Job Description

General Position Summary

The Private Sector Engagement Officer leads engagement with private sector actors and financial institutions nationally, expands access to finance, and supports market-led solutions that grow and de-risk investments in the livestock value chain. The role coordinates product development, builds partner capacity, strengthens digital financial services, and drives adaptive, evidence-based programming.

Key Responsibilities:

Strategy and Market Facilitation

• Co-develop and implement a private sector engagement strategy aligned with IFSLS goals.
• Identify market opportunities, constraints, and private-sector-led solutions in livestock-related value chains.
• Design and implement strategies in the areas of inclusive markets, women's economic empowerment, and access to finance to benefit targeted participants.

Private Sector Engagement and Partnerships

• Serve as the primary relationship holder with private sector actors, financial institutions, and relevant industry associations.
• Broker B2B/PPP partnerships; attract and facilitate investments into IFSLS-aligned initiatives.

Access to Finance and Product Development

• Support partner banks/MFIs to design, pilot, and refine financial products tailored to MSMEs and livestock actors (e.g., working capital, asset finance, digital products).
• Coordinate pilots, gather user feedback, and track product KPIs for iterative improvement.

Capacity Building and Technical Assistance

• Organize and deliver trainings for partners and MSMEs on risk management, financial literacy, operations, and business development.
• Strengthen digital financial services adoption (mobile/agent banking) in rural and underserved areas.

Implementation, Monitoring, and Adaptive Management

• Develop intervention plans and budgets; ensure effective sequencing, layering, and integration across geographies.
• Work with MEL/MRM teams to define KPIs, collect data, and conduct outcome/impact assessments; adapt strategies based on evidence.

Gender Equality and Social Inclusion (GESI)

• Integrate gender and social inclusion across activities to ensure equitable access for women, youth, and marginalized groups.
• Lead outreach and awareness campaigns to increase women participation and financial literacy.

Stakeholder Engagement, Policy, and Representation

• Coordinate with authorities, industry groups, and development actors to influence enabling policies and strengthen market systems and financial inclusion.
• Maintain a stakeholder management plan and represent IFSLS in relevant forums.

Outreach and Communications

• Produce clear reports, presentations, and success stories for internal and donor audiences, support learning exchanges and market events.

Security and Safeguarding

• Coordinate with security focal points to ensure safe design and delivery of activities.
• Adhere to Mercy Corps’ safeguarding, safe communication, and risk management policies.

Organizational Learning and Accountability

• Dedicate 5% of time to learning and share insights across teams.
• Engage program participants as equal partners in design, monitoring, and evaluation; uphold accountability standards.

Experiences and Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in business, Economics, Finance, Agri-business, Development Studies, or related field.
• 3+ years in private sector engagement, market systems development, financial inclusion, or investment/incubation; experience with banks/MFIs or private firms required.
• Proven experience of building partnerships, brokering PPPs/B2B deals, and supporting business planning and product development.
• Strong coordination, communication, and facilitation skills; excellent relationship-building.
• Experience with livestock value chains in Somalia context preferred.
• Proficient in MS Office; familiarity with data collection tools.
• Fluency in English and Somali is required.

Competency

• Strategic, facilitative, and market-systems mindset.
• Analytical, adaptive, and solutions-oriented; manages multiple priorities and deadlines.
• Culturally sensitive; committed to advancing gender equality and social inclusion.
• Strong written and verbal communication.

Accountability

Reports Directly To: Program Manager

Works Directly With: Business Development Advisor Country MEL Coordinator, livestock Corridor Coordinator GEDSI/Safeguarding Officer, Senior Meal Officer, Field Officers, and other relevant Mercy Corps Somalia staff

Success Factors

• Exceptional business engagement and partnership skills; ability to coach partners and livestock business actors.
• Strong cross-cultural teamwork, problem-solving, and attention to detail—balanced with strategic vision.
• Thrives in dynamic environments; communicates clearly and proactively.

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

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