Senior Energy Access Advisor at Mercy Corps

OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES

The consultant will offer advisory services to SMEs:

Business Development Support (BDS)

• Support companies on their business strategy, including business model development, customer value proposition, unit economic analysis, sales growth, and market positioning and expansion.
• Provide engineering advice on technical system design and possibly procurement of equipment.
• Build the capacity of companies in supply chain management.
• Support the development of internal tools and processes to increase operational efficiency, including on budgeting and forecasting.
• Assist companies in developing Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) and other business analytics to support fundraising.

Capital Raising Advisory

• Help companies develop their funding strategy and identify the type and amount of capital required.
• Help companies develop investor-facing materials, including pitch decks, teasers and financial models.
• Identify potential funders and investors.
• Coach companies on pitching to investors and partners.
• Introduce companies to potential investors and support them in negotiations on contracts and term sheets.
• Assist companies in going through investor due diligence.

DELIVERABLES 

We will agree deliverables with the consultant as below:

• BDS deliverables for the companies e.g critiqued business model, progress report for donor. Ultimately the goal of the BDS is to help the companies create sustainable business models and, in the case of Get.invest, directly support in capital raising.
• Capital Raising Advisory deliverables for the companies e.g financial model and investor materials, introductions to # investors, progress report for donor. Ultimately the goal is to help 1-2 companies get accepted for financial intake by potential financiers and then reach financial close.
• Other deliverables related to energy access reports and publications, and designing business development concepts and proposals.

REQUIRED EXPERIENCE AND SKILLS 

Experience

• At least 10 years’ experience in at least one and preferably several of the following areas:
• Energy project development, operations, financing or appliances
• Advisory, management or strategic consulting
• Early-stage business building and capital raising
• Experience working with rural and off-grid business models in Africa and other developing markets. 
• Experience working in a fast-moving entrepreneurial environment and an understanding of the unique challenges faced by local businesses. 

Qualifications 

• Graduate or Postgraduate Degree in Business Management, Economics, Finance, International Development, Energy, Environment, Climate Change, Engineering or other relevant subject.