Independent Consultant (m/f)

Description

• Assessment of opportunities for Business Women Connect to expand to northern Mozambique (Nampula and Cabo Delgado)
• The Consultant will develop a deep understanding of the situation for women-owned businesses in northern Mozambique and the landscape of small businesses as well as mobile money agent networks and products in order to recommend opportunities for expansion of the BWC program. BWC seeks to evaluate the locations in which BWC Phase IV can expand to, as well as the profile and type of businesses owned by these women entrepreneurs. This will help the program adapt the training and tools that would be the most appropriate for the local environment, and the integration of the project with the local partner financial institutions
• The objectives of this diagnostic are to:
• Map specific geographic areas in Northern Mozambique (Nampula and Cabo Delgado) with high concentration of women-owned businesses to be enrolled as program participants and potential new agents with local authorities, local TNS staff and partner financial institutions
• Deliver a recommendation and report on the profiles, types and quantity of businesses identified (sex disaggregