General Position Summary

The Intervention Officer will be responsible for implementing all aspects of the Commercial Agents Model of the program including market systems development and livelihoods interventions of the Rural Resilience activity. This position holder will be required to apply a wide variety of market development tools and approaches in order to catalyze innovative services, facilitate and manage relevant market linkages between market actors in areas targeted by the project. S/he will provide field and office-based support to the technical team. The position will support the training of staff, the provision of technical assistance; and ensuring that common strategies and Mercy Corps approaches are applied consistently in all communities. S/he will coordinate closely with the MEL team to ensure that systems are in place to track, analyze and report results.

Essential Job Responsibilities

Research

• Conduct research into relevant market systems and trends to identify opportunities for scaling the Commercial Agents Model in the Northeast.
• Assist in stakeholder analysis of selected commodity chains and identify and establish contact with potential firms and other market actors.
• Liaise with the Results Measurement (MRM TEAM) team on the development of appropriately tailored research tools and methods for the collection and collation of relevant intervention information from the field to support the Commercial Agent Business Models.
• Assist to update and supervise MRM TEAM aspects of the intervention activities, including establishing baselines, indicators, and results.
• Support the conduct and/or update of market assessments, involving direct stakeholders as well as public and private sector actors working within the target value chains and market system.
• Assist in collecting baseline data related to interventions targeted for study or implementation by the project.

Intervention Management

• Support the implementation of teamwork plans and the successful implementation of livelihoods and market systems development activities, ensuring timely implementation of work plan activities and identification of target groups within the approved budget, and the achievement of program deliverables for desired impact.
• Support the provision of technical guidance on livelihoods and market systems development and ensure that interventions are responsive to stakeholders and consistent with Mercy Corps relevant program guidelines, principles, values, quality standards and strategic plan.
• Formulate strategies to develop markets in the selected commodity chains and seek opportunities to work as per the RRA sector strategy. Develop intervention strategies and implementation procedures in a participatory manner with key stakeholders.
• Ensure the appropriate communication of clear intervention guidelines, expected outcomes, timeframe and workplan to all relevant parties.
• Assist the Intervention Team Leader in the development of relevant grant agreements, MoUs, ToRs and any other administrative requirements for the interventions.
• Conduct regular field visits to ensure proper implementation of activities.
• Remain well aware of developments in the relevant sectors/markets/commodity chains.
• Work with the MRM team to design appropriate tools for monitoring the progress of interventions within the various market sectors. Also, liaise with the MRM team on the conduct of impact assessments for ongoing program interventions.
• Refine and adapt the intervention strategies in light of participant and stakeholder requests and changing needs and opportunities, within the overall program of RRA.
• Help identify market failures and pressure points for addressing these; help identify ways to render a given market more functional and efficient, in a manner that will benefit the program targets.
• Refine and adapt the selected intervention strategies in light of participant and stakeholder requests and changing needs, within the overall program.
• Identify priority areas for interventions that will change as opportunities pass or are realized and new ones emerge.
• Collaborate closely with and support the technical advisory and implementation team to manage the Grant Facility aspect of the program to catalyze new investment in viable economic opportunities (market systems, livelihoods, agribusiness, and employment) through grants that stimulate, rather than distort market development and avoid exacerbating conflict dynamics.

Stakeholder Management

• Represent the program in selected markets, displaying courtesy, tact, consideration and discretion in all interactions with partners, other members of the program, and with the public.
• Understand how the political economy impacts rural markets, and how changes in the functioning of markets may impact the political economy.
• Maintain contacts with key stakeholders to increase synergies.
•  Take part in facilitating and managing the work of partners/co-facilitators/service providers of the program and ensure value for money for the tasks given.
• Supervise/facilitate the identification and development of networks among key stakeholders, identifying common interests between the networks and RRA.
•  Assist in establishing contacts with national and regional institutions, stakeholders and participants that would contribute to the successful implementation of market activities.

Security

• Ensure compliance with security procedures and policies as determined by country and program leadership.
• Proactively ensure that team members operate in a secure environment and are aware of policies.
• Conduct himself/herself both professionally and personally in such a manner as to bring credit to Mercy Corps and not jeopardize its mission.

Knowledge and Experience

• Bachelors degree. Masters degree preferred.
• Minimum of three (3) years of demonstrated experience with USG or other similar development projects focused on market systems and livelihood development, with a solid understanding of context including gender and youth issues.
• Demonstrated ability to work and coordinate effectively with a wide variety of stakeholders, including government, community-based organizations, and the private sector.
• Technical experience in market system development approach to development.
• Experience with supporting assessments, monitoring and evaluation and other learning efforts is required.
• Ability to work independently.
• Demonstrated strengths in analytical skills and report writing.
• Excellent oral, written and computer skills.
• Fluency in English; fluency in Hausa is required