Market System Development (MSD) Team Lead

Market System Development (MSD) Team Lead

Join to apply for the Market System Development (MSD) Team Lead role at Youth Impact Labs East Africa

Market System Development (MSD) Team Lead

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Join to apply for the Market System Development (MSD) Team Lead role at Youth Impact Labs East Africa

Position Title : Market System Development (MSD) Team Lead

Duty Station : Addis Ababa

Open Position : 1

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 present in Ethiopia since 2004 working to drive bold and transformative ideas, working closely with government, the private sector and civil society actors to build a more resilient country, ensuring that programs are responsive to and influenced by participants and stakeholders. With the launch of Mercy Corps Global Strategy, Pathway to Possibility, the country office is poised to operationalize its three-year strategy with a vision to enhance the resilience of climate- and conflict-affected communities through market systems development for improved livelihoods, access to food, and safe and clean water to thrive in the face of crises. In Ethiopia, our strategy focuses in the four outcome areas : 1) Economically marginalized populations have improved and diversified livelihoods, income, and assets; 2) Pastoralists, farmers, and households have access to sustainably produced, safe, nutritious food; 3) Social cohesion and inclusive governance processes are built in crisis-affected communities; and 4) People have equitable, sustained access to clean water and sanitation for domestic and productive use. Currently, we operate in six regional states – Afar, Gambella, Oromia, Somali, Amhara and South Ethiopia. Working with a diverse base of donors that includes United States Agency for International Development (USAID), European Union, GAC, Hilton Foundation, United Nations (UN), JOA, Sweden, EKN, and other foundations, Mercy Corps Ethiopia empowers people to recover from crisis, build better lives and transform their communities for good.

About Livelihoods Improvement For Women And Youth (LIWAY)

The Livelihoods Improvement for Women and Youth (LIWAY) is a nine-year programme (July 2017 to June 2026) funded by the Embassy of Sweden and the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. The program aims to contribute to sustainable poverty reduction and social stability in Addis Ababa by increasing incomes through improved wage and self-employment opportunities, primarily for poor women and youth. LIWAY has the objective of increasing incomes of 257,000 poor people in Addis Ababa, of which at least 128,500 (50%) are women (young and adult) and 192,750 (75%) are youth (female and male).

LIWAY stands out for its focus on enhancing economic opportunities for women and youth, two of the most vulnerable groups in Ethiopia. To do so, it applies a Market Systems Development (MSD) approach that involves identifying the root causes of market failure that disadvantage or exclude poor women and youth from wage and self-employment opportunities and identify private companies and public institutions with the incentive and ability to deliver change. The program works in four interrelated market systems (Labour, Micro and Small Enterprises-MSE, Medium and Large Enterprises-MLE, and Skills) that were selected based on their relevance to the target group of poor women and youth, the opportunity for positive impact, and the feasibility of interventions. These four systems are interconnected and together contribute to structural transformation.

While the program is running through June 30,2026 under the Netherlands Embassy funding, additional Sweden funding for a second phase of LIWAY is anticipated to be secured in early 2025, for an extension period of four years ending in December 2028. The aim of the extension phase is to broaden and scale the impact of LIWAY. By building on the existing learning, relationships, and the core competence of the Market Systems Development approach, the programme will be able to address key cross-cutting issues (conflict and climate) in implementation. LIWAY II will be more effective in its intervention in Addis Ababa as well as bring solutions and processes to young people in growing secondary cities, that will support in addressing the impacts of climate change and the needs of young people, particularly Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), in growing urban areas. The programme is implemented by a consortium of partners comprised of Mercy Corps and SNV Netherlands Development Organisation.

LIWAY II aims to create additional employment opportunities and income for 143,000 women and youth in regional cities and Addis Ababa. The targets are composed of poor women and youth (15 to 35 years old). The overall impact of LIWAY, including the period of extension, will be 400,000 women (50%) and young people (75%) to find or sustain jobs.

General Position Summary

The Team Lead is responsible for overall management and implementation of LIWAY’s priority sectors, including any upcoming additional funds (and corresponding staff) in line with the program approach and priorities. The Team Lead will ensure harmonization between this work and that of other partners within the overall approach and direction of the LI-WAY program, and the strategy of Mercy Corps Ethiopia. He / she is responsible for the roll out of technical strategies, providing guidance on program planning and implementation using Market Systems Development Approach, ensuring effective implementation of all activities and being proactive to address challenges, monitor and analyze the program environment and progress, applicable monitoring and evaluation and risk management tools and advice on timely adjustments using adaptive management strategies and corrective measures as necessary.

The TEAM LEAD is responsible for the strategic planning and overall management of the program and reports to the Deputy Program Manager.

Essential Job Responsibilities

Strategy and Vision (10%)

• 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.
• Develop and organize activities to secure resources for programs and convince stakeholders to provide support.
• Lead regular sector and program strategy review process in collaboration with senior management of the consortium partners as well as with internal / external technical consultants.

Program Management (30%)

Technical Leadership (20%)

Team management (40%)

Organizational Learning

Supervisory Responsibility : Manage the LIWAY Intervention Leads.

Accountability

Reports Directly To : Deputy Program Manager (Line Manager)

Works Directly With : LIWAY Program Manager, LIWAY core technical team, MC Regional Finance coordinator, MC HQ program officer / s, Mercy Corps senior leadership team members.

Minimum Qualification And Transferable Skills

Success Factors

Excellent demonstrated intercultural, interpersonal and negotiation skills, strong analytical and problem-solving skills. Excellent communication, facilitation, partnerships, and networking skills with a wide range of private, partner and NGO-sector actors. Business-minded, entrepreneurial, adaptive, curious, with great problem-solving skills, unafraid to ask questions, and results-motivated.

Living Conditions / Environmental Conditions

The position is based in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia and requires to closely work with SNV-based LIWAY team members including the need to physically locate at the SNV office as required.

Ongoing Learning

In support of our belief that learning organizations are more effective, efficient and relevant to the communities we serve, we empower all team members to dedicate 5% of their time to learning activities that further their personal and / or professional growth and development.

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

Achieving our mission begins with how we build our team and work together. Through our commitment to enriching our organization with people of different origins, beliefs, backgrounds, and ways of thinking, we are better able to leverage the collective power of our teams and solve the world’s most complex challenges. We strive for a culture of trust and respect, where everyone contributes their perspectives and authentic selves, reaches their potential as individuals and teams, and collaborates to do the best work of their lives.

We recognize that diversity and inclusion is a journey, and we are committed to learning, listening and evolving to become more diverse, equitable and inclusive than we are today.

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, programme 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. 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 e-learning courses upon hire and on an annual basis.

All qualified individuals are invited to apply for the advertised position. All applications, including a CV, three references, and all applicable official papers, must be sent electronically.

Only candidates that are short-listed will be acknowledged and called for interviews.

“Mercy Corps is an equal opportunity employer promoting gender, equity and diversity. Qualified female and young candidates are strongly encouraged to apply. We are committed to empower women and youth.”

DEADLINE FOR ALL APPLICATIONS : April 27, 2025 / 4 : 00 PM

Seniority level

Seniority level

Mid-Senior level

Employment type

Employment type

Full-time

Job function

Job function

Sales and Business Development

Industries

Strategic Management Services

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