Market Systems Development - MEL & Adaptive Learning Consultant - Capacity Strengthening Support

About the Position

Market Systems Development - MEL & Adaptive Learning Consultant - Capacity Strengthening Support

Mercy Corps is a leading global humanitarian and development organization working with communities in the frontlines of conflict and climate change. We partner locally and globally to help people cope in the midst of crisis, adapt to a changing world, and thrive into the future. In 2025, we reached more than 36 million people with urgent aid and long-term solutions.

Enhancing resilience is at the heart of what Mercy Corps does and how we work. We strengthen sources of resilience to enhance the capacities of people, markets, and institutions to handle shocks, reduce risk, build more equitable and responsive systems, and improve well-being. Through our programs, partnerships, and influence, we support communities to cope, adapt, and ultimately thrive.

Since the escalation of the war in Ukraine in 2022, Mercy Corps has supported more than 1.2 million conflict-affected people in Ukraine and neighboring countries. We have provided humanitarian assistance for people in emergency situations and supported war-affected micro, small, and medium businesses, including farmers and agribusinesses, to recover their business activities. Increasingly, Mercy Corps is implementing Market Systems Development (MSD) approaches in Ukraine, seeking systemic solutions that build resilient, inclusive, and sustainable economic opportunities for conflict-affected populations. Notably, nearly all our programming is delivered in partnership with civil society organizations - integrating program delivery, mutual growth, and experience exchange with a genuine commitment to localization.

Mercy Corps Ukraine is investing in strengthening internal team capacity on MSD programmatic and MSD Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) to enable more effective design, implementation, measurement, and adaptation of MSD programming across the portfolio. This includes building the team’s ability to plan and implement MSD interventions, monitor and measure outcomes and impact, demonstrate Value for Money (VfM), and continuously learn and adapt programming. To support this effort, Mercy Corps is engaging two complementary consultants: one focusing on MSD MEL and adaptive learning (this Scope of Work), and the other on broader MSD technical capacity strengthening (separate Scope of Work). The consultancies are designed to be closely coordinated and mutually reinforcing.

Responsibilities

The MSD MEL & Adaptive Learning Consultant will provide tailored technical assistance to strengthen the team’s Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) capacity in support of MSD interventions. Through a combination of practical learning sessions, coaching, and advisory support, the consultant will help the MEL and program team apply MSD-oriented approaches to results measurement, learning, adaptive management, and intervention validation.

• Conduct MSD MEL Capacity Assessment and Develop Capacity Strengthening Plan
• Deliver Practical Learning Session(s) on Foundations of MSD MEL
• Provide coaching and mentoring (individual and small group) tailored to identified gaps
• Ensure capacity strengthening is contextualized across the portfolio
• Provide ongoing technical advisory and operational support
• Support development and refinement of practical deliverables
• Guide creation of an internal MSD MEL Toolkit

Requirements

• Advanced degree in Monitoring & Evaluation, Economics, Business Administration, International Development, Social Sciences, or a related field.
• Minimum 7 years of experience in MEL, adaptive management, and learning systems for development programs.
• Demonstrated experience with Market Systems Development (MSD), private sector engagement, economic development, financial inclusion, or livelihoods programming.
• Proven expertise in MSD results measurement, including results chains, learning agendas, intervention validation, adaptive management, and partner performance monitoring, applying the DCED standard.
• Experience designing and facilitating capacity strengthening initiatives, including training, coaching, and mentoring of MEL and program teams.
• Strong ability to translate technical MSD and MEL concepts into practical tools, templates, and guidance for program implementation.
• Experience developing MEL frameworks, monitoring tools, learning products, and knowledge management resources.
• Excellent facilitation, communication, analytical, and report-writing skills.

We Offer

• Opportunity to work with a leading global humanitarian and development organization.
• Collaborative and inclusive work environment.
• Professional growth and development opportunities.

About the Company

Mercy Corps is a leading global humanitarian and development organization working with communities in the frontlines of conflict and climate change. We partner locally and globally to help people cope in the midst of crisis, adapt to a changing world, and thrive into the future. In 2025, we reached more than 36 million people with urgent aid and long-term solutions.

We are committed to enriching our organization with people of different origins, beliefs, backgrounds, and ways of thinking. We strive for a culture of trust and respect, where everyone contributes their perspectives and authentic selves, reaches their potential as individuals and teams, and collaborates to do the best work of their lives.

We recognize that diversity and inclusion is a journey, and we are committed to learning, listening, and evolving to become more diverse, equitable, and inclusive than we are today.