DRC Kenya is looking for an experienced Inclusive Markets Coordinator who will provide targeted and high-quality strategic guidance, capacity strengthening and technical leadership to DRC Kenya’s Market Systems and Economic Recovery portfolio, with the aim of promoting and reinforcing DRC Kenya and its local partners’ leadership and expertise in building self-reliance and resilience for conflict-, climate- and displacement-affected populations in Kenya and the wider region.
A specific focus for the Inclusive Markets Coordinator will be related to the use of Market Systems Approaches (MSA) in support of developing DRC’s portfolio of modern, decent and sustainable (waged and self-employed) livelihoods programs. In particular, they will promote the use of MSA to develop market-based programming models for employment and business support interventions, as well as more advanced program models such as market systems, value chains or business environment support and development interventions, including through the development of strategic partnerships with civil society actors and the private sector.
A secondary focus for the role will be to support the development of integrated programming across DRC’s core sectors of intervention (including with Humanitarian Disarmament & Peacebuilding (HDP), DRR/Climate Change and Protection).
The Inclusive Markets Coordinator reports to the Head of Programmes and works in close collaboration with the Regional Office Technical Team, including across DRC’s core sectors, such as Environment and Climate Adaptation, Protection and HDP, as well as DRC’s platforms Emergency, Root Causes and Durable Solutions. This position is a national position with regional coverage.
This position is open for national and international candidates with preference given to candidates from the region.
Responsibilities:
R1. Technical design and Strategy:
- Technical support: provide technical advice and support to the DRC Kenya team on assessment, design, set-up, implementation, monitoring, learning and reporting of high quality, needs-based, contextually appropriate market-based Economic Recovery programming on behalf of IDPs or refugees, and their host communities.
- Lead the country team and DRC Kenya’s local partners in the planning and design of Market Systems Approaches (including in support to basic needs, in close collaboration with the Emergency Coordinator) including via facilitating livelihoods and economic recovery design processes based upon relevant assessments and stakeholder consultations.
- Collaborate closely with other technical leads within DRC Kenya as well as counterparts across the EAGL region (notably Humanitarian Disarmament and Peacebuilding, Protection, Climate Change / Environment, etc.) to explore options and maximise opportunities for integrated programming.
- Contribute to the further strategic and programmatic development of DRC’s Economic Recovery portfolio in DRC Kenya, across DRC’s Response Framework and its three programmatic platforms (Responding to Emergency; Solutions to Displacement; Addressing Root Causes). This includes further defining DRC Kenya’s strategic niche in building the self-reliance of conflict- and displacement-affected populations in ASAL counties and urban areas through advanced and integrated livelihoods and financial inclusion interventions.
R2. Capacity Strengthening of DRC staff and local partners:
- Identify technical and/or programmatic gaps and provide training, mentoring and capacity building as required, and specifically for DRC Kenya partners on the front line of programme delivery.
- In particular, build capacity of Economic Recovery partners and relevant DRC staff on the use of MSA to design advanced and modern marked-based program models for livelihoods, financial inclusion and food security interventions.
Specific areas of focus (no need for expertise in all these domains):
- Market assessments: support uptake/better use of targeted market assessment and analysis, including labour market assessments, in support of market systems programming across DRC’s Response Framework.
- Financial inclusion: expansion of access to savings, loans and insurance beyond VSLAs to include banks, insurance companies and other FSPs who can spread and deepen financial inclusion beyond the scope of donor funded interventions.
- Agro-pastoral livelihoods: improvement and diversification of agro-pastoral livelihoods in the context of adaptation to climate change and the need to build long term resilience.
- Livestock value chain development: support to pastoralists to improve long term productivity and income from livestock through adaptation and switching to alternative livestock value chains.
- Business development and SME start up / expansion: growth of grassroot businesses through access to financial services and linkages to private sector companies and investors.
- Youth and women’s economic empowerment: supporting youth and women to acquire new skills and opportunities to generate independent income, particularly in displacement contexts and with an urban focus.
- MSA preparedness: support staff and partner capacity in market systems programming.
R3. Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning:
- Design and monitor economic recovery and livelihoods interventions for DRC Kenya, particularly including indicators for MSD and ways of measuring and tracking system level changes in markets and value chains that are relevant for DRC’s target communities.
- Technical monitoring of DRC and partner project implementation and hands on guidance about how to adapt their programming to the changing context and emerging risks and opportunities.
- Ensure learning is captured and disseminated effectively across DRC and partner teams, both successes and failures and feedback from beneficiaries and other key stakeholders
- Quality assurance & compliance: follow up and report on the implementation of project level M&E commitments as well as compliance with DRC’s minimum standards for Economic Recovery programming.
R4. Partnership development and oversight:
- ToR development, selection and line management of technical consultancies and service providers for delivery of livelihoods and financial access project components for DRC Kenya, in compliance with DRC Kenya and donor regulations.
- Exploration and development of new partnerships with local NGOs, private sector service providers and research organizations that can add value to DRC’s portfolio of existing and planned programmes in the inclusive markets sector.
R5. Other:
- Risk management: support organizational risk management related to MSA and for core Economic Recovery activities.
- Any other duties as agreed with Head of Programmes
Experience and technical competencies:
- Minimum of 5 years international or regional field experience with well recognized humanitarian and/or development organizations, and demonstrable experience working on Economic Recovery programming in contexts of forced displacement.
- Experience and demonstrated expertise in market systems programming in fragile contexts.
- Strong knowledge of livelihoods programming (including urban livelihoods, SME start-up and scale-up, and modern agriculture/livestock-based livelihoods)
- Relevant practitioner knowledge of and experience with financial inclusion and at least three of the other specific areas of focus listed above.
- Experience of working in Kenya and the wider Horn of Africa, and strong knowledge of livelihoods zones across the region.
- Familiarity with DRC’s other core sector of intervention, in particular Protection and Humanitarian Disarmament and Peacebuilding (HDP) will be a plus.
- Experience delivering targeted and high-quality technical training and capacity building, including in remote management settings.
- Substantial experience in both a technical advisory role and with hands-on programme management and implementation across the project/programme cycle.
- Strong analytical and strategic thinking skills
- Proposal development skills
- Excellent organisational skills, ability to determine priorities and attention to detail
- Excellent interpersonal and coordination skills, including working with different groups, partners and nationalities.
Education:
- Masters Degree in Social Sciences, Economics, Development Studies or other relevant field
Languages:
- English (fluent)
- Swahili or Somali (desirable)
DRC’s Core competencies:
All DRC roles require the post-holder to master the below DRC’s core competencies:
- Striving for excellence
- Collaborating
- Taking the lead
- Communicating
- Demonstrating integrity
Conditions:
Contract duration: 1 year contract with possibility of extension, subject to funding and performance. Salary and conditions will be in accordance with the Danish Refugee Council terms of employment for National staff.
Employment Category: Band F (Non-management)
Reporting to: Head of Programmes
Direct reports: Market Systems Development Officers
Availability: December 2024
Location: Nairobi (with frequent travel to Mandera, Garissa, Turkana and other ASAL counties)
Application Process:
Qualified candidates are invited to submit their applications, which should include a 1-page cover letter clearly stating their motivation, and qualifications and a CV. Applications should include contact details of three professional referees who have supervised the candidate in the last five years. One referee must be the applicant’s most recent manager. Only applications that address the stipulated duties and meet the required qualifications will be considered.
We only accept applications sent via our online-application form on www.drc.ngo under Vacancies. Applications should be sent no later than: 15th November 2024.
