Thematic Advisor “Sustainable Food Systems and Inclusive Market Systems Development”, 50-70%

HEKS/EPER is the aid organisation of the Swiss Protestant Churches and supports projects to combat hunger, poverty and injustice in 30 countries on four continents. HEKS/EPER also provides emergency relief for victims of disasters and conflict worldwide and supports the welfare and diaconal work of the Reformed Churches in Eastern Europe. In Switzerland, HEKS/EPER champions the rights and the integration of refugees and socially disadvantaged people. HEKS/EPER is a member of the ACT Alliance and CHS Alliance.

Are you passionate about market systems and inclusive business development to improve social justice, particularly in Africa and Eastern Europe? With a view to providing targeted and hands-on thematic support to HEKS/EPER staff and partners in its programme countries and at Headquarters, HEKS/EPER is looking to recruit an experienced candidate to take the topic to the next level.

Thematic Advisor “Sustainable Food Systems and Inclusive Market Systems Development”, 50-70%

Your responsibilities:

• Project and programme development support, including

  • Support country teams along the entire project and programme management cycle of initiatives related to market systems, food systems, inclusive business and value chain development, accompaniment of design, approval, implementation and monitoring of projects and initiatives.
  • Especially support initiatives at the intersection of land and natural resources governance and market systems development with specific focus on territorial markets, non-timber forest products, pastoralism, agroecology, humanitarian aid and market systems development and the economic inclusion and non-discrimination of vulnerable groups.
  • Support and / or conduct market systems analysis.
  • Based on needs conduct internal evaluations, reviews, and experience capitalisations.
  • Work in close collaboration with other thematic advisors and bring-in their knowhow to market-based interventions, e.g. related to gender, conflict sensitivity, climate change, human rights.

• Capacity building, knowledge management and networking, including

  • Support capacity building needs of Country Offices and partner organisation teams through designing and delivering tailored training courses (face to face and online).
  • Contribute to the further conceptual development of HEKS/EPER’s work related to inclusive market systems and inclusive business development.
  • Further development of existing working instruments and approaches.
  • Capitalisation and synthesis of experiences from HEKS/EPER projects and programmes as well as from research as part of an active knowledge management and knowledge transfer.
  • Foster learning and exchange of experiences between HEKS/EPER country programmes through comparison and feedbacks.
  • Organisation and collaboration for publications and events and represent HEKS/EPER in relevant networks and working groups.

• Support acquisition / fundraising related to the thematic area, including

  • Contribute to thought leadership and pre-positioning with donors, partners, and peers for future programming opportunities in the field of market systems / inclusive business development.
  • Identification of donors and funding opportunities through targeted donor mapping, opportunity screening and pro-active donor engagement.
  • Support / lead proposal development processes, incl. proposal writing as required in the thematic area of market systems development in collaboration with HEKS/EPER country teams and headquarter staff.

Your profile:

• University degree at master’s level in Rural Economy, Agro-economy, Food Systems, Rural Development or other related fields.
• Minimum 7-10 years of professional experience in an advisory role in the international development and/or humanitarian aid sector, including a minimum of 2 years field experience.
• Extensive knowledge of local and rural economic development systems and their analysis, particularly market systems development (MSD) and inclusion of vulnerable groups, inclusive business development, pro-poor growth in agricultural value chain development, private sector development, business and human rights, and entrepreneurship in the international development context.
• Extensive knowledge related to agroecology-based markets, to markets linked to natural resources governance, and insights in relevant thematic networks are strong assets.
• Demonstrated ability to provide hands-on and targeted support, guidance and training to internal and external stakeholders, great problem-solving skills and effective communicator, net- and team worker.
• Proven track record of successful acquisition of grants from bilateral and multilateral donors and/or international foundations related to the topic is a plus
• Language skills: Excellent written and oral English and solid French are mandatory; German, Spanish or Portuguese an asset.
• Readiness to travel including to remote areas and fragile contexts.

We offer:

• An opportunity to make a difference in this world
• An interesting and challenging position in a dynamic international context
• A competitive salary package, 5 weeks annual leave
• Modern working conditions, incl. flexible working hours and an attractive parental leave Policy
• Opportunities for continued professional development
• A dedicated and multi-disciplinary team
• Duty station: In one of our Country Offices (preferably in Africa) or at Headquarters in Zurich/Switzerland with disposition for longer working stays in the program regions