Market-Based Programming Advisor, Pro-WASH & Scale Award at Mercy Corps

The Position

The Market-Based Programming Advisor will lead PWS’ markets-related work, supporting partners to apply market-based programming (MBP) approaches across technical intervention areas with a focus on fragile and emergency contexts. The Advisor will work across multiple agencies and countries, in line with DoS priorities. Key responsibilities include organizing and leading remote and in-person training and learning events; documenting and sharing MBP best practices; developing and adapting tools and guidance in response to partner needs; contributing to communities of practice; and liaising with relevant technical networks, private sector actors, and government entities, as applicable. As PWS enters its final year, the Advisor will also support culmination learning events, ensuring that the resources and lessons generated throughout the award are effectively disseminated and contribute to the program’s sustainability strategy.

Essential Responsibilities

PROGRAM IMPLEMENTATION

• Update and adapt PWS’ MBP capacity strengthening and engagement strategy to ensure alignment with implementers’ evolving needs and U.S. Department of State (DoS) priorities.
• Provide technical support and guidance to partners on applying MBP approaches within agriculture (including seed systems), WASH, and livelihoods interventions, particularly within emergency contexts.
• Lead and facilitate remote and in-person training, workshops, and knowledge-sharing events to strengthen partner capacity in MBP design and implementation.
• Identify, document, and disseminate best practices, lessons learned, and innovations related to MBP and private sector engagement within USG-funded emergency programs.
• Revise and tailor tools and guidance materials based on partner feedback, ensuring they are practical, context-appropriate, and applicable in emergency environments.
• Engage actively in markets-focused learning groups and communities of practice—such as the Markets in Crises (MiC) Community of Practice, the Global WASH Cluster, the Global Cluster’s Cash and Markets Working Group, ISSD Africa—to curate and share tools and evidence, and foster learning (such as co-hosting webinar, contributing to joint learning agendas, etc.).
• Advise partners on conducting rapid market assessments, piloting tools, analyzing market market data, and applying findings to strengthen emergency program design and delivery.
• Identify and highlight promising private sector innovations, services and technologies that can enhance USG-funded humanitarian response.
• Support culmination learning events, ensuring that the resources and lessons generated throughout the award are effectively disseminated.

MONITORING, EVALUATION & IMPACT MEASUREMENT

• Support the maintenance and improvement of M&E systems to ensure data from PWS’ markets-related activities is accurately captured, organized, and accessible.
• Implement activities to assess and document the impact of PWS’ capacity strengthening, knowledge-sharing, and learning interventions.
• Contribute to regular reflection and learning discussions to analyze data findings, draw insights, and identify implications for program strategies and approaches.

FINANCE & COMPLIANCE MANAGEMENT

• Contribute to the maintenance of systems that ensure effective, transparent use of financial resources and enable timely, accurate reporting in line with donor and Mercy Corps policies.
• Ensure compliance with all DoS and Mercy Corps financial and operational regulations.
• Draft and review SoWs to engage technical consultants for markets-related activities, as needed.
• Drafts relevant sections of quarterly and annual reports to DoS

REPRESENTATION, THOUGHT LEADERSHIP AND PARTNERSHIP DEVELOPMENT

• Represent PWS and Mercy Corps with key stakeholders (including DoS) across practitioner networks, learning forums, conferences, and online platforms through presentations, papers, and other knowledge products.
• Foster strong internal relationships to leverage Mercy Corps’ and PWS’ MBP expertise, resources, and collaboration opportunities.

Supervisory Responsibility

• Relevant technical consultants (tbd, as the need arises)

Accountability

• Reports Directly To: Technical Director, PRO-WASH & SCALE and ISSD Africa
• Works Directly With: All PRO-WASH & SCALE team members; other Mercy Corps TEQ staff, particularly ISSD Africa, Food Security & Nutrition and Economic Growth teams; relevant country teams

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.

Minimum Qualification & Transferable Skills

• 5+ years experience in applying market-based programming approaches in fragile and emergency contexts
• Strong familiarity with emergency food security programs and networks (e.g. the Cluster system)
• Experience in designing and implementing market-based programs in emergency contexts, including in hard to reach rural areas, with demonstrated experience designing/conducting/overseeing market systems assessments, marketing activities, and private sector development activities
• Familiarity with agricultural markets required; knowledge of emergency WASH and nutrition a plus
• Exceptional facilitation and training skills, with experience designing curricula, tools and other learning/training materials for adult audiences in multiple country contexts
• Ability to work and collaborate effectively across multiple programs, partners and countries
• Familiarity with WASH business models, product design, microfinance and/or financial product development strongly preferred
• Previous experience with USG- funded food security programs preferred
• Fluency in spoken and written English (required) and French (preferred)