Market System Development Advisor

About Mercy Corps

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. Our vision is 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. Our strategy focuses on the four outcome areas of: 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 the regional states of Afar, Amhara, Gambella, Oromia, Somali, Sidama, Southern Ethiopia, Tigray and Addis Ababa city administration 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.

Location: Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Position Status: Full-time or Part-time, Exempt or Non-exempt, Regular or Temporary

Salary Level: (Refer to the relevant salary scale)

Risk Level:     ☐ Level 3       ☐Level 2         ☐Level 1 

(Level 3: Frequent contact with participants, direct contact with children, access to sensitive data, and/or high level of accountability.  

Level 2: Some contact with participants; unplanned non-direct contact with children.

Level 1: Likely to have no contact with participants or sensitive data) 

 The Program / Department / Team (Program / Department Summary)

 LIWAY II is a four-years program implemented by Mercy Corps and SNV Netherlands Development Organization, funded by the Swedish International Development Organization (Sida). The program aims to improve market functions, support-service effectiveness, and the business ecosystem.  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.

LIWAY II aims to create 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 Position (General Position Summary)

The Market Systems Development (MSD) Advisor will lead the design, facilitation, and management of  market system interventions that improve employment opportunities for urban women and youth. The role will focus on strengthening market functions, supporting sustainable private-sector solutions, facilitating partnerships with employment, skills development, digital employment, and green economy sectors to enhance the performance of market systems for target groups. The MSD advisor reports to the MSD Team Lead.

Essential Responsibilities  

Intervention Development (20%)

• Identify opportunities for sustainable job creation within employment, workforce development, green economy, and related market systems.
• Assess market constraints and opportunities affecting youth and women’s participation in employment and entrepreneurship
• Assess markets to identify market constraints and develop detailed concept notes for strategic interventions in close collaboration with identified implementing partners.
• Develop systemic business models that respond to the market challenges faced by LIWAY target groups.
• Ensure interventions are commercially viable, scalable, and aligned with MSD principles.

Stakeholder Engagement (20%)

• Assess and onboard key stakeholders, including implementing partners, to foster collaboration for intervention implementation.
• Build strategic relationships with employers, private sector firms, training providers, job matching platforms, financial service providers, and relevant public institutions.
• Identify and select relevant market systems for LIWAY target groups and conduct detailed analyses to identify root causes affecting market performance.
• Facilitate coordination among market actors to strengthen market functions and improve employment outcomes for women and youth.
• Collaborate with other MSD advisors to exchange key industry information and tap into created partnerships.

Implementation Facilitation (30%)

• Facilitate market led partnerships and interventions that incentivize private sector investment and ownership.
• Prepare and finalize implementation agreements (sub-grant agreements) with selected partners and facilitate the signing process.
• Provide all required technical support during the implementation of agreed interventions to ensure alignment with project goals.
• Follow up on the implementation of approved concept notes and budget use to ensure quality of deliverables while meeting timelines.
• Support partners to adopt, improve, and scale business models that generate sustainable employment opportunities.

Technical Support and Advisory Services (15%)

• Act as a technical expert following the MSD approach, providing ongoing technical assistance to implementing partners.
• Advise partners on approaches that improve inclusiveness, commercial sustainability, scale, and resilience.
• Ensure that women and youth are meaningfully integrated into interventions and that their constraints are identified and addressed.
• Ensure all facilitations related to the market system are in line with the Market Systems Development approach.
• Ensure interventions contribute to sustainble systemic change an promote partner ownership beyond LIWAY support.

Monitoring and Reporting (15%):

• Monitor the progress of interventions under management and report on outcomes to ensure effective tracking and learning.
• Work with the Monitoring and Results Measurement team to regularly measure results and intervention level changes.
• document evidence of sustainability, crowding-in, replication, and market wide impact.
• Monitor systemic changes, partner behavior changes, and private sector investment resulting from interventions

Organizational Learning

As part of our commitment to organizational learning and in support of our understanding that learning organizations are more effective, efficient, and relevant to the communities they serve, we expect all team members to commit 5% of their time to learning activities that benefit Mercy Corps as well as themselves.

Supervisory Responsibility

None

Accountability

Reports Directly To: MSD Team lead

Works Directly With: LIWAY Deputy Chief of Party, LI-WAY MRM and Knowledge Management Advisor, MRM Specialist, Women’s Economic Empowerment advisor, Partnership and grant Specialist and other LIWAY MSD advisors.

Accountability to Participants and Stakeholders

Mercy Corps team members are expected to support all efforts toward accountability, specifically to our program participants, community partners, other stakeholders, and to international standards guiding international relief and development work. We are committed to actively engaging communities as equal partners in the design, monitoring and evaluation of our field projects.  

Success Factors

 A successful MSD Advisor (Intervention Lead) will have a demonstrated ability to design and lead interventions that address key constraints in the market system, resulting in creating economic opportunities for the LIWAY target groups. S/he will have a proven ability to learn quickly, take initiative, and be accountable for results, understand the larger picture while remaining focused on the details, work within a complex security and political situation and to follow strict security protocols. A willingness to relocate for short-term as necessary within coverage regions, based on programmatic needs, work independently and as part of a team are essential Computer literate especially in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook)

All interested candidates are encouraged to apply for the position advertised. All applications should be submitted to the Mercy Corps office/through email that includes a CV, three references, and all relevant official documents. Applications will not be returned and will not be retained for future recruitment efforts. To ensure fairness to all applicants’ personal inquiries are not permitted.

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

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 and have signed on to the Interagency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme. 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.

As an applicant, if you witness or experience any form of sexual misconduct during the recruitment process, please report this to Mercy Corps Integrity Hotline (integrityhotline@mercycorps.org).

Minimum Qualification & Transferable Skills

Knowledge and Experience

• Master's Degree or equivalent in relevant fields such as International Development, Economics, Business, or related disciplines.
• At least Five years of experience in market systems development or related fields, with a focus on urban livelihoods.
• Experience in employment promotion, workforce development, green jobs, renewable energy, digital employment, skills development, or private sector engagement.
• Experience managing partnerships with businesses, employment service providers, or industry actors.
• Strong understanding of the Market Systems Development (MSD).
• Proven ability to analyze market systems and identify root causes affecting performance.
• Full professional proficiency in spoken and written English, with strong report writing skills.
• Capacity to work in a dynamic environment and adapt to changing circumstances.

Desired Skills

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills to engage with diverse stakeholders.
• Strong interpersonal skills to foster teamwork and partnership development.
• Ability to think critically and devise innovative solutions to complex challenges.
• Proven capacity to build and maintain professional relationships with key market actors.
• Understanding of and respect for diverse cultural perspectives and practices.
• Proficient in computer skills and relevant technologies applicable to the role.

How To Apply

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: 23 November 2026/ 9:00 AM