Business Officer at Mennonite Economic Development Associates (MEDA)

Project Profile:

The Equitable Prosperity - Maendeleo Sawa (M-SAWA) project is a seven year, $28.7 million initiative funded/implemented by MEDA (supporters, partners and investors) with funding from Global Affairs Canada (GAC) which will run from 2015 to 2022. The project aims to contribute to Kenya’s economic growth and increase job creation by improving the business performance of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and small entrepreneurs (SEs) in select counties along the Northern and LAPSSET Corridors in the following sectors: • Agriculture/agribusiness • Construction and allied industries • Extractives

Job Summary:

This position will be based in Mombasa and working in the coastal region and its environs. The general responsibility for this position is to identify SMEs in Agriculture, Construction and Extractive sectors, supporting them in grant application and management.

Location and Duration of Position: 1-year renewable contract. This position is based in Mombasa, Kenya.

Eligible candidates: Kenyan Nationals

Main Duties and Responsibilities:

• Identification, assessment and screening of SMEs (in Agriculture, Construction and Extractives sectors) to determine those that are eligible for the MEDA grant.
• Assist in designing grants criteria for SMEs that practice environmentally sustainable practices, and review to check off the relevant boxes when grant applications are reviewed.
• Financial analysis of audited accounts for SMEs grant applicants and providing assessment reports on the suitability of the applicant.
• Reporting: Reviewing all grantee data, records, reports for accuracy and authenticity, taking responsibility and ownership of reports reviewed and forwarded to the management.
• Plan and facilitate marketing training events, working with marketing team as needed at county level, working with relevant project officer.
• Facilitate learning opportunities especially with regard to supply/value chain development and widely disseminate lessons learnt through to actors at the county level.
• Solicit feedback (policy and practice) from project participants and partners to ensure that program delivery is as responsive to community priorities as possible at the county level.
• Working closely with SEs and SMEs, identify emerging challenges and promote best practices in gender-equitable participation, contribute to improving the business environment for SEs and SMEs, as well as bring gender perspectives to business risk mitigation for grantees
• Update performance indicators covering relevant SMEs and Lead Firm in the counties covered, including updating the online database.
• Support the M& E, Gender and Environment departments in identifying data parameters and tools for monitoring and evaluating project impact.
• Represent MEDA Kenya at the Coastal Region Counties both through stakeholder involvement forums and field activities.
• Act as the focal point at the MEDA office in Mombasa ensuring all financial and administrative matters related to the Mombasa office are transparently, and effectively managed, in line with established processes, and Policies.

Qualifications;

• Bachelor’s Degree preferably in Commerce, Business Administration, Agri-business or any other related Field
• A Master’s degree is an added advantage – MBA, MSc. Finance, Entrepreneurship or related Field.
• Strong Advantage- Experience working in the counties at the coastal region of Kenya: Mombasa, Lamu, Kilifi, Kwale, Tana River, Taita-Taveta
• Demonstrated Experience in Value Chain Approach to development in any of the M-SAWA project sectors (Agriculture, Construction and Extractives).
• Experience in SME/Private sector development
• Demonstrated Experience in supporting SMEs in decision making and value Chain Development.
• Experience in mobilizing field stakeholders into collaborative partnerships.
• Financial and investment experience and finance in private equity markets.
• Superior Report-writing skills
• Experience in Ms Office packages, and database management tools.
• Willingness to travel 40% of the time to the project areas for project monitoring.
• Appreciation and support of MEDA’s faith, values, mission and purpose.