Market Systems Development - Technical Capacity Strengthening Consultant

Mercy Corps

About The Position

Mercy Corps Ukraine is increasingly applying Market Systems Development (MSD) approaches to address systemic constraints affecting small and medium enterprises (SMEs), farmers, and market actors in conflict-affected and recovery contexts. Through a portfolio of MSD programming, the team aims to design, test, adapt, and scale interventions that contribute to systemic change, including innovative partnership models, financial and non-financial service solutions, and market-based approaches that drive sustainable economic recovery and resilience. Successful implementation of MSD programming across the full program lifecycle—including market systems analysis, intervention design, pilot implementation, program adaptation, and scale—requires program teams to strengthen their practical understanding and application of MSD principles. This includes capabilities in market systems analysis, intervention design, facilitation, partner engagement, adaptive management, and sustainability planning. To support this objective, Mercy Corps Ukraine seeks a consultant to provide mentorship and technical support to its team. The assignment will combine tailored capacity strengthening based on individual and team needs with hands-on technical support applied throughout the MSD program lifecycle. Learning will be anchored in real program activities, allowing staff to build skills through direct application of MSD concepts and tools across planning, implementation, adaptation, and scale-up processes. The consultancy will take an iterative and adaptive approach, flexibly responding to emerging programmatic priorities and team needs. It will be closely integrated with MSD MEL capacity strengthening efforts, ensuring strong collaboration with the MEL & Adaptive Learning Consultant and alignment between technical design, implementation, measurement, and learning.

Requirements

7-10 years of experience of increasingly proficient management and/or technical support in MSD programming and/or private sector experience, with at least one job experience in a globally well-reputed MSD project.
Proven experience assessing markets and working with private sector partners.
Experience working across different geographies, mainly in Africa, and more specifically in fragile environments.
Strong ability to understand and manage multiple stakeholders and complex relationships at multiple levels of the organization.
Willingness and ability to travel frequently to Mercy Corps project sites, including traveling to insecure environments, is required.
A proven proactive approach to work and self-driven leadership.
Fluency in English is required, with strong written and oral communication skills.

Responsibilities

Conduct a participatory review of the MSD portfolio, including existing program processes, tools, and ways of working, as well as existing strategic focus areas and intervention strategies, through consultations with program teams, MEL staff, and leadership.
Identify portfolio-level gaps, opportunities, and priorities for strengthening systemic impact.
Assess individual and team capacity gaps in core MSD competencies, with a strong focus on practical application.
Develop a prioritized, practical capacity strengthening and mentorship plan, including learning priorities, coaching and mentorship approach, and a proposed workplan and engagement schedule.
Provide ongoing coaching and mentorship to program staff and leadership on the application of MSD concepts to current MSD interventions, troubleshooting implementation challenges, and strengthening decision-making and facilitation approaches.
Provide MSD leadership coaching, including portfolio management, strategic prioritization, and donor engagement and communication.
Conduct a technical review of and provide hands-on advisory support to priority (pilot) interventions, including strengthening intervention logic and assumptions, supporting deeper market systems analysis, advising on partnership models and facilitation strategies, and recommending adaptations based on emerging evidence and market responses.
Support teams to strengthen adaptive management practices, including the use of reflection and review processes and the integration of learning and evidence into decision-making.
Provide portfolio-level strategic guidance, including identifying priority areas for strengthening MSD practice, identifying gaps, overlaps, and opportunities for greater systemic impact, supporting prioritization and strategic decision-making, assessing coherence and relevance of the intervention portfolio, and recommending improvements to processes, ways of working, and management tools.
Co-develop all deliverables with Mercy Corps Ukraine teams to ensure ownership, usability, and sustainability.