About the Role
Inkomoko is seeking a Markets Systems Development (MSD) Associate for its Garissa office. The objective of this role is to implement the MSD strategy and frameworks for Market System activities to serve micro and small entrepreneurs in Kenya’s refugee-hosting Counties of Nairobi and Garissa. The successful candidate will fully operationalize program plans to meet the needs of Inkomoko, our clients, and partners.
Key Responsibilities
Program Management, Diagnostics and Implementation (25% of the time)
- Support rigorous market systems diagnostics and value chain assessments in priority sectors including livestock, solar energy, finance, logistics, agriculture, textiles, FMCG, and manufacturing to uncover systemic constraints, incentive structures, and leverage points for inclusive, sustainable change.
- Map and engage a diverse range of market actors including producers, buyers, service providers, and policy influencers to strengthen core and supporting market functions and foster well-functioning market linkage systems. Maintain a database of enterprises and identify those with high potential to crowd in and scale inclusive practices.
- Oversee the day-to-day coordination, implementation, and quality assurance of MSD activities in the locations. Monitor progress, manage risks, and ensure timely, results-driven delivery.
Intervention Design and Portfolio Management (20% of the time)
- Participate in the Co-design and facilitate catalytic, market-driven interventions that address systemic constraints and root causes of market underperformance. Interventions should be facilitative, reinforcing existing market functions and incentivizing local actors to lead and sustain change.
- Implement MSD initiatives as aligned with organizational objectives and complement programs with the client-facing Departments (Business Growth Services & Investment).
- Use adaptive management principles to adjust interventions based on ongoing market analysis, stakeholder feedback, and learning.
- Promote inclusive business models that create value for marginalized market actors, including refugees and host communities.
- Facilitate the crowding-in of market actors by demonstrating commercially viable solutions, ensuring interventions are scalable, cost-effective, and anchored in market incentives complementing Inkomoko direct service delivery.
Partnerships & External Relations (15% of the time)
- Facilitate and maintain strategic relationships with private sector actors to co-create and support inclusive market opportunities for clients.
- Support the implementation of market-facing activities, such as exhibitions, buyer-seller forums, and trade events, that enhance clients’ visibility and access to end markets.
- Engage proactively with start-ups and SMEs to identify systemic barriers to growth, co-develop pathways for upscaling.
- Cultivate a robust network of private sector firms, producer organizations, and relevant development partners particularly those engaged in agriculture, livestock, retail, and industrial productivity to foster collaboration and alignment across the market system.
- Actively participate in market linkage forums, sector platforms, and ecosystem convenings to remain informed of evolving market trends, influence stakeholder coordination and identify crowding-in opportunities to scale impact.
Market Linkage Activities (30% of the time)
- Design and execute market linkage services like buyer engagement, tender distributions, buyer and supplier connections, etc, to enable clients to expand their businesses.
- Work with consulting business advisors and Investment officers to identify clients suitable for market linkage opportunities.
- Provide recruitment and training support, as needed.
- Ensure market linkage initiatives, coordinating with business development and investment teams to identify high potential clients, and supporting them in accessing and utilizing market opportunities.
M&E and Adaptive Management (5% of the time)
- Lead the use of technology-enabled tools to systematically collect, record, and manage entrepreneur and market actor data to support evidence-based service delivery and adaptive programming.
- Monitor market actors’ behavior change using appropriate tools, such as the adoption of inclusive business models, investment in support services, and improved market relationships.
- Design and maintain intervention-specific results chains and systemic change frameworks, clearly articulating the linkages between program activities, outputs, outcomes, and intended market system shifts.
- Implement robust M&E frameworks designed, including both quantitative and qualitative indicators, to track changes in market systems, particularly in areas such as actor behavior, crowding-in, and inclusion of marginalized groups.
- Ensure high standards of data quality, consistency, and security across all interventions, supporting accurate analysis and real-time decision-making.
Management & Administration (5% of the time)
- Contribute to the development of location work plans for BGS, ensuring alignment with organizational priorities and MSD principles.
- 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.
- Coordinate with support staff (e.g., finance, admin, logistics) to ensure seamless implementation of field activities in their locations.
- Participate in internal coordination meetings, contribute to reporting cycles, and provide updates on progress.
Requirements and Qualifications
We are looking for candidates who have previously implemented Market linkages, Market Systems and private sector approaches with demonstrated success, and who align with our company values.
- At least 3 years of demonstrated success in implementation and successful delivery of Business Development Services (BDS) and market systems programs.
- Bachelor’s degree in Project Management, Business Administration, or Entrepreneurship. Training and hands-on experience on value chain and market systems is essential.
- Excellent team player with demonstrated leadership and interpersonal skills, with the ability to work across departments.
- Experience with designing and implementing projects with a market-systems approach and/or to create market linkages in Kenya.
- Experience working with micro and small businesses as well as overall market dynamics.
- Sound understanding of the challenges refugees and the local community face with regards to business growth.
- Highly analytical and organized.
- Excellent creative and innovative thinking skills.
- Fluency in English and Swahili is required, with fluency in the Somali language for this Garissa-based position.
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