Market System Development and Private Sector Engagement Advisor

Our Profile

People in Need is a non-governmental, non-profit organization founded on the ideals of humanity, freedom, equality and solidarity.

People in Need was established in 1992 by a group of Czech war correspondents, journalists and activists and has grown to become one of the largest non-profit organization in Central and Eastern Europe.

Throughout our 30 years of existence, People in Need continues to engage in humanitarian aid, development cooperation, education and social inclusion.

We have been operating in Ethiopia since 2003, working in five regions Oromia, South Ethiopia, Central Ethiopia, Amhara and Tigray in different multi sectoral projects in the areas of development and emergency response.

People in Need, from the very start of its operations in Ethiopia, has focused on projects in five main areas of interest: Education, Agriculture, Climate and Environment, Water and Social protection.

We are part of Alliance 2015, (https://www.alliance2015.org/ a strategic network of seven European non-governmental organizations engaged in humanitarian aid and development projects. This collaboration increases effectiveness, both in working in the target countries and in campaigns change to advocacy aimed at influencing the attitudes and policies of politicians and general public opinion and awareness in Europe.

More information at https://www.peopleinneed.net/ or HERE.

PIN currently is seeking energetic, disciplined, responsible Market System Development and Private Sector Engagement Advisor

Length of Contract: definite (until December 31, 2027)

Place of Work: – Based in Addis Ababa with frequent travel to PIN’s project sites in different regions as required.

Salary: Based on the organization salary scale

1. Background

The EMPOWER Project, led by People in Need (PIN) in collaboration with Ayuda en Accion and DEC, is an EC-funded initiative aimed at fostering inclusive and Green job opportunities for vulnerable women and youth in Ethiopia. The project focuses on systemic market interventions, enhancing resilience, and promoting sustainable livelihoods in Tigray, Afar, and Oromia regions.

The Market Systems Development (MSD) and Private Sector Engagement Advisor will play a crucial role in strengthening market linkages, catalyzing partnerships, and driving systemic change to ensure long-term impact. This position requires expertise in market systems analysis, stakeholder engagement, intervention design, and adaptive learning to address market inefficiencies and maximize opportunities for unemployed youth and women.

2. Objective of the Assignment

The Advisor will provide technical leadership and strategic guidance on market systems development and private sector engagement within the EMPOWER Project. They will ensure that all interventions are market-driven, inclusive, and scalable, unlocking sustainable employment opportunities for youth and women beyond farming. Interventions will include clear pathways to systemic change, leveraging private sector partnerships, crowding-in strategies, incentives for replication, and behavior shifts among market actors that drive long-term transformation.

Key Objectives:

• Identify and enhance relevant market systems that facilitate employment for marginalized groups.
• Build and sustain partnerships with private sector actors, including MSMEs, TVET institutions, and financial service providers.
• Design and implement data-driven interventions that promote market integration and financial inclusion.
• Lead adaptive learning processes, ensuring interventions evolve based on market feedback.
• Strengthen green technology adoption within targeted value chains (poultry, dairy, honey).
• Ensure compliance with MSD principles, mitigating unintended consequences and market distortions.
• Ensure all interventions include a sustainability strategy, including plans for exit, ownership by local actors, and minimal dependency on donor support

3. Scope of Work

3.1 Market Systems Analysis & Strategy Development

• Conduct sector-wide assessments to identify bottlenecks and opportunities in target industries.
• Develop market-driven interventions that align with systemic market development principles.
• Facilitate access to finance, working with banks and microfinance institutions to develop tailored financial products.

3.2 Stakeholder Engagement & Partnership Development

• Forge strategic partnerships with private sector players, fostering market-led employment pathways.
• Strengthen collaboration with TVET colleges, facilitating skills development and incubation programs.
• Secure government buy-in, engaging regional and national stakeholders to ensure policy alignment.
• Conduct gender and social norms diagnostics to identify structural barriers preventing participation of women and youth. Co-create strategies with market actors to address these barriers, including flexible training schedules, child care solutions, and norm-sensitive communications

3.3 Intervention Implementation & Technical Support

• Provide technical guidance to implementing partners, ensuring the effectiveness of interventions.
• Promote green technology solutions, ensuring interventions support environmental sustainability.
• Promote climate-smart, regenerative, and circular economy solutions across value chains. Support private sector actors in adopting environmentally sustainable practices aligned with national climate commitments

