Business Advisor at TechnoServe

Job Summary:

• The Business Advisor will work under the supervision of the project manager to provide capacity building and aftercare coaching support to the businesses and other participants.
• 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.

Program/Practice/Department Overview:

• The project seeks to increase the accessibility, and availability of fruits and vegetables while improving the resilience to climate and economic shocks, of low-income communities of Delta and Kaduna States.
• The project will deploy a combination of innovative pilots and scale up already proven solutions to address the food security challenges in the project states by improving access to, availability and affordability of nutritious foods for select low-income communities in the project states, while improving their incomes building their resilience to price and climate-related shocks and stresses.

Primary Functions & Responsibilities:
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.
• Support the rapid assessment and baseline evaluation activities.

Project implementation

• Implement the digital strategy of the project and ensure adoption by the beneficiaries
• Support the pilot of innovative strategies in the course of implementation
• Engage the beneficiaries consistently on the selected social media platform
• Support beneficiaries' training sessions on the selected and agreed platforms as well as monitor attendance according to the program guidelines.
• Provide linkages support to the micro retailers including connection to financial institutions, suppliers and other ecosystem players 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 Enterprise Development specialist 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 in line with the evolving needs of the program.

Basic Qualifications:

• Bachelor's Degree or equivalent in Agribusiness, Business Administration, Entrepreneurship or any relevant business degree.
• Minimum of 2 years’ experience working with rural communities and supporting producers, micro and small growing businesses in Nigeria.
• Demonstrated understanding of the micro, small and growing businesses environment in Nigeria
• Demonstrated understanding of the fruit and vegetable value chain in Nigeria
• Ability to engage and advise a broad range of stakeholders, including senior management of private sector companies, community leaders, and others;
• Demonstrated experience in data collection and analyses.
• Demonstrated experience with digital training and delivery mechanisms.
• Demonstrated experience in report writing

Preferred Qualifications:

• Ability to engage and advise a broad range of stakeholders on the field.
• 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.

Required Languages:

• Excellent written and spoken English Language

Travel:

• Long distance travel is not anticipated

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Experienced in writing excellent reports.
• 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.