Background:

Mercy Corps is committed to supporting aid sector learning and improve program quality in market-based approaches in fragile contexts and emergency responses. To advance this work, Mercy Corps is bringing on-board a consultant who will support cross-organizational learning via the Markets in Crisis (MiC) Community of Practice (CoP). As of October 2024, Mercy Corps and CRS will take over the hosting role for the MiC CoP, most recently held by IRC.

Officially created in February 2014, the MiC CoP provides a platform for various actors engaging with markets in crisis-affected contexts to discuss ideas and experiences, share resources and learning, and foster greater collaboration to improve market-based programming (MBP) in practice. MiC aims to facilitate links between those whose work focuses on crisis responses and those who are more concerned with longer-term market functioning and development. MiC members come from diverse backgrounds: NGOs, donors, academics, UN agencies and the private sector. The MiC platform offers a range of ways for community members to engage – through an online discussion group, a searchable resource library, webinars, networking events, calls for evidence, and facilitated live discussion forums.

Purpose / Project Description:

The MiC Learning Advisor will be a part of an integrated cross-organizational team from CRS, Mercy Corps, the MiC Advisory committee (a diverse body of practitioners who provide hands-on support to MiC), with the remit of supporting critical sector-wide learning on market-based approaches in crises and improved, localized learning and exchange via MiC.

Consultant Objectives:

The consultant will be primarily responsible for: driving the development and implementation of an evolving learning agenda that is driven by individuals in the contexts most affected by crisis; managing the content of MiC-supported deep dives on critical topics related to market-based programming; and improving localized outreach and engagement in MiC. The consultant will work in deep partnership with dedicated lead staff from CRS and will work closely with the AC, the PRO-WASH and SCALE Market Systems Advisor, members of the MiC community, the MiC governing body, and consultants who support specific MiC learning activities.

Consultant Activities:

• Oversee the evolving MiC learning agenda and activities, including, but not limited to:
  • Leading the development and implementation of workplans and strategy for MiC’s evolving learning agenda, including collaborating closely with the AC, CRS, consultants, and others involved in the process
  • Technical input and strategic orientation to Learning Agenda deliverables (e.g. events, written products, facilitated exchanges), MiC supported Deep Dive workstreams, and other MiC learning priorities, with an eye to ensuring high technical quality, user-friendliness, and relevance to the MiC membership
  • Drive the dissemination of key lessons that emerge from MiC workstreams
  • Support inclusive engagement on the MiC discourse platform relevant to critical learning topics, in close partnership with the CRS team
  • Oversee and manage the localization process for the MiC learning agenda, ensuring that the learning supported by the platform is driven by and supports the needs and contributions of stakeholders working on and from contexts where market-based crisis programming occurs
  • Work with MiC AC members to ensure continuous relevance of the planned learning activities
• Support localized and global outreach and engagement via MiC:
  • Drive and manage virtual discussions and events related to priority MiC learning topics and key geographies where market-based crisis programming occurs, including planning support, facilitation, and development and sharing of deliverables associated with discussion and events where/as relevant
  • Identify new opportunities for MiC to showcase, host, or improve the technical content of learning events
  • Work closely with the AC, CRS, MiC stakeholders, and relevant consultants to support localized ‘hubs’ of learning via MiC
  • Support timely sharing of lessons and resources related to significant emergency responses where market-based crisis programming is relevant
  • Support the connection between in-person and remote convenings related to MiC, to better connect localized conversations with the global platform
• Collaborate with CRS, MiC stakeholders and the MiC governing board on the evolution of MiC strategy
• Across workstreams mentioned above, oversee the technical contributions of key stakeholders, ensuring quality of outputs in-line with workplan timelines

Consultant Deliverables:

Deliverables will vary based on the evolution of workstreams under MiC, including, but not limited to:

• Agendas, emails, notes and outputs from meetings related to the learning focus and technical content supported via MiC
• Plans, communications, and report-outs from activities focused on (a) improving localized engagement and (b) the evolving MiC learning agenda and activities
• Relevant contributions to workplans and scopes of work for MiC workstreams
• Planning, facilitation, and outputs from relevant learning events, either remote or in-person as relevant
• Inputs, review, and oversight over the technical quality of MiC learning products
• Relevant posts and facilitation of discussion on the MiC discourse platform

Timeframe / Schedule:

1 October 2024 – 31 March 2025, up to 25 days

The Consultant will report to:

Director – Market Systems (in the Technical Resources and Quality [TRaQ] unit)

The Consultant will work closely with:

CRS staff and consultants who support MiC, the MiC AC, the PRO-WASH and SCALE Market Systems Advisor, members of the MiC community, the MiC governing body, and consultants who support specific MiC learning activities.

Required Experience & Skills:

• 5+ years of experience of increasingly proficient management and/or technical support in MSD programming, with at least one job experience in a well-reputed MSD project.
• Experience providing programmatic support on market-based approaches in crisis, such as supporting market systems analysis, capacity strengthening on market systems approach in crises, and/or advising on programmatic and learning activities to improve market-based humanitarian response
• Strong technical expertise in MSD, including in-depth experience applying MSD principles to specific sectors (e.g. employment, agriculture, etc.)
• Proven experience assessing markets and working with private sector partners
• Experience working across different geographies, and more specifically in fragile environments
• Strong ability to understand, manage and communicate effectively with multiple stakeholders and complex relationships at multiple levels of the organization
• Experience of capturing learning for learning briefs, case studies, or research outputs
• Willingness and ability to travel in support of MiC learning activities
• A proven proactive approach to work and self-driven leadership
• Fluency in English is required, with strong written and oral communication skills

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
Achieving our mission begins with how we build our team and work together. Through our commitment to enriching our organization with people of different origins, beliefs, backgrounds, and ways of thinking, we are better able to leverage the collective power of our teams and solve the world’s most complex challenges. We strive for a culture of trust and respect, where everyone contributes their perspectives and authentic selves, reaches their potential as individuals and teams, and collaborates to do the best work of their lives.

We recognize that diversity and inclusion is a journey, and we are committed to learning, listening and evolving to become more diverse, equitable and inclusive than we are today.

Equal Employment Opportunity
We are committed to providing an environment of respect and psychological safety where equal employment opportunities are available to all. We do not engage in or tolerate discrimination on the basis of race, color, gender identity, gender expression, religion, age, sexual orientation, national or ethnic origin, disability (including HIV/AIDS status), marital status, military veteran status or any other protected group in the locations where we work.

Safeguarding & Ethics
Mercy Corps team members are expected to support all efforts toward accountability, specifically to our stakeholders and to international standards guiding international relief and development work, while actively engaging communities as equal partners in the design, monitoring and evaluation of our field projects. Team members are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner and respect local laws, customs and MC’s policies, procedures, and values at all times and in all in-country venues.