managers, develop and maintain both internal and external relationships in the field to ensure optimum program success.
- Work together with Project Officers to develop and maintain relationships with district implementing partners.
- Provide technical inputs to local partner staff on enhancing knowledge, capacity and awareness of market analysis and mapping, potential linkages between economic development and value chain analysis.
- Support the project staff and local partner staff in conducting introductory orientation/ workshops for district authorities, field staff and communities.
- Provide on-going technical assistance and advice to local partner staff on the range of approaches and initiatives to be incorporated into the program as required and assist with and facilitate training to local partner and project staff and community participants.
- Work with local partner staff to establish and support community teams and committees in their on-going development.
- Assist Project Manager to develop project strategies, market development interventions, activities and policies related to market development activities.
- Prepare monthly work plans which adhere to the overall project objectives and activities and assist local partner staff in doing the same.
- Monitor market-based field activities regularly and provide comments/suggestions to the local partner staff on how the efficiency and effectiveness of the activities and budget use can be enhanced.
- Document and disseminate case studies, best practices on market development activities and lessons on working with private sector for innovative services.
- Prepare activity reports based on the monthly reporting from the local partners and independent observations for input into global level monthly reports compiled by the PM.
- Assist the PM in gathering data for high quality donor reporting, effective project management and the production of technical and marketing materials.
- Ensure that MC operational policies and procedures are followed, while ensuring downward and upward project efficiency, transparency and accountability.
- Manage good relationships with project stakeholders, including local NGO partners, GoN officials, community officials, and colleague agency officials
- Ensure that innovative approaches, good practices, particular challenges, or good results are documented to support agency learning.
- Participate and contribute to joint initiatives, training activities and media events organized collectively by the project implementing partners country-wide or regionally, as required
- Conduct him or herself in manner so as to bring credit to Mercy Corps and so as not to jeopardize its humanitarian mission
Mercy Corps team members are expected to support all efforts towards 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: Country Director; Director of Programs; Program Manager; Mercy Corps policies and procedures; project team in the field; Position Description, Project Objectives, Mercy Corps methodologies,
REPORTS DIRECTLY TO: Head of DRR & Earthquake Recovery Program
WORKS DIRECTLY WITH: Project Manager, DM&E Unit, Project Team and Partner Staffs.
KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:
- Master's Degree in Agriculture, Economics, or Business Administration/Management.
- Minimum four years’ experience with community-based and business development program.
- Experience working with private sector actors, government officials and integrating them into program implementation.
- Experience building capacity of diverse team and local partners.
- Strong organization and communication skills.
- High level of computer skills required.
- Good level of spoken English is required.
- Willingness to travel frequently to remote areas.
- Competence riding a motorbike preferred.
- Well versed in market development modalities, livelihood development & community facilitation approaches in rural Nepal.
- Possesses necessary technical acumen on designing various market development tools, capacity building and establishing linkages.
- Ability to correspond well (written and verbal) in both English and Nepali.
- Ability to work well as a member of a team, and to communicate effectively internally and externally.
- Multi-tasking, prioritizing, problem solving and simultaneous attention to detail as well as strategic vision are essential.
- He/She will have proven experience with diverse teams and capacity building, individual staff development and strong mentoring skills.
- Ability to build a good working relationship with community members, public and private sector actors.
____________________________________________________ ________________________
Employee Date
____________________________________________________ ________________________
Supervisor Date
Job Overview
| Administrative / Management |
| 1 |
| Full Time |
| 4+ years |
| Please check vacancy details |
| 29 Oct, 15 |
| 04 Nov, 15 |
| Kathmandu |
Special Instructions for Applicants:
Fostering a diverse and open workplace is an important part of
Mercy Corps’ vision, and we encourage people from all back grounds,
especially women, to apply.
Only short listed candidates will be notified for interview. Telephone inquires will not be entertained.
Only short listed candidates will be notified for interview. Telephone inquires will not be entertained.