[Remote] Market Systems Development - Technical Capacity Strengthening Consultant

Note: The job is a remote job and is open to candidates in USA. Mercy Corps is a leading global humanitarian and development organization working with communities in the frontlines of conflict and climate change. They are seeking a Technical Capacity Strengthening Consultant to provide mentorship and technical support to enhance the application of Market Systems Development principles within their programming in Ukraine.

Responsibilities

• Conduct Portfolio Review and Capacity Needs Assessment
• Conduct a participatory review of the MSD portfolio, through
• A review existing program processes, tools, and ways of working
• A review of existing strategic focus areas and intervention strategies
• Consultations with program teams, MEL staff, and leadership
• Identify portfolio-level gaps, opportunities, and priorities for strengthening systemic impact
• Assess individual and team capacity gaps in core MSD competencies, with a strong focus on practical application
• Develop a prioritized, practical capacity strengthening and mentorship plan, including:
• Learning priorities (individual and group)
• Coaching and mentorship approach
• Provide Tailored Coaching and Mentorship (Individual and Team)
• Provide ongoing coaching and mentorship to program staff and leadership, including:
• Application of MSD concepts to current MSD interventions
• Troubleshooting implementation challenges
• Strengthening decision-making and facilitation approaches
• Provide MSD leadership coaching, including:
• Portfolio management and strategic prioritization
• Donor engagement and communication (in coordination with MEL consultant)
• Ensure mentorship:
• Is embedded in real-time program implementation
• Builds confidence and practical competency
• Supports learning-by-doing across the portfolio
• Provide Technical Advisory Support to Interventions and Portfolio Strategy
• Conduct a technical review of and provide hands-on advisory support to priority (pilot) interventions, including:
• Strengthening intervention logic and assumptions
• Supporting deeper market systems analysis
• Advising on partnership models and facilitation strategies
• Recommending adaptations based on emerging evidence and market responses
• Support teams to strengthen adaptive management practices, including:
• Use of reflection and review processes
• Integration of learning and evidence into decision-making
• Collaborate closely with the MSD MEL Consultant to ensure alignment between technical implementation and learning systems
• Provide portfolio-level strategic guidance, including:
• Identifying priority areas for strengthening MSD practice, particularly across the portfolio
• Identifying gaps, overlaps, and opportunities for greater systemic impact
• Supporting prioritization and strategic decision-making
• Assessing coherence and relevance of the intervention portfolio
• Recommending improvements to processes, ways of working, and management tools used
• MSD Portfolio Review and Capacity Strengthening Plan
• Review of program portfolio and MSD interventions and recommendations for management
• Assessment of existing MSD capacities and practices, strengths, and gaps at individual and team levels
• Capacity strengthening plan outlining:
• Existing strengths and areas for development
• Group and individual learning priorities
• Proposed learning and coaching approach
• Proposed workplan and engagement schedule, including learning sessions and coaching/mentoring support
• Recommendations for continued capacity strengthening beyond the assignment
• Tailored coaching and mentoring for key staff
• Ongoing coaching and mentoring to key staff and leadership throughout the assignment, documented through:
• Summary of coaching/mentoring sessions and key recommendations for continued staff development
• Advisory inputs to priority interventions (as needed)
• Agreed follow-up actions with teams and leadership
• Technical Assistance
• Technical review of MSD pilot interventions with recommendations on:
• Market systems analysis
• Intervention logic and design
• Market actor incentives
• Partnership approaches
• Facilitation strategies
• Assumption testing and intervention adaptation
• Specific technical inputs to program teams on intervention design, market analysis, partnership approaches, as well specific tools/processes co-developed with teams
• Recommendations and suggested approaches to strengthen adaptive management practices, developed in collaboration with the MSD MEL & Adaptive Learning Consultant
• Recommendations on the improvement of program management processes, ways of working, and implementation tools, as needed, and provide recommendations for strengthening MSD practice within program operations
• Reflection with program leadership on the overall MSD portfolio, including the relevance and strategic fit of current interventions, potential gaps, opportunities for greater impact, and priorities for future adaptation or investment

Skills

• 7-10 years of experience of increasingly proficient management and/or technical support in MSD programming and/or private sector experience, with at least one job experience in a globally well-reputed MSD project
• Proven experience assessing markets and working with private sector partners
• Experience working across different geographies, mainly in Africa, and more specifically in fragile environments
• Strong ability to understand and manage multiple stakeholders and complex relationships at multiple levels of the organization
• Willingness and ability to travel frequently to Mercy Corps project sites, including traveling to insecure environments, is required
• A proven proactive approach to work and self-driven leadership
• Fluency in English is required, with strong written and oral communication skills

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