Mercy Corps, a globally recognized humanitarian and development organization, operates in more than 40 countries around the world. Its mission is built upon the belief that a better world is possible—one where communities overcome adversity, adapt to change, and create sustainable progress. Through collaborative partnerships and innovative programming, Mercy Corps works with vulnerable populations to provide life-changing solutions that promote resilience, economic growth, and social inclusion.
Within its global portfolio, Mercy Corps implements diverse programs that focus on key sectors such as agriculture, financial inclusion, governance, and energy access. One of its notable initiatives is Energy 4 Impact (E4I), a program dedicated to enhancing access to clean energy solutions in Africa and Asia. By supporting energy entrepreneurs and small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), E4I enables businesses and communities to harness renewable energy technologies to improve livelihoods and stimulate local economies.
As part of its growing efforts in the energy access space, Mercy Corps is seeking to recruit a Regional Advisor, Energy Enterprise Investment, to join its Nairobi-based team. The successful candidate will play a critical role in managing and implementing several flagship energy programs, including the Crowd Power 3 (CP3) initiative and other complementary projects such as Powering Renewable Energy Opportunities (PREO), GET.Invest Financial Readiness Support (FRS), Energy Catalyst Acceleration Program (ECAP), and the Kenya Cold Chain Accelerator (KCCA).
This position presents an exceptional opportunity for a professional with a strong background in energy access financing, program management, and private sector engagement to contribute to advancing renewable energy solutions across Africa and Asia.
About the Program
Energy 4 Impact (E4I) operates with a mission to reduce poverty by accelerating access to clean energy. The program helps communities and enterprises not only gain access to renewable energy but also utilize it productively to drive economic growth. E4I focuses on enabling energy access businesses—particularly SMEs and microenterprises—to thrive by offering advisory services on financial structuring, technical engineering, and market development.
By partnering with the private sector and development financiers, E4I promotes innovative approaches to expanding clean energy markets, scaling business models, and testing new technologies that can serve remote and underserved populations. Its projects span several thematic areas, including off-grid energy solutions, productive use of energy (PUE), and climate-smart enterprise development.
The Regional Advisor, Energy Enterprise Investment will provide cross-cutting support across multiple programs, serving as a strategic link between Mercy Corps, its energy access clients, and financial institutions.
Position Summary
The Regional Advisor will primarily be responsible for managing the Crowd Power 3 (CP3) program and supporting other ongoing projects such as PREO, GET.Invest FRS, ECAP, and KCCA. The advisor’s role will involve a combination of program management, technical advisory, investment facilitation, and strategic representation.
They will help strengthen the financing ecosystem for energy access businesses, particularly in the crowdfunding and SME investment space. This includes developing tailored interventions to support platforms, designing de-risking mechanisms, managing grants, and facilitating partnerships that promote financial inclusion, gender equity, and sustainability.
Detailed Job Description
1. Program Management – Crowd Power (CP3) (Approximately 60%)
The Crowd Power 3 (CP3) program aims to stimulate the growth of commercial capital within the energy access sector by supporting crowdfunding platforms operating in Africa and Asia. Through targeted grants and advisory support, CP3 helps these platforms overcome systemic and operational barriers such as limited investor engagement, pipeline development, and risk perception.
The Regional Advisor will:
- Lead the overall management and day-to-day implementation of the Crowd Power program.
- Develop and maintain strong working relationships with key crowdfunding platforms involved in energy access.
- Lead donor reporting, monitoring and evaluation (M&E) activities, and other administrative responsibilities.
- Design and co-develop interventions that help crowdfunding platforms expand their energy portfolios. These may include initiatives on pipeline development, investee onboarding, investor outreach, and the deployment of financial de-risking mechanisms.
- Coordinate the contracting, budgeting, and financial tracking processes for all interventions, ensuring efficient resource utilization.
- Monitor the progress of crowdfunding campaigns, ensuring that interventions achieve expected outputs and outcomes.
- Maintain a comprehensive and up-to-date database capturing all interventions, committed funds, and disbursements.
- Support the development of an annual State of the Market Report and thematic white papers to capture insights and lessons from the crowdfunding ecosystem.
- Facilitate knowledge sharing and dissemination of key learnings from the program to industry stakeholders.
Through these functions, the advisor will ensure that the CP3 initiative contributes effectively to the broader goal of expanding energy access financing for small and growing enterprises.
