Private Sector Engagement Specialist

Posiiton: Private Sector Engagement Specialist
Location: Kathmandu, with frequent field travel
Position Status: Full-time

About Mercy Corps

Mercy Corps is a leading global organization powered by the belief that a better world is possible. In disaster, in hardship, in more than 40 countries around the world, we partner to put bold solutions into action – helping people triumph over adversity and build stronger communities from within. Now, and for the future. Mercy Corps has been operating in Nepal since 2005, implementing programs in food security, agriculture, market development, financial services, youth engagement, climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction. We take a systems-based approach in our programming, with the aim of improving the lives and potential of vulnerable individuals and communities across Nepal.

Program/Department Summary

The Zurich Climate Resilience Alliance (ZCRA) is an alliance of nine organizations including international NGOs, private sector, and academic organizations, who have come together with the support of the Zurich Foundation to drive better policy and practice to reduce the negative impact of floods on peoples’ and communities’ ability to thrive.

The Alliance is implementing a 12-year vision through 2025. The current phase (phase 3, 2024-2027) represents the first cycle of this long-term vision. Previously, the Alliance completed its first phase in 2018, and its second phase in December 2023 and third phase will run till Dec 2027. During this time, The Alliance works together to achieve 12-year vision by implementing solutions, promoting good practice, influencing policy and facilitating systemic change. In Nepal, the Alliance is comprised of Mercy Corps and Practical Action, working together on joint outcomes aiming at:

Building ex-ante resilience of communities at risk of flood and heat impacts across Nepal
Improving early warning and early action in advance of probable hazards
Enabling people who experience livelihoods losses due to floods and heat to recover quickly through compensation and/or insurance

General Position Summary

The Private Sector Engagement Specialist will provide strategic and technical leadership to map, design, pilot, institutionalize, and scale private sector engagement, climate-resilient enterprise development, and climate risk financing interventions under the Climate Resilient Communities (CRC) Programme. The expert will work closely with governments, business associations, financial institutions, insurance providers, private sector actors, and development partners to strengthen climate-resilient local economies and increase private sector investment in climate adaptation and disaster resilience.

As gender and social inclusion (GESI), governance and environmental compliance are cross-cutting and core components of all MC programs and is required to own these components to ensure GESI sensitivity and integration, governance practices and environmental compliance are integrated into the program activities.

Essential Job Responsibilities

The specific duties and responsibilities of the Private Sector Engagement Specialist include, but are not limited to, the following:

Strategy and Technical Leadership (20%)

• Lead the design and implementation of the programme’s private sector engagement strategy, aligned with CRC program.
• Provide technical guidance on climate-resilient enterprise development, Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), Public–Private Partnerships (PPP), blended finance, and climate risk financing to the program and partner’s team.
• Strengthen coordination mechanisms between governments, private sector actors, financial institutions, and development partners for climate resilience.
• Contribute to policy recommendations that strengthen enabling environments for climate investment, climate risk financing and resilient enterprise development.
• Identify strategic opportunities to integrate private sector engagement into local economic development, climate adaptation, disaster risk reduction, and resilience programming.
• Develop technical frameworks, operational guidelines, and implementation tools for enterprise resilience and private sector collaboration.
• Provide technical oversight to ensure interventions are evidence-based, gender-responsive, inclusive, and market-driven.

Climate-Resilient Enterprise Development (15%)

• Lead implementation of climate-resilient SME and value chain strengthening initiatives.
• Map and prioritize climate-resilient enterprises and value chains with high adaptation and livelihood potential.
• Develop and promote climate risk assessment tools, Business Continuity Planning (BCP) guidelines, and enterprise resilience training packages.
• Support SMEs to improve climate resilience, business continuity, productivity, market access, and competitiveness.
• Facilitate integration of enterprise resilience into municipal Local Economic Development (LED) plans and business support services.
• Strengthen collaboration and linkage with business development service providers, cooperatives, financial institutions, and market actors, enterprise network etc.
• Explore opportunities and create linkage between resilient enterprise and climate vulnerable communities for enhanced economic growth.

