BUSINESS DEVELOPMEnT OFFICER- RLP PROGRAM

Description

Position: BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT OFFICER – RLP PROGRAM

Location:  Kismayo (Afmadow corridor coverage areas in Somalia)

Position Status Full-time, Regular

Salary Level: 4E

About Mercy Corps

Mercy Corps is a leading global organization powered by the belief that a better world is possible.
In disaster, in hardship, in more than 40 countries around the world, we partner to put bold solutions
into action — helping people triumph over adversity and build stronger communities from within.
Now, and for the future.

Mercy Corps has been present in Somalia since 2005, with current programming in Somaliland, Puntland, Hirshabelle, Galmudug, Jubaland, South-West State and Banadir. Our programming spans multiple sectors and is framed by a high-level strategy for advancing resilience and peace. Seeing ability in vulnerability, we work with and through local communities, including IDPs and returning refugees, to address immediate needs of crisis-affected populations while supporting and strengthening systems that facilitate collective advancement towards long-term and inclusive socio-economic growth, peace, and prosperity. Grounded in core resilience principles of systems thinking, partnership and facilitation, and adaptive management, Mercy Corps’ approach encourages crisis-affected populations, the private sector, government, and civil society to work together towards meaningful and lasting change.

Program / Department

Mercy Corps has a significant depth of experience throughout the Horn of Africa, including an operational presence in Kenya, Ethiopia, and Somalia. Within the Horn of Africa, Mercy Corps’ strategic focus is on dryland communities and programming in these areas include governance, social cohesion, market systems development, climate change adaptation interventions, among others. Through our work across a diversity of program activities, Mercy Corps supports the establishment and cultivation of resilient livelihoods. In line with this regional focus, Mercy Corps is implementing the Regional Livestock Program (RLP). Implemented largely in the ASAL areas of Kenya, Ethiopia and Somalia, RLP works to ensure pastoral and agro-pastoral communities in the target trade corridors of Togwajale, Galkacyo and Afmadow have more climate resilient, inclusive and sustainable livelihoods.

The Regional Livestock Program (RLP) seeks to strengthen climate-resilient, inclusive and sustainable livelihoods among pastoral and agro-pastoral communities. Within the Afmadow Corridor, the Program works closely with private sector actors, producer groups, market actors, financial service providers and local institutions to strengthen livestock market systems and create economic opportunities for vulnerable populations.

General Position Summary

RLP is seeking a dynamic and results-oriented Business Development Officer to support the growth and competitiveness of micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) operating within the livestock value chain and related sectors for the Afmadow corridor. The successful candidate wand private sector experience and demonstrated expertise in enterprise development, business development services (BDS), financial literacy, market linkages and business growth.

The Business Development Officer will be responsible for supporting the growth, competitiveness and sustainability of businesses operating within the Afmadow Corridor. Working under the supervision of the Somalia RLP Program Manager, the officer will engage closely with small and micro enterprises, livestock traders, cooperatives, producer groups, service providers and other market actors to identify business growth opportunities, address enterprise performance constraints, and support livestock-based enterprises to improve profitability, expand market access, and deliver accessible and affordable service. The officer will provide practical business development support to enterprises through coaching, mentoring, financial literacy training, business planning support, market linkage facilitation and enterprise capacity strengthening. The position requires close engagement with private sector actors to improve business performance, increase profitability, strengthen market participation and promote private sector-led economic growth. Essential Job Responsibilities Strategy and Market Facilitation

·       Support implementation of the Afmadow Corridor strategy in alignment with RLP objectives and priorities.

• Contribute to the identification market opportunities, constraints, and private-sector-led solutions in livestock-related value chains.
• Support assessment and analysis of market intelligence to inform Program interventions and adaptive management.

·       Work with technical advisors and Program teams to identify opportunities that strengthen market systems and enhance private sector participation.

• Contribute to the designing and implement of strategies in the areas of inclusive markets, women's economic empowerment, and access to finance to benefit targeted participants.

·        Maintain effective working relationships with relevant stakeholders to promote coordination and alignment around corridor-level development priorities.

Private Sector Engagement and Partnerships

·       In close collaboration and coordination of the RLP manager/ team contribute to the Identification of high-potential livestock and related enterprises to strengthen business performance, growth, system wide changes and sustainability.

·       Work closely with MSMEs, cooperatives, producer groups, traders, and service providers to identify market opportunities and business constraints.

·       Deliver business development services (BDS), coaching, and mentoring to improve enterprise management, productivity and profitability, and facilitate financial literacy and business management training for small and micro enterprises.

·       Support enterprises to improve business planning, record keeping, financial management, and investment readiness.

·       Facilitate business-to-business (B2B) linkages and strengthen commercial relationships among market actors within the livestock value chain.

·       Support coordination and collaboration among private sector actors, producer organizations, financial service providers, and relevant public institutions.

·       Promote access to market intelligence and share business and market insights to inform enterprise decision-making.

·       Identify opportunities for increased private sector investment and support partnerships that strengthen livestock market systems.

·       Support interventions that improve the availability and uptake of products and services for businesses operating within the corridor.

·       Conduct regular field visits, monitor enterprise performance, and document lessons learned, success stories, and results.

Capacity Building and Technical Assistance

• Support and facilitate the delivery of trainings for partners and MSMEs on risk management, financial literacy, operations, and business development.
• Strengthen coordination with the RLP complimenting programs including the ‘IFSLS” that focus on digital financial services adoption (mobile/agent banking) in rural and underserved areas.
• Closely work with the IFSLS Teams to engage partner banks/MFIs to design, pilot, and refine financial products tailored to MSMEs and livestock actors (e.g., working capital, asset finance, digital products).
• Support the piloting, gathering of user feedback, and tracking of product KPIs for iterative improvement.

