A career opportunity awaits at Mercy Corps — they are hiring a Private Sector Engagement Officer – IFSPS PROGRAM (Hargeisa) in Hargeisa. Professionals with a background in Management/leadership and at least 3 - 4 years of experience are encouraged to apply. Applications are open until Nov, 14. Don't miss this opportunity.
Position:
Private Sector Engagement Officer
– IFSPS PROGRAM
Location
:
Hargeisa (Somaliland)
Position Status
Full-time, Regular
Salary Level:
4D
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 Somaliland 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/Somaliland. 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.
The Inclusive Finance for the Productive Sectors (IFSPS) Program is funded by the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida) and the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) and implemented by Mercy Corps (Prosper Global). Building on the foundations and lessons of the Inclusive Finance in the Livestock Sector (IFSLS) program, IFSPS aims to expand access to inclusive, affordable, and Sharia-compliant financial products and services for micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), producer groups, and other market actors across the productive sectors, including livestock, agriculture, fisheries, and energy.
Using a Market Systems Development (MSD) approach, IFSPS seeks to strengthen the capacity of financial institutions to design, deliver, and scale inclusive financial products and services that respond to the needs of underserved businesses and productive sector actors. The program addresses both supply- and demand-side barriers to financial inclusion. On the supply side, it works with banks and microfinance institutions (MFIs) to strengthen their institutional capacity, improve product development and delivery, and expand access to appropriate savings and financing solutions. On the demand side, it supports MSMEs, producer groups, women, and youth to improve their financial literacy, business management capabilities, and readiness to access and benefit from formal financial services.
The program also aims to strengthen the wider financial ecosystem through partnerships with financial institutions, sector associations, and complementary development initiatives to help address financing constraints and encourage greater lending to underserved productive sectors. Through this facilitative approach, Mercy Corps will act as a catalyst and convenor, supporting market actors to develop sustainable solutions, strengthen private-sector engagement, and expand financial inclusion. Ultimately, IFSPS seeks to contribute to more inclusive, resilient, and sustainable livelihoods by enabling productive sector businesses to access and use financial services that support enterprise growth and economic opportunities.
General Position Summary
The Private Sector Engagement Officer will support the implementation of the Inclusive Finance for the Productive Sectors (IFSPS) Program by strengthening partnerships with banks, microfinance institutions (MFIs), and other private sector actors to expand inclusive financial services for MSMEs across the productive sectors. The ideal candidate will have a strong background in working with banks and financial institutions, implementing financial inclusion programs, and facilitating access to finance for underserved businesses and communities. The role will also support self-help groups (SHGs), Village Savings and Loan Associations (VSLAs), women’s groups, and other community and market-based associations to strengthen their financial readiness, build linkages with formal financial institutions, and access appropriate savings and financing services. Through a Market Systems Development (MSD) approach, the Officer will facilitate financial product development, strengthen institutional and market linkages, promote digital financial services, and contribute to sector coordination and learning. The position will help address barriers to finance, mobilize private sector investment, and promote sustainable, inclusive, and Sharia-compliant financial solutions that enable enterprise growth, women’s and youth economic empowerment, and improved livelihoods across productive sectors.
Essential Job Responsibilities
Strategy and Market Facilitation
•
Contribute to the development and implementation of a private sector engagement strategy aligned with the objectives of the Inclusive Finance for the Productive Sectors (IFSPS) Program.
•
Identify market opportunities, constraints, and private sector-led solutions to improve access to inclusive financial services across targeted productive sectors, including livestock, agriculture, fisheries, and other relevant sectors.
•
Facilitate market systems development interventions that strengthen linkages between financial institutions, MSMEs, producer groups, associations, and other market actors.
•
Design and implement strategies that promote inclusive markets, women’s economic empowerment, youth participation, and improved access to appropriate and affordable finance.
Private Sector Engagement and Partnerships
•
Build and maintain strong working relationships with banks, microfinance institutions (MFIs), other financial service providers, private sector enterprises, and relevant industry associations.
•
Facilitate partnerships between financial institutions and MSMEs, self-help groups (SHGs), Village Savings and Loan Associations (VSLAs), women’s groups, producer groups, and other community-based associations to expand access to formal financial services.
•
Support engagement with financial sector stakeholders and associations to strengthen coordination, promote market linkages, and encourage sustainable private sector-led solutions.
•
Work closely with key Economic Growth and technical program teams to identify high-potential productive-sector value chains and related enterprises that can drive business performance, growth, systemic change, and long-term sustainability.
•
Work closely with key programs engaging MSMEs, cooperatives, producer groups, traders, and service providers to identify market opportunities and business constraints; and link them to the FI providers.
Access to Finance and Financial Product Development
•
Work closely with partner banks and MFIs to support the design, piloting, refinement, and delivery of appropriate, affordable, and Sharia-compliant financial products for MSMEs and other underserved groups across targeted productive sectors.
