Program Manager-Market System Development-W4R

Program Manager-Market System
Development-W4R
Danish Refugee Council, one of the world’s leading humanitarian NGOs, is currently looking for a
highly qualified Program Manager- Market System Development- W4R
About the job
The Program Manager-Market Systems Development will provide technical, operational and thought
leadership for the Water for Resilience Programme (W4R), a four-year, multi-donor Programme
designed to improve sustainable access to safe, reliable and affordable water for rural and peri-urban
agro-pastoral communities in Somalia through private sector engagement and market systems
development.
This role involves supporting program interventions based on relevance, opportunity for growth, and
feasibility of stimulating sustainable change in the market system through different approaches to
water market systems strengthening, private sector engagement, climate resilience, governance
strengthening, catalytic financing mechanisms, investment facilitation, and institutional capacity
development.
Your main duties and responsibilities will be:
Technical Oversight of Water Market Systems Development and Private Sector Engagement
Lead the implementation of water market systems assessments, ecosystem mapping exercises
and corridor diagnostics during programme inception and throughout implementation.
ConductMarket System Mapping and Analysis: Drive the market system mapping and analysis and
prioritize market sectors for program intervention.
Develop and oversee the portfolio of market system development interventions and partnerships
within the W4R program.
Provide technical oversight to interventions targeting Water Service Providers (WSPs), Water
Companies (WCs), Community Water Management Committees (CWMCs), O&M operators and
water-related SMEs.
Lead in identifying market failures, business growth opportunities and investment barriers affecting
water ecosystem actors.
Lead the implementation of business diagnostics, due diligence assessments and capacity gap
analyses for targeted enterprises and institutions.
Implement development and implementation of tailored Business Development Service (BDS)

Provide targeted enterprises with technical assistance in business planning, governance,
operations management, customer service, financial management and investment readiness.
Facilitate strategic partnerships between private sector actors, government institutions and
financial service providers.
Promote commercially viable, climate-resilient and inclusive business models capable of sustaining
water service delivery beyond Programme funding.
Lead the implementation of water ecosystem strengthening initiatives designed to improve
operational efficiency, service quality and business performance.
Support establishment of private sector platforms and learning networks to encourage peer
learning and sector collaboration.
Technical Leadership, and Stakeholder engagement
Lead development and operationalization of catalytic financing mechanisms supporting climateresilient water service delivery.
Lead development of financing governance structures, eligibility criteria, selection frameworks and
standard operating procedures.
Ensure financing mechanisms remain market-compatible and do not distort local financial markets.
Lead identification, screening and selection of enterprises eligible for catalytic financing support.
Ensure direct establishment and management of investment pipelines for water companies, SMEs
and service providers.
Lead the implementation of investment readiness assessments and business strengthening
processes.
Facilitate engagement with commercial banks, microfinance institutions, impact investors, diaspora
investors and development finance actors.
Ensure due diligence assessments are conducted before financing decisions are made.
Lead negotiation and structuring of financing arrangements between investors and water
ecosystem actors.
Support organization of investment forums, business matchmaking events and investor
engagement platforms.
Ensure performance of financed enterprises and ensure financing contributes to improved
sustainability and service delivery
MEAL and Adaptive Programming
Lead and/or support MSD and gender and youth inclusion assessments, research studies and
stakeholder consultations, as appropriate, to inform program strategies and approaches; Learning
Agenda; and adaptive management.
Provide relevant technical input for program work plans, budgets, and MEAL Plan, including
Learning Agenda, as appropriate.
Actively participate in program monitoring, evaluation, and learning (MEAL) activities, including
results reviews and other learning exchanges.
Provide key support for data collection and analyses in collaboration with the MEAL team to
ensure interventions are impact-oriented and adjusted
Contribute relevant technical input for donor reporting and external program communications, such
as technical reports, case studies/business cases, video/radio content, social media blogs/posts,
etc.
Participate in development of the annual work plan, ensuring alignment with technical strategy
Undertake regular visits to the field to support implementation of M&E and to identify where
adaptations might be needed
Prepare program progress reporting.
Partnership and Stakeholder Engagement
Establish and effectively manage strong relationships with market system actors (e.g. private
companies operating in the relevant value chains, WMCs representatives of the target group, local
government offices, etc.
Networking and representing the organization through coordinating with stakeholders, partners,
government officials such as Project line Ministry of Water and to ensure the organization
efficiency.
Represent the program at networking and relationship meetings with private and public actors, as
appropriate.
Lead and support relevant enabling environment interventions and development of partnerships to
address social norms that exclude women and youth and the poor from accessing markets.
People management and Capacity building
Build capacity of private sector actors to understand the business case for gender equality and
unconscious bias; provide technical assistance (TA) to support partners to develop gender equality
policies and help them establish equitable hiring and recruitment processes. Support private sector
capacity building efforts, including TA to partners to build their understanding of the business case
for regenerative and environmentally sustainable solutions, in collaboration with the Regenerative
Business/Resilience Lead and Partnership Officers.
Manage, supervise, mentor corridor managers and gender ,communications and M and E team
Deputize the Program Director.
with a specific expertise in
forced displacement. In around
30 countries, we protect,
advocate and build sustainable
futures for refugees and other
displacement-affected people
and communities.
Work closely with Program Director and Financial Controller to ensure compliance with company
and donor regulations and policies.
About you
To be successful in this role we expect you to demonstrate the following.

Required
Bachelor’s Degree + 7 years’ experience, master’s degree + 5 years’ experience in Economics,
Statistics, Agribusiness, Business Management, Marketing, Finance and Accounting,
Program/Project Management or related fields.
At least 5 years’ experience applying MSD (Market System Development) especially in WASH
programs in Somalia or elsewhere
Demonstrated understanding of - and commitment to challenging - barriers that disadvantage the
vulnerable, women and youth and exclude them from economic opportunities.
Good understanding of market systems and their role in poverty reduction from a systemic
perspective; experience conducting market analysis in order to make business or investment
decisions.
Demonstrated orientation toward innovative thinking with strong ability to generate creative
ideas/solutions and predict possible outcomes.
Demonstrated experience leading and coordinating consultative planning processes that involve
input from a range of experts and stakeholders toward strengthened evidence-based programming
and decision making.
Strong adaptive management skills, including critical thinking, foresight, and vision to actively
analyses program activities, challenge assumptions, and make decisions.
In this position, you are expected to demonstrate DRC’s five core competencies:
Striving for excellence: You focus on reaching results while ensuring an efficient process.
Collaborating: You involve relevant parties and encourage feedback.
Taking the lead: You take ownership and initiative while aiming for innovation.
Communicating: You listen and speak effectively and honestly.
Demonstrating integrity: You uphold and promote the highest standards of ethical and professional
conduct in relation to our values and Code of Conduct, including safeguarding against sexual
exploitation, abuse and harassment.
We offer
Contract: 12 Months with possibility of extension, subject to funding and performance.
Band: Management- F1
Designation of Duty station: This position is based in Mogadishu – Somalia with 60% travel to
project sites
Reporting Line: Chief of Party-W4R
Start Date: September 2026
This position is open to National Applications. The relevant National terms and conditions of
employment will apply.

Application process
All applicants must upload a cover letter and an updated CV (no longer than four pages) in English.
Applications sent by email will not be considered.
Closing date for applications: 28th July 2026
For more information about the Danish Refugee Council, please visit our website drc.ngo.
Danish Refugee Council is an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to creating an inclusive
and positive work environment based on mutual respect for all employees. All applicants are
considered for employment regardless of personal characteristics or attributes