Gender Equality, Diversity and Social Inclusion (GEDSI)

• Work with the RLP Team as well as GEDSI teams to Integrate gender and social inclusion across activities to ensure equitable access for women, youth, and marginalized groups.
• Support the outreach and awareness campaigns to increase women participation and financial literacy in BDS adoption.

Stakeholder Engagement, Policy, and Representation

·       Assist the program manager to coordinate with local partners and stakeholders to develop and implement a Corridor influence and advocacy agenda, engaging with local and national institutions, as well as private sector actors, to drive livestock market systems discussions, development, and implementation.

·       Assist in the management and update of stakeholder management plan and represent in RLP – BDS related forums along the Afmadow corridor

·       Where possible, represent the Mercy Corps in key forums within the Kismayu/Afmadow Corridor when assigned.

Outreach and Communications

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

Implementation, Monitoring, and Adaptive Management

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

·       Collaborate with MEL and Results Measurement teams to collect, analyze, and utilize evidence for program learning and decision-making.

·       Contribute to documenting lessons learned, good practices, and emerging opportunities from program interventions.

·       Work with country-level Program managers to assess and analyze impact and adaptively manage the program to meet results.

Security and Safeguarding

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

Supervisory Responsibility ·       No direct supervisory responsibility. Accountability

Reports Directly To: Somalia Program Manager for the Regional Livestock Program

Works Directly with: RLP program team in Somalia, MEL/MRM team members, Mercy Corps Compliance & Finance and RLP technical advisors.

Accountability to beneficiaries and partners

Mercy Corps team members are expected to support all efforts toward accountability, specifically to our beneficiaries and partners 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. Team members are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner and respect local laws, customs and MC's policies, procedures, and values always and in all in-country venues.

Minimum Qualification & Transferable Skills

Education

·       Bachelor’s in business administration, Finance/ Accounting, Economics, Entrepreneurship, Agribusiness, Marketing, Commerce or any other relevant field.

  Experience

• Minimum 3–5 years of relevant experience in business development, enterprise development, banking, private sector engagement, MSME support or market systems development.

·       Proven experience applying Market Systems Development (MSD) approaches, including market systems analysis, facilitation of market actors and promotion of systemic change.

·       Demonstrated understanding of sustainable market-led solutions, private sector engagement, and interventions that drive lasting improvements in market performance.

·       Understanding of livestock and agribusiness market systems, recent MSD/M4P training or certification is highly desirable.

·       Demonstrated experience providing Business Development Services (BDS) to MSMEs, including enterprise assessments, business coaching, financial management, business planning, financial literacy, and enterprise performance improvement.

·       Demonstrated experience facilitating Business-to-Business (B2B) linkages, commercial partnerships, market access initiatives, and strengthening relationships among value chain actors.

·       Experience working with producer groups, cooperatives, traders, and small enterprises.

·       Previous private sector experience is strongly preferred, including experience working in a business, financial institution, consulting firm, or enterprise support organization.

·       Strong analytical, communication, stakeholder engagement, and relationship management skills.

·       Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications required.

·       Excellent written and spoken English; fluency in Somali required.

• Experience working in Jubaland state of Somalia is preferred.

Success Factors

The successful Business Development Officer will have exceptional business engagement and partnership skills, as well as the ability to strengthen the capacity of other staff members and sector leaders. In addition to support technical agribusiness expertise, s/he will also have proven experience with cross-cultural teams, capacity building of partner institutions and of individual staff, with strong mentoring skills. Multi-tasking, prioritizing, problem solving and simultaneous attention to detail and strategic vision are essential.  S/he will be conversant in a diversity of cross-cutting technical themes, including market system development, Financial Inclusion/ Banking Services support, WASH, governance, climate change, social cohesion and female empowerment, among others. The most successful Mercy Corps staff members have a strong commitment to teamwork and accountability, thrive in evolving and changing environments and make effective written / verbal communication a priority in all situations.

Living Conditions / Environmental Conditions

This position will be based in Kismayo but cover Afmadow corridor coverage areas within Somalia. Mercy Corps Team members represent the agency both during and outside of work hours when deployed in a field posting or on a visit/TDY to a field posting. Team members are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner and respect local laws, customs and MC's policies, procedures, and values always and in all in-country venues.

Ongoing 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 expect all team members to commit 5% of their time to learning activities that benefit Mercy Corps as well as themselves. In addition, the RLP project will be adaptive based on learning and evidence emerging from Program interventions and research.

Team Engagement and Effectiveness 

Achieving our mission starts with how we build our team and collaborate. By bringing together individuals with a variety of experiences, backgrounds, and perspectives, we strengthen our ability to solve complex challenges and drive innovation. We foster a culture of trust and respect, where every team member is valued for their contributions, empowered to reach their full potential, and motivated to do their best work. We recognize that building a strong and effective team is an ongoing process, and we remain committed to learning, improving, and growing together.

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 based on 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.

Safeguarding & Ethics

Mercy Corps is committed to ensuring that all individuals we encounter 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 up 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 professionally, respect local laws and customs, and always adhere to 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.

Application Procedure:

All interested candidates are encouraged to apply for this position and submit their applications (cover letter, updated CV, and contacts of 5 professional referees) through https://www.mercycorps.org/careers/national. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. 

Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply for this position.

Deadline for Applications: September 12, 2025, at 5 PM

Link : 3-SO Pgm Staff/Officer | Mercy Corps Somalia