TSA - Technical Advisor - Market Systems Development

CRS is an international humanitarian and development agency working to save, protect, and transform lives in need in more than 100 countries, without regard to race, religion or nationality. CRS’ relief and development work is accomplished through programs of emergency response, health, agriculture, education, microfinance and peacebuilding.

CRS has been operating in Afghanistan since 2002 and CRS is currently maintaining staff presence in Kabul, Herat, Ghor and Bamiyan, alongside an expanding scope of partnership implemented programs in Kunar, Samangan, Balkh, with strategic expansion planned further in 2026. CRS Afghanistan focuses on poverty and risk reduction and promoting resilience, human development through implementing livelihoods, education and emergency response.

Background

CRS Afghanistan is implementing a European Union–funded consortium project in Herat Province focused on climate resilience, livelihoods, market systems development, and disaster risk reduction. Within this project, CRS is responsible for advanced livelihoods, market systems, SME development, value chain strengthening, market linkages, and financial inclusion interventions.

To support high-quality implementation during a critical phase of the project, CRS seeks temporary Livelihoods and Market Systems Technical Advisor I to provide short-term, hands-on technical backstopping to project teams and partners. The position is designed as a technical role, focused on strengthening implementation quality and staff capacity.

The Market Systems Development (MSD) Technical Advisor (TA) provides senior-level technical leadership and advisory support to CRS’s EU/DG INTPA-funded portfolio in Heart. livelihoods, market systems development (MSD), SME upgrading, and financial inclusion activities under the EU-funded project. The role strengthens the design, implementation quality, and adaptive management of MSD/value chain interventions in line with CRS programming principles and EU requirements.

This short-term TA operates with a high degree of autonomy, influencing program direction, partner engagement, and technical quality without direct management authority. The position focuses on facilitating market change, brokering private sector partnerships, embedding learning, and ensuring donor-ready technical coherence across the EU portfolio over a defined six-month period.

Roles and key Responsibilities

1. Technical Leadership and Program Quality Implementation Support and Backstopping

• Provide senior technical oversight to ensure MSD and value chain interventions adhere to CRS standards, EU requirements, and global best practice. Provide hands-on technical guidance to project teams on value chain development, market systems strengthening, SME support, and financial inclusion.
• Guide teams to apply market systems principles (additionality, sustainability, crowding‑in, systems change) across design and implementation. Support SPOs and field teams to operationalize approved project approaches, assessments, and technical guidance in day-to-day implementation.
• Lead technical problem‑solving for complex implementation challenges in fragile and constrained market contexts. Provide technical backstopping and solutions to address implementation challenges in the operating areas.
• Support participatory data collection, market analysis updates, and validation processes with market actors as needed.

• 2. Strategic Advisory and Design Support: Review and refine value chain and market systems strategies for CRS prioritized sectors in Herat. Provide technical backstopping for SME identification, assessment, and upgrading processes aligned with prioritized value chains.
• Advise on intervention logic, leverage points, risk assumptions, and exit/sustainability pathways. Support project teams in applying SME diagnostics, business planning tools, and sustainability considerations using CRS and global best practices of sector standards and toolkits.
• Provide practical guidance on market linkages, private-sector engagement, and producer organization support.
• Ensure cross-cutting integration of inclusion (women, youth, vulnerable groups) and climate/NRM considerations where relevant.

3. Private Sector and Market Actor Engagement

• Provide support to identify, assess, and engage private sector and market system actors (firms, traders, aggregators, service providers, associations). Support the development of partnership and co-investment models that align incentives and reduce market distortion.
• Advise on structuring memorandum of understanding and participation conceptions in line with CRS compliance and safeguarding requirements. Mentor project staff to ensure consistent and appropriate application of technical guidance and Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) and global and MSD best practices and lessons learned

4. Adaptive Management, Learning & Evidence and Technical Reporting

• Strengthen adaptive management practices, including assumption testing, sense‑and‑respond routines, and decision documentation.
• Collaborate with MEAL colleagues to ensure monitoring captures early system change signals, not only outputs.

• Produce concise learning briefs and technical insights to inform course correction and scale‑up decisions.
• Provide senior technical input to EU narrative reports, ensuring strong MSD logic, evidence‑based results of storytelling, and risk management articulation.
• Support preparation of donor‑ready technical materials (results stories, learning notes, value chain briefs).
• Serve as a technical resource to the EU team during project reviews, reflection sessions, donor clarifications, and learning exchanges.

5. Staff Capacity Strengthening and Technical Mentorship (Non-supervisory)

• Provide hands-on coaching through structured technical problem-solving sessions focused on real-time MSD design, partnership, and adaptive management challenges faced by CRS teams. Provide on-the-job mentoring and reflection sessions on the MSD approach, diversification of livelihoods, SME development, and financial inclusion.
• Strengthen internal understanding of MSD and private sector engagement principles, tools, and their applications in the project context. Support the design and delivery of short technical learning sessions or refresher training for CRS staff.
• Serve as a technical resource person for CRS field teams during the assignment period.
• Contribute to institutional learning by documenting good practices and lessons learned.

