Consultant – Ukraine Market Analysis Lead – Remote

Background

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.

Mercy Corps is assessing the impact of the war in Ukraine on agriculture and employment markets specifically. While it may be early to launch a response inside Ukraine, we want to better understand the current impacts on agricultural production, access to input and output markets, and access to finance. We also want to assess potential risks if future harvest/planting cannot occur, in order to position the agency for a potential programming response, layering market facilitation with humanitarian support. In addition, the agency intends to develop a think piece to explore implications for people in need of new work, particularly those displaced by conflict. This will include identifying key barriers and issues that could be addressed through market systems programming. These efforts are a priority for the agency, involving close collaboration across the Technical Support Unit (TSU), Crisis Analytics team (CA), and Ukraine response team.

Purpose of Consultancy

Mercy Corps will conduct a market systems assessment of the main agricultural markets in Ukraine, and develop a think piece on employment related to displacement from the Ukraine crisis. The consultant will be responsible for strategic oversight of both of these products. For the agriculture market systems assessment, the consultant will provide technical guidance and input, coaching, and editing support to an analyst carrying out the assessment (SOW here). The consultant will also take the lead in researching, drafting, reviewing, and finalizing an employment-focused think piece.

Consultant Activities

The consultant’s activities will include the following:

1. Technical oversight and quality assurance for Ukraine agriculture market systems assessment
   1. Support analyst in clarifying and confirming the scope, focus, and key research questions for the agriculture market assessment. Serve as a thought partner to the analyst throughout the assessment process.
   2. Provide technical guidance to analyst and/or connect analyst to appropriate guidance documents and individuals who can provide valuable technical input.
   3. Provide strategic oversight to the agriculture assessment, ensuring the analyst has access to appropriate resources and support; flagging assessment risks to the analyst, TSU and CA teams as relevant; and supporting the process to deliver a timely, high quality product. Troubleshooting with relevant members of the assessment team, TSU, and CA when issues arise.
   4. Provide input into data collection methodology and tools, with a clear understanding of how these connect to key research questions and will feed into a final report
   5. Provide coaching and conduct regular check-ins with analyst to support the delivery of the agriculture market systems analysis
   6. Work with analyst to agree upon report outline and template
   7. Provide guidance on framing and message crafting during the write up of the assessment. Provide editing support to ensure the final report provides quality insights in a consumable format for its audiences.
   8. Develop a think piece on employment market systems barriers and opportunities for those displaced by the Ukraine crisis. Key research topics will be finalized in the first stage of this work stream, but could potentially include issues such as: exploring barriers to refugee work in key industries; exploration of job searching networks, information services, technology, and barriers; understanding the role and gaps in public sector support for employment; job creation and retention efforts targeting Ukrainians; and job market “downgrading” for those displaced by the Ukraine crisis.
2. Consult with TSU, CA, and Ukraine response team to finalize research questions and audience
   1. Scope priority geographies of focus (~3 including Ukraine + other countries)
   2. Conduct desk research and remote interviews (~10-15)
   3. Analyze and synthesize information and draft final report
   4. Circulate report for input and feedback
   5. Finalize report, taking into account feedback from reviews

Consultant Deliverables:

• Inputs into agriculture assessment inside Ukraine, including:
  • Relevant tools and guidance shared
  • Finalized set of research questions and audiences
  • Template for assessment report
  • Guidance on final report
  • Edits to final report
• Finalized think piece on employment for those displaced by the Ukraine crisis (estimated 10-15 pages) highlighting key trends, key case studies/examples, and making recommendation on top areas for further exploration and potential programming using a systems approach

The Consultant will report to

Director, Markets and Cash

The Consultant will work closely with:

TSU, including members of the Economic Growth team, Mercy Corps’ Crisis Analytics team, and Ukraine response team

Timeframe / Schedule:

Anticipate completing one deliverable or half of the assignment by the end of July, with full completion in September

Required Experience and Skills:

• 5 to 7 years of experience providing increasingly proficient technical support in remote learning, market-based humanitarian response, and Market Systems Development.
• Bachelor’s degree required. Masters degree or relevant technical training preferred.
• Demonstrated experience with market systems assessments
• Familiarity with Mercy Corps approaches, systems, and teams.
• Practical program-support experience of at least 3 years, including providing direct technical support, coaching, and travel to fragile contexts.
• Fluency in English is required.

Success Factors:

• Ability to work under pressure, independently and with limited supervision
• Demonstrated creative problem-solving skills and excellent time management capacities
• Security, political and cultural awareness
• Highly developed interpersonal communication skills
• Deep commitment to humanitarian principles and values

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 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.

Safeguarding & Ethics Mercy Corps team members are expected to support all efforts toward accountability, specifically to our stakeholders and to international standards guiding international relief and development work, while actively engaging 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 at all times and in all in-country venues.