Market System Development Specialists.

Job Details
Description
Everyone deserves the opportunity to build a better future. This simple idea has been at the heart of TechnoServe’s work around the world for over 50 years. TechnoServe is a pioneer in leveraging the power of business and markets to create sustainable pathways out of poverty.
The low-income communities in which we work are full of enterprising people. Their small-scale farms and businesses are the keys to economic development. But they face many challenges: low literacy, lack of access to jobs and markets, unpredictable political dynamics and, increasingly, the effects of climate change. For many women and young people, the challenges are even more daunting. Working with TechnoServe staff, people around the world are lifting themselves out of poverty. The results are amazing…when incomes increase and living conditions for families get better, they are able to access health care and education previously out of reach. Communities and even whole countries are better off.
TechnoServe has an ongoing need for Market Systems Development (MSD) Specialists throughout our West Africa Region to strengthen and support the MSD approach and tools, as well as designing and managing MSD interventions in order to improve the delivery of services and products for the benefit of beneficiaries. Market Systems Development Specialists’ main responsibilities are to identify, design, plan and implement systemic interventions relating to access to skills, access to markets, access to finance and access to information.


Responsibilities may include
• Identifying and prioritizing systemic issues and constraints and promoting value-added activities through stakeholder consultations.
• Designing and implementing interventions for market systems access to skills, markets, financing and information. Carrying out ongoing sector analyses and providing input, data and information for the design of new intervention activities. And, developing a pipeline of potential partners to support interventions.
• Strengthening and coaching teams to improve MSD technical skills – leading them to be self-sufficient MSD experts.
• Facilitating the capacity development of local players, agribusinesses, financial institutions, marketing associations, local authorities and other market players by providing support services targeting technical, managerial, business and advocacy capacities.
• Evaluating and adapting new and existing program models, to enable increased scale-up and effectiveness, developing business cases and providing support to other local actors and project partners.
• Actively participating in monitoring, evaluation and learning activities; reviewing and analyzing model/pilot and partnership performance to identify successes, challenges and lessons learned.


Qualifications include
• A degree in entrepreneurship, management, economics, business, marketing or equivalent.
• Experience in implementing the M4P/MSD (Making Markets Work for the Poor/ Market Systems Development) methodology.
• Good understanding of market systems and their role in poverty reduction from a systemic perspective; experience in conducting market analysis in order to make business or investment decisions.
• Demonstrated work experience in the private sector in the fields of studies or consulting, partnership management with a focus on development programs.
• Proven understanding, skills and experience in market systems development programs and facilitative approaches.
• Experience in facilitating links and relationships between the private sector and government.
• Experience in developing well-written reports and presentations.
• French and English language skills.

Please note the specific requirements and locations for these positions will vary based on TechnoServe and donor requirements.
This pipeline will be regularly monitored by our recruiters for current and future considerations. When and if your profile matches with an opportunity in TechnoServe, our recruiters will be in contact with you. Kindly note that this pipeline is used as an additional source to the active requisitions advertised on our career site. We advise you to continue to monitor our career site and apply directly to your position of interest.
We encourage all qualified individuals who share TechnoServe’s vision of improving the lives of others through proven business solutions to apply.

With our commitment to diversity, we are proud to be an equal opportunity employer and affirmative action employer and do not discriminate on the basis of gender, race, color, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, HIV/AIDS status, protected veteran status, disability and all other protected classes.
We are also proud of our commitment to protecting staff, partners, and beneficiaries from abuse and exploitation and thoroughly vet all final candidates through rigorous background and reference checks.