Livelihoods & Inclusive Economic Growth Specialists for GMM Project in Cameroon.

Organizational Context

Goodness and Mercy Missions (GMM) is a non-profit organization in Cameroon's North West Region, founded in 2007. GMM strengthens rural communities by providing tools, skills, and opportunities for sustainable livelihoods, focusing on education and economic empowerment, particularly for women. With ECOSOC consultative status since 2017, GMM implements diverse programs including school support, computer training, and solar energy distribution. The operating environment is challenging due to the Anglophone crisis, impacting local economies and limiting access to markets and financial services.

Job Purpose

This assignment aims to support Goodness and Mercy Missions (GMM) in designing effective livelihood and local economic development programs for Cameroon's North West Region. The role involves leveraging global expertise to review international research and best practices across four key areas: market access and value chains, financial inclusion and digital tools, appropriate technology and resource efficiency, and the economic participation of women and youth. The ultimate goal is to inform GMM's programming by assessing viable models for low-resource and crisis-affected settings, ensuring that proposed solutions are culturally appropriate and community-driven. This contributes to poverty reduction (SDG 1) and inclusive economic growth (SDG 8).

Responsibilities

The core responsibility is to conduct in-depth research and analysis within one of four specialized areas: Market Access and Value Chain Research, Financial Inclusion and Digital Economic Tools, Appropriate Technology and Resource Efficiency, or Economic Participation of Women and Young People. For Market Access, this involves reviewing models for small-scale producers to connect with end markets, including value chain organization, producer groups, and loss reduction strategies. For Financial Inclusion, research will focus on microfinance, community savings, digital payments, and credit assessment for informal operators. The Appropriate Technology role requires reviewing low-cost technologies for production, processing, and transport, considering energy use, maintenance, and environmental impact. The Women and Young People focus involves examining barriers and effective empowerment approaches for these groups. All volunteers will produce a 3,000-5,000 word written deliverable (literature review or research paper) with academic referencing, adhering to strict deadlines and maintaining regular communication with GMM.

Work Experience

Required experience includes demonstrated ability to conduct structured desk research using academic databases and reports from international organizations. Experience with coursework, research projects, dissertations, independent study, internships, or applied analysis relevant to the assigned research area is necessary. Proficiency in virtual collaboration tools and reliable internet access are essential for remote work.

Skills

Essential skills include strong written communication in English for producing a substantial deliverable and for remote collaboration. Candidates must demonstrate correct and consistent use of academic referencing systems and the ability to critically assess source credibility. Fluency in English is required; knowledge of French or Pidgin English is an asset. Cultural sensitivity and the ability to interpret evidence for diverse local contexts, including rural and crisis-affected communities, are crucial.

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