Senior Business Advisor (Market Systems Development)

Description

• Background and Project Purpose: TechnoServe is set to launch a four-year program, titled "Oholo," which seeks to accelerate the growth of micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs), generate economic opportunities, and increase income generation in northern Mozambique. The program will dopt catalytic and facilitative interventions, with a particular focus on supporting women and youth-owned enterprises
• Following a fruitful inception phase spanning January 2022 to August 2023, the Oholo project will leverage the insights gained and transition from direct intervention to a more comprehensive Market Systems Development approach. This shift will involve transferring knowledge and expertise to local Business Development Service (BDS) providers, thereby ensuring scalability and long-term sustainability for the entire MSME market. The Oholo program will strength the capacity of BDS providers to effectively serve a diverse range of businesses. This will be achieved through direct training sessions with BDS staff, as well as the development of sustainable business models to reinforce the providers' operational models
• The Oholo program is funded by a consortium, which include the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), and Standard Bank Mozambique – who are united by a shared commitment to drive inclusive economic development in northern Mozambique
• The Senior Business Advisor (MSD) will report directly to the Program Manager. He/She will be responsible for overseeing the development and implementation of the Market Systems Development approach, ensuring the Oholo project's objectives are met. He/She will be instrumental in building and maintaining relationships with local Business Development Service (BDS) providers, enhancing their capacity to serve a diverse range of businesses. H/She will lead the coordination of market system development tnterventions, with various stakeholders, to address market system constraints (access to knowledge, markets, finance, etc.) and enhance business growth of women and youth entrepreneurs in Nampula and Cabo-Delgado provinces, thus ensuring sustainability of the interventions and project impact
• The Senior Business Advisor (MSD) will work closely with the Senior Business Advisor (entrepreneurship), women and youth entrepreneurs (beneficiaries), local structures, government institutions, technical and vocational education and training (TVETs), financial institutions, private sector and other partner actors of the project, to invest in changes to create an ecosystem and enabling environment for women and youth business growth, especially those located in urban and rural areas
• The Senior Business Advisor (MSD) is expected to be self-sufficient and proactive, but will be supported by local TechnoServe team members in Mozambique, and will have access to regional offices and global practices. The Senior Business Advisor (MSD) will be based in Nampula, with frequent travel to the field

Duties

• Develop and implement a comprehensive Market Systems Development strategy, aligned with the Oholo program objectives (improve the BDS Market, and make it more supportive for the rapid growth of women and youth businesses)
• Under each intervention outlined in the strategy, work with a relevant number of private and public sector actors within the market system to prove the business case for changing their approach in favor of an ecosystem that enhances the development of the market system more efficiently, and where all actors benefit, with a greater focus on women and youth entrepreneurs
• Overseeing financial and operational execution of the subawards and beneficiary grants and ensuring compliance with the project grants manual and TechnoServe policies
• Leading initiatives to try to attract other actors to replicate and scale the changes in the ecosystem
• Lead across multiple sectors in implementing programs related to gender-sensitive market research, empowering the entrepreneur located in rural areas (focus on women and youth-owned businesses)
• Manage partnerships and program interventions - activities, budget, results
• Oversee and support partners in generating ideas and implementing the interventions
• Write terms of reference for contracting consulting services
• Represent the program in networking meetings and relations with private and public actors
• Cultivate strong working relationships with local BDS providers and other relevant stakeholders to facilitate knowledge transfer and promote collaboration
• Design and deliver capacity-building training sessions for BDS staff, focusing on effective service delivery and tailored business support
• Develop sustainable business models for BDS providers, reinforcing their operational models and promoting long-term growth
• Oversee access to market activities, integrating entrepreneurs into supply chains, and improving access to finance and financial services
• Monitor and evaluate project performance, identifying opportunities for improvement and adapting strategies accordingly
• Work closely with the Senior MEL Specialist for data collection, collection of success stories, preparation of studies, sharing of lessons learned, monitoring and evaluation of progress on relevant indicators and correct reporting within the criteria defined in the project logframe, TechnoServe practices and aligned with the standards set by DCED
• Contribute to project reporting and documentation, ensuring all activities are transparent and compliant with donor requirements
• Work with TechnoServe's regional offices to draft partnership agreements and other related documentation, to pursue market systems development activities

Requisites

• Bachelor's degree + 5 years of experience in business management, economics, statistics or international development, or relevant academic background in an analytical field, with proven analytical skills in market research/social science research or Master's degree + 3 years of experience in a relevant field
• 3 years of experience working in the private sector, in management consulting, market research, banking or related fields, or in an NGO/government with a private sector development orientation, or implementing business development, entrepreneurship and financial inclusion projects, with a particular focus on women and youth
• Training and experience in Market Systems Development programs
• Knowledge of DCED Standards for Results Measurement will be an advantage
• Relevant experience in Business Development Services support, in the context of the Northern region of Mozambique
• Knowledge and understanding of the Business Development Services Market in the Northern region of Mozambique
• Knowledge and understanding of the needs from micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in the Northern region of Mozambique
• Knowledge and experience of the financial services industry and working with government agencies in the Northern region of Mozambique
• Knowledge in working within the entrepreneurial ecosystem, enabling a supportive business environment to women and youth-owned businesses in the Northern region of Mozambique
• Knowledge and experience in rural development with special focus on women and youth
• Strong written and oral communication skills and experience producing clear and concise reports and presentations. Capacity to translate research, methodologies, and data into accessible formats for colleagues with non-technical backgrounds
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to adapt strategies based on project performance and evolving needs
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to build and maintain relationships with diverse stakeholders
• An orientation toward communicating effectively and diplomatically with a range of external and internal colleagues including donors, partners and senior and junior team members across diverse cultures
• A commitment to coaching staff to support their development
• Management skills, such as project management, personnel management, work plan management, and/or financial management
• Fluency in English and Portuguese, both written and spoken, is essential
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, specifically Word, Excel, and PowerPoint

Notes

• Only shortlisted applicants will be contacted
• TechnoServe believes that achieving prosperity requires the full and free participation of women and youth. Our Gender Policy and commitment to programmatic excellence requires that we engage, empower and benefit both women and men, whether at the level of our beneficiaries or our staff
• Oholo's Commitment to Gender Equality
• By joining our team, you will benefit from a working environment that respects women and men and believes in the professional development of each one
• We are also proud of our commitment to protecting staff, partners, and beneficiaries from abuse and exploitation and thoroughly vet all final candidates through rigorous background and reference checks. If you have a disability that affects your ability to use our online system to apply for a position at TechnoServe please contact the Human Resources at recruitment@tns.org
• More information on TechnoServe at: Twitter: @TechnoServe