Market System Development Advisor (Dairy)

About the role

CST Ethiopia is seeking a Market System Development Advisor to support the JOA‑funded Inclusive Dairy Development for Resilience project. The role will focus on applying the Market System Development (MSD) approach to strengthen dairy value chains while integrating women’s empowerment and youth participation.

Key responsibilities

• Provide technical guidance on MSD methodology to implementing partners and CST staff.
• Facilitate capacity‑building workshops on market system analysis, gender integration, and inclusive dairy practices.
• Ensure that women’s empowerment objectives are embedded throughout project activities and monitoring.
• Collaborate with the Resilient Communities Program Manager, Business Development & Compliance Advisor, MEAL Advisor, and local partner HUNDEE to align implementation with project goals.
• Support the development of tools, guidelines, and reporting mechanisms that capture gender‑responsive outcomes.

Required profile

• Proven experience in the dairy sector, preferably in low‑ and middle‑income contexts.
• Demonstrated expertise in applying the Market System Development approach.
• Strong understanding of gender‑responsive programming and women’s empowerment in agricultural value chains.
• Excellent communication and facilitation skills for multi‑stakeholder environments.

Required skills

• Knowledge of Market System Development (MSD) methodology.
• Experience with dairy value‑chain analysis and development.
• Ability to design and deliver capacity‑building sessions.
• Familiarity with gender‑integration tools and frameworks.

What we offer

• Competitive salary and benefits package.
• Opportunity to contribute to a high‑impact, inclusive dairy development project.
• Collaboration with international development agencies and local partners.