Market Systems Development Regional Coordinator: Mercy Corps

Deadline: 24 June 2022

Location: Bulawayo

Position Status: Fixed-term, Full-time

Duration: 1 year (with possibility of extension)

About Mercy Corps

Mercy Corps partners with communities as they move from a place of fragility to resilience, meeting urgent needs while addressing root causes – always powered by the belief that a better world is possible. To do this, we know our teams do their best work when they are diverse, and every team member feels that they belong. We welcome diverse backgrounds, perspectives, and skills so that we can be stronger and have a long-term impact.

The Program / Department / Team

Mercy Corps has been operating in Zimbabwe since 2002 focusing its interventions on a multi-sectoral market systems development portfolio mobilizing communities to promote small-scale agriculture and revive local economies. MC Zimbabwe seeks to support at-risk communities in Zimbabwe - with a specific focus on young people, women and other marginalized groups - to move towards sustainable development through building resilience and strong inclusive systems in the face of climatic and economic shocks and stresses. Market-driven approaches are at the heart of Mercy Corps’ programming. Mercy Corps facilitates the development of systems that increase incomes and improve access to goods, with services, and employment opportunities, while reducing the risks and effects of shocks and stresses.

General position summary

Mercy Corps Zimbabwe will implement a 4-year Market Systems Development (MSD) program focused on urban/peri-urban and the associated rural and urban linkages. The program seeks to improve incomes, working conditions and resilience to shocks and stresses for women through sustainable livelihoods, with a particular emphasis on the potential embedded in microenterprises and informal markets. This position presents an exciting opportunity to lead a programme that pushes the boundaries of conventional MSD practice through its application of the MSD approach to employment outcomes for women in informal markets, and through its emphasis on rules, norms and networks. The MSD Regional Coordinator will be based in Bulawayo. The position holder will also provide MSD technical leadership in the region on the strategic development and management of MSD programs from new business development to technical support for implementation and close-out. Zimbabwe is well-positioned to grow its MSD portfolio, presenting the exciting potential for the position holder’s leadership role to grow in influence and impact.