Business Engagement & Innovation Officer at Kenya Red Cross Society

PURPOSE:

Kenya Red Cross is implementing an Urban Resilience project targeting six informal settlements in Nairobi. The projects objective is to build the resilience of communities living in the informal settlement through innovation and partnerships. The project will be implemented from 2018 -2020 with funding from the Danish Red Cross.

Reporting to the County Coordinator, the Business Engagement an Innovation Officer will be responsible for developing and implementing a business engagement strategy to support economic opportunities for the vulnerable populations living in Nairobi informal settlement. S/he will serve as an integral part of the program team, focused on driving awareness, engaging businesses and promoting innovation to improve community business systems and strategies in order to enhance economic opportunities.

Key Responsibilities

• Serves as the project’s principal liaison with the private sector
• Facilitate entrepreneurship trainings at the community level
• Map potential business engagement opportunities, including already existing trainings and internships
• Support community in development of business plans
• Support human centred and co creation workshops to promote innovation
• Set up community based innovation hubs
• Establish formal alliances with educational institutions, financial institutions and businesses;
• Track best practices and maintain a breadth of knowledge about current trends, emerging issues and opportunities in business engagement efforts
• Ensure proper accounts in accordance to the KRCS regulations and donor requirements.
• Support in any other duties as assigned by KRCS

Minimum Qualifications 

• Bachelor’s degree in Business Management, Entrepreneurship or other related field with in depth understanding of poverty and vulnerability issues in Kenya’s Informal settlements
• Proven track record developing, implementing and evaluating business development plans with a focus on measurable results;
• Demonstrated ability to develop and implement multi-sector partnerships, based on an understanding of private sector trends and environments;
• Proficient and experienced in planning, monitoring and reporting of project activities in relevant field in multi-stakeholder partnerships and collaborations

Key Competencies 

• Able to coordinate and network with partners to build synergies that enhance sustainability of the project outcomes.
• Sensitive and responsive to gender, ethnicity, disability and other social issues
• Participatory and team approach to work and behaviour
• Excellent written and spoken English and Kiswahili.
• Able to provide timely, well written and analytical reports to the project team as required.
• Strong computer skills particularly Microsoft Office and data analysis packages.
• Self-motivated with a passion for the work and keen to learn as well as share knowledge and new ideas around livelihoods.