Re-Advert: Financial Services and Private Sector Specialist – Mogadishu

Mercy Corps

Re-Advert: Financial Services and Private Sector Specialist – Mogadishu

RE Advert: Financial Services and Private Sector Specialist

Position Title: Financial Services and Private Sector Specialist

Location: Mogadishu, Somalia (with support to other country offices- Roaming on need basis)

Position Status: Full time, Regular

About Mercy Corps

Mercy Corps is powered by the belief that a better world is possible. To do this, we know our teams do their best work when they are diverse, and every team member feels that they belong. We welcome diverse backgrounds, perspectives, and skills so that we can be stronger and have long term impact.

Program/Department Summary

Mercy Corps Somalia aims to strengthen systems and mechanisms that enable sustainable development, emergency response and peaceful processes through high quality and high impact programming in Somaliland, Puntland, and the South-Central of Somalia, i.e., all over Somalia. Mercy Corps assists communities in Somalia to transition from crisis to transformative recovery and sustainable development. We currently implement programs that address IDPs’ and returnees’ needs in terms of education, health, conflict mitigation management, livelihoods, and emergency response with an orientation towards early recovery. We aim to expand our programs that strengthen and diversify livelihoods and ensure food security and resilience throughout the country. In our continued response to emergency and disaster, Mercy Corps seeks experienced Agriculture and Food Security Specialist for its Inclusive Resilience in Somalia (IRIS) – (Market Based Resilience for Marginalized Populations -MB-RMP) Activity funded by USAID.

General Position Summary

The financial services and private sector Specialist are overall responsible for the day-to-day implementation of the planned activity components with links to Agriculture and Food Security (AFS) in the key MC assigned result areas of Livestock, financial services and energy sectors of the IRIS Program (MB-RMP) working under the supervision of the Program Manager (Team Lead). The FSPS Specialist will work closely both with management and support staff (including finance, administration, and program) supporting the IRIS program as well other Mercy Corps field offices including Baidoa, Jowhar, Kismayu and Mogadishu to ensure the IRIS program day to day activities are implemented according to schedule, budget and required quality. S/he will have to coordinate closely with the IRIS program key project result areas specialists (Livestock, Energy, FSL) as well as CO other specialist led dockets (gender, meal and innovations) and sectoral leads/ specialists from IRIS program and other implementing partners including DT Global, SCI, SATG and ITAD. Similarly, s/he has to closely coordinate with the Local Administration, the IDP and host community leaders, and other key program stakeholders to achieve the program goals and ensure that all activities are implemented on demand-driven; and communities mobilized in a participatory way. S/he will have to show full adherence to Mercy Corps procedures, policy and security protocols.

Essential Job Responsibilities

  • Work with MC IRiS PM, Technical specialists (Livestock/Food Security and Livelihood, Energy and Women and Youth Empowerment), other program staff in identification and prioritization of livestock investment opportunities supporting broader MC objectives with a focus on to link key markets value chains/sectors and MFI.
  • Guide, support, facilitate B2B workshop, events, consultations as well as other key PSE’s.
  • Assess, map, maintain, and manage a network of prospective MFI’s/investors from key private sectors.
  • Support entrepreneurs looking to raise capital to develop concrete investment proposals to be presented to prospective investors.
  • Organize investor information sessions in coordination with Somali private and public sector representatives and other groups interested. Support other entrepreneurial investment promotion activities.
  • Collaborate with MC Team to develop and implement outreach strategies to the private sector.
  • Participate in the creation of competitive platforms of relevant stakeholders.
  • Adhere to MC policies, tools, handbooks, and guidelines.
  • Assist with the implementation of the IRIS Program – Financial Services/ Private Sector linked activities through the MC lead result areas and other program portfolios according to plan of action.
  • Prepare and develop status reports as required by management and supervisor in the area of duty station.
  • Support the implementation of the activities under the financial services and private Sector, particularly the livestock related activities under IRIS Program.
  • Document good practices and lessons, testimonies and stories for program learning from field visits, surveys and assessments that have been done.
  • Work with all MC staff to compile all program related documentations for the IRIS Program coverage areas in the GFZ (CDCS) as may be required from time to time.
  • Perform any other assigned duty by Mercy Corps Somalia.

Strategy & Vision

  • Review existing program strategies and approaches based on changing contexts.
  • Design viable strategies that are both respectful with the local culture and sensitive towards the population.

implementation and program coordination

  • Contribute to building the capacity of Mercy Corps staff, as well as project stakeholders.
  • Develop project work plans related to FSPSE as needed; communicate to Program Team Lead/Program manager as well as other IRIS program teams/ sectors.
  • Ensure the tracking, monitoring and quality reporting of all financial services and private sector engagement interventions.
  • Complete budget pipeline planning, monitoring and monthly follow up in coordination with the Program Manager.
  • Supervise and monitor the implementation of FSPS activities, together with other program team members, ensuring that all activities are compliant with the grant and Mercy Corps requirements. Prepare subsequent reports.
  • Work with Program Manager/Team Lead and Director of Programs to identify, build and manage collaborative partnerships with consortium partners, sub-grantees, donors, and other stakeholders.

