About Mercy Corps
Mercy Corps is a leading global organization powered by the belief that a better world is possible.
In disaster, in hardship, in more than 40 countries around the world, we partner to put bold solutions into action — helping people triumph over adversity and build stronger communities from within. Now, and for the future. Mercy Corps has been operating in Ethiopia since 2004, working in rural, peri-urban and urban areas in five regional states – Somali, Oromia, Afar, Southern Nations Nationalities and Peoples, Amhara – and the capital city of Addis Ababa. We engage in both development and humanitarian work, and seek to integrate approaches, programs and geographies as much as possible. Our partners include government, academic institutions, development and private sector actors, civil societies and communities. Mercy Corps Ethiopia invites motivated and qualified candidates to apply for the following vacant position.
Position Title: Innovation Fund advisor
Duty Station: Addis Ababa
Open Position: 1
JOB SUMMARY
Mercy Corps is one of the four partners in a five-year program, entitled Livelihoods Improvement for Women and Youth (LI-WAY), led by SNV-Netherlands Development Organization and funded by the Swedish International Development Agency (Sida). The program utilizes a market Systems Development approach to contribute to sustainable poverty reduction and social stability in Addis Ababa. LI-WAY will work to mobilize, catalyze and enable market-based solutions to create jobs and increase income for women and youth. The consortium, led by SNV, additionally comprises Technoserve and Save the Children. The program aims to improve market functions, support-service effectiveness and the business environment.
Mercy Corps will lead all activities related to Labor Market system development, and will manage the Innovation/Challenge Fund. LI-WAY lasts for five years of which the first ten months have been an inception phase.
The Innovation Fund advisor will lead the Innovation/challenge fund component of the LI-WAY program and ensuring that all investment related procedures, regulations, and best practices for the establishment of the fund mechanism and investment team is harmonized with in MC’s broader leadership in this program, other partners with in the overall approach, direction of the LI-WAY program; and strategy of Mercy Corps Ethiopia.
POSITION SUMMARY
The Innovation Fund Advisor will advise program Team Leader and the entire consortium team members on all innovation/investment related procedures, regulations, and best practices for utilization of the fund mechanism. Mercy Corps Ethiopia and partners will engage with private investors and other private sector actors to leverage innovative opportunities in the key sectors of Labor Market, Microenterprise, Jobs in Growth sectors (including manufacturing in garment/textile, leather, food &beverage, input suppliers), skills development as well as financial services and other emerging market sectors that are relevant, feasible and have a high potential to improve economic opportunities for women and youth through an Innovation Fund (IF).
The Innovation Fund advisor will work closely with the program team leader to design RFAs, evaluate proposals, undertake deep sector analysis and coordinate the program selection process across the consortium partners, conduct due diligence on selected investments and work with the relevant department in drafting agreements, monitor and follow up portfolio performance. The Innovation fund advisor will provide timely reports and assistance to the Program Team leader to ensure that financial resources are used efficiently and effectively.
The Innovation Fund Advisor will also be a member of the MC Economic and Markets Development (EMD) Team, which uses market systems development to stimulate economic growth to create wealth and jobs for the poorest while maximizing investment from the private and public sectors. As a member of the EMD team, the Innovation Fund Advisor will contribute analytical thinking and innovative approaches and will support integration and harmony of approaches across all Mercy Corps Ethiopia market-driven programming. The EMD team is also expected to contribute up to 10% of its collective time towards new program development.
ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:
The Innovation Fund Advisor is responsible for overseeing the management and implementation of the Innovation Fund across the selected market sectors for the entire LI-WAY program
Key job functions include the following: –
- Assist the program team leader to provide overall direction and oversight to Innovation Fund planning implementation and overall programming.
- Understand the key elements of a successful investment, and develop tactical and strategic plans for the fund.
- Ensure that the innovation fund supports activities across the key market systems and all thematic areas and adheres to the Funds Management Manual guideline and procedures
- Ensure all components of the Innovation Fund work together to meet program goals.
Specific Functions during Implementation Phase includes: –
- Work closely with LI-WAY program team members and consortium partner to identify, conduct research assessment to identify potential private sector firms for partnership
- Organize and conduct Multi-stakeholder platforms to disseminate LI-WAY Innovation Fund opportunities to potential partners
- Develop tracking systems to ensure all documentation is appropriately disseminated and managed
- Lead the entire process of carrying out due diligence on companies
- Provide support to strengthening partner skills in financial management, program reporting and other administration process
- Ensure all components of the Innovation fund are compliant with CSA and GoE regulations for International NGOs.
- Responsible for all administrative issues related to the Innovation fund including monitoring, tracking financial and program reports.
- Review all progress reports, fact sheets and public materials before submitting to the program team leader for dissemination.
- Propose strategies for improving market system performance, including making business strategies more inclusive and beneficial to enterprise productivity through innovation fund
- Support development of learning platform related to innovation and investment to be utilized throughout the life of program
Job Requirements
KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:
- Demonstrated knowledge and experience in fund management and working in partnership with Private Sector actors.
- Good understanding Markets Systems Development (aka Making Markets Work for the poor-M4P) approach and facilitation including coaching, relationship building, communicating, open and willing to work on new initiatives
- Masters’ degree or equivalent in Finance, Economics, or Business Administration, or Bachelors’ degree with significant additional experience. Other degrees will be considered with relevant work experience in Investment Management, Enterprise Development, or similar private sector work.
- Three years minimum of experience working with private sector firms, International /Local NGO, international companies, corporate business development, investment management, or investment banking/corporate mergers and acquisitions.
- Good understanding of investment process is essential
- Excellent communication, organizational and prioritization skills and the ability to multi-task and support and/or fill multiple positions at one time.
- Demonstrated attention to detail and ability to follow procedures, meet deadlines and work both independently and cooperatively with team members.
SUCCESS FACTORS:
- Fluent in English and Amharic
- Business minded, entrepreneurial, adaptive, curious, great problem solving skills, unafraid to ask questions, and results oriented.
- Excellent communication skills, facilitation and networking skills with a wide range of private, partner and NGO-sector actors
- Computer literate especially in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook)
How to Apply
All interested candidates are encouraged to apply for the position advertised. All applications submitted to the Mercy Corps office include a CV, three references, and all relevant official documents. Applications will not be returned and will not be retained for future recruitment efforts. In order to ensure fairness to all applicants personal inquiries are not permitted.
Only candidates that are short listed will be acknowledged and called for interviews.
“Mercy Corps is an equal opportunity employer promoting gender, equity and diversity. Qualified female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply. We are committed to empower women.”
DEADLINE FOR ALL APPLICATIONS: 29 June 2019/ 4:00 PM
Please send non-returnable applications and credentials to one of the following address:
Mercy Corps Recruiter Addis Ababa: P.O. Box 14319 Arbaminch: P.O. Box 33 , Jijiga: P.O. Box 225 Negelle Borena: P.O. Box 116 Dire Dewa: P.O. Box 974 |
More Information
- Job City Addis Ababa