Description

***Location: Mexico - Anywhere

Background:

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.

In southern Mexico, particularly in Chiapas, rural and Indigenous communities face persistent poverty driven by limited economic opportunities, weak agricultural value chains, climate vulnerability, and ongoing migration pressures. These challenges mirror dynamics observed in neighboring regions of Guatemala, underscoring the need for integrated, cross-border approaches to sustainable rural development. Based on this context Mercy Corps submitted a concept note in October 2025 to address rural poverty, violence and economic development in rural areas. Mercy Corps is preparing to submit a proposal to a private foundation in April 2026 for a project supporting 12,000 participants in border communities around Chiapas state in the municipalities of La Libertad, Palenque and Ocosingo and in Guatemala in the municipalities of La Libertad, Las Cruces and Sayaxch. The Guatemala assessment is being conducted separately in January 2026 and results will be compiled with the Mexico assessment to drive proposal design. 

Purpose / Project Description:

The purpose of this consultancy is to conduct a livelihoods, value chain, and partner landscape assessment in Chiapas, Mexico, to inform the design of a multi-year, cross-border livelihoods initiative. The assessment will validate priority geographies, agricultural value chains, identify implementation partners, and will analyze key constraints related to agriculture, economic opportunity, climate vulnerability, and social exclusion affecting rural and Indigenous populations. The assessment will also examine the drivers of violence and insecurity particularly among youth including the role of limited economic opportunities, migration pressures, the presence of illicit crop production and/or armed groups in order to identify prevention-oriented entry points aligned with livelihoods, agriculture, and rural economic development along the border of Mexico and Guatemala.

Consultant Objectives:

• Meet, interview, evaluate and map out potential local partners (both public and private sector)
• Assess livelihood and agricultural systems in selected rural and Indigenous communities in Chiapas
• Validate priority agricultural value chains and market opportunities
• Validate geographic areas and propose new municipalities if necessary
• Analyze access to finance challenges and opportunities, particularly related to microfinance for women’s entrepreneurship
• Analyze contextual challenges related to conflict, limited economic opportunity, and climate vulnerability
• Write up and synthesize key assessment findings, tailoring the results so that they are useful and relevant to the lead writer in the drafting and design of the proposal
• Recommend specific interventions and activities in line with the 3 pillars of the program (Improve agricultural value chains, expand market access for high value crops and create pathways to employment and entrepreneurship) to inform program design and partnership models

Consultant Activities:

The Consultant will:

• Conduct desk review of relevant secondary data, including poverty, agriculture, climate, and migration trends in Chiapas
• Carry out key informant interviews with local organizations, including producer organizations, private sector actors, and other relevant stakeholders 
• Assess priority agricultural value chains (e.g., coffee, cacao, citrus, horticulture) including productivity, quality, market access, and constraints
• Map existing and potential local partners, assessing organizational capacities, geographic reach, and alignment with program objectives 
• Analyze challenges facing rural populations related to conflict, insecurity, economic exclusion, and limited services
• Identify opportunities for regenerative agriculture, climate resilience, youth employment, and women’s economic participation

Consultant Deliverables:

The Consultant will conduct/ develop:

•  Travel to target Mexican and Guatemalan municipalities with Mercy Corps Guatemala team members, gather assessment information, and record takeaways from all meetings 
• Partner Landscape Mapping -- evaluating potential local partners and recommended roles in the anticipated program
• Assessment Report -- describing the assessment approach, methodology, context analysis of intervention areas, partner mapping and assessment results, including analysis of value chains, markets, opportunities, and challenges
• Final Presentation to Mercy Corps’ key regional and Guatemala country team members summarizing key findings and recommendations for the program
• Deadlines for deliverables to be discussed and agreed with the Consultant upon confirmation of travel dates.

Timeframe / Schedule: 

Up to 20 days in January-February 2026 (exact dates to be confirmed), with a potential breakdown as follows:

•  Desk research and review of secondary data – 2 days

• Assessment planning: meetings with Mercy Corps; developing assessment methodology; scheduling external meetings – 2 days 

• Travel, in-person meetings, and compiling notes – 10 days

• Developing Partner Landscape Mapping and Assessment Report – 4 days

•  Developing Final Presentation and responding to follow-up questions from Mercy Corps – 2 days 

The Consultant will report to:

Deputy Regional Director, Programs LAC

The Consultant will work closely with:

Business Development Manager, Regional Deputy Director Programs LAC, Technical Director LAC, Awards Management Team Lead, Program Officers LAC and other key stakeholders on the proposal team. 

Required Experience & Skills:

•  5-10 years of experience in relevant technical field (required) 
•  Experience in relevant target geographies in Mexico and/or Guatemala (required)

Team Engagement and Effectiveness 

Achieving our mission starts with how we build our team and collaborate. By bringing together individuals with a variety of experiences, backgrounds, and perspectives, we strengthen our ability to solve complex challenges and drive innovation. We foster a culture of trust and respect, where every team member is valued for their contributions, empowered to reach their full potential, and motivated to do their best work.

We recognize that building a strong and effective team is an ongoing process, and we remain committed to learning, improving, and growing together.

Equal Employment Opportunity

Mercy Corps is an equal opportunity employer committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all employees and qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, color, sex, sexual orientation, religion or belief, national origin, age, disability, marital status, veteran status, or any other characteristics protected under applicable law.

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. 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.