Market Systems Thinking Advisor

Assignment Type:

Canadian International Volunteer

Eligibility Requirements:

Open to Canadian citizens and permanent residents of Canada only

Assignment ID:

VA-107284

Assignment Title:

Market Systems Thinking Advisor

Partner:

Lanka Impact Investing Network (LIIN)

Country:

Sri Lanka

Duration:

4 to 6 months (flexible)

Time Commitment:

Full-time

Assignment Context

Are you passionate about helping communities, especially women and youth, access fair and inclusive economic opportunities? Do you have experience bridging private investment and sustainable development to create real impact?

As the Market Systems Thinking Advisor with Lanka Impact Investing Network (LIIN) you will help build a resilient and inclusive entrepreneurial ecosystem in Colombo, Sri Lanka. You will apply Market Systems Development (MSD) principles to identify leverage points, strengthen value chains, and foster partnerships that unlock inclusive growth, particularly for women and youth entrepreneurs.

Apply today to help shape how impact investment drives systemic change in Sri Lanka’s markets and communities!

Roles and Responsibilities

• Support LIIN to apply Market Systems Development (MSD) approaches in its programs, identifying constraints and opportunities within key sectors for inclusive growth
• Strengthen LIIN’s strategies for enterprise acceleration, ecosystem facilitation, and impact measurement to align with global best practices
• Provide analytical insights on market mapping, value chain linkages, and systemic interventions that enhance market access for social enterprises and Micro Small and Medium Enterprises
• Build staff capacity in systems thinking, adaptive management, and results-based approaches for enterprise and ecosystem-level programming
• Support the design of investment readiness programs and blended finance partnerships targeting youth- and women-led enterprises

• Participate in pre-assignment training
• Participate in at least 3 public engagement initiatives with Canadian audiences before, during, or within 6 months after the end of the assignment. Volunteers will be equipped with the tools, training, funds, and support to achieve these goals. Volunteers must also report on each of their public engagement activities through our Volunteer Information Portal. Virtual chats and individual check-ins can be booked with the Senior Public Engagement Officer throughout the course of their assignment and during the 6 months following its completion to seek guidance and support with their public engagement activities.
• Canadian volunteers are required to do at least one activity that contributes to meeting a fundraising target of $1,500. The minimum requirement is met by each volunteer using our Volunteer Information Portal to report having sent one message to their network about their volunteer assignment that includes the link to the WUSC Shared Impact Fund webpage. This message also counts as one of their three required public engagement activities. Volunteers will be supported with the tools, training, and resources to achieve the fundraising goal.
• Submit reports as required by the partner organization and by WUSC.

Experience and Qualifications

• Degree in Economics, Business Administration, International Development, or a related field (Master’s preferred)
• Minimum two (2) years of experience in market systems development, private-sector development, or impact investing
• Proven ability to apply systems thinking and facilitation approaches in enterprise or value-chain development initiatives
• Strong understanding of inclusive business models, blended finance, and results measurement frameworks (Donor Committee for Enterprise Development Standard preferred)
• Experience working with investors, accelerators, or enterprise support organizations in emerging markets
• Excellent communication and analytical skills with a focus on collaborative problem-solving and institutional capacity building
• Flexibility, adaptability, excellent interpersonal skills and cultural sensitivity
• Experience with group facilitation and trainings, including content development considered an asset
• A commitment to gender equality, youth inclusion, and international volunteering
• Experience living and working internationally considered an asset
• Written and oral fluency in English.

Project Description

Volunteering for development is one of the important ways in which WUSC pursues its mission. The IGNI+E project, funded by Global Affairs Canada, supports over 70 partner organizations to advance gender equality and the economic empowerment of 1.2 million youth around the world. IGNI+E harnesses the knowledge, capacity and expertise of skilled Canadians through volunteer assignments and public engagement activities to assist partners in improving their performance, advocating for gender equality, and implementing more sustainable, innovative and inclusive initiatives and services for poor and marginalised youth, particularly young women. Overseas, our volunteers collaborate with a wide variety of partners, including enterprise and social enterprise development incubators, skills training centres, women’s organizations, and youth groups. In Canada, WUSC works with institutions and individuals to identify, prepare, and support volunteers who travel overseas to support our partners. Our network in Canada also works with WUSC to raise awareness among Canadians to inspire greater action on global development issues. Our collective focus is on sustainable and inclusive changes to create a better world for youth.

Partner Description

As Sri Lanka’s first impact investment firm, Lanka Impact Investing Network (LIIN) is focused on channeling private capital to solve pressing social and environmental issues in Sri Lanka by promoting impact investing across the island. This includes actively investing in social enterprises through impact investment funds as well as providing business development support to nurture a well-developed ecosystem of social entrepreneurs across the country. LIIN is currently a co-owner of a reality TV show ATH PAVURA, which is a platform for social entrepreneurs from across the island to pitch their ideas/ businesses to a panel of high net worth (HNW) individuals to receive an investment. These HNW individuals act as angel investors who, in addition to capital, facilitate market linkages and provide business development support. Their goal is to provide knowledge and financial capital to small and medium sized social enterprises from across Sri Lanka that directly address pressing social and environmental issues through our impact investment funds.

Support Package

• Support and guidance from the WUSC Volunteer Mobilization Team prior to departure and from the WUSC Country Team while on assignment
• Pre-departure training to learn about the volunteering for development program, gain practical skills for living and working in an intercultural context and network with other volunteers
• In-country orientation upon arrival in country of assignment
• Language training in country of assignment, where required
• Modest monthly living and accommodation allowance
• Airfare to and from the assignment country
• Visa/work permit
• Pre-departure medical exam
• Health insurance
• Vaccinations and antimalarial medication
• Criminal record verification
• Vacation leave entitlement
• Debriefing after completion of assignment
• An incredible opportunity to make a meaningful contribution to global development, enhance your professional skills and participate in an experience of a lifetime!

WUSC’s Safeguarding Policy

WUSC’s activities seek to balance inequities and create sustainable development around the globe; the work ethic of our staff, volunteers, representatives and partners shall correspond to the values and mission of the organization. WUSC promotes responsibility, respect, honesty, and professional excellence and we will not tolerate harassment, coercion and sexual exploitation and abuse of any form. Successful applicants will be required to sign off on the WUSC Code of Conduct and the Self-Disclosure Form. International and national volunteers will also be required to submit a criminal record verification.

WUSC is a signatory to the Cooperation Canada Leaders’ Pledge on Preventing and Addressing Sexual Misconduct. The pledge represents the shared commitment as Canada’s global development and humanitarian leaders to ensure the full implementation of practices and policies that will protect and respond to our own staff, volunteers and the communities we serve. We are committed to creating safe and respectful workplaces and programs that promote gender equality and are free from gender-based violence, including by addressing and responding to all abuse of power, holding people to account, and protecting the vulnerable. Read the full pledge.