Consultancy Roster - Market System Development (MSD) Specialist - Middle East and Europe
Description
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. Now, and for the future.
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.
Purpose / Project Description:
Mercy Corps implements a variety of programming throughout the Middle East and Europe in response to the diverse humanitarian and long-term development needs of the region. Mercy Corps has ongoing programs in Syria, Yemen, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Palestine and Ukraine. Mercy Corps is committed to delivering high quality, high impact programming that reaches communities or individuals in need, wherever they are.
Consultant Objectives:
● Engage donors and support business development for market systems development projects in the Middle East and Europe
Consultant Activities:
Broadly, consultant activities will take the form of literature review, analyses, inputs into strategic documents, and providing technical leadership and capacity building to country offices. Specific examples of assignments will include one or more of the following activities:
● Support strategy development work at country level, in collaboration with New Initiatives, Strategic Partnerships Team, Technical Resources and Quality Unit (TRaQ), regional and country focal points
● Support country team with engagement to donors to increase awareness and interest in MSD
● Provide technical advice on concept notes, proposals, donor presentations, strategy documents and research
● Guide the development of assessments and prepositioning documents, ensuring they align with strategic objectives
● Provide guidance or training to country teams on MSD approach and principles in support of prepositioning with strategic donors
● Contributing toward learning documents and evaluations for external audiences, including donors and other MSD/MiC practitioners
Consultant Deliverables:
Specific deliverables and timeline will be determined based on the needs of each assignment. These will be discussed and agreed between the consultant, the program and the regional team at the start of the assignment.
Consultant Objectives:
● Engage donors and support business development for market systems development projects in the Middle East and Europe
Consultant Activities:
Broadly, consultant activities will take the form of literature review, analyses, inputs into strategic documents, and providing technical leadership and capacity building to country offices. Specific examples of assignments will include one or more of the following activities:
● Support strategy development work at country level, in collaboration with New Initiatives, Strategic Partnerships Team, Technical Resources and Quality Unit (TRaQ), regional and country focal points
● Support country team with engagement to donors to increase awareness and interest in MSD
● Provide technical advice on concept notes, proposals, donor presentations, strategy documents and research
● Guide the development of assessments and prepositioning documents, ensuring they align with strategic objectives
● Provide guidance or training to country teams on MSD approach and principles in support of prepositioning with strategic donors
● Contributing toward learning documents and evaluations for external audiences, including donors and other MSD/MiC practitioners
Consultant Deliverables:
Specific deliverables and timeline will be determined based on the needs of each assignment. These will be discussed and agreed between the consultant, the program and the regional team at the start of the assignment.
Deliverables will include at least one or more of the following:
● Country-level strategy documents that reflect the MSD approach
● Tailored communication materials that highlight the MSD approach in alignment with priority donors
● Documented discussions and action items as a result of progressing new business opportunities
● Documented technical advice on concept notes, proposals, and/or prepositioning materials
Timeframe / Schedule:
Consultancy timeframe / schedule will be determined based on the needs of each assignment. These will be discussed and agreed between the consultant, the program and the regional team at the start of the assignment.
The Consultant will report to:
Regional Market Systems Advisor, Middle East and Europe
Regional Market Systems Advisor, Middle East and Europe
The Consultant will work closely with: Deputy Regional Director, Regional Technical team, Regional PaQ team, Country Directors, Director of Programs, Program Managers, Global Economic Opportunity Teams
Required Experience & Skills:
● Bachelor’s degree required. Formal training in Market Systems Development or M4P preferred.
● 5-7 years of experience in international development work, with a minimum of three years in a program management or technical advisor role, including proposal design.
● Minimum of 2-3 years of experience in Market Systems Development technical work -including experience with program design, partnership building, technical advising, and/or learning and research.
● Experience working in the MENA and Eastern Europe required. Experience working in fragile contexts and humanitarian settings preferred.
● Strong writing skills required.
● Strong presentation and representation skills required.
● Very strong English skills, Arabic or Russian skills preferred
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, 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.