Program impact and PROGRAM MANAGEMENT

  • Prepare procurement plans based on project cycle for all FSPS related works; ensure all PRs are accurately prepared and submitted on time.
  • Manage grant budget lines related to technical area of specialization (Financial Services and private Sector), including preparation of monthly projections.
  • Work with MEL Unit to measure outcome indicators and outputs to determine the success of interventions.

Team Management

  • Provide team members with information, tools, and resources to improve performance & reach objectives.
  • Promote accountability, communicate expectations, and provide constructive feedback informally and formally via regular one on ones and performance reviews.
  • Create and sustain a work environment of mutual respect where team members strive to achieve excellence.

design and planning

  • Lead financial services and private Sector aspects of technical assessments in coordination with other thematic areas and/or other external sector agencies.
  • Revise work plans in conjunction with the livestock, financial services, and energy Specialist under the oversight of the IRIS program Team lead as well as the overall IRIS Program where applicable.
  • Ensure provision of program quality in all aspects of design, planning, and implementation of FS interventions
  • Contribute to the identification and design of additional opportunities for short, medium, and long-term programming.
  • Contribute to the design of new proposals based on sectoral and general knowledge.
  • Prepare bi-weekly, quarterly, and interim donor reports for relevant activities under the guidance of the Reporting & Program Support Officer and Program Team Lead
  • Maintain and coordinate reporting and documentation of private sector and financial linkage activities.
  • Fulfil Mercy Corps’ Program Management Minimum Standards based on the organization-wide guide.
  • Ensure all interventions adhere to Mercy Corps Gender Policy, Do No Harm principles, and beneficiary accountability standards.

Supervisory Responsibility: N/A

Accountability:

Reports Directly to: Program Manager/Team Lead

Works Directly With: Other Sector Specialists, Reporting & Program Development Officer, Program Team Lead, Sector Leaders, MEL Unit, HQ FSPSE TSU, Program Operations, Director of Programs, Finance; and counterpart team members from the other IRIS program partners.

Accountability to Beneficiaries

Mercy Corps team members are expected to support all efforts toward accountability, specifically to our beneficiaries and to international standards guiding international relief and development work, while actively engaging beneficiary communities as equal partners in the design, monitoring and evaluation of our field projects.

Skills and Qualifications

Knowledge and Experience

  • Degree in business administration, economics, finance, or another relevant discipline from an accredited university (master’s degree or other advanced degree preferred)
  • 5 years in a resilience setting with financial services and private sector management.
  • Experience in complex and complicated settings with time sensitive deliverables in unstable environments.
  • Demonstrated ability to manage and communicate effectively with an ethnically diverse team in a sensitive environment.
  • Knowledge of Private sector engagement and financial services inclusion highly preferable.
  • Demonstrated flexibility and creativity in planning and problem solving.
  • Knowledge of participatory approaches and community sensitization and mobilization.
  • Good knowledge of program implementation, monitoring and evaluation techniques and practices.
  • Good knowledge and experience regarding gender mainstreaming.
  • Good computer applications skills.
  • Knowledge of the major evaluation methodologies (e.g., qualitative, quantitative, mixed-method, and impact) and data collection and analysis methodologies.
  • Experience in planning and managing surveys.
  • Experience in developing and refining data collection tools.
  • Experience in managing and providing training to partners and target beneficiaries.
  • Ability to effectively represent Mercy Corps and its interests to key stakeholders including host governments, and national and international NGOs.
  • Excellent oral and written English skills required.

Success Factors

The successful candidate will combine exceptional technical skills and experience in maintaining donor and partner relationships. S/he will have previous experience in working in large-scale resilience programs in insecure and conflict context. S/he will have an outstanding ability to design and provide technical oversight of innovative private sector and financial inclusion programs within the current and future program structure of Mercy Corps in the area. S/he will also have proven experience with cross-cultural team and capacity building, individual staff development and strong mentoring skills. The successful candidate will be able to provide technical oversight to large resilience programs in an austere environment.  S/he will be focused on capacity building of program staff, have strong program support skills, good information management skills and maintain a sense of humour.

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.

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.

How to apply

All interested candidates are encouraged to apply for this position and submit their applications (cover letter, updated CV and contacts of 3 professional referees) through https://www.mercycorps.org/careers/national  only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

“Female candidates are strongly preferred to apply, and the candidate must have a good understanding and experience for the vacant position”

Note: Please be aware that your education certificate and employment background of the last 3 years will be verified by Mercy corps during the recruitment process.

Deadline for Applications: May 25th 2023

Apply Here

To apply for this job please visit recruiting2.ultipro.com.

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