Business Development Service Consultant at BlueBrain Services Ltd

Background

• Sane Konsult International Limited is a leading Monitoring, Evaluation, Research, and Learning (MERL) consulting firm specializing in agriculture, rural development, entrepreneurship, TVET, and international development.
• The firm provides evidence-based monitoring, evaluation, research, and learning services, as well as technology-enabled solutions including management information systems (MIS), stakeholder management, and field data collection and analysis.
• As the demand for high-quality MERL services grows, Sane Konsult seeks to strengthen its business structure, ensure sustainability, and decentralize operations to reach more markets.
• To this end, the firm requires the services of a Business Development Services (BDS) consultant to design a 5-year business growth strategy and strengthen internal capacity (organizational and technical).

Objectives of the Assignment

• The overall objective of this consultancy is to support Sane Konsult in developing a 5-year strategic and business plan that ensures growth, sustainability, and decentralization of services. Specific objectives include:
  • Develop a clear business growth strategy that positions Sane Konsult competitively in the MERL sector.
  • Provide a 5-year business forecast covering revenue, service diversification, partnerships, and sustainability.
  • Propose models for decentralization of operations across Nigeria and potentially other African markets.
  • Strengthen internal capacity at both organizational/structural and technical staff levels to sustain growth.

Scope of Work
The consultant will:

Business Growth Strategy

• Assess and Update or Draft Sane Konsult’s current business model, positioning, and competitive advantage.
• Identify high-value service areas and growth opportunities within and beyond Nigeria.
• Map out potential client segments, partners, and markets.
• Develop a scalable and sustainable business model.

5-Year Forecast and Sustainability Plan

• Prepare financial projections (revenue, expenditure, and profit margins).
• Recommend service diversification strategies.
• Propose partnership and funding models (donor projects, corporate contracts, and local fundraising).
• Conduct risk analysis and propose mitigation measures.

Decentralization of Business

• Explore opportunities to secure jobs and projects from diversified channels and various sectors, both locally and internationally.
• Recommend operational models for decentralized service delivery.
• Propose digital systems to enable decentralized management (MIS, dashboards, CRMs).
• Develop a roadmap for decentralization.

Internal Capacity Building
The consultant will strengthen capacity at two levels:

• Organizational / Structural Capacity
  • Improve governance structures, including board roles and policies.
  • Strengthen internal processes: HR, finance, compliance, and knowledge management.
  • Recommend systems for effective project management, business operations, and compliance.
• Technical Capacity for Staff
  • Conduct a capacity needs assessment for technical staff.
  • Design and implement a training plan to build advanced MERL skills, including mixed methods research, data analysis, and emerging MEL approaches.
  • Train staff in proposal development, business development, and client engagement.
  • Enhance capacity in sector-specific areas (agriculture, climate change, livelihoods, TVET).
  • Build staff expertise in digital MEL tools and data visualization.

Business Growth Strategy

• Assess Sane Konsult’s current business model, positioning, and competitive advantage.
• Conduct a business feasibility analysis to determine the viability of potential new services, products, or markets.
• Identify high-value service areas and growth opportunities within and beyond Nigeria.
• Map out potential client segments, partners, and markets.
• Develop a scalable and sustainable business model.
• Recommend strategies for leveraging our website, digital platforms and social media (e.g., LinkedIn, X/Twitter, YouTube, webinars, and thought leadership content) to enhance brand visibility, reach potential clients, and generate new business opportunities.

Deliverables
The consultant is expected to deliver:

• Inception Report with methodology, tools, and work plan.
• Business Growth Strategy Report outlining positioning, market opportunities, and growth pathways.
• 5-Year Strategic & Business Plan with financial projections, sustainability plan, and decentralization roadmap.
• Internal Capacity Building Plan covering both organizational systems and technical staff development.
• Capacity Building Sessions/Workshops (with training materials) for Sane Konsult staff.
• Final Report documenting achievements, tools, and recommendations.

Methodology
The consultant is expected to use participatory approaches, including:

• Document review of Sane Konsult’s current operations and policies.
• Key informant interviews with leadership, staff, and partners.
• SWOT and market analysis.
• Capacity assessment surveys for staff.
• Workshops and training sessions.

Qualifications of the Consultant
The ideal consultant should have:

• At least 10 years’ experience in business development, strategy, and organizational strengthening.
• Proven experience supporting professional service firms, consulting firms, or development organizations.
• Strong expertise in financial forecasting, business modeling, and sustainability planning.
• Experience in decentralization and organizational restructuring.
• Familiarity with the MERL sector and international development space is an added advantage.
• Excellent facilitation, communication, and report-writing skills.