Consultant -Cooperative Advisor – Strengthening Community Consumer Cooperatives-

Description

• Lead implementation of the Subcomponent 2.3, including developing workplans and ensuring their effective implementation, managing all procurement/grants activities, and ensuring the subcomponent remains on track (scope, time, and budget).
• Serve as the primary liaison between Mercy Corps and the Consumer Cooperative Capacity Building Consultant(s).
• Provide ongoing technical guidance and support to the Project Director, Consumer Cooperative Capacity Building Consultant(s) and project staff.
• Manage process for CC proposals for in-kind grant support, including technical review and recommendations.
• Develop templates to track progress against implementation plans.
• In coordination with project staff, conduct regular review meetings with consultants to assess and monitor/track progress, provide feedback, and ensure the quality of project interventions fulfill reporting requirements and are alignment with project goals.
• Review and validate consultant deliverables, including training materials and plans, business plans, and reports.
• Ensure that all consultant activities are compliant with donor requirements and Mercy Corps’ quality standards.
• Provide strategic guidance and ensure the quality of operational models developed by Mercy Corps' teams for agro-processing hubs, focusing on their sustainable management, cost-recovery mechanisms, and equitable access for community members, especially women and IDPs.
• Offer expert review and quality assurance for the curriculum and training materials developed by Mercy Corps' teams for cooperative members and operators, particularly concerning equipment use, basic maintenance, and quality control.
• Conduct periodic strategic reviews and provide actionable recommendations on the functionality and effectiveness of the digital platform designed to connect FPOs, SMEs, and Consumer Cooperatives, ensuring its optimal use by Mercy Corps' direct implementation staff.
• Ensure that gender, protection, and IDP inclusion principles are effectively integrated into Subcomponent workplans plans and rigorously monitored by the on-ground teams across all cooperative strengthening and market linkage activities.

• Provide high level technical expertise and strategic  guidance on international best practices, for cooperative development, cooperative principles, governance, business development, digital integration and member-centric business models ensuring their relevance and adaptation to the Sudanese context for Mercy Corps' direct implementation, especially for inclusion of all ll social groups targeted.
• Support the operationalization of the CC food distribution and marketing strategy  and value enhancement, and marketing strategy, including the proposed food processing hubs and market linkages.
• Work closely with other thematic specialists in the project team to ensure that there is proper sequencing of activities to build synergies and deliver impact at scale.
• Provide strategic guidance on the design of effective market linkage strategies between consumer organizations, FPOs (Farmer Producer Organizations), and SME agribusinesses, supporting Mercy Corps' teams in fostering mutually beneficial and formal trade relationships.
• Offer high-level technical advice on the assessment, selection, and procurement of appropriate small-scale, solar-powered agro-processing and value addition equipment for the proposed 'Hubs,' providing strategic guidance to Mercy Corps' teams managing the direct implementation.
• Work with the project team to promote inclusion, gender equity, environment and social safeguards, and conflict sensitivity in all CC activities, aligned with donor guidelines.

• Mentor, train and provide ongoing technical support directly to Mercy Corps Consumer Cooperative Officers and local consultants fostering their expertise on cooperative development, governance, and market systems development approaches.
• Facilitate peer learning and knowledge exchange among field teams.
• Lead the design and ensure the quality of comprehensive capacity-building modules and training materials for Mercy Corps' in-country staff and local Sudanese consultants, empowering them to effectively train, mentor, and directly support consumer cooperatives on business planning, financial management, marketing, HR, and access to financial services

• Support and participate in research and technical evaluations of the consumer cooperative development interventions.
• Utilize monitoring and evaluation  outputs to inform program adjustments and improvements.
• Draft the portions of donor reports related to Subcomponent 2.3, including documenting progress updates (maintaining and reporting on relevant data), success stories, and lessons learned.
• Track key performance indicators (KPIs) for CCs and ensure timely data collection and analysis.
• Capture lessons learned and best practices from the CC interventions and disseminate this knowledge to relevant stakeholders.
• Contribute to the development of a knowledge hub and community of practice for CCs.
• Provide technical leadership in developing and refining the monitoring and evaluation framework for cooperative development, ensuring it accurately captures impact, measures food affordability and availability to different social groups, and informs adaptive management decisions by Mercy Corps' direct implementation teams.
• Contribute to internal learning processes within Mercy Corps by supporting analysis of monitoring data and providing recommendations for program adaptation and replication of successful models.

• Facilitate collaboration and coordination among different actors involved in cooperative development and advise on the coordination with local NGOs, SMEs, Farmer Cooperatives, and digital platform providers (e.g., Mahsool).
• Represent Mercy Corps in relevant forums, workshops, and coordination meetings.
• Provide strategic guidance and support to Mercy Corps' on-ground teams in the facilitation of local business forums, networking events, and direct market linkages with key actors, identifying and cultivating partnership opportunities relevant to the program's objectives.

