Market Systems Advisor, Pro-Wash & Scale Award at Mercy Corps

The Position

The Markets Systems Advisor will lead PWS’ markets-related work for both Mercy Corps and Save the Children, supporting implementing partners to apply market systems development (MSD) and market-based programming (MBP) approaches. As any implementing partner (IP) receiving BHA funding is eligible for PWS support, the Advisor will work across multiple agencies and countries. They will collaborate with local experts wherever possible, mutually strengthening capacities and allowing for the incorporation of contextualized knowledge and practices into tools and guidance. This includes organizing and leading training events, documenting and sharing MSD/MBP best practices, developing/adapting tools and guidance documents, supporting markets-related research activities, participating in communities of practice and/or learning groups, contributing to technical knowledge sharing events, and liaising with relevant technical networks, other USAID awards and local partners/institutions.

Essential Responsibilities

STRATEGY AND PLANNING

• Lead the development of PWS’ capacity strengthening, research and engagement strategy as it relates to MSD/MBP, including gathering information on gaps and needs through consultations, desk mapping and interviews with a wide range of implementers across the food security community
• Update and adapt the markets strategy as needed, to ensure PWS’ work remains responsive to implementers’ needs.
• Build external visibility and awareness around markets-related work, including representing PWS to senior leadership within Mercy Corps, across peer agencies, to USAID and other communities of practice such as the Market in Crisis working group.

PROGRAM IMPLEMENTATION

• Support and advise IPs on applying MSD/MBP approaches to their activities, with a focus on agriculture, WASH and livelihoods interventions in both emergency and non-emergency contexts
• Lead knowledge sharing and training events (including ToTs, cross-visits, learning cohorts, markets mentorship). Ensure delivery of learning activities on time, target and budget, using M&E systems to reach desired impacts.
• Identify, document and disseminate best practice and lessons learned related to MSD/MBP interventions taking place in, or relevant to, BHA-funded food security programs, with a focus on agriculture, livelihoods and WASH.
• Develop and disseminate rosters of local experts, training institutions and organizations working on MSD/MBP in BHA contexts. Identify opportunities for local partners to collaborate with PWS and IPs on markets-related efforts.
• Identify best practices for engaging with local market actors in emergency and resilience programs
• Develop and/or adapt tools and guidance documents based on lessons learned, integrating local partners’ inputs to ensure materials are fit for context (including emergencies) and reflective of local knowledge and experience.
• Contribute to markets-related learning groups and communities of practice, including liaising with BEAM, Markets in Crises (MiC), the Cash Learning Partnership (CaLP), Global WASH Cluster’s market based programming group, the Global Cluster’s Cash and Markets Working Group, and Associate Awards HAEC, IDEAL and REAL, etc. to curate and disseminate tools and resources
• Support implementing partners during the Refine & Implement process, including: reviewing SOWs for markets and livelihoods-related studies and advising on assessments, analyses, and measurement approaches.
• Advise emergency and early recovery partners on tools and best practices for conducting rapid market assessments and support piloting of tools, analysis and application of results.
• Contribute to thought leadership on topics such as the sequencing and layering of cash and vouchers assistance (CVA) for livelihoods and for improved WASH coverage with market activities.
• Identify and disseminate relevant research studies and support sense-making workshops to aid IPs in understanding and incorporating findings into their own work.

MONITORING, EVALUATION & IMPACT MEASUREMENT

• Support the maintenance of M&E systems, including ensuring data from PWS markets-related activities is accurately captured and organized..
• Implement activities to assess and document the impact of capacity strengthening, knowledge sharing and learning and interventions.
• Contribute to reflection discussions on the data findings and implications for adapting program approaches to ensure learning products and events achieve the greatest impact.

FINANCE & COMPLIANCE MANAGEMENT

• Contribute to the maintenance of systems ensuring effective and transparent use of financial resources for timely and informative reporting in line with donor and Mercy Corps policies and procedures.
• Ensure compliance with USAID and Mercy Corps regulations.
• Draft and/or review scopes of work to hire and manage any technical consultants, including review for technical efficacy and contract budget.
• Lead the writing of relevant sections of the quarterly and annual reports to USAID.

REPRESENTATION, THOUGHT LEADERSHIP AND PARTNERSHIP DEVELOPMENT

• Identify, build and manage strategic partnerships with USAID (within and outside DC) and USAID-funded programs, as well as with relevant partner programs, local experts and institutions, and learning networks.
• Represent SCALE and Mercy Corps with different stakeholders, including USAID in relevant practitioner and learning networks and at key events, as well as through developing industry wide papers, conference presentations, and online fora.
• Communicate effectively to ensure overall program targets and donor obligations are met.
• Actively engage in internal relationship building, helping PWS to leverage Mercy Corps MSD/MBP expertise and resources.

Supervisory Responsibility

• Relevant technical consultants (tbd, as the need arises)

Minimum Qualification & Transferable Skills

• 5+ years experience in market systems development
• Experience in designing and implementing market-based programs in emergency and non-emergency contexts, including in hard to reach rural areas, with demonstrated experience designing/conducting/overseeing market systems assessments, sales and marketing activities, and private sector development activities. Such experience should also include coaching and training others on these approaches. 
• Familiarity with agricultural markets and market-based sanitation required
• Exceptional facilitation and training skills, with experience designing curricula, tools and other learning/training materials for adult audiences in multiple country contexts
• Ability to work and collaborate effectively across multiple programs, partners and countries
• Experience applying social and behavior change (SBC) and/or human-centered design (HCD) principles a plus
• Familiarity with sanitation business models, product design, microfinance and/or financial product development strongly preferred,
• Previous experience with USAID/BHA funded food security programs preferred and in countries with USAID/BHA funded programming
• Fluency in spoken and written English (required) and French (highly preferred)