2. Technical Advisory – PREO, GET.Invest FRS, ECAP, and KCCA (Approximately 40%)
In addition to managing CP3, the Regional Advisor will serve as a technical advisor to several ongoing initiatives:
a. Powering Renewable Energy Opportunities (PREO):
PREO supports productive use of energy (PUE) innovations in Africa and Asia through grants and technical assistance. The advisor will help manage relationships with funded SMEs, providing guidance on business model validation, capital structuring, and performance monitoring.
b. GET.Invest Finance Readiness Support (FRS):
Under this European initiative, the advisor will work closely with early-stage energy SMEs, coaching them to improve their investor readiness and facilitating introductions to financiers. This includes assisting companies with financial modeling, pitch preparation, and fundraising strategies.
c. Energy Catalyst Acceleration Program (ECAP):
The advisor will contribute to supporting ECAP grantees with technical assistance and strategic guidance to help commercialize and scale energy innovations.
d. Kenya Cold Chain Accelerator (KCCA):
KCCA seeks to unlock sustainable cold chain technologies in Kenya’s agriculture sector. The advisor will support implementation partners by helping structure business models, strengthen investment readiness, and identify financing opportunities for promising cold chain enterprises.
Across these programs, key responsibilities will include:
- Managing client relationships with energy enterprises and investors.
- Assisting companies in developing funding strategies and financial structures suited to their growth stage.
- Preparing investor-facing documents such as teasers, pitch decks, and business plans.
- Supporting transaction facilitation, investor negotiations, and due diligence processes.
- Tracking and documenting performance outcomes, lessons learned, and emerging opportunities in energy financing.
3. Program Quality Assurance
The Regional Advisor will ensure programmatic excellence through:
- Application of integrated, systems-based approaches to program design and delivery.
- Regular monitoring, evaluation, and documentation of progress.
- Maintenance of internal quality standards and compliance with donor and organizational policies.
- Technical leadership in the design of frameworks that promote efficient delivery of energy services under E4I programs.
This responsibility ensures that all interventions are impactful, evidence-based, and aligned with Mercy Corps’ strategic priorities.
4. Financial and Compliance Management
In collaboration with program and finance teams, the advisor will:
- Contribute to systems that ensure transparent and effective use of financial resources.
- Support financial reporting, budgeting, and compliance with donor requirements.
- Ensure that all program expenditures are aligned with approved budgets and meet accountability standards.
5. Influence and Representation
The advisor will serve as a key representative of Mercy Corps within the renewable energy and impact investment ecosystem. Responsibilities will include:
- Representing Mercy Corps at conferences, workshops, and stakeholder events.
- Nurturing partnerships with peer organizations, government agencies, and private sector actors.
- Contributing to thought leadership through presentations, articles, and knowledge-sharing events.
- Promoting collaboration with other donors and technical partners in the clean energy sector.
6. Team Engagement
The role also includes supporting team performance, communication, and capacity building through:
- Promoting diversity, inclusion, and professional growth within the team.
- Providing mentorship and performance feedback to colleagues and partners.
- Encouraging accountability and collaboration across teams.
- Ensuring consistent communication between program managers, advisors, and technical consultants.
7. Safeguarding Responsibilities
The Regional Advisor is expected to integrate safeguarding principles into their work. This includes:
- Promoting a culture of respect and safety within teams and program communities.
- Identifying and mitigating safeguarding risks associated with program implementation.
- Encouraging open reporting of safeguarding concerns and supporting adherence to Mercy Corps’ Code of Conduct and Integrity Hotline systems.
8. Personal Leadership
The role requires professionalism, composure, and commitment to continuous improvement. The successful candidate will demonstrate ethical leadership, embrace feedback, and contribute positively to the organization’s culture and reputation.
9. Accountability
The position reports directly to the Head of Energy Research and Innovation and works closely with other program managers, finance teams, communications staff, and external clients. The advisor will be accountable for ensuring program integrity, impact delivery, and compliance with internal and donor standards.
10. Success Factors
A successful candidate will be a strategic thinker, capable of managing multiple programs concurrently while maintaining a focus on quality outcomes. They will bring strong knowledge of the energy access and crowdfunding landscapes, possess excellent analytical and communication skills, and demonstrate the ability to collaborate effectively within multicultural teams.
11. Working and Living Conditions
The position is based in Nairobi, Kenya, with up to 20% travel expected across project sites in Africa and Asia. Some travel may involve challenging environments with limited amenities. Professional conduct and adherence to Mercy Corps’ values are required at all times.
12. Equal Employment Opportunity and Ethics
Mercy Corps is an equal opportunity employer committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion. All qualified applicants will receive fair consideration without discrimination based on race, gender, nationality, religion, disability, or any other protected status. The organization maintains strict safeguarding and ethical standards to ensure the dignity, safety, and well-being of all staff, partners, and program participants.
Application Process
Interested candidates are encouraged to submit their applications through the designated Mercy Corps recruitment portal.
