Job Description

Title: Business Development Advisor

Location: Kismayu

Position Status Full-time, Regular

About Mercy Corps

Mercy Corps is a leading global organization powered by the belief that a better world is possible. To do this, we know our teams do their best work when they are diverse and every member feels they belong. We welcome diverse backgrounds, perspectives, and skills so that we can be stronger and have a long-term impact.

Program / Department Summary

Mercy Corps has been a fixture in Somalia since 2005, implementing projects that target hundreds of thousands of vulnerable households. Our work focuses on improving access to basic services and overcoming vulnerabilities caused by civil conflict and natural disasters. We achieve this through interventions in four key sectors: water security, peace and governance, economic opportunity, and food security. Our programs are designed in an integrated manner, incorporating new methodologies like Emergency, DRR (Disaster Risk Reduction), and Resilience frameworks. Mercy Corps' operations in Somalia are firmly rooted in a robust framework of socio-political analysis and risk management systems, ensuring compliance with Somali Federal Government (FGS) laws, internal accountability standards, and donor requirements. Mercy Corps Somalia has over 100 field staff based in field operations in Mogadishu, Hargeisa, Kismayo, and Baidoa with programs funded by multiple donors including USAID, FCDO, SIDA, SDC, AFD, and the UN. All Mercy Corps interventions in Somalia are implemented in a conflict and gender-sensitive manner.

General Position Summary

The Business Development Advisor will play a crucial role in supporting the design, development, and implementation of financial products and services tailored to the livestock value chain in Somalia. Working with key financial institutions like IBS Bank and KIMS Microfinance, the Advisor will provide technical assistance to enhance financial inclusion for micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in the livestock sector. This position focuses on addressing demand and supply-side constraints, promoting gender equity, and driving innovation in product offerings to support sustainable economic growth in the livestock value chain. This role offers an exciting opportunity for a seasoned business development professional to make a significant impact on the livelihoods of rural communities and MSMEs in Somalia’s livestock sector by supporting inclusive and sustainable financial services.

Essential Job Responsibilities:

Product Design & Development:

• Lead the design and development of Sharia-compliant financial products tailored to MSMEs in the livestock sector.
• Collaborate with financial institutions to create product concepts, including terms, pricing, customer journey mapping, and partnerships.
• Ensure that financial products are inclusive and accessible, particularly for women, youth, and marginalized communities.

Capacity Building & Technical Assistance:

• Provide technical support to financial partners (IBS Bank and KIMS Microfinance) to improve internal capacity for delivering products and services.
• Assist partners in developing risk management strategies, operational processes, and staff training programs.
• Support the development of marketing and outreach strategies to increase product adoption and usage.

Pilot Testing & Market Launch:

• Identify areas for pilot testing of new financial products and services.
• Establish KPIs, monitor the performance of pilot initiatives, and evaluate outcomes to refine product offerings.
• Lead efforts to scale up successful pilot products for a broader market launch.

Digital Financial Services & Innovation:

• Work with partners to strengthen digital financial services, including mobile banking platforms and agent banking models.
• Support the expansion of rural agent networks and the digitization of financial processes to enhance outreach and access.

Business Development Services (BDS):

• Strengthen linkages between MSMEs, producer groups, and financial institutions through business development services.
• Build the capacity of financial institutions to provide business development and financial literacy training to MSMEs.

Gender & Social Inclusion:

• Ensure financial product design and outreach strategies are gender-responsive and socially inclusive.
• Work closely with community gatekeepers to address gender norms and barriers limiting access to financial services for women and youth.

Monitoring & Evaluation:

• Assist in developing monitoring frameworks for financial products and services to assess their impact on MSMEs and marginalized groups.
• Support financial institutions in conducting impact assessments, with a focus on measuring outcomes for women and youth participants.

Security

·         Work closely with the country team’s security focal point to ensure communication strategy and products promote and maintain the safety and security of all team members.

·         Ensure that communication activities are designed and implemented with a clear analysis and understanding of security.

·         Adhere to Mercy Corps’ safe communication policy and other safeguarding principles with respect to communication.

Organizational Learning 

·         As part of our commitment to organizational learning and in support of our understanding that learning organizations are more effective, efficient, and relevant to the communities they serve, we empower all team members to commit 5% of their time to learning activities that benefit Mercy Corps as well as themselves.

Accountability to Program Participants

·         Mercy Corps team members are expected to support all efforts toward accountability, specifically to our beneficiaries and to international standards guiding international relief and development work, while actively engaging beneficiary communities as equal partners in the design, monitoring, and evaluation of our field projects.

Experiences and Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Finance, Economics, or a related field. Master’s degree preferred.
• Minimum of 5 years of experience in business development, financial inclusion, or product development within the financial sector, ideally in emerging markets or with financial institutions.
• Demonstrated experience in designing and implementing Sharia-compliant financial products.
• Strong understanding of microfinance, MSMEs, and livestock value chains in Somalia or similar contexts.
• Proven ability to provide technical assistance and build the capacity of financial institutions.
• Knowledge of digital financial services and mobile banking platforms.
• Experience in promoting gender equity and social inclusion in business or financial settings.
• Excellent analytical, communication, and project management skills.
• Fluency in English is required; knowledge of Somali is an asset.

Competencies:

• Strong problem-solving and critical thinking skills, with the ability to develop innovative solutions to complex challenges.
• Proven ability to work collaboratively with diverse stakeholders, including financial institutions, government agencies, and local communities.
• Cultural sensitivity and commitment to advancing gender and social inclusion in development programs.

Supervisory Responsibility

None

Accountability

Reports Directly To: Program Manager

Works Directly With: Director of Programs, Country MEAL Manager, Knowledge Management and Learning Coordinator, Program Communication Leads, Program Team Leads, Field Officers, and other relevant Mercy Corps Somalia staff

Success Factors

The successful Communication and Reporting Specialist candidate will have the ability to work independently, take initiative in tasks and self-learning, and be proactive in communications and the development of professional relationships. Successful Mercy Corps team members have a strong commitment to teamwork and accountability, thrive in evolving and challenging environments, and make effective written and verbal communication a priority. Should be able to live and work closely with a diverse team of individuals in a highly intense and fluid work and security environment with demonstrated sensitivity to the people and issues in Somalia and the region. A sense of humor, a team mentality, and a positive nature are highly desirable.

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

Mercy Corps is an equal-opportunity employer that does not tolerate discrimination on any basis. We actively seek out diverse backgrounds, perspectives, and skills so that we can be collectively stronger and have a sustained global impact. 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. We strongly encourage qualified female candidates to apply

Safeguarding & Ethics

Mercy Corps is committed to ensuring that all individuals we come into contact with through our work, whether team members, community members, program participants, or others, are treated with respect and dignity. We are committed to the core principles regarding the prevention of sexual exploitation and abuse laid out by the UN Secretary-General and IASC and have signed on to the Interagency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme. We will not tolerate child abuse, sexual exploitation, abuse, or harassment by or of our team members. As part of our commitment to a safe and inclusive work environment, team members are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner, respect local laws and customs, and to adhere to the Mercy Corps Code of Conduct Policies and values at all times. Team members are required to complete mandatory Code of Conduct e-learning courses upon hire and on an annual basis.

Skills Required

Follow us on social media