Market Systems Development Technical Specialist at Save the Children

ROLE PURPOSE:

The MSD Technical Specialist will be responsible for planning and coordinating the implementation of the systemic interventions in the selected sectors, sub-sectors and value chains in the framework of promoting economic inclusion for vulnerable groups. He/she seeks strategic partners and design and implement systemic interventions aligned with the IRiS program's approaches and principles. The role involves providing technical and strategic oversight, identifying capacity gaps, applying innovative systemic solutions, and building partners' capacities. The goal is to ensure sustainable benefits for partners and improved urban services and products for communities.

The MSD Technical Specialist coordinates with market actors, business communities, the chamber of commerce, local government, line Ministries, the urban poor and the wider private sector. He/she will facilitate enterprise development, enhance the capacity of service providers and value chain actors, explore enterprise opportunities and solutions, and provide technical support for business plan development. The position requires market systems development (MSD) expertise for sustainable livelihoods, economic inclusion, and resilience. This includes analyzing systemic constraints and opportunities in selected sub-sectors and designing and implementing interventions accordingly. The MSD Technical Specialist ensures that program targets benefit from enhanced supporting and core market systems, identify and prioritize systemic issues/constraints, and promotes value addition activities through stakeholder consultations. The focus addresses barriers to access, full participation, and benefits for target groups regarding market systems and economic opportunities. He/she will engage key market players in designing and implementing strategic interventions to overcome these identified bottlenecks.

Furthermore, the Market System Development Specialist coordinates inclusive market system development interventions. Focuses on building the capacities of key market actors and marginalized groups, including women and youth, to ensure their market participation. This involves implementing interventions, conducting ongoing sector analysis, and providing inputs, data, and information for designing new intervention activities.

Reports to: Head of Child Poverty Reduction

Staff reporting to this post: No direct reports but the Market System Development Specialist will work closely with the Program Manager, other technical specialists, the Media and communication coordinator, Head of REALM within Save the Children and across IRiS consortium partners.

QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE

QUALIFICATIONS

Master’s degree or equivalent experiences in economics, Agriculture, Business Administration, development studies, Agribusiness, Natural Resource Policy or other related field, or commensurate private sector or field experience is required.

EXPERIENCE AND SKILLS

• Minimum of (7) years of professional experience managing and implementing complex development programs in economic growth, market systems facilitations, private-sector development, livelihood programs, rural developments, agribusiness, financial services and/or urban economic empowerment.
• Good understanding of Market System Development (Making markets for the poor M4P) approach and facilitation, including coaching, relationship building, communicating, and being open and willing to work on new initiatives. 
• Extensive knowledge of local economic development, particularly market systems development (MSD/M4P), value chain development, private sector development and entrepreneurship in the international development context
• Experience leading market systems development (MSD) programmes; experience in fragile and conflict afflicted states would be a plus;
• Familiar with all aspects of the relevant market systems, including key actors, information service providers, employers of different scales, Micro-finance institutions (MFI), Banks, Insurance providers, input suppliers, producers, traders, intermediate and terminal markets governance framework (formal and informal) all support markets and functions. 
• Proficiency in program design, work-planning, activity implementation, and monitoring and evaluation, including experience with adaptive management approaches relevant to the Resilience Program.
• Experience coaching, mentoring, and strengthening the capacity of private sector entities to identify market opportunities, produce high-quality services and/or manage the growth and development of their business.
• At least 5 years’ experience of leading the design and implementation of humanitarian and development programmes in the field of rural development, climate change adaptation, food security and livelihoods.
• Ability to analyse local economies and diagnose appropriate and practical solutions to facilitate inclusive, pro-poor growth in different value chains and market systems (MSD/M4P)
• Familiar with nutrition-sensitive approaches, financial inclusion, market-based programming, youth and women economic empowerment, cash programming, Household Economy Approach (HEA) and graduation and livelihoods resilience building approaches.
• Track record in successful business development/fundraising USAID, FCDO, European Commission, Private Sector Foundations (e.g. Mastercard or Ford Foundation) 
• Demonstrated program design, monitoring, and evaluation skills, including designing pathways to sustainable impact at scale.