3.4 Monitoring, Adaptation & Reporting

• Establish real-time monitoring frameworks, tracking intervention performance and market responsiveness.
• Lead adaptive management efforts, refining strategies based on continuous data analysis.
• Prepare detailed reports for the Consortium Manager, outlining progress, challenges, and recommendations.
• Track systemic change indicators such as number of crowding-in actors, changes in market actor behaviour, embedded service uptake, and post-project continuation of market functions

3.5 Coordination & Knowledge Sharing

• Facilitate cross-learning workshops, ensuring stakeholders exchange best practices in MSD.
• Provide technical input for policy discussions, advocating for systemic solutions to youth unemployment.
• Ensure data-driven decision-making, leveraging insights to inform future project strategies.
• Support evidence-based advocacy by translating market insights into policy recommendations. Contribute to dialogues with government and industry associations to promote market-friendly reforms

Additional Responsibilities

• Compliance & Safeguarding: Ensure adherence to PIN and donor guidelines, prioritizing protection policies.
• Cross-Team Collaboration: Support internal knowledge exchange, strengthening team capacity in MSD.
• Adaptive Learning & Innovation: Continuously refine intervention models based on emerging market trends.

Accountability and Safeguarding including Prevention of Sexual Exploitation, Abuse and Harassment (SEAH)

• CC is responsible for ensuring that the project has functioning CFRM system and that it truly mainstreams protection, SG, GESI and environmental considerations into its operations with coordination from the corresponding experts.

• Participate in training and awareness raising (Code of Conduct and, safeguarding) and following up on training needs of the project team as needed

• Ensure that his/her team members and partners, attend training and awareness sessions and carry out the duties in accordance with PIN Code of Conduct and Key policies.

• Ensure that due diligence and/or capacity assessments of partners include an assessment of partners’ implementation of key safeguarding and risk policies/ procedure including the prevention of SEAH.

General Obligations and Responsibilities

The Employer stipulates the right to assign the Employee on any other kind of work derived from his specialization. In case of urgent work and such like the Employee may be asked to work overtime as well as during public and other holidays.

The employee shall anytime and anywhere take care of and protect all belongings of PIN within and without their care. The Employee takes over the responsibilities for all entrusted material or cash. The Employee is obliged to cover all damages or losses caused by his carelessness totally or partially, as the PIN management in each case will decide it separately. The Agreement of Liability of Assets has been signed separately.

The Employee is obliged not to purvey any information concerning any of PIN activities to outsiders (including former PIN employees, who may no more be informed about current process in PIN).

PIN is a relief and development organization whose aim is to help and assist needy people. The Employee’s position within the institution requires contacts with outside; he or she therefore conveys a certain image of the PIN. PIN expects its employees to behave in appropriate manners at all times and in all places. All members of staff should ensure their attitudes correspond to PIN principles, both during and after working hours.

Benefit

• Standard work schedule of 40 hours per week from Monday to Friday
• Per diems for working and Accommodation outside of the duty office depending on the location
• Transport Allowance
• Bank loan facilities
• 20 days of paid annual and after 5 years of work an extra paid day for every year
• Extra days of paid leaves for selected holidays
• Medical insurance, including spouse and children
• Accident insurance for all injuries during work time based on the law
• Pension contribution of 11 % from PIN
• Paternity leave of extra 2 paid days above the mandatory 3 days
• Maternity leave according to the law and extra financial motherhood support
• Monthly mobile phone hybrid tariff
• PIN supports fast career growth and internal mobility
• International environment with opportunities to learn from other PIN’s country programs
• Extensive Capacity Building program, both internal and external trainings, including the Induction training
• Internal online learning opportunities, such as access to PIN’s e-learning platform and webinars
• Annual staff retreat
• Friendly and fair work environment with small collective where everyone knows each other

Qualifications and Experience

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Economics, Business Administration, Market Systems Development, Environmental Economics, Climate Change and Development, Agricultural Economics, Sustainable Development, or a related field with a strong focus on market systems and climate resilience.
• Minimum 5-8 years of experience in MSD, private sector engagement, or enterprise development.

Technical Expertise & Skills

• Deep understanding of MSD principles, particularly in post-conflict economies and lean markets.
• Proven track record of working with financial institutions, MSMEs, and FMCGs.
• Expertise in private sector engagement, with experience fostering industry partnerships.
• Experience designing financial models in partnership with financial institutions using MSD approach
• Knowledge of green technologies and sustainable business models within market systems.
• Strong stakeholder negotiation and facilitation skills.

Leadership & Soft Skills

• Ability to contextualize MSD approaches for effective project implementation.
• Strong communication and strategic thinking skills, ensuring clarity in stakeholder engagement.
• Capacity to manage competing priorities, adapting strategies to dynamic market realities.