Program/Department Summary
With funding from USAID’s Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance (BHA), Mercy Corps’ Nawiri Program is leading a consortium of Kenyan and international partners on a Seven year journey to sustainably reduce persistent acute malnutrition in Turkana and Samburu Counties of Kenya. Through a phased approach that emphasizes evidence gap analysis, as well as partnership, learning, and co-creation, the program takes a robust county-centered design with government leadership, active engagement from communities, the private sector, and civil society. Mercy Corps’ consortium brings together the global leadership, research capacity, technical expertise, and implementation experience necessary to partner with local institutions to test, adapt, and scale evidence-based solutions. Together we will sustainably reduce persistent acute malnutrition for vulnerable populations in Turkana and Samburu counties.
General Position Summary
The Senior Private Sector Engagement and Financial Inclusion Officer will be a member of the USAID Nawiri Resilient Livelihoods Team and directly responsible for implementing nutrition-sensitive private sector led Market System Development and Financial Inclusion interventions at County, sub-county (prioritized wards) level. These include on and off-farm livelihoods, market systems development along crop, livestock value chains, financial inclusion and vocational skills. They will work alongside other USAID Nawiri team members in layering interventions for collective impact at household and community level. The position is based at the USAID Nawiri Samburu County office level supporting interventions within the County and sub-county and prioritized wards – that continuously experience high rates of acute malnutrition. They will work closely with relevant county officials, CSOs and private sector players involved in livelihoods and food security & nutrition within their areas of operation.
Livelihoods across Samburu are diverse and further diversifying as stability and investment spreads across Kenya’s northern arid lands. Although some communities and households are able to benefit from growth and change, others are struggling to find a place in the increasingly diversified economy. The Senior Private Sector Engagement and Financial Inclusion Officer plays a pivotal role in supporting community and household livelihood activities that support positive nutritional outcomes. Activities will likely include support to Market System Development, Financial Inclusion, poverty graduation models aimed at supporting human capital development, conflict management and peaceful co-existence around natural resource management, and Ward development planning.
They will support implementation strategies in coordination with the Field Director and Livelihoods Coordinator. They will participate in the daily implementation of the development programing through support of business partners including commercial banks, MFIS, SACCOS, agro-processors, traders, retailers, crop and livestock input distributors and agents and a host of other market actors to enhance access to markets and financial services by program participants. The Senior Private Sector Engagement and Financial Inclusion Officer will largely draw on technical support from Livelihoods coordinator and Livelihoods team of advisors in Nairobi to assist with moving the program forward and supporting partners with technical assistance. It will be critical to ensure that common strategies and approaches are applied that lead to sustainable nutritional outcomes. They will keep abreast of changing contexts in the County and advise on the integration of new ideas and approaches as appropriate.
Essential Job Responsibilities
PROGRAM MANAGEMENT
Provide technical support, contribute to teamwork plans and guide successful implementation of financial inclusion and market system development interventions program activities, ensuring teams and partners activities are on track and in alignment to achieve desired impact.
Training staff and other implementing partners on market system development (MSD) approaches and mainstreaming MSD approaches in all livelihood interventions.
Within Samburu, take the lead role in identifying private sector partners and credible financial inclusion service providers.
Work with stakeholders and Mercy Corps technical staff to develop potential projects including detailed work plans and business plans.
Identify the capacity gaps of financial services actors, design and implement most feasible capacity building activities based on identified gaps and support the delivery of tailored financial services.
Conduct due diligence on potential partners and support the negotiation process, as requested, in finalizing teaming and partnership agreements.
Provide continuous support and oversee activities of the local financial institutions identified for capacity building support.
Work closely with all other program teams at local level to identify clients for financial services and to support service extension and financial inclusion as well as development of suitable products and services.
Actively participate in the periodic program planning, review and reflection meetings and sessions.
Prepare accurate and timely reports and other project documentation and communication that contribute to a learning organization.
Coordinate with other Mercy Corps programs and local government bodies to ensure coherent program implementation and to capitalize on business opportunities in Mercy Corps’ target communities.
