Market System Development Officer 59 views2 applications

About the Project

The RLP is a 12-year initiative funded by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) and implemented by consortium members including IGAD, Helvetas/Welthungerhilfe, and Mercy Corps. The program aims to bring about transformative change in the pastoral and agro-pastoral areas of the Horn of Africa by creating a more productive, climate-resilient, inclusive, and competitive livestock sector. It primarily focuses on the four cross-border live animal trade corridors (Borena, Tog Wajaale, Galkaayo, and Afmadow), as well as the camel milk trade corridor (Wajir-Garissa-Nairobi) in Ethiopia, Kenya and Somalia.

During its first phase (2023 – 2026), the program will establish a foundation for future phases by building relationships, gathering evidence, and laying the groundwork for geographical scaling and expansion in Phase II & III. The overarching objective of Phase I is to improve the livelihoods of pastoral and agro-pastoral communities within the target trade corridors, with a specific emphasis on increasing production and productivity for agro-pastoralist and pastoralist households. This includes empowering peri-urban and rural women engaged in the livestock sector and youth while enhancing domestic markets and trade. Helvetas is leading this program in the Addis Ababa – Moyale corridor in collaboration with Welt Hunger Hilfe, Action for Development and Ethiopian Institute of Peace.

ABOUT THE JOB

1. Purpose of the Job 

The Market Systems Development (MSD) Officer is responsible for facilitating interventions and activities under the Regional Livestock Program (RLP) Moyale Corridor, focusing on Long-term Outcome 2: Livestock market actors have efficient and profitable engagement with domestic and international markets, especially women and youth.

The MSD Officer will work closely with a diverse range of actors and stakeholders, including government entities, private sector participants, and program beneficiaries, with a particular emphasis on the live animal marketing value chain.

The project employs a market-systems, community-led approach to stimulate economic growth, create wealth, and generate jobs for the poorest, while maximizing investment from both private and public sectors. The MSD Officer will bring technical expertise in marketing, employment, input/output markets, and financial services, covering key sectors such as livestock, livestock products, financial services, enterprise development, and related areas.

1. Duties and Responsibilities of MSD Officer

• Provide technical support for MSD activities, ensuring timely implementation and quality deliverables.
• Coordinate market systems assessments, validation workshops, and stakeholder events with government sectors.
• Facilitate capacity building for market actors on MSD approaches, identifying opportunities/constraints, and supporting small and medium enterprises.
• Develop short-term strategies and linkages between market actors to improve outreach.
• Manage the co-investment fund and private sector interventions to catalyze investment.
• Design guidelines for investment fund management based on RLP investment manual.
• Develop plans to enhance investment in livestock industries.
• Ensure the investment fund supports key sectors without crowding out financial markets.
• Organize platforms to disseminate RLP Investment Fund opportunities.
• Develop tracking systems for documentation management.
• Led private sector engagement and due diligence on companies.
• Conduct field visits to assess progress, provide technical advice, and feedback.
• Work with the RLP project manager and M&E officer on monitoring tools and reporting.
• Ensure proper documentation and updates for the RLP Project.
• Built relationships with government partners and local implementers.
• Represent HELVETAS professionally to maintain its mission.
• Compile and submit regular activity reports.
• Take additional duties as assigned by the project manager and program director.
• Report directly to the RLP project manager.

1. Collaboration

• Collaborate with RLP partners for quality project implementation.
• Plan and execute capacity development for partners in topics related to Market system Development
• Take part in the annual learning & planning events with the partners and share the experience from Moyale Corridor
• Adapt project activities to changing contexts with input from partners and stakeholders.
•  Implement and report project activities as per the plan and monitor conflicts of interest within the project context.
• Contribute to the monitoring, evaluation, learning, communication, reporting and documentation of project activities.