Deputy Country Director at Mennonite Economic Development Associates (MEDA)

POSITION SUMMARY 

The Deputy Country Director (DCD) will be the Technical Lead for the market systems and financial services/investment components of the LEGEND Project and act as assistant to the Country Director specifically on project implementation. The DCD will be responsible for leading and building capacity within the field team in market systems and financial services/investment technical approaches, to ensure effective implementation of market systems development strategies and project performance targets. Responsibilities include: building capacity of local staff and partners in market systems development approaches in the context of the project’s specific agricultural sub-sectors and with a focus on women and youth economic development, serve as the principal liaison between MEDA and the local financial service partners, including banks, micro-finance institutions, investment funds and other financial service / market system actors; support CD in field staff recruitment and management; and support the development of project performance tracking monitoring and impact measurement (MIM) systems. Act as a member of the Senior Management Team, providing leadership and direction to the overall project.

POSITION RESPONSIBILITIES

• Oversee the implementation components of the financial services/investment, market systems and SME business development approaches, in all different targeted regions by the project
• Coordinate with the crosscutting services team to ensure effective integration of gender equality and social inclusion (GESI) and environment and climate change (ECC) within these technical approaches
• Help build capacities of local staff and partners in market systems development
• Ensure effective and efficient management of the Investment and Financial Services Specialist, Market Systems and BDS Specialist, and Regional Operations Managers (Coast/Kisumu) within project’s compliance with planning, monitoring, evaluation, performance, and reporting as established and defined by the relevant contracts and by MEDA’s standards.
• Assist the Country Director (CD) in setting bases, in managing, developing, and monitoring the project in order to obtain all expected results, to achieve performance targets and sustainability of the project
• Assist the CD and MEDA to cultivate new business development opportunities in-country and regionally.
• Ensure there is maintenance of strict budgetary adherence and monitoring.
• Work with the Director of Finance and Administration to review contracts, pre-award assessments, grant audits, compliance, and systems improvement. Finance holds responsibilities of legal and financial reviews of contracts and commitments.
• Work with CD and SPM to set up grant pipelining, awarding, monitoring, and close out protocols.
• Establish a grantee and partner monitoring system.
• Ensure positive relations with donors are maintained, as well as with other local development organizations, local governments, and the business community.
• Ensure positive relations with colleagues and develop teamwork spirit
• Manage relationships with Key Facilitating Partners, ensuring positive relationships are maintained and targets achieved.
• Undertake a program of planned visits on a regular cycle to the project sites as well as those with all partners to ensure mutually beneficial outcomes are achieved.
• Submit regular Donor reports and workplans, in coordination with the Country Director, Finance and Admin Team, Cross-cutting services team, programming team and HQ technical specialists
• Any other duties and/or requirements as assigned 

REQUIREMENTS 

• Education: Masters degree in business, financial services, international development, enterprise development, economic development, agriculture, or related field.
• Experience: A minimum of seven years’ experience implementing value chain/economic development projects including managing teams to deliver economic growth outcomes.

Additional Qualifications: 

• Appreciation and support of MEDA’s Mission vision and values.  
• Understand ing and appreciation of business principles, international development, and MEDA’s approach to creating business solutions to poverty.  
• Strong under standing of and proven experience in women’s economic empowerment programming in a development context
• Strong understanding of competitive market environments; inclusive subsector development, business development, marketing, and facilitation of market systems approaches
• Strong understanding of business decision making in competitive market environments; inclusive subsector development and market systems development facilitation methods.
• Understanding of the principles and mechanisms for value chain financing and other methods to facilitate access to financial services and investment for smallholder farmers and SMEs
• Demonstrated ability to mobilize stakeholders and lead and facilitate collaborative processes.
• Proven and adaptable interpersonal and cross-cultural communication skills. Ability to communicate with individuals professionally and effectively at various levels.
• Good leadership skills with ability to work as a catalyst and facilitator.
• Direct private sector experience is desirable.
• Sector experience in agriculture/agribusiness is desirable (specific experience in horticulture, aquaculture, and poultry an advantage)
• Experience in project target geographic regions (Lake Zone and Coast) is desirable
• Excellent report writing and review skills.
• Relevant post-graduate qualifications, including MBA, MSC or equivalent
• Fluency in English and Swahili is required.