Business Development at ACDI/VOCA

Job Responsibilities:

• Identify and screen commercially viable MSMEs that fit within the LMS value chains of red meat/live animals and camel milk, which will improve market access, productivity and overall competitiveness of the value chains. Livestock sector in the 5 ASAL Counties
• Assist and build the capacity of selected businesses to develop and prepare their business plans, and make necessary recommendations. This will include providing technical support in the following areas.
• Conducting feasibility assessments of investments to include: SWOT analysis; risk and competition analysis; discussing with the applicants on possible modalities for of governing and managing the business/investments to optimize its efficiency and effectiveness looking at its current status, capacity and commercial potential as well as opportunities for creating employment opportunities in the Counties.
• Identifying potential markets and requirements for entrance to the market e.g. through market assessments, and developing marketing strategies that will provide enterprise growth and profitability.
• Developing enterprise operational strategies to include: Identification of infrastructure and other resources needed for the enterprise/investment to achieve profitability- to include actual costing, cashflows, realistic assumptions and benchmarks, requisite standards, and risk mitigation plans; highlighting concrete steps to be taken by the selected businesses in order to ensure effective and efficient operations
• Provide insights to the project about businesses to be supported to ensure risks are mitigated before funding commitments are made
• Provide training, coaching and mentoring support to the grantees after the award to ensure sustainable and profitable operations.
• Facilitate grantees networking, business to business linkage as well strengthen their input supply chain
• Support grantees to obtain required licenses and certifications
• Conduct monitoring and evaluation of the selected business activities and report on the same.
• Work with SRC to put in place and monitor financial management systems that will lead to business sustainability
• Together with the Agribusiness Finance and Investment Director, assess financial needs of businesses and link them to lenders to access working capital
• Perform any other duties as required by supervisor.

Qualifications

• A minimum of a Bachelor’s Degree in Entrepreneurship and/or Business Management. A Master’s Degree in a related field is highly preferred.
• A minimum of 5 years of professional experience in developing business plans, conducting economic and/or financial analysis or other relevant areas is a must.
• Experience in livestock value chain and MSME development or closely related field will be an added advantage.
• Strong writing, analytical, presentation and reporting skills.
• Ability to travel and work in one of the designated counties (Garissa, Wajir, Turkana, or Isiolo)
• The position requires extensive field travel within and beyond designated counties.