Market Systems Development Senior Associate - Ethiopia

ABOUT INKOMOKO

Inkomoko supports entrepreneurs to grow their businesses in order to improve livelihoods, create jobs, and help communities thrive.

In 2025, Inkomoko was listed by the Financial Times as the 8th fastest-growing company in Africa, supporting entrepreneurs across East and Central Africa to grow thriving businesses and build inclusive, resilient economies.

Founded in 2012, Inkomoko has worked with more than 100,000 entrepreneurs, including thousands of refugee entrepreneurs. Inkomoko provides a combination of training, consulting, access to finance, and market-level systems change. We are the largest investor to refugee entrepreneurs in Africa.

Inkomoko has 750+ staff in 40 offices across Chad, Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, and South Sudan. Through Inkomoko’s 2030 strategic plan, we are adding 3 additional countries to serve more than 550,000 entrepreneurs and growing our $30M loan fund to impact 7M lives.

INKOMOKO VALUES

All staff at Inkomoko are connected to a shared set of organizational values:

• Purpose: be solutions-oriented, produce high-quality work, and be a global leader.
• Achievement: push yourself to reach beyond what you previously thought possible.
• Improvement: be humble, engage in continuous growth through open & accurate feedback
• Bravery: willing to take risks, create a safe space for others, be compassionate, and inclusive.
• We Eat Goat: we celebrate success and support each other in hard times. We do this work together in the spirit of turikumwe, tuko pamoja, abren nen, Kula na sawa, On est ensemble.

Inkomoko is an affirmative action/equal opportunity employer. Refugees, women, and persons who reflect the diverse communities we serve are strongly encouraged to apply.

ABOUT THE OPPORTUNITY & RESPONSIBILITIES

The Senior Market Systems Development (MSD) Associate will play critical role in the design and implementation of inclusive market systems interventions that promote economic resilience, sustainable enterprise growth, and social cohesion among refugees, internally displaced persons (IDPs), and host communities. The role will translate research findings and market assessments into practical MSD strategies and implementation frameworks aligned with systemic change and facilitation principles. Operating in fragile and displacement-affected contexts, the Senior MSD Associate must demonstrate strong technical expertise in market systems, private sector engagement, and adaptive program management. Working across diverse

stakeholders-including private sector actors, financial institutions, community structures, government entities, humanitarian and development partners-the Senior MSD Associate will strengthen market access, crowd in sustainable service/product providers, and contribute to building resilient local market ecosystems that support micro and small entrepreneurs.

Context Analysis, Diagnostics and Strategy (10% of Time)

• Lead rigorous, market systems diagnostics and value chain assessments across various sectors including livestock, renewable energy, finance, logistics, agriculture, textiles, FMCG, and light manufacturing to identify systemic constraints, incentive structures, risks, and leverage points for inclusive and sustainable market change.
• Map and engage diverse market actors—including producers, buyers, service providers, financial institutions, and policy influencers—to strengthen core and supporting market functions and promote resilient, well-functioning market linkage systems.
• Assess market system resilience and identify strategic entry points to stimulate job creation, enterprise growth, and crowding-in of high-potential businesses capable of scaling inclusive practices.
• Organize and facilitate market assessment validation and strategic planning workshops with key stakeholders to ensure locally grounded, system-informed intervention design.
• Continuously analyze evolving market dynamics and refine sector strategies to support enterprise growth, job creation, and long-term economic resilience in thin and displacement-affected markets.