• Inception report: Within [e.g., 2 weeks] of contract signing, outlining the consultant's understanding of the SOW, proposed work plan, and initial key insights/recommendations.
• Monthly progress reports: Brief updates on achievements, challenges, and upcoming activities, submitted with the request for payment.
• Reviewed capacity building modules/training materials: For Mercy Corps staff and consumer cooperatives, as per Activity 2.
• Technical guidance notes/briefs: As needed, on specific topics such as cooperative governance models, solar agro-processing hub operationalization, or advanced market linkage strategies.
• Recommendations for digital platform enhancement: Based on review of existing and proposed digital tools and the needs of CCs and integration needs/opportunities.
• Contributions to donor reports: Specific sections/inputs for Subcomponent 2.3 reporting, including progress, success stories, lessons learned and recommendations.
• End-of-consultancy report: A comprehensive report summarizing all activities, key findings, achievements, challenges, and recommendations for future programming, submitted [e.g., 1 week] prior to contract end.
• Presentations/workshops: Deliver presentations or facilitate workshops for Mercy Corps staff and stakeholders on key technical areas or findings, as required.

• Advanced degree in Cooperative Development, Agribusiness, Economics, or related field.
• Minimum 8 years of experience in cooperative development, market or food systems  development.
• Technical expertise in cooperative principles, business management, and financial management.
• Strong organizational leadership, communication, and interpersonal skills.
• Strong analytical skills, strategic and creative thinking.
• Proven ability to work effectively with diverse stakeholders, including cooperative members, government officials, and other development partners. 
• Proven experience in designing and delivering training and mentorship programs in complex, multi-stakeholder environments.
• Strong understanding of the Sudanese socio-economic context.
• Familiarity with digital platforms, renewable energy solutions, and inclusive governance models.
• Ability to self-direct their work/work remotely.
• Excellent communication, facilitation, and report-writing skills in both Arabic and English.

• Strong leadership and interpersonal skills with the ability to manage diverse teams and stakeholders.
• Ability to work independently and remotely while maintaining strong coordination with internal and external actors.
• Highly motivated and driven to deliver results.
• Capable of acting as a strong advisor to strengthen systems, while also providing day-to-day support to deliver outputs.
• Committed to long-term program sustainability and the delivery of high-impact activities.
• Commitment to Mercy Corps’ mission and values, including gender equity, inclusion, and resilience-building.

Workflow Map: Cooperative Advisor – THABAT Project

Inception & Planning (Weeks 1–2)

• Deliverables:
• Inception Report (understanding of SOW, work plan, initial insights)
• Activities:
• Review project documents and context
• Align with Project Director and team
• Develop detailed work plan and timeline
• Identify existing cooperatives and assess readiness
• Work with Local Consultants to workshop and refine workplans and deliverables
• Key Stakeholders: Project Director, local consultants, Mercy Corps staff

Technical Oversight & Implementation (Months 1–9)

• Deliverables:
• Templates for tracking implementation
• Monthly progress reports
• Reviewed/approved CC proposals for in-kind grants
• In-kind grant support provided
• Activities:
• Lead Subcomponent 2.3 implementation
• Manage procurement/grants for CCs
• Provide technical guidance and management oversight to consultants and project staff
• Review and validate CC training materials, business plans
• Ensure compliance with donor and MC standards
• Key Stakeholders: Consumer Cooperative Officers, Capacity Building Consultants

Capacity Building (Ongoing)

• Deliverables:
• Reviewed training modules
• Workshops and peer learning sessions
• Activities:
• Train and mentor Mercy Corps staff and local consultants
• Facilitate knowledge exchange
• Build internal capacity on cooperative governance, business planning, etc.
• Key Stakeholders: Local consultants, MC field teams

Strategic Guidance & Market Linkages (Months 2–8)

• Deliverables:
• Technical guidance notes
• Recommendations for digital platform enhancements
• Activities:
• Guide development of food distribution and marketing strategies
• Support agro-processing hub design and equipment selection
• Advise on digital integration and market linkage strategies
• Key Stakeholders: SMEs, FPOs, digital platform providers

Monitoring, Evaluation & Learning (Ongoing)

• Deliverables:
• Inputs to donor reports
• Lessons learned documentation
• End-of-consultancy report
• Activities:
• Track KPIs and analyze data
• Conduct strategic reviews

• Contribute to knowledge hub and adaptive learning

• Key Stakeholders: MEL and PaQ team, donor representatives

Stakeholder Engagement & Representation (Ongoing)

• Deliverables:
• Participation in forums and coordination meetings
• Support for local business forums and partnerships
• Activities:
• Coordinate with NGOs, SMEs, cooperatives
• Represent MC in relevant events
• Cultivate partnerships and facilitate networking
• Key Stakeholders: Local NGOs, government, private sector

Time Allocation Suggestion

• Months 1–3: Full-time or near full-time (setup, planning, early implementation)
• Months 4–6: Part-time (oversight, capacity building, strategic input)
• Months 7–9: Reduced level of effort (monitoring, Reporting and Wrap -up)