•
Facilitate the development and uptake of financial solutions, including working capital, asset-based financing, savings, group financing, and digital financial services, based on market assessments and the needs of target clients.
•
Support SHGs, VSLAs, women’s groups, producer groups, and other associations to strengthen their financial readiness, strengthen their organizational capacity, improve savings and financial management practices, and establish linkages with formal financial institutions.
•
Facilitate the transition of eligible community-based groups and associations towards formal financial services, including savings accounts and appropriate financing opportunities.
•
Coordinate product pilots, facilitate client feedback, monitor product performance indicators, and support financial institutions to adapt products and delivery approaches based on evidence and client needs.
Capacity Building and Technical Assistance
•
Support capacity-building for banks, MFIs, and other financial service providers on market assessment, financial product development, client outreach, portfolio management, risk management, and inclusive and Sharia-compliant finance.
•
Lead the delivery of financial literacy, business development services (BDS), and business management trainings for MSMEs, SHGs, VSLAs, women’s groups, and other community-based associations.
•
Strengthen the capacity of target groups to maintain business records, manage cash flow, understand financing terms, assess financing needs, and use financial services responsibly.
•
Facilitate technical assistance that enables community groups and associations to meet the requirements of formal financial institutions and access appropriate savings and financing services.
•
Promote the adoption and use of digital financial services, including mobile banking, mobile saving, and other relevant digital solutions, particularly in underserved and rural areas
.
Gender Equality, Diversity and Social Inclusion (GEDSI)
Stakeholder Engagement, Policy, and Representation
•
Where possible, represent Mercy Corps in key forums within the IFSPS program areas
when assigned.
Outreach and Communications
•
Prepare clear and timely activity reports, presentations, case studies, and success stories documenting program progress, partnerships, and results for internal, donor, and external audiences.
•
Document experiences and lessons from financial institution partnerships, financial product pilots, and initiatives linking community-based groups to formal financial services.
•
Support learning exchanges, stakeholder workshops, market events, and communication initiatives that promote awareness of inclusive financial services and successful private sector-led approaches.
Implementation, Monitoring, and Adaptive Management
•
Develop and implement activity plans, budgets, and delivery schedules in coordination with the Program team, ensuring effective sequencing and integration of interventions across target locations and productive sectors.
•
Coordinate implementation with financial institutions, private sector partners, service providers, industry associations, and community-based groups to ensure activities contribute to program outcomes.
•
Work with Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) and monitoring, reporting and measurement (MRM) colleagues to define performance indicators, collect and analyze data, monitor results, and assess the outcomes of private sector engagement and financial inclusion interventions.
•
Track progress in financial product uptake, access to formal finance, savings, business performance, and participation by women, youth, and other underserved groups.
•
Use monitoring findings, participant feedback, and market evidence to adapt interventions, address implementation challenges, and improve program effectiveness.
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.
•
Ensure that engagement with program participants, financial institutions, community groups, and other stakeholders is conducted safely, ethically, and respectfully.
Supervisory Responsibility
•
No direct supervisory responsibility.
Accountability
Reports Directly To:
Program Manager for the IFSPS Program
Works Directly with:
IFSPS program team in Somaliland,
MEL/MRM team members, Mercy Corps Compliance & Finance and MC 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 at all times and in all in-country venues.
- Work with the IFSPS team and Mercy Corps’ GEDSI teams to integrate gender equity and social inclusion across program activities to ensure equitable access for women, youth, and marginalized groups to financial services and productive opportunities.
- Facilitate engagement between financial institutions and women-led MSMEs, women’s groups, SHGs, VSLAs, and other underserved community groups.
- Lead facilitation and delivery of targeted outreach, financial literacy, and business development initiatives that strengthen women’s and youth’s capacity to engage with formal financial institutions and use financial services.
- Promote inclusive financial products, delivery channels, and partnership models that respond to the needs and constraints of different client groups.
- Assist the program manager and team in coordinating with government authorities, financial sector regulators, banks, MFIs, industry associations, development partners, and other stakeholders to strengthen the enabling environment for financial inclusion and productive sector development.
- Support collaboration with relevant financial sector associations and coordination platforms to promote knowledge sharing, identify market opportunities, and address systemic barriers to MSME finance.
- Maintain an updated stakeholder engagement plan and represent the IFSPS Program in relevant coordination meetings, technical working groups, workshops, and sector events.
- Document and share lessons, evidence, and opportunities that can inform financial sector engagement, policy dialogue, and sustainable market systems development.
About Hargeisa
Hargeisa is the capital and largest city of Somaliland, serving as the region's main economic and administrative hub. The city is home to a growing number of international organizations, NGOs, and private sector companies, making it a key employment center in the Horn of Africa. Professionals relocating to Hargeisa will find a dynamic and rapidly developing urban environment.
Ereyada Soomaaliga (Somali Keywords): Shaqo Hargeysa • Shaqo Buuxda • Shaqo Cusub