Intervention Design and implementation (30% of the time)

• Co-design and facilitate catalytic, market-driven interventions that address systemic constraints and the root causes of market underperformance, reinforcing existing market functions and incentivizing local actors to lead and sustain change.
• Develop concept notes, business models, and intervention frameworks that integrate conflict- sensitive approaches, promote social cohesion, and foster trust among refugees, IDPs, and host communities.
• Identify, assess, onboard, and manage relevant private and public sector actors and partners to implement interventions that deliver sustainable, inclusive, and scalable outcomes.
• Facilitate inclusive business models and market linkages that create value for marginalized populations, including women, youth, and displaced communities, ensuring interventions are anchored in market incentives rather than direct service delivery.
• Promote access to finance, business development services, improved technologies, and practices that strengthen the competitiveness of small and medium enterprises within the target communities.
• Apply adaptive management principles to adjust interventions based on ongoing market analysis, stakeholder feedback, and learning to ensure relevance and effectiveness.
• Integrate community engagement, gender sensitivity, and capacity-building approaches into all interventions to strengthen local ownership and sustainability.
• Continuously identify opportunities for innovation and collaborative problem-solving across program teams to enhance implementation quality and systemic impact.

Stakeholder Engagement & Partnerships (25% of Time)

• Build and maintain strong, trust-based relationships with a wide range of stakeholders, including private sector actors, producer organizations, government entities, humanitarian and development partners, and community structures in refugee, IDP, and host community contexts.
• Facilitate co-creation of market-driven interventions and business models with partners that address systemic constraints, strengthen market linkages, and promote inclusive economic opportunities.
• Identify, engage, and nurture high-potential enterprises, start-ups, and SMEs to co-develop pathways for scaling inclusive practices, ensuring interventions are sustainable and aligned with market incentives rather than direct service delivery.
• Develop and formalize MoUs, grant agreements, or technical assistance arrangements with partners, ensuring alignment with negotiated terms and organizational objectives.
• Coordinate proactively with other organizations and sector actors to ensure complementarity, avoid duplication, and strengthen resilience and recovery in local market systems.
• Organize and facilitate participatory workshops, trade forums, exhibitions, or other stakeholder events to foster collaboration, knowledge exchange, and community ownership of MSD interventions.
• Manage ongoing partnerships by providing technical guidance, tracking performance, and supporting adaptive approaches to address systemic challenges and emerging opportunities.
• Maintain and continuously update a database of ecosystem actors, partners, and enterprises to identify opportunities for co-creation, scaling, and systemic impact.
• Represent the organization with professionalism and tact in all interactions with stakeholders, advocating for policies and practices that support inclusive market recovery and resilient economic systems.

M&E, Reporting and Adoptive management (10 % of the time)

• In collaboration with the MEAL team, lead the design and implementation of robust M&E frameworks to track the performance and impact of MSD interventions on market systems, enterprise growth, inclusion of marginalized populations, and economic resilience.
• Develop and maintain intervention-specific results chains, systemic change frameworks, and key indicators that link program activities to outputs, outcomes, and intended market system shifts.
• Oversee the use of technology-enabled tools and data management systems to systematically collect, record, and analyze information on entrepreneurs, market actors, and ecosystem dynamics, ensuring high standards of data quality, consistency, and security.
• Prepare periodic work plans and progress reports that clearly highlight key achievements, challenges, and lessons learned from MSD interventions.
• Ensure all reporting emphasizes systemic change, inclusion, and market actor engagement rather than only outputs or service delivery.
• Use M&E insights to guide real-time decision-making, refine interventions, and identify opportunities to scale inclusive practices and crowd-in market actors in dynamic and complex displacement- affected contexts.
• Facilitate regular reflection, pause-and-learn sessions, and knowledge-sharing workshops with program teams, partners, and stakeholders to interpret findings, adapt strategies, and improve program effectiveness.
• Document and disseminate best practices, learning briefs, concept notes, and success stories internally and externally to inform adaptive management, policy advocacy, and broader MSD practice.
• Stay abreast of emerging trends, tools, and best practices in market systems development, contributing to Inkomoko’s knowledge base and capacity-building initiatives.

Capacity Building (20%)

• Provide technical guidance, mentorship, and training to internal staffs, partners, community-based organizations, and local stakeholders on MSD principles and inclusive market facilitation.
• Develop and deliver practical learning materials and workshops on topics such as enterprise development, financial literacy, market analysis, and inclusive business models tailored to refugees, IDPs, and host communities.

