Consultant - Market Systems Development Senior Consultancy: PERMA - Remote

Description

Background:

Mercy Corps is a leading global organisation 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 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, and Palestine. Mercy Corps is committed to delivering high quality, high impact programming that reaches communities or individuals in need, wherever they are.

Mercy Corps Iraq is implementing Promoting Economic Revival of Microbusiness and Agriculture (PERMA 2), an agriculture program that aims to improve the business environment and improve access to financial services as well as reactivate agriculture value chains in Salah al-Din and Ninewa governorates. Efforts toward agricultural and rural economic recovery must target the rehabilitation of both the public and the private (at micro and small enterprise levels) infrastructure through an integrated approach, while also taking into account the social and cultural complexity of Salah al-Din and Ninewa. In response, PERMA 2 has outlined three main objectives aimed at supporting rehabilitation, reconstruction, and overall economic recovery of the agriculture sector in Salah al-Din and Ninewa:

• Financial institutions are providing appropriate and affordable financial services to enable MSMEs to start, re-start and grow agricultural activities;
• Small-scale farmers have improved access to services, inputs, information, infrastructure and markets that increase their productivity and profitability; and
• Local institutions and leaders are promoting intra- and inter-community interactions that contribute to the reintegration of returnees in the agricultural sector and conflict-resolution.

Consultant Objectives:

• Support PERMA consultants, team members and Mercy Corps Iraq leadership team to develop and improve programme strategy to key internal and external stakeholders
• Work with consultants and team members, ensuring that activities are moving ahead seamlessly and are in line with the MSD approach. Support project team to design scale up interventions in line with the MSD approach

Consultant Activities: The Consultant will conduct the following activities:

• Collaborate with consultants and project team members to meet project milestones and timelines.
• Provide technical assistance and expertise to design and implement interventions MSD approach.

Consultant Deliverables:

The Consultant will develop the following deliverables.

1. Documented technical assistance on implementation strategy and approach
2. Documented inputs on bottlenecks and challenges along with key recommendations

Timeframe / Schedule: Estimated LOE is 5 days between February - August 2024

The Consultant will report to: Director of Programmes - Iraq

The Consultant will work closely with: PERMA Team Leader, Director - Markets, PERMA Financial Inclusion Manager, PERMA Agribusiness Manager, Mercy Corps Iraq PaQ Team

Required Experience & Skills:

• Bachelor’s degree required. Formal training in Market Systems Development or M4P preferred.
• 5 to 7 years of experience providing increasingly proficient technical support in the relevant field of expertise that includes:
• Preparing writing and analysis on proposal development.
• Demonstrating strong theoretical and applied knowledge of the field of expertise.
• Using integrated approaches and applying systems thinking.

• 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.

• Practical field experience, typically over the course of 2 years, that includes:

• A combination of successful temporary duration field assignments (under two weeks), longer-term field assignments (two or more weeks), and/or living in a field location for an extended period to work in a country or field office.
• Managing and implementing successful MSD programs
• Willingness and ability to travel frequently to Mercy Corps project sites and field locations, including travelling to insecure environments, is required

• Familiarity with major donors such as USAID, DFID, the EC and relevant foundations and corporations.

• Experience working in the Middle East required. Experience working in fragile contexts and humanitarian settings preferred.

• Strong writing skills required.
• Strong presentation and representation skills required.
• Fluency in English is required

TO APPLY In order to be considered, this application requires the candidate to apply to all three (3) related consultant postings titled:

1. Consultant – Market Systems Development Senior Consultancy – Remote
2. Consultant – Market Systems Development Senior Consultancy: PERMA – Remote (this posting)
3. Consultant - Market Systems Development Senior Consultancy: IQLAA - Remote with travel to Amman

Applicants must please submit the following to each related posting:

• CV
• A cover letter that addresses your experience directly related to elements detailed in the Scope of Work including the Required Experience and Skills section

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Achieving our mission begins with how we build our team and work together. Through our commitment to enriching our organisation 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 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 team members are expected to support all efforts toward accountability, specifically to our stakeholders and to international standards guiding international relief and development work, while actively engaging communities as equal partners in the design, monitoring and evaluation of our field projects. Team members are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner and respect local laws, customs and MC's policies, procedures, and values at all times and in all in-country venues.