Market Systems Development Advisor

About the Position

Market Systems Development Advisor

Contract Length: 1 year

Base: Remote/HQ (Prague, Czech Republic)

Starting date: Upon agreement

Line Manager: Climate Resilience Strategy Lead

People in Need (PIN) is a Czech-based international non-governmental organization (NGO) that has provided humanitarian and development assistance across more than 20 countries since 1992. Today, PIN stands as one of the largest organizations of its kind in Central and Eastern Europe, supporting vulnerable communities in Asia, Africa, the Middle East, and Eastern Europe. PIN empowers civil society, advocates for human rights, and promotes social inclusion both at home and abroad.

The Market Systems Development Advisor will lead the technical quality, strategic direction, and practical application of People in Need’s market systems development and private sector engagement across its interventions.

The role will support country programs in designing and implementing market-based interventions that improve incomes, employment, resilience, access to essential services, and inclusive economic opportunities for poor and crisis-affected populations. A core focus of the role is to help programs move beyond conventional livelihoods programming towards commercially viable, climate-resilient, and investment-ready market systems.

The Advisor will provide technical leadership on private sector engagement, investment mobilization, financial inclusion, smart subsidy and risk-sharing mechanisms, value chain development, inclusive business models, and climate-resilient market systems.

The MSD Advisor is part of the Climate Resilience team within PIN Program, Strategy, and Impact (PSI) Unit, a dynamic team of technical advisors and specialists, focusing on high-quality program development.

Responsibilities

• Strengthen the quality and scale of PIN’s market systems development programs including design, implementation, evaluation, donor engagement, and knowledge management.
• Support country teams to identify, assess, and structure partnerships with private companies, financial institutions, investors, cooperatives, service providers, and other market actors to ensure program sustainability and develop innovative financing models.
• Lead technical support on financial inclusion strategies for farmers, MSMEs, informal businesses, women-led enterprises, and other underserved groups.
• Design large-scale market systems development programs incorporating components of investment finance, engaging national and international private sector and financial institutions, for donors including the European Commission and the Green Climate Fund.
• Support donor engagement and represent PIN in relevant fora presenting best practices, lessons learned, and developing partnerships.
• Build internal capacities through mentoring, training, webinars, and ensure knowledge management by developing relevant guidance and tools.
• Contribute to the priorities and annual plans of the Program, Strategy, and Impact department and relevant technical teams and coordinate with other advisors.

Requirements

• Significant experience designing and implementing market systems development, private sector development, or inclusive economic growth programs in LMIC countries.
• Strong understanding of private sector engagement in fragile, conflict-affected, or low-income contexts.
• Proven ability to identify market constraints and design practical interventions that improve how systems work for poor and excluded groups.
• Experience working with private companies, financial institutions, investors, cooperatives, service providers, government actors, and development partners.
• Strong understanding of investment mobilization, blended finance, co-investment models, smart subsidies, and risk-sharing mechanisms.
• Experience designing financial inclusion strategies for farmers, MSMEs, women, youth, or informal businesses.
• Good understanding of climate resilience, green growth, climate finance, and emerging carbon credit opportunities.
• Experience leading large program design processes for donor-funded programs, engaging national and/or international private sector, and working with investment models.
• Ability to assess commercial viability, partner incentives, business models, and risks.
• Strong facilitation, mentoring, training, and advisory skills.
• Excellent analytical, writing, and communication skills.

We Offer

• Working environment in a well-established humanitarian organization in a challenging context.
• Salary according to the PIN salary scale and local cost of living depending on your location.
• Time off and Rest: 25 days of holiday annually; 3 sick days and 3 study leave days; relatively flexible working hours and remote work options available based on role and agreement.
• Equipment and Workspace: Laptop provided for both professional and personal use, with flexible office arrangements, including a pleasant and collaborative workspace in the center of Prague for those based there.
• When traveling abroad: Reimbursement of travel expenses such as flights, visas, and vaccinations; assistance with the visa application procedure; Travel health insurance covering medical care, including repatriation; 24/7 Medical Support available online; Free psychological consultations available online; Subsistence allowance (per diems) according to PIN internal ordinance when traveling to PIN Country Programmes or HQ.
• Professional Development: Free access to e-learning platforms and PIN Learning Hub; PIN’s global Induction Training; tailored capacity-building opportunities; Hostile Environment Awareness Training (HEAT) Humentum trainings (www.humentum.org), PuntoSud trainings (https://academy.puntosud.org/courses); Internal webinars support continuous growth and personal improvement.
• Cultural and Social Opportunities: Opportunity to participate in events organized by PIN, including the One World International Film Festival, knowledge-sharing sessions, and retreats; Additional benefits for Prague-based colleagues like the Multisport card (for access to numerous sports facilities - paid by employee), and in-house kindergarten.

How to Apply

If you are interested in this position, send us your CV and short cover letter via our application form.

Please note only the shortlisted candidates will be contacted. Interviews will be conducted on a rolling basis and the vacancy will be closed when filled.

People in Need is committed to preventing any type of unwanted behavior at work including sexual harassment, exploitation and abuse, lack of integrity, and financial misconduct and committed to promoting the welfare of children and adults with whom People in Need involves. People in Need expects all staff to perform job duties and responsibilities in accordance with People in Need code of conduct and key policies (available at: https://www.peopleinneed.net/key-policies-4142gp). People in Need Staff will undertake the appropriate level of training.

All offers of employment will be subject to satisfactory references and appropriate screening checks, which can include criminal records and terrorism finance checks.

We are committed to ensuring diversity and gender equality within our organization and encourage applicants from diverse backgrounds to apply.