Management & Administration (5% of the time )

• Contribute to the development of annual objectives, strategies, and work plans for BGS, ensuring alignment with organizational priorities and MSD principles.
• Lead administrative planning for intervention roll-out, including budgeting, procurement requests, and compliance with internal financial and operational procedures.
• Manage project resources effectively, ensuring responsible use of funds, timely reporting on expenditures, and adherence to donor and organizational guidelines.
• Maintain accurate and up-to-date documentation of project activities, partner communications, contracts, and operational tools in line with data management standards.
• Supervise or coordinate with support staff (e.g., finance, admin, logistics) to ensure seamless implementation of field activities and operational support across locations.
• Participate in internal coordination meetings, contribute to reporting cycles, and provide updates on progress, risks, and administrative needs
• Perform other duties as assigned by the Line manager.

Requirements

Competencies

We are looking for candidates who have previously held Market Systems and project management roles ,access to finance interventions ,with demonstrated success, and who align with our company values.

• 5+ years of demonstrated success in program management of complex projects, Market systems programs.
• Master’s degree preferred, or Bachelor’s degree in Project Management, Business administration, value chain management or related field
• Experience with designing and implementing projects with a market-systems approach and/or to create market linkages in Ethiopia.
• Experience working with micro and small businesses as well as overall market dynamics, financial markets and Financial inclusion
• Has a sound of understanding of challenges refugees and the local community face with regards to business growth.
• Knowledge of the relevant market systems including key actors, information service providers, employers of different scale, micro-finance institutions (MFIs), banks, Insurance’s providers, inputs suppliers, producers, traders, intermediary and terminal markets governance frameworks (formal and informal); and all support markets and functions and experiences in supporting livestock/crop production.
• Highly analytical and organize
• Excellent creative and innovative thinking skills
• Excellent communication, organizational and prioritization skills and the ability to multi-task and support and/or fill multiple positions at one time. 
• Demonstrated attention to detail and ability to follow procedures, meet deadlines and work both independently and cooperatively with team members.

Technical Skills:

• Strong understanding of MSD principles and frameworks.
• Experience in market analysis, intervention design, and implementation.
• Strong understanding of value chain development, access to finance, and business development services.
• Proficiency in MEL methodologies.
• Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Strong communication and presentation skills (written and verbal).

Other Skills:

• Ability to work effectively in challenging and insecure environments.
• Strong interpersonal and cross-cultural communication skills.
• Fluent in English and Amharic
• Demonstrated ability to build trust and rapport with diverse stakeholders.
• Strong negotiation and mediation skills.

Benefits

This role is inside a high-growth, mission-driven social enterprise. By joining, you’ll access:

• Meaningful work that directly contributes to sustainable livelihoods and job creation across East and Central Africa.
• Competitive salary, and potential Performance-based bonus
• Incredible company culture, with opportunities for learning and growth
• Diverse colleagues across the region, and policies that demonstrate commitment to equity and inclusion
• A dynamic and entrepreneurial team environment committed to innovation and social impact
• Health insurance for self and family
• Staff savings and provident fund, negotiated bank rates for long-term employees
• Generous annual leave, parental leave, and sabbatical options.

TO APPLY

If you’re excited about this role, please submit your CV, and tell us why you are the right fit for this opportunity.

Inkomoko is committed to justice, diversity, equity and inclusion. As we seek to reflect the communities we serve, refugees and women are strongly encouraged to apply. As a company we have policies that ensure fair treatment in the application process.

NB: Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. Employment is conditional upon successful background checks and other verification as needed.

All offers of employment will be subject to satisfactory references and background screening checks. Inkomoko also participates in the Inter Agency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme, In line with this Scheme, we will request information from job applicants’ previous employers about any findings of sexual misconduct, fraud, or abuse. By applying, the job applicant confirms his/her understanding of these recruitment procedures.