Business Advisor at TechnoServe

Requisition Number: BUSIN002024
Job Category: Operations
Job type: Full-Time

Description

• We are looking for Business Advisors for the Pan African Youth Entrepreneur Development (PAYED) Program in Rivers State and Delta State, Nigeria
• TechnoServe works with enterprising people in the developing world to build competitive farms, businesses, and industries. We are a non-profit organization that develops business solutions to poverty by linking people to information, capital, and markets.
• Our work is rooted in the idea that given the opportunity, hardworking men and women in even the poorest places can generate income, jobs, and wealth for their families and communities. With more than four decades of proven results, we believe in the power of private enterprise to transform lives.

Primary Purpose

• The PAYED Project supports youth owned micro-retail business owners in Ivory Coast, Kenya, Nigeria and Tanzania in gaining business and financial management skills, foster business support and connections, optimize financial performance, improve store aesthetics, product ranges and display.
• The Business Advisor will work with the Senior Business Advisor to provide capacity building and aftercare coaching support to the businesses.
• S/he will facilitate business linkages, gather market intelligence and monitor performance. It should be understood that the tasks outlined below are the key responsibilities, but the employee will be expected to perform any tasks that are necessary within the context of the evolving needs of the project.

Project Inception Phase:

• Area mapping, mobilization and recruitment of program beneficiaries using set criteria.
• Support the Senior Business Advisor and Project lead in developing the project work plan.

Project Implementation:

• Implement the digital strategy of the project and ensure adoption by the beneficiaries
• Engage the beneficiaries consistently on the selected social media platform– whatsapp
• support beneficiaries training sessions on the TLMS and whatsapp platforms as well as monitor attendance according to the program guidelines.
• Provide linkages support to the micro retailers including connection to financial institutions, to suppliers and other ecosystem player according to the program guidelines.
• Work with identified partners during the aftercare phase.
• Identify with stakeholders and perform a thorough assessment (initial and subsequent) of existing and envisaged problematic situations and offer solutions.
• Support in all types of monitoring and evaluation activities, surveys and in reporting, weekly, monthly and in developing program success stories and lessons learnt.
• Follow and maintain the program work plan
• Work closely with the Senior Business advisor to ensure program deliverables are met through critical review of project activities in the field and eliminate any risks that may hinder effective implementation of the Project
• Understand, respect and promote Techno Serve’s values, vision, and strategy in the implementation of assigned duties
• Perform other duties as assigned by the Senior Business Advisor and Project Manager.

Minimum Required Skills and Experience

• Bachelor's Degree in Social Sciences, Humanities or any related discipline with a minimum of 2 years post NYSC work experience or HND with a minimum of 4 years work experience.
• Demonstrated ability of working in and conversant with trends in the micro-retail industry for at least 2 years.
• Experience working with communities living on less than $2 a day and willingness to travel frequently to these communities.
• Demonstrated experience with digital training and delivery mechanisms.
• Ability to engage and advise a broad range of stakeholders on the field.
• Demonstrated experience in data collection and analyses.
• Excellent communication skills in written and spoken English.
• Demonstrated experience in report writing.
• Must have strong interpersonal skills.
• Proven skills with Microsoft Office software (Excel, Word, PowerPoint). Knowledge in the use of Comcare, KoBoCollect will be an advantage.
• Excellent communication skills in written and spoken English.