Support research, assessments, evaluations, and monitoring surveys in area of operation. This will entail development of Scopes of Work, development of survey tools, trainings and management of data collectors, report write and facilitating results discussion.
Coordinate with procurement, logistics, security, administration, and human resources teams to ensure operational systems support field activities.
COLLABORATION/NETWORKING
Integrate community approaches, gender sensitivity and capacity building into all activities as appropriate including certifying all interventions to adhere to Mercy Corps’ Gender Policy, Do No Harm principles, and beneficiary accountability standards.
Conduct community mobilization and sensitization meetings that are inclusive and to help prioritize the economic needs of target communities.
Support with Foster collaborative partnership with other development partners and identify potential opportunities for linkages
Engage and provide technical support to other Nawiri implementing partners and platforms including Team with REAP and Ward Development planning committees as required.
Link private sector and financing to REAP participants and Ward Planning Committees.
Coordinate activities with international and local NGOs, and private sector businesses, to ensure strong linkages between economic development programs.
Work with team leader(s) and Mercy Corps technical staff in order to develop potential projects, implement and closely monitor selected economic development projects including detailed work plans and business plans.
INFLUENCE & REPRESENTATION
Assist to coordinate activities with consortium partners, sub grantees, local government, and other implementers, as well as with other Mercy Corps programs
Support the facilitation of planning meetings and workshops with government, NGO, private sector, and community partners to revise plans and promote partner acceptance/buy-in.
Ensure close coordination and sharing of information with relevant stakeholders such as local government departments, NGOs, and local authorities, as appropriate and advised by the line manager.
Facilitate planning meetings and workshops with government, NGO, private sector, and community partners to revise plans and promote partner acceptance/buy-in.
SAFEGUARDING
Actively learns about safeguarding and integrates it into their work, including safeguarding risks and mitigations related to their area of work
Practices the values of Mercy Corps including respecting the dignity and well-being of participants and fellow team members
Encourages openness and communication in their team; encourages team members to submit reports if they have any concerns using reporting mechanisms e.g., Integrity Hotline and other options
SECURITY
Work closely with the country team’s security focal point to develop and maintain systems that promote the safety and security of all team members.
Ensure that programs are designed and implemented with a clear analysis and understanding of security.
OTHER
Conduct themselves both professionally and personally in such a manner as to bring credit to Mercy Corps and to not jeopardize its humanitarian mission.
Other duties as assigned.
Organizational Learning
As part of our commitment to organizational learning and in support of our understanding that learning organizations are more effective, efficient and relevant to the communities they serve, we expect all team members to commit 5% of their time to learning activities that benefit Mercy Corps as well as themselves.
Accountability to Participants
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.
Supervisory Responsibility
Financial Inclusion and Market officers
Accountability
Reports Directly To: Livelihoods Coordinator
Works Directly With: Water resources officer, Assistant livelihoods officers – livestock, alternative livelihoods officers, REAP for nutrition officers, Household economy officers, and Sub-office M&E officers.
Knowledge and Experience
A bachelor’s degree in either of the following BCom Finance, Business management, Agribusiness, or related field.
3-5 years of relevant experience working with NGOs/CBOs in private sector engagement, financial inclusion, livelihoods and market system development.
Hands on Experience in market facilitation, supporting systems change, promoting Small and Micro Enterprises.
Superb networking and negotiation skills required.
Understanding of local business environment and commitment to private sector solutions to development challenges.
Excellent team work abilities and interpersonal skills.
Demonstrated computer competency of Microsoft Excel and knowledge of at least one data management software including MS Access, SPSS, STATA.
Commitment to working in the ASALs.
Work experience in Samburu County is a requirement.
Understanding of working with local partners and commitment to working in a consortium.
Good problem solving, written and oral communication skills.
Confident, sound training facilitation and representation/relationship management skills.
Strong written and spoken English and Kiswahili
Ability to work without constant supervision and as part of a diverse team.
Good knowledge of MS Office software such as Excel, Word, and Access.
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