Private Sector Partnerships and Investment (15%)

• Map and engage private sector actors, investors, chambers of commerce, business associations, and industry networks.
• Engage with National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority and federal entities to lobby CRS for climate and disaster resilience.
• Identify CSR priorities and facilitate CSR partnerships supporting climate-resilient infrastructure, enterprise, livelihoods, and community resilience.
• Facilitate co-investment work between businesses, municipalities, and communities to pilot climate resilience initiatives
• Develop and facilitate strategic partnerships with FNCCI, CCI, FWEAN, financial institutions, and other private sector organizations.

Climate Risk Financing and Insurance (15%)

• Map and engage insurance companies to raise awareness among municipalities, SMEs, on insurance and climate risk transfer mechanisms.
• Lead technical work on climate risk transfer mechanisms, including insurance and innovative financial protection approaches.
• Coordinate with Nepal Insurance Authority, insurance companies, financial institutions, and Practical Action to pilot climate risk financing initiatives.
• Support development and testing of insurance products for climate-vulnerable SMEs, farmers, outdoor workers, and communities.
• Facilitate integration of climate risk financing into municipal disaster risk management and local economic development systems.
• Generate evidence and lessons to support policy dialogue and scale-up of climate risk financing mechanisms.

Advocacy, Influencing and Capacity Strengthening (10%)

• Design and deliver training programmes for SMEs, municipalities, communities, and CRC partner organizations on climate-resilient business practices, risk management, and sustainable enterprise development.
• Support the establishment of climate-resilient enterprise networks to facilitate peer learning, knowledge exchange, market linkages, and resilient business expansion.
• Lead advocacy and influencing initiatives to promote an enabling policy and regulatory environment for climate-resilient enterprises, private sector investment in resilience and disaster risk financing.
• Engage with federal, provincial, and local governments, private sector associations, chambers of commerce, financial institutions, and development partners to influence policies, strategies, and investment that support climate-resilient development.
• Advocate for increased private sector investment through Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), blended finance, and innovative financing mechanisms to strengthen community resilience.

Knowledge Management, Learning, and Innovation (10%)

• Document lessons learned, good practices, case studies, and innovative financing models.
• Support evidence generation to inform programme adaptation, policy dialogue, and scaling strategies.
• Facilitate cross-learning among municipalities, business associations, financial institutions, and programme partners.
• Contribute technical inputs to programme reports, knowledge products, donor reporting, and communication materials.

Coordination and Programme Management (10%)

• Coordinate implementation with CRC technical teams, ZCRA partners, Practical Action, government agencies, business associations, and financial institutions.
• Ensure quality implementation of activities, monitoring of progress, and timely delivery of outputs.
• Contribute to annual work planning, budgeting, monitoring, adaptive management, and reporting.
• Represent the programme in technical forums, private sector platforms, and coordination meetings related to climate-resilient enterprise, investment, and disaster risk financing.

OTHERS

• Conduct himself/herself both professionally and personally in such a manner as to bring credit to Mercy Corps and to not jeopardize its humanitarian mission.
• Mercy Corps as a humanitarian agency is expected to response as and when crisis and humanitarian situation engulfs. As an MC employee, all staff are expected to be part of humanitarian and emergency response in addition to their regular roles and responsibilities in such situations.
• Other duties as assigned by the Country Director.

SECURITY

• Ensure compliance with security procedures and policies as determined by country leadership.
• Proactively ensure that team members operate in a secure environment and are aware of policies.

ACCOUNTABILITY TO BENEFICIARIES

• Mercy Corps team members are expected to support all efforts toward accountability, specifically to our beneficiaries and to international standards guiding international relief and development work, while actively engaging beneficiary communities as equal partners in the design, monitoring, and evaluation of our field projects.
• Team members are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner and respect local laws, customs and MC’s policies, procedures, and values always and in all in-country venues.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITY: N/A

ACCOUNTABILITY

Reports Directly to: CRC Program Manager

Works Closely with: Province Coordinator(s), Implementing Partners, Mercy Corps’ cross functional departments, other programs, ZCRA Alliance III partners – Practical Action etc.

KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE

• Master’s degree in business administration, Economics, Finance, Enterprise Development, or a related field.
• At least 6 years of relevant professional experience in private sector engagement, enterprise development, market systems, disaster risk financing, climate resilience, economic development, or disaster risk management.
• Experience working with SMEs, business associations, financial institutions, government agencies, and development partners.
• Proven experience in developing and managing partnerships and mobilizing CSR and private sector in climate resilience.
• Experience in climate-resilient enterprise development, business continuity management, value chain strengthening, or local economic development.
• Experience in climate risk financing, insurance, or innovative financing mechanisms.
• Experience in policy advocacy, stakeholder engagement, and capacity strengthening.
• Experience managing donor-funded programmes and working with international NGOs or development organizations is desirable.
• Strong analytical, communication, facilitation, and report-writing skills.
• Excellent written and spoken English and Nepali.
• Commitment to gender equality, social inclusion, and environmental sustainability.
• Strong network with private sector, business associations, insurance companies etc.
• Accountability to Participants and Stakeholders
• Mercy Corps team members are expected to support all efforts toward accountability, specifically to our program participants, community partners, other stakeholders, and to international standards guiding international relief and development work. We are committed to actively engaging communities as equal partners in the design, monitoring and evaluation of our field projects.

Success Factors

A successful candidate will have the ability to live and work closely with a diverse team of individuals in a highly intense and fluid work and security environment with a capacity to spark innovative approaches to programming and inspire groups to collaborate closely to implement high-quality programs. They will have a proven ability to learn quickly, take initiative, and be accountable for results, with an ability and willingness to remain mobile for short-term and/or long-term as necessary within the region, based on programmatic needs. An ability to work independently and as part of a team, with curiosity about and sensitivity to new cultures, a desire and ability to learn and grow, both personally and professionally, and a great sense of humor.

The most successful Mercy Corps team members have a strong commitment to teamwork and accountability, thrive in evolving and changing environments and make effective written and verbal communication a priority in all situations. Mercy Corps Team members represent the agency both during and outside of work hours when deployed in a field posting or on a visit/short-term assignment to a field posting. Team members are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner and respect local laws, customs and MC’s policies, procedures, and values at all times and in all in-country venues.

Living Conditions / Environmental Conditions

The position is based in Kathmandu, and it requires up to 50% travel to support country programs.

Ongoing Learning

In support of our belief that learning organizations are more effective, efficient and relevant to the communities we serve, we empower all team members to dedicate 5% of their time to learning activities that further their personal and/or professional growth and development.

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

Achieving our mission begins with how we build our team and work together. Through our commitment to enriching our organization with people of different origins, beliefs, backgrounds, and ways of thinking, we are better able to leverage the collective power of our teams and solve the world’s most complex challenges. 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.

Equal Employment Opportunity

Mercy Corps is an equal opportunity employer that does not tolerate discrimination on any basis. We actively seek out diverse backgrounds, perspectives, and skills so that we can be collectively stronger and have sustained global impact.

We are committed to providing an environment of respect and psychological safety where equal employment opportunities are available to all. We do not engage in or tolerate discrimination on the basis of race, color, gender identity, gender expression, religion, age, sexual orientation, national or ethnic origin, disability (including HIV/AIDS status), marital status, military veteran status or any other protected group in the locations where we work.

Safeguarding & Ethics

Mercy Corps is committed to ensuring that all individuals we come into contact with through our work, whether team members, community members, program participants or others, are treated with respect and dignity. We are committed to the core principles regarding prevention of sexual exploitation and abuse laid out by the UN Secretary General and IASC and have signed on to The Misconduct Disclosure Scheme We will not tolerate child abuse, sexual exploitation, abuse, or harassment by or of our team members. As part of our commitment to a safe and inclusive work environment, team members are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner, respect local laws and customs, and to adhere to Mercy Corps Code of Conduct Policies and values at all times. Team members must complete mandatory Code of Conduct eLearning courses upon hire and annually.

As an applicant, if you witness or experience any form of sexual misconduct during the recruitment process, please report this to Mercy Corps Integrity Hotline (integrityhotline@mercycorps.org).

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