Market System Development Advisor – JOA

As part of the CST Ethiopia Programme, CST Ethiopia has secured a grant from JOA for ‘Inclusive Dairy Development for Resilience’ Project. The overall objective of the project is to  improve economic well-being and sustainable dairy market systems in targeted high-potential-diary areas across urban, peri-urban and rural communities in high-dairy-potential areas of Oromia Regional State and Addis Ababa City Administration. It aims to integrate women’s empowerment and the promotion of the Jersey breed into the market for a more resilient and inclusive dairy market, contributing to long-term system change. The project has a particular emphasis on equipping women and youth to actively participate and be included in dairy market systems to capture greater and more sustained economic benefits. The project is going to be implemented in partnership with our local partner HUNDEE- Oromo Grassroots Development Initiatives starting  1st July 2026.

CST Ethiopia  is seeking to hire an MSD Advisor with relevant experiences on  dairy sector and on MSD approach and its application for providing technical support and accompaniment during the project  implementation period.

For the candidate with the required experience and passion for the role, CST Ethiopia offers a competitive package of salary and benefits.

Scope of Role

The Market System Developmnt Advisor reports to Resilient Communities Program Manager. The Market System Development Advisor  is an important role in the Ethiopia Country programme and works closely with the CST Programme team, Business Development & Compliance Advisor, MEAL-Advisor, Implementing Partner  and other stakeholders to:

1. Provide technical support on Market System Development/MSD approach to overall implementation of the JOA Inclusive Dairy Development for Resilience Project
2. Facilitate and build the capacity  of partner and CST staffs  on MSD approach
3. Ensure that the women’s empowerment theory of CST Ethiopia  is well integrated into the project and all activities at different level are well captured using the gender lense.

Key Duties & Responsibilities

 Provide technical support on MSD approach to JoA implementing partners

• In coordination with the Resilient Communities Program  Manager and  Business Development Manager ensure that the project is applying MSD approach as mentioned in the project proposal approved by JOA.
• Jointly responsible with partners for the effective implementation, monitoring, evaluation  and reporting on the project, in line with jointly agreed standards (programme cycle management) and JOA requirements.
• Ensure the implementaion of the project activities as per the outcomes, activities, budget and timeframe indicated in the JOA contract.
• Work in collaboration with partner Project Manager  to ensure the appropriate technical direction of the project and that the expertise and experiences of all Implementing partners can be brought to the project.
• Ensure timely technical support  or consultancy backstopping is provided where appropriate.
• Ensure the documentation of learning in a way that all stakeholders can engage with and use as a learning tool and that it is communicated to all stakeholders as appropriate.
• Realise CST Ethiopia’s principles by acting in line with CST’s partnership standards, and by promoting and supporting partners’ adherence to jointly agreed accountability, gender, safeguarding children, protection, supply chain management/procurement good practice, and other standards, as these emerge.
• Contribute, where appropriate and in agreement with partners, to advocacy and information work on MSD in support of partners efforts, with relevant stakeholders in the region and/or globally.
• Ensures that Partners have clear understanding of gender equality within their organization and the project on women empowerment approach.
• Facilitate and accompany partners during assessments , VC-analysis , and Business case Development.
• Facilitate different forums for dairy value chain actors to improve the overall supply chain in the sector

Build effective relationship and capacity of partners  

• Develop, nurture and manage relationships with CST Ethiopia’s partner organisations in line with the principles and standards set in our Partnership Policy, guidance and tools.
• Work with partners to regularly assess the quality of the relationship, ensuring that effective communication channels are in place, and that any shortcomings are addressed.
• In collaboration with  Resilient Communities Program Manager   identify capacity needs of partners and other relevant stakeholders  in the area of understanding and applying MSD Approaches and related topics.
• Provide training and accompaniment to partner staff to ensure effective project implemention.
• Supports and facilitates experience sharing forums and meetings on MSD approach ,capture and document  the learnings for further dissimination

Manage the Women Empowernement approaches

• In collaboration with the Women Empowerement Program Manager  and Resilient Communities Program Manager , conduct power analysis and based on the assessment finding, integrate activities to address the gap.
• In collaboration with the Women Empoweremnt Program Manager facilitate different trainings that are planned to be provided as per the  project proposal.
• Facilitate training and other activities based on the project plan to improve women participation and decision in market system approach

Monitoring & evaluation

• Ensure that monitoring visits to patern project are regular and support partners in their monitoring and in producing timely action plans on activities related to MSD deliverables.
• In collaboration with the Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning Advisor ,ensure the monitoring framework is functioning and updated when required.
• Support  the Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning Advisor to regularly gather information required for the progress reports, and annual project reports according to the JOA project contract specifications.
• Support the Resilient Communities Program Manager  during the compilation and submission of all narrative reports and other requested documents to JOA.
• In collaboration with the Resilient Communities Program Manager , ensure the maintenance of comprehensive records of the project, in compliance with CST-Ethiopia Programme systems and  JOA project contract specifications.
• Support the Resilient Communities Program Manager during the  commence of Baseline, Mid-Year, and Final Review of JOA project

Other

• Undertake any and all other duties as may be assigned by the Resilient Communities Program Manager  or Deputy country Director and head of programs ( DCD-HOP)  that are consistent with the nature of the job, its level of responsibility and requirements of the CST  Ethiopia country programme.
• Availability to work outside normal hours to meet deadlines and travel to project sites and within the region and outside when necessary and sometimes on short notice.

Requirements