Inclusive Business specialist at TechnoServe Kenya

Job Summary:

The Inclusive Business Specialist is responsible for shaping and delivering technical assistance to SME food processor clients in Kenya. S/he will work closely with clients and value chain experts (short-term consultants) who are brought on-board to develop the IBPs and IMPs, as well as liaise with staff from TechnoServe’s Alliance for Inclusive and Nutritious Food Processing (AINFP) program, to:

• Develop and support implementation of Inclusive Business Plans (IBPs): oversee technical assistance and cost-share (co-investment) towards implementation of IBP recommendations
• Support optimization and implementation of Inclusive Marketing Plans (IMPs) to help clients effectively reach BoP markets.

The Inclusive Business Specialist will report to the Program Manager.

Program/Practice/Department Overview:

With an overarching mission to reduce poverty and increase resilience in the countries where we work,

TechnoServe aims to achieve two long-term goals through this program: 1) Catalyze inclusive growth, both upstream and downstream, of gender-diverse SME food processors in Sub-Saharan Africa; and 2) Increase women-led business’ access to resources (finance and technical knowledge/skills) and profitability, in order to fuel women’s economic empowerment across Sub-Saharan Africa. Profitable, growing agribusinesses with farmer-based supply chains, gender-responsive policies and practices, and reach into base-of-the-pyramid (BoP) markets can be the linchpin of resilient African food systems, holding particular promise for creating commercial value while also stimulating employment, livelihoods, food security, access to nutritious foods, and women’s economic empowerment. Investing in women-owned and led businesses contributes significantly to economic growth, including job creation.

Through this 3-year program, TechnoServe will provide customized technical assistance and co-investment funding to more than 20 gender-diverse small- and medium-sized (SME) food processors in Kenya and Tanzania to catalyze inclusive growth. Specifically, TechnoServe will support clients to: 1) strengthen their smallholder farmer sourcing models to benefit both clients and their farmer suppliers by developing and implementing customized Inclusive Business Plans; and 2) reach BoP markets by developing and implementing Inclusive Marketing Plans, to benefit clients and consumers.

Primary Functions & Responsibilities:

• Technical
• Help develop selection criteria for participating food processors
• Meet with and select food processors to participate in the program; recommend clients for continuation or cessation of program activities
• Oversee/lead the development of inclusive business plans and inclusive marketing plans, which will include: working closely with short-term value chain specialists; conducting interviews with food processors and other key stakeholders; reviewing data; and organizing/participating in field visits
• Oversee co-investment grants with a subset of selected processors

Program Coordination

• Serve as contact for clients for this initiative; coordinate with the AINFP team, who are the relationship “owners”
• Coordinate with the AINFP team and other TechnoServe programs and specialists to identify potential clients / select clients, and to execute program activities
• Help interview, select, and manage short-term value chain experts brought on to develop IBPs and optimize IMPs.

Program Quality and Impact

• Collaborate with Program Manager and AINFP team members to achieve program targets and objectives
• Assume ownership and accountability for high-quality programming
• Ensure quality controls for any grantee partners, in line with Technoserve policies and procedures

Program Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning

• Regularly collect program data, in collaboration with the Program Manager and AINFP team
• Monitor program performance against targets, and work with Program Manager to develop action plans to overcome challenges
• Record learnings from program implementation, and collaborate with Program Manager to develop knowledge products to share these learnings

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

Program Execution

• Strong understanding of market systems, agribusiness operations, and inclusive business models or inclusive marketing strategies (base-of-pyramid marketing strategies)
• Client focus. Understands client concerns/priorities, in order to guide technical assistance
• Effectively plans and prioritizes activities
• Committed to strong program performance
• Committed to compliance with organizational policies

Collaboration & Relationship Building

• Works cooperatively with team members to achieve common goals
• Builds trusted, productive relationships with staff, clients, and key stakeholders
• Uses sound judgment to escalate issues when necessary

Strategic and Innovative Thinking

• Builds strategic relationships to achieve program goals
• Seeks out opportunities to learn and actively applies new knowledge and skills
• Analytical; able to assess and diagnose challenges, and evaluate alternative courses of action to produce practical and effective solutions
• “How might we…?” mindset, striving for continuous improvement in program quality and impact

Effective Communication

• Able to tailor communication to different audiences and work at multiple levels
• Strong business writing skills; able to express self clearly and effectively through writing
• Clear speaker; able to convey ideas and information effectively through speaking

Basic Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in agribusiness, business, agriculture, or other relevant discipline
• 3+ years of professional experience in agribusiness, business, agriculture, or a related field
• Significant knowledge and understanding of the business and technical challenges of agro-processing in Kenya