ABOUT INKOMOKO
Inkomoko supports entrepreneurs to grow their businesses in order to improve livelihoods, create jobs, and help communities thrive.
In 2025, Inkomoko was listed by the Financial Times as the 8th fastest-growing company in Africa, supporting entrepreneurs across East and Central Africa to grow thriving businesses and build inclusive, resilient economies.
Founded in 2012, Inkomoko has worked with more than 100,000 entrepreneurs, including thousands of refugee entrepreneurs. Inkomoko provides a combination of training, consulting, access to finance, and market-level systems change. We are the largest investor to refugee entrepreneurs in Africa.
Inkomoko has 750+ staff in 40 offices across Chad, Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, and South Sudan. Through Inkomoko’s 2030 strategic plan, we are adding 3 additional countries to serve more than 550,000 entrepreneurs and growing our $30M loan fund to impact 7M lives.
INKOMOKO VALUES
All staff at Inkomoko are connected to a shared set of organizational values:
- Purpose: be solutions-oriented, produce high-quality work, and be a global leader.
- Achievement: push yourself to reach beyond what you previously thought possible.
- Improvement: be humble, engage in continuous growth through open & accurate feedback
- Bravery: willing to take risks, create a safe space for others, be compassionate, and inclusive.
- We Eat Goat: we celebrate success and support each other in hard times. We do this work together in the spirit of turikumwe, tuko pamoja, abren nen, Kula na sawa, On est ensemble.
Inkomoko is an affirmative action/equal opportunity employer. Refugees, women, and persons who reflect the diverse communities we serve are strongly encouraged to apply.
ABOUT THE OPPORTUNITY & RESPONSIBILITIES
We are seeking a dynamic and experienced professional to join our team as the Head of Market Systems in East Africa. The Head of Market Systems is pivotal in driving Market Systems and facilitating strategic partnerships across our countries of operation.
She/he will support the design and implementation of strategic initiatives aimed at fostering private and public sector partnerships by contributing to sustainable economic growth and development for micro and small businesses in and around the refugee-hosting region. In Inkomoko’s 2030 strategic plan, we recognized the need to create a positive enabling environment for the entrepreneurs we serve – particularly to connect micro and small entrepreneurs to market opportunities beyond their current regions. To achieve thriving communities, Inkomoko believes in a holistic approach of supporting micro and small businesses, including refugees at the individual, market, and ecosystem levels, for a favorable business environment.
The Head of Market Systems will be a strategic, systems-level thinker who is committed to driving a market systems change for displaced or marginalized entrepreneurs. The position holder can be based in any of our countries of operations: Chad, Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda or South Sudan.
Specifically, responsibilities of this position include:
- Refine the Market Systems strategy and roadmap. Map the core barriers to our clients’ success, current stakeholders interested in maintaining and/or impacting the status quo, and approaches to change. This role requires someone who can see a big vision, as well as targeted opportunities to make lasting change.
- Market Analysis: conduct thorough market research and analysis to identify trends, opportunities, and challenges within the East African market landscape with an emphasis on Rwanda, Kenya, South Sudan, South Sudan, Chad and more countries
- Strategic Partnerships: Develop and maintain strategic partnerships with key stakeholders, including government agencies, industry associations, NGOs, and private sector organizations.
- Market Systems: Oversee Market Systems implementation across countries, including the design of intervention strategies in the core identified market systems like market linkage, access to finance, advocacy, and business development services
- Capacity Building: Lead Market Systems training and capacity building efforts for the teams to enhance their understanding of the market systems approach and facilitation skills, development of processes and pathways for onboarding partners.
- Process mapping and implementation: Lead the change management in the organization to design and adopt processes in partnership, procurement, financial, and operational management of partnership aligned with the market systems approach, getting buy-in from cross-functional departments and functions
- Innovation: Explore innovative solutions and leverage technology to enhance Market Systems and streamline business processes. Always look out for what works and what does not, and change strategy/processes/systems accordingly.
- Collaboration: Collaborate with internal teams, including investment, MEL, and communication Departments, to align Market Systems strategies with overall Inkomoko objectives.
- Monitoring and Evaluation: Engage MEL to establish Market Systems metrics to monitor the effectiveness of Market Systems initiatives and track progress toward goals.
- Reporting: Prepare regular reports and presentations for senior management and stakeholders, highlighting key insights, achievements, and areas for improvement.
WHO WE ARE LOOKING FOR
- Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Economics, Marketing, or related field. Master's degree preferred.
- Proven experience (7+ years) in market systems development, business development, or related roles, preferably within the East African context.
- Strong understanding of market dynamics, value chains, and business ecosystems in East Africa.
- Demonstrated ability to build and maintain strategic partnerships with diverse stakeholders.
- Excellent communication, negotiation, and interpersonal skills.
- Strategic thinker with the ability to identify opportunities and drive results.
- Proficiency in data analysis and report writing.
- Fluency in English; proficiency in French, Swahili and Arabic is a plus.
- Ability to travel within the region as required.
- Unrelenting commitment to equity, refugees, poverty alleviation, improved livelihoods and the Inkomoko mission.
- Master’s degree in a related field, preferred but not required.
- Lived experience of displacement is highly respected and sought for all leadership roles at Inkomoko.
COMPETENCIES
- Synthesizes Data - Leverages key information, data, and insights to enhance both client and team member experiences.
- Adapts Approach to Situations - Adjusts the team's approach to meet the shifting demands of impact; able to quickly adapt to suit the context and drive to positive outcomes for their department.
- Enhances Competitive Advantage - Creates new and better ways to drive organizational success, with a future-focused mindset (at least 2 years ahead), through innovation and leveraging external relationships and opportunities.
- Uses his/her Technical expertise to coach and guide staff to meet and exceed expectations.
WHAT YOU'LL GET
This role is inside a high-growth, mission-driven social enterprise. By joining, you’ll access:
- A leadership role with regional influence and the opportunity to shape Inkomoko’s financial future.
- Meaningful work that directly contributes to sustainable livelihoods and job creation across East and Central Africa.
- Competitive salary, and potential Performance-based bonus
- Incredible company culture, with opportunities for learning and growth
- Diverse colleagues across the region, and policies that demonstrate commitment to equity and inclusion
- A dynamic and entrepreneurial team environment committed to innovation and social impact
- Ability to make a significant social impact to your community
- Health insurance for self and family
- Staff savings and provident fund, negotiated bank rates for long-term employees
- Generous annual leave, parental leave, and sabbatical options.
HOW TO APPLY
If you’re excited about this role, please submit your application through the jobs portal.
Tell us about what you’ll bring to this growing company.
DEADLINE: Open until filled. Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis, please apply as soon as possible!
Inkomoko is committed to justice, diversity, equity and inclusion. As we seek to reflect the communities we serve, refugees and women are strongly encouraged to apply. As a company we have policies that ensure fair treatment in the application process.
NB: Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. Employment is conditional upon successful background checks and other verification as needed.
All offers of employment will be subject to satisfactory references and background screening checks. Inkomoko also participates in the Inter Agency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme, In line with this Scheme, we will request information from job applicants’ previous employers about any findings of sexual misconduct, fraud, or abuse. By applying, the job applicant confirms his/her understanding of these recruitment procedures.
