Senior Specialist, Market Systems Development (MSD)

TechnoServe

  • Cotonou, Littoral
  • CDI
  • Temps-plein
  • Il y a 24 jours
Description :About TechnoServeEveryone deserves the opportunity to build a better future. This simple idea has been at the heart of 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.BeniBiz Overview:For over a decade, TechnoServe has been building its reputation in Benin in the development of agricultural value chains, as well as in entrepreneurship.With the financial support of the Dutch and Swiss governments and the European Union in Benin, TechnoServe's BeniBiz project successfully closed its first phase in August 2022 and started its second phase in September 2022. This second phase covers the country's 12 departments. During this phase, the project will continue to support young women and men in Benin towards economic empowerment, the growth of their businesses, and capacity building for key local players in the Beninese entrepreneurial ecosystem.Job Summary:As a member of the project management team, the Senior Market Systems Development (MSD) Specialist's main mission is to strengthen and support the Ecosystem Support component’s team in mastering the MSD approach and tools, as well as designing and managing MSD interventions with the private (and public) sector in order to improve the delivery of services/products for the benefit of beneficiaries.Primary Functions & Responsibilities:The Senior Market Systems Development Specialist's main responsibilities will be to identify, design, plan and implement systemic interventions relating to access to skills, access to markets, access to finance and access to information. The Senior Specialist will seek out strategic partners and designs and implement systemic interventions aligned with MSD approaches and principles.The Senior Market Systems Development Specialist will support the Ecosystem Support Manager to strengthen the team's MSD technical skills and define and execute a strategy for one or more market systems interventions within the BeniBiz program. Specifically, the Senior Specialist will help identify major issues in the entrepreneurial ecosystem to which innovative systemic solutions can be applied, and build the capacity of partners. The Senior Specialist will engage key market players in the design and implementation of strategic interventions to overcome these identified bottlenecks.Responsibilities may include:
  • Identify and prioritize systemic issues/constraints and promote value-added activities through stakeholder consultations. The focus will be on barriers to access to skills, finance, market and information, full participation and benefits for target groups with regard to market systems and economic opportunities.
  • Contribute to the analysis of market systems for access to skills, market access, access to skills and financing and access to information, in the Beninese entrepreneurial ecosystem. This involves designing and implementing interventions, carrying out ongoing sector analyses and providing input, data and information for the design of new intervention activities.
  • Continuously strengthen and coach the Ecosystem Support component team to improve each member's MSD technical skills, and lead them to be self-sufficient MSD experts.
  • Contribute to the ongoing update of the mapping of players in the entrepreneurship support ecosystem.
  • Identify and develop sustainable operationalizable strategic interventions with ecosystem partners: by way of illustration structuring interventions aimed at integrating entrepreneurship programs into public schools in Benin, or helping financial services companies develop new inclusive services or products for the benefit of their customers.
  • Organize discussions and working sessions with stakeholders to identify (business) needs and develop solutions.
  • Represent the project at networking meetings with private and public stakeholders.
  • Manage workflows within program interventions - ensure activities are completed successfully.
  • Support the technical management of external consultants and subcontractors.
  • With the help of the Communication Manager and the Monitoring & Evaluation Manager, monitor and evaluate the progress of sectoral activities.
Facilitate partnerships and system changes:
  • Facilitate the capacity development of local players, agribusinesses, financial institutions, marketing associations, local authorities and other market players by providing development support services targeting technical, managerial, business and advocacy capacities.
  • Evaluate, refine and adapt existing (and new) program models, to enable increased scale-up and effectiveness, developing business cases and providing support to other local actors and project partners, as appropriate, to ensure replication.
  • Contribute to the development and regular updating of project strategies to strengthen support for all project interventions, drawing on local data and knowledge.
  • In collaboration with partners, facilitate innovation and pilot projects that promote inclusive business models (e.g., establish/strengthen smallholder supply networks and improve distribution efficiency to increase access for marginalized populations, etc.).
  • Support the development and implementation of a range of projects that will help to increase access for marginalized populations.
  • Support the development and implementation of pilot projects that promote inclusive business models (e.g., establish/strengthen smallholder supply networks and improve distribution efficiency to increase access for marginalized populations, etc.).
Contribute to program implementation, stakeholder engagement and learning:
  • Develop a pipeline of potential partners and propose partnerships and identify opportunities to build capacity and reduce risk for key market players, including BDS, POs, input supply companies, financial institutions and food processors, among others, by supporting the development of business cases.
  • Actively participate in and contribute to partnership monitoring, evaluation and learning activities, reviewing and analyzing model/pilot and partnership performance to identify successes, challenges and lessons learned.
Basic Qualifications :
  • Bachelor's degree in entrepreneurship, management, economics, business, marketing or equivalent.
  • At least 5 years' experience in implementing the M4P/MSD (Making Markets Work for the Poor/ Market Systems Development) methodology. (Or 3+ years of experience with a Master’s Degree).
  • 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 Fluency required. English language skills preferred.
Preferred Qualifications:
  • Experience in implementing private sector or micro, small and medium enterprise (MSME) development assistance programs would be considered an asset, but not required
  • Experience in Benin or Francophone West African countries
  • Good knowledge of local languages highly desirable
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:
  • Attention to detail, strong project and team management, organizational, analytical and quantification skills.
  • Strong interpersonal and communication skills, particularly in multicultural and multi-ethnic contexts, ability to build relationships with multiple stakeholders.
  • Strong team spirit and ability to build consensus.
  • Commitment to advancing gender equality.
  • Demonstrated understanding of - and commitment to overcoming - the barriers that disadvantage vulnerable people, women and young people and exclude them from economic opportunities.
Travel: Local travel (up to 80% of the time)This position is open to international applicants.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.If you have a disability that affects your ability to use our online system to apply for a position at TechnoServe please contact the Human Resources at recruitment@tns.org or call +1 202 785 4515.

TechnoServe