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. Mercy Corps’ programs in Acholi sub region currently focus on economic and market development, agriculture, financial services, and women’s empowerment.
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 125,000 out-of-school youth aged 15–24 in eight districts of northern Uganda over five years. Through a market facilitation 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 development programming; development of market development interventions, tools and resources; and the empowerment and upskilling of other DYNAMIC team members to implement market development interventions, particularly the 16 Market Development Officers 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.
ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:
Strategic Direction of Market Development: • Provide technical oversight and direction on market development 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 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.
Contribute to, Capture and Champion Market Development Best Practices • 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 Market Development Officers and other 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 Mercy Corps Uganda’s 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 the DYNAMIC program as well as themselves.
KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:
• Bachelor’s Degree in business, agribusiness, economic development or other relevant field required; Master’s Degree strongly preferred. • Background in business or market/economic development, with a minimum of 8 years practical experience in the private sector, market development and/or related industry. • Dynamic leader who can guide teams to believe in and follow a strong market development philosophy. • Experience with a wide range of stakeholder and partner management with national/regional companies; international agencies; community-based organizations; 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.
HOW TO APPLY:
Applications: Submit your E-mailed application including a cover letter clearly stating your salary requirements, CV (with 3 referees), and copies of academic qualifications/certificates through the Human Resource Manager to mcjobs@ug.mercycorps.org
Deadline for Submission: Close of business on January 26, 2016 Only short-listed candidates will be contacted by Mercy Corps. Mercy Corps is an equal opportunity employer; female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.