Inclusive Markets Specialist – Ethiopia Food and Agriculture Systems Transformation (FAST) Activity

Job Description

Research Triangle Institute (RTI) has over 30 years’ experience assisting governments, communities, and the private sector. As a not-for-profit, independent research institute based in North Carolina, USA, RTI has roughly 5,000 employees with global experience implementing international development projects. RTI’s Sustainable Growth & Resilience (SG&R) technical unit within the International Development Group brings together RTI experts and capabilities across food security, agriculture, energy, environment, water, governance, and economic opportunity. SG&R will leverage RTI’s experience designing and delivering multisectoral programming and technical solutions to respond to climate change, build resilience, and promote economic growth around the world .

SG&R’s Global Food Security and Agriculture portfolio is working to strengthen agricultural markets, engage youth and women as critical leaders of the on- and off-farm workforce, and tackle the dual burden of malnutrition around the globe. RTI’s work is helping foster stronger food systems, reduce malnutrition in all its forms, build resilience and engage the next generation of food security leaders. RTI is currently partnering on nearly 30 projects in East Africa, including activities focused on private sector-driven agricultural growth in Rwanda and market systems development in Kenya.

Project Description

The purpose of the USAID/Ethiopia Food and Agriculture Systems Transformation (FAST) Activity is to increase access to healthy diets, particularly for women and children, by improving competitiveness, inclusiveness, and resilience of the Ethiopian food and agriculture system. FAST will also increase incomes gained from agriculture by as much as 40 percent over the next five years. To achieve its goals FAST must collaborate intensively with other USAID funded projects working in the food and agriculture sector.

Position Description

RTI is seeking a n Inclusive Markets Specialist for Ethiopia FAST . The Inclusive Markets Specialist will be responsible f or providing strategic and technical market systems development leadership for the activity, providing expertise and guidance in all results areas in planning, design, and field im plementation of intervention areas, including inclusive business models and markets systems developments. The specialist will work closely with the G ender Youth and Social Inclusion (G YSI ) Advisor in the integration of gender and youth equality and social inclusion (GYSI) activities into project activities, policies, and practices . This position will be based in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, and will report to the  GYSI Advisor .

Responsibilities

• Identify, design, and implement strategies and program activities to deepen market integration across selected value chains. Specifically target youth and women-owned businesses.
• Support the implementation of FAST Private Sector Engagement and Inclusive Market Systems Development Approaches throughout the project from work planning, implementation , and learning and adaptation.
• Provide technical support to different technical teams and foster partnerships and collaboration with key private sector actors and market leaders across value chains and sectors.
• Provide analytic and studies on market systems and value chain analyses, designing project strategies and facilitation activities, providing ongoing mentoring and technical guidance, annual work planning, and informing appropriate monitoring, evaluation and learning approaches .
• Design strategic and catalytic partnerships with key market systems and value chain actors in FAST sectors and value chains and supporting sectors and services.
• Provide ongoing, responsive technical support and guidance to projects to enhance quality application of private sector engagement and inclusive market systems development approaches.
• Lead and/or oversee discrete and ongoing technical services collaboratively with project teams. This could include but is not limited to initial startup staff trainings , conducting private sector landscape assessments, assisting project teams with co-creation and co-design, helping teams manage for partnership health .
• Develop and co-create partnerships with market systems actors relationship management, diverse investment and partnering modalities, and analytical tools or consultation processes for getting to root causes, etc.

Qualifications

• Master’s degree and 6 years of experience, or a Bachelor’s degree and 8 years of experience, or the equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Prior experience working on donor funded projects , particularly USAID-projects, preferred.
• Demonstrated experience and technical knowledge in private sector engagement and/or market systems development related work, such as identifying and facilitating public and private sector partnerships, and leading market systems analyses and studies .
• Demonstrated familiarity with current trends in private sector engagement and inclusive market systems in Ethiopia .
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Verbal and written fluency in English required.
• Ability to travel and work throughout Ethiopia in difficult terrain/conditions at times.

EEO & Pay Equity Statements

As a global employer of choice, RTI is committed to equity, diversity, inclusion and belonging in the workplace and the communities and markets where we serve our mission. We value diversity of thought, culture, background and perspective and welcome applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, creed, citizenship status, disability, protected veteran status, or any other classification protected by applicable discrimination laws or RTI policy.

We are proud to be an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. Further information is available here .

RTI International is an independent, nonprofit research institute dedicated to improving the human condition. Clients rely on us to answer questions that demand an objective and multidisciplinary approach and one that integrates expertise across the social and laboratory sciences, engineering, and international development. We believe in the promise of science, and we are inspired every day to deliver on that promise for the good of people, communities, and businesses around the world. For more information, visit www.rti.org .

For USA Job Postings Only: RTI participates in the US Government E-Verify program. Further information regarding the E-Verify program and laws that are designed to protect you against discrimination relating to your legal right to work in the US can be found here .

For San Francisco, CA USA Job Postings Only: Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records. Further information is available here .

The anticipated pay range for this role is listed below. Our pay ranges represent national averages and may vary by location as a geographic differential may be applied to some locations within the United States.

RTI considers multiple factors when making an offer including, for example: established salary range, internal budget, business needs, and education and years of work experience possessed by the applicant. Further, salary is merely one element to our offer.

At RTI, we demonstrate our commitment to rewarding individual and team achievement through a total rewards package. This package includes (among other things) a competitive base salary, a generous paid time off policy, merit based annual increases, bonus opportunities and a robust recognition program. Other benefits include a competitive range of insurance plans (including health, dental, life, and short-term and long-term disability), access to a retirement savings program such as a 401(k) plan, paid parental leave for all parents, financial assistance with adoption expenses or infertility treatments, financial reimbursement for education and developmental opportunities, an employee assistance program, and numerous other offerings to support a healthy work-life balance.