The China/Africa Economic Development Partnerships Manager will lead the expansion and implementation of Mercy Corps’ partnership with the Made in Africa Initiative (MIAI). This includes building on Mercy Corps and MIAI’s existing MOU to better define and operationalize opportunities for creating employment in select African geographies through the promotion of economic activity, investment and trade between Africa and China/US/Europe. Liaising with Mercy Corps’ Global Partnerships team and regional leadership in East Africa, the Partnerships Manager will identify linkages between Mercy Corps’ existing market systems/resilience programming, China partnerships strategy, MIAI’s focus initiatives and DFID’s new Invest in Africa programme.

The Partnerships Manager will develop a practical long-term vision for Mercy Corps’ collaboration with MIAI, organizing activities to secure resources and align stakeholder interests. This will involve liaising with MIAI employees working with African governments, Western buyers, Chinese manufacturers and suppliers to address short-term political restrictions in relevant geographies, lack of infrastructure and perceived high risk for investors to create areas of policy clarity that facilitate increased FDI and supply chain development opportunities.

Pending funding, the Partnerships Manager will also provide project management support for two DFID-funded pilots in Uganda and Rwanda that Mercy Corps anticipates implementing in coordination with MIAI. These pilots will focus on developing national industrialisation strategies through facilitating FDI in key infrastructure, supporting Rwanda and Uganda’s political economies, and encouraging significantly greater private sector involvement in industrialisation.

•  Lead the expansion and implementation of Mercy Corps’ partnership with the Made in Africa Initiative

•  Develop a practical long-term vision for Mercy Corps’ collaboration with MIAI, organizing activities to secure resources and align stakeholder interests

•  Provide project management support for pending DFID-funded pilots in Uganda and Rwanda that Mercy Corps anticipates implementing in coordination with MIAI 

  • Build and manage a collaborative partnership with MIAI

  • Develop key relationships with DFID representatives related to Mercy Corps China partnerships strategy and collaborations with MIAI

  • Communicate regularly with Mercy Corps’ Deputy Regional Director in East Africa and the Market Systems Development Group to ensure alignment with existing priorities and feasibility of partnership initiatives

  • Lead global advocacy efforts with MIAI to raise awareness of the social and economic benefits of Chinese private sector actors engaging in targeted market strengthening activities in Africa.

  • Represent Mercy Corps’ China partnerships strategy with key private sector actors to gauge interest in collaborations and build relationships. 

Begin immediately through June and, pending funding, continue for another six months or more

Executive Director, Mercy Corps Europe and SVP Global Partnerships

Senior Officer, Global Partnerships; Director of Programmes and Strategic Institutional Partnerships; and the Deputy Regional Program Director, East and Southern Africa

•    An advanced degree in the field of development economics or related field;

•    Significant experience in analysing market systems, identifying opportunities, designing and implementing interventions to improve market systems’ productivity, competitiveness and inclusion;

•    Experience using major strategies relevant to market systems, including the Making Markets Work for the Poor (M4P) approach and DCED standards;

•    Clear and expert understanding of value chain and market system strengthening;

•    Proven ability to function effectively with multiple host country counterparts in private and public sectors in addition to a demonstrated capacity for working collegially with government, private sector and other partner organisations and managing effective partnership arrangements;

•    Significant experience working in relevant geographies Uganda/Ethiopia/Kenya/Tanzania/Rwanda;

•    Preference for candidate with knowledge of DFID regulations and requirements;

•    Practical experience working in and with the private sector and bringing an understanding of business incentives and ways of working is preferred.

•    Experience with Mercy Corps preferred.

•    Fluency in English required 

A successful China/Africa Economic Development Partnerships Manager will demonstrate a proven ability to combine a practical understanding of business incentives and ways of working with analysis of international and local market constraints and opportunities. He/She will show an ability to achieve results in high-stress environments and as a part of a team, possessing excellent relationship management and communication skills. The ideal candidate must have a proven track record of successful delivery and management of multiple and competing complex programs and initiatives in developing contexts.