Business Development & Financial Inclusion Advisor at Cuso International

Cuso International opened a program office in Cross River State, Nigeria, in 2014. Our program currently focuses on sustainable economic growth and providing access to quality health services.

The volunteer's role
The aim of the placement is to enhance the entrepreneurship and business development services of YouLead beneficiaries. The YouLead project stands for Youth Leadership, Entrepreneurship, Access and Development. Our beneficiaries will be supported in establishing micro, small and medium (MSME) enterprises in the natural resource sector of agriculture, forestry, aquaculture, eco-tourism and renewable energy.

The objective of this placement is:

• To apply knowledge and skills related to the concepts, principles, and methodologies of business development and value chain
• To apply higher order thinking skills (critical thinking, analysis, synthesis, evaluation, complex problem solving) to “real world” situations
• To develop career awareness, direction and exploration of vocation
• To increase skills for understanding and working with people of diverse backgrounds and cultures and to work effectively within diverse environment

The volunteer will:

• To apply knowledge and skills related to the concepts, principles, and methodologies of business development and value chain
• To apply higher order thinking skills (critical thinking, analysis, synthesis, evaluation, complex problem solving) to “real world” situations
• To develop career awareness, direction and exploration of vocation
• To increase skills for understanding and working with people of diverse backgrounds and cultures and to work effectively within diverse environment
• Organize train-the-trainer’s workshops from time to time, business plan development and implementation for partners, and project structures
• Provide support for strengthening of business management capacities and their business model
• Support internal market and end market assessment of identified value chains
• Support with the pre-design of a market based intervention based on each identified value chain product and highlight the available business opportunities for young women and men along the value chain of identified products
• Provide Support /coaching and mentoring of community volunteers on how to support youth entrepreneurs
• Support business development for community volunteers
• Support partner micro finance banks to develop effective system to appraise loan applications and track repayment
• Support the YouLead taskforce on access to finance to secure grants and funding for startup and expanded businesses of YouLead beneficiaries.
• Provide support to the business development officer to develop tools for providing business development services for youth enterprises.

Essential Academic Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree or its /Equivalent in Business, Marketing, Development studies or related field
• Demonstrated Business Development skills and Grants management working in the Natural Resource Sector

Essential Professional Background/Competencies

- 5 years’ experience in Business Development
- A good knowledge of business start-ups approach and practice
- Strong experience in end market assessment & analysis
- Excellent written and verbal communication
- Experience with gender mainstreaming
- Good communication and interpersonal skills

Desirable Academic Qualifications

• Master’s Degree is desirable and doctorate is an added advantage and value

Desirable Professional Background/Competencies

• Previous working experience in Africa or Nigeria

Important information for candidates

Cuso International covers the following costs:

- Return airfare and visa/permit costs
- Accommodation while overseas
- Modest living allowance while overseas
- Modest support for accompanying partners and dependents going on placement with you for 12 months or longer
- The cost of required vaccinations, antimalarial medication and health insurance
- Access to Employee Assistance Program while overseas and upon return
- Travel and accommodation for reintegration debriefing weekend
- Travel and accommodation for the five-day pre-departure training course and in-country training orientation

Fundraising: We ask each volunteer, regardless of placement length, to raise $2,000. All volunteers receive support from Cuso International to help achieve the goal through fundraising. If the volunteer chooses not to fundraise or is unable to achieve the fundraising goal, he/she can make a one-time donation or become a monthly donor to support our work.

E-volunteering: Depending on the nature of the placement volunteers are encouraged to provide e-volunteering support to the local partner or Cuso International before or after the field placement.