6. Coordination and Technical Integration

• Work closely with relevant SPOs (Agriculture, SME & SLG, DRM, and MEAL) to ensure coherent technical approaches across project components.
• Coordinate with consortium partners on technical matters as requested by the EU Program Manager, without assuming coordination or representational authority.
• Contribute to internal technical discussions, learning activities, and documentation of implementation lessons.

• Master's degree in  Economics, agribusiness, development studies, or related field.
• Minimum 6–8 years of progressively responsible experience in MSD, value chain development, and sector engagement in the Afghanistan context.
• Demonstrated experience providing senior technical advisory support to complex donor-funded programs (EU experience strongly preferred). Proven ability to engage and influence private sector actors and partners.
• Strongly analytical, facilitation, and donor-ready writing skills.
• Experience integrating MSD with resilience, climate, or NRM programming.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Strong technical knowledge of market systems development, inclusive value chains, and private sector engagement.
• Practical expertise in SME development, business upgrading, and financial inclusion approaches.
• Ability to translate technical concepts into clear, actionable guidance for field teams.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and mentoring skills.
• Excellent interpersonal and coordination skills in multicultural environments.

Supervisory Responsibilities: This position does not have line management or supervisory authority.
Key Working Relationships:  

• Internal: EU Program Manager, Head of Programming, Project SPOs (Agriculture, DRM, SME& SLG, MEAL), and operations team.
• External: Market actors, partners, communities, provincial and district authorities, and relevant stakeholders (as appropriate)

Required Languages – Fluency in Dari, Pashtu, and working proficiency in English required.

Travel: Based in Herat Province, with up to 80% field travel anticipated.

CRS provides daily allowances, per diem, and accommodation for approved Mahrams accompanying female staff, in line with CRS Afghanistan policy.

CRS is committed to providing daily allowances for mahrams who accompany female staff on day trips to the field, and per diem and accommodation for mahrams who accompany female staff on work-related trips that require overnight stays.

Agency REDI Competencies (for all CRS Staff):

Agency competencies clarify expected behaviors and attitudes for all staff. When demonstrated, they create an engaging workplace, help staff achieve their best, and help CRS achieve agency goals. These are rooted in the mission, values, and guiding principles of CRS and used by each staff member to fulfill his or her responsibilities and achieve the desired results. 

• Personal Accountability – Consistently takes responsibility for one’s own actions.
• Acts with Integrity - Consistently models values aligned with CRS Guiding Principles and mission.  Is considered honest.
• Builds and Maintains Trust - Shows consistency between words and actions.
• Collaborates with Others – Works effectively in intercultural and diverse teams.
• Open to Learn – Seeks out experiences that may change perspective or provide an opportunity to learn new things.

Agency Leadership Competencies:

• Lead Change – Continually looks for ways to improve the agency through a culture of agility, openness, and innovation.
• Develops and Recognizes Others – Builds the capacity of staff to reach their full potential and enhance team and agency performance.

Strategic Mindset – Understands role in translating, communicating, and implementing agency strategy and team priorities.

We welcome as a part of our staff people of all faiths and traditions who share our values and our commitment to serving those in need. CRS’ processes and policies reflect our commitment to protecting children and vulnerable adults from abuse and exploitation. Disclaimer: This job description is not an exhaustive list of the skill, effort, duties, and responsibilities associated with the position.

Disclaimer: This position does not have line management or supervisory authority.

CRS' talent acquisition procedures reflect our commitment to protecting children and vulnerable adults from abuse and exploitation. 

CRS is an Equal Opportunity Employer

Protection Acknowledgment: CRS prohibits all forms of abuse and exploitation towards children and vulnerable adults. As a professional candidate, you commit to adhering to the Agency’s policy on protection, rights and dignity of children and vulnerable adults and to safeguard them from abuse and exploitation as defined in CRS’ Safeguarding Policy

Applications comprise a one-page cover letter to explain your interest and suitability for the post and your CV. Please do not attach your education documents and work certificates unless requested.

Dear Applicants!

The process of submitting a CV/Application has been changed to the online system. Therefore, interested candidates are encouraged to apply using the link provided below. Applications sent to any other email address or location will not be considered. Please ensure to rename your application file according to your name entered on the first page of the application forms.

Interested candidates can submit their applications by clicking on this link.

Please note that applications received after the closing date (i.e., March 28^th, 2026), will not be given consideration. Only short-listed candidates whose applications respond to the above criteria will be contacted for tests and interviews.