The International Rescue Committee (IRC) responds to the world’s worst humanitarian crises and helps people whose lives and livelihoods are shattered by conflict and disaster to survive, recover, and gain control of their lives. The IRC works with people forced to flee from war, conflict and disaster and the host communities which support them, as well as those who remain within their homes and communities. We began work in Ethiopia since 2000 and currently implementing emergency and development programs in health, water and sanitation, economic recovery and development (ERD), women’s protection and empowerment, education, child protection, and multi-sectoral emergency response. 

The IRC has a focus on narrowing the gender gap in humanitarian aid and ensuring that we contribute to gender equality, diversity, and inclusion in both our programs and operations by working to establish a context where our clients (including those from minority groups) enjoy the same rights and opportunities as well as an equal access to services. The IRC also has a strong commitment to creating an equitable and inclusive culture, where safeguarding is upheld in our workplace and programs. We are determined to protect our clients and staff from safeguarding violations through prevention and, where misconduct is alleged, to address it without fear or favor.

 ERD and WASH Programming: 

IRC’s WASH and ERD program are tailored to various vulnerable groups’ needs, delivered in partnership with both public and private sectors[1] with a goal of strengthening inclusive livelihoods systems and build resilience and economic growth opportunities and increasing inclusive and sustainable access to WASH services and NFIs. To this end, IRC designs comprehensive interventions supporting vulnerable refugees and Ethiopian communities. ERD focuses on meeting basic needs, ensuring food security, and fostering skill development for income generation in pursuit of self-sufficiency, individual and community resilience, and  inclusive economic development. IRC adopts a partner-cash-first approach, working with local private and public partners, and provides cash for meeting emergency needs, and subsequently supporting clients towards livelihood recovery, developing resilient and sustainable livelihoods. IRC provides entrepreneurship and life skills, mentorship and coaching, and financial education support, and facilitates access to business start-ups, particularly for women and youth. 

 Background 

To inform IRC Ethiopia’s private sector partnership  strategy and enable tailoring programmes to the needs of clients and private sector partners, IRC Ethiopia is seeking the expertise of a private sector engagement (PSE) specialist to work with and build capacity of IRC’s ERD/WASH staff on foundational understanding, design, and planning WASH and livelihoods interventions with private sector actors, focused on integrated WASH , solid waste management, camp based water supply and provision of WASH NFIs via local markets and private sectors –(WASH), and youth and women’s economic empowerment and gainful employment, financial inclusion, climate resilience,  and value chain and market systems development –(ERD) programming. 

 Scope of Work 

The PSE Specialist will build the ERD/WASH teams’ capacity on PSE skills and engage the team to develop a PSE strategy. Specifically, the PSE Specialist will support the ERD/WASH team, senior management, and relevant country programs to: 1) Review the WASH/ERD CP strategy- support ERD and WASH teams identify viable opportunities and strengthen private sector engagement strategies     2) Facilitate a WASH/ERD program led-sector selection exercise to affirm strategic thematic focused market sectors  that offer opportunity for inclusive economic growth and poverty reduction for our clients  3) Map, identify and engage strategic and potential local, national, regional, and multinational private sector companies to engage with in delivering IRC programs and services.  4) Facilitate preliminary business case studies, modeling and co-design with the selected private sectors, IRC and its partners 5) identify and assess funding opportunities co-designed with private sectors and prioritize critical donor engagements in those spaces; 6) Guide Ethiopia country program team to co-design and co-develop market-led solutions to WASH and ERD services delivery and identify and guide appropriate partnerships with private sector players and coaching on tactics to conduct respective needs and business modeling data around identified opportunities; 7) Facilitate development of a clear CP PSE strategy kneading in all the outputs above and in collaboration with the WASH and ERD Technical Advisor to guide engagement of private sector actors at local, national, and global levels, 8)

 Mentor CP staff to co-design interventions through a market systems development lens; 9) undertake final validation workshop on the private sector engagement strategy.

The PSE Specialist will execute these assignments in country, with frequent travel to relevant various field locations in Ethiopia to support key field-based personals through in person trainings and coaching and or engage local private sectors.

Geographic scope of work: the private sector specialist will primely work in the following geographic areas and other additional locations that may be added during the assignment. 

