Market Systems Development - Technical Capacity Strengthening Consultant

Objective

The objective of this consultancy is to build on Mercy Corps Ukraine’s previous investments in Market Systems Development (MSD) capacity strengthening and support the program team in advancing to the next level of MSD practice. Through a combination of tailored mentorship, technical guidance, strategic advisory support, and practical application of MSD approaches within ongoing MSD initiatives, the consultancy will help institutionalize MSD thinking and strengthen the organization’s ability to design, implement, adapt, and manage a portfolio of market-based interventions.

Consultant Objectives

• Build on existing MSD knowledge and experience within Mercy Corps Ukraine to strengthen the practical application of MSD principles and facilitation approaches.
• Collaborate with the MC Ukraine leadership to strengthen their ability to manage an MSD portfolio.
• Build individual and team competencies in market systems analysis, intervention design, partnership development, and adaptive management.
• Provide mentorship based on identified system and capacity gaps and learning needs.
• Support program teams in applying MSD concepts and tools to real MSD interventions through a learning-by-doing approach.
• Strengthen the quality, sustainability, and scalability of ongoing MSD initiatives.
• Work in coordination with the MSD MEL & Adaptive Learning Consultant to ensure alignment between technical implementation, learning, adaptation, and results measurement.

Activities of the Consultant

• Portfolio Review and Capacity Needs Assessment:
• Conduct a participatory review of the MSD portfolio, through a review of existing program processes, tools, and ways of working.
• Review existing strategic focus areas and intervention strategies.
• Consultations with program teams, MEL staff, and leadership.
• Identify portfolio-level gaps, opportunities, and priorities for strengthening systemic impact.
• Assess individual and team capacity gaps in core MSD competencies, with a strong focus on practical application.
• Develop a prioritized, practical capacity strengthening and mentorship plan, including: Learning priorities (individual and group); Coaching and mentorship approach.
• Tailored Coaching and Mentorship (Individual and Team):
• Provide ongoing coaching and mentorship to program staff and leadership, including: Application of MSD concepts to current MSD interventions; Troubleshooting implementation challenges; Strengthening decision-making and facilitation approaches; MSD leadership coaching, including: Portfolio management and strategic prioritization; Donor engagement and communication (in coordination with MEL consultant).
• Technical Advisory Support to Interventions and Portfolio Strategy:
• Conduct a technical review of and provide hands-on advisory support to priority (pilot) interventions, including: Strengthening intervention logic and assumptions; Supporting deeper market systems analysis; Advising on partnership models and facilitation strategies; Recommending adaptations based on emerging evidence and market responses.
• Support teams to strengthen adaptive management practices, including: Use of reflection and review processes; Integration of learning and evidence into decision-making.
• Collaborate closely with the MSD MEL Consultant to ensure alignment between technical implementation and learning systems.
• Provide portfolio-level strategic guidance, including: Identifying priority areas for strengthening MSD practice, particularly across the portfolio; Identifying gaps, overlaps, and opportunities for greater systemic impact; Supporting prioritization and strategic decision-making; Assessing coherence and relevance of the intervention portfolio; Recommending improvements to processes, ways of working, and management tools used.

Deliverables

• MSD Portfolio Review and Capacity Strengthening Plan:
• Review of program portfolio and MSD interventions and recommendations for management;
• Assessment of existing MSD capacities and practices, strengths, and gaps at individual and team levels;
• Capacity strengthening plan outlining: Existing strengths and areas for development; Group and individual learning priorities; Proposed learning and coaching approach; Proposed workplan and engagement schedule, including learning sessions and coaching/mentoring support; Recommendations for continued capacity strengthening beyond the assignment.
• Tailored Coaching and Mentoring for Key Staff:
• Ongoing coaching and mentoring to key staff and leadership throughout the assignment, documented through: Summary of coaching/mentoring sessions and key recommendations for continued staff development;
• Advisory inputs to priority interventions (as needed);
• Agreed follow-up actions with teams and leadership.
• Technical Assistance:
• Technical review of MSD pilot interventions with recommendations on: Market systems analysis; Intervention logic and design; Market actor incentives; Partnership approaches; Facilitation strategies; Assumption testing and intervention adaptation.
• Specific technical inputs to program teams on intervention design, market analysis, partnership approaches, as specific tools/processes co-developed with teams.
• Recommendations and suggested approaches to strengthen adaptive management practices, developed in collaboration with the MSD MEL & Adaptive Learning Consultant.
• Recommendations on the improvement of program management processes, ways of working, and implementation tools, as needed, and provide recommendations for strengthening MSD practice within program operations.

Timeframe / Schedule

The consultancy is estimated to span up to 31 working days, concluding no later than 31 March 2027.

Reporting

The Consultant will report to: The Consultant will report to the Economic Recovery Advisor.

Collaboration

The Consultant will work closely with: The Consultant will work closely with Mercy Corps Ukraine’s program leadership, program teams, and the MEL team to provide targeted mentorship and technical support for MSD pilot implementation. The Consultant will also collaborate closely with the MSD MEL & Adaptive Learning Consultant to ensure alignment between technical implementation, adaptive management, learning, and results measurement.