• Oromia ( Eastern Hararghe , and Adama and Modjo)

• Addis Ababa

• Tigray (western Tigray)

• Hawassa

• Assosa - Benishangul Gumus Region

Methodology/Process:

The PSE Specialist will consult and adapt the IRC Private Sector Engagement Analysis and Strategy guidance, and in line with the IRCs Partnership Excellence for Equality and Results System (PEERS) handbook, both of which will be provided at the start of the assignment. 

Deliverables:

• A comprehensive private sector opportunity assessment report – developed from specific objectives and activities 1 – 3 above 

•  List and profile of sector specific local, national, regional, and or multinational potential privates sector partners to engage 

• Sector specific succinct business cases and scenarios to facilitate subsequent PSE and co-design discussions

• Co-design summary notes/reports, materials and business models for donor pitching and engagement 

• List and profile of potential donors and fundraising opportunities for facilitation, engagement  monitoring, including through donor pitch meeting/ meeting notes/reports. 

• Drafted relevant technical documents to support co-design, and for inclusion into the MEAL frameworks and systems

• Capacity needs assessments, and staff capacity building plan, training, and mentorship notes 

And final an IRC Ethiopia PSE Strategy document comprised of all the above resources and including key priority sectors and the opportunities they offer, strategic private sectors to partner with key aligned objectives and business models, strategic donors to engage and monitor, co-design tools adapted to the CP context. And summary partnership project ideas  for IRCs existing programming and/or future business development

 Safeguarding Responsibilities: - 

• Promote and actively participate in initiatives and efforts to build team engagement, inclusion and cohesion in IRC.

• Foster ongoing learning, honest dialogue and reflection to strengthen safeguarding and to promote IRC values and adherence to IRC policies. 

Assignment Duration: - 

• The expected duration of the assignment is 90 days.  

Task Requirements and Qualification:

• Experience working with private sector institutions nationally and or internationally. Knowledge and interest in public-private relations is required. 

• Experience in international economic development 

• Experience in WASH and Integrated Climate Resilience and Sustainable Livelihoods (ICRSL) Development programming 

• Strong collaboration skills and experience especially with national and international staff and offices

• Strong English Communication (written and spoken) ability to communicate across related technical disciplines 

• High degree of proven organizational and project management skills required, and experience working on multistakeholder projects

• Excellent Facilitation and communication skills required.  

Point of Contact: 

• Reporting to the Director of Programs (DDP), the PSE Specialist will directly with the ERD, WASH and Senior Grants Coordinators. The PSE Specialist will technically consult with the ERD/WASH Regional Technical Advisors.  

How To Apply

Candidates meeting the above qualifications are encouraged to apply only through THIS LINK

 Please include 3 references from current and former employers.

 Applications will not be returned. IRC discourages phone calls or personal visits.

 Only applicants meeting the minimum qualification will be short listed and contacted.

 Female candidates are highly encouraged to apply.

 Your application letter/cover letter must include the following information.

• Name of the position you have applied for

• Date of application

• Summary of your qualifications and experience

• Motivation/objective of why you have applied for the job

• Permanent Address and present address (if different from permanent) and telephone number if possible also email address

• Disclose any family relationships with existing IRC employees.

 IRC is an equal employment opportunity employer. IRC considers all applicants on the basis of merit without regard to race, sex, color, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, age, marital status or disability.

 IRC strives to build a diverse and inclusive team at all levels who as individuals, and as a group, embody our culture statement creating a working environment characterized by critical reflection, power sharing, debate, and objectivity for us to achieve our aspirations as a team and deliver the best possible services to our clients.

Professional Standards: The IRC and IRC workers must adhere to the values and principles outlined in IRC Way - Standards for Professional Conduct. These are Integrity, Service, and Accountability. In accordance with these values, the IRC operates and enforces policies on Beneficiary Protection from Exploitation and Abuse, Child Safeguarding, Anti Workplace Harassment, Fiscal Integrity Anti-Retaliation and Combating Trafficking in Persons.

Gender Equality: IRC is committed to narrowing the gender gap in leadership positions. We offer benefits that provide an enabling environment for women to participate in our workforce including parental leave, gender-sensitive security protocols, and other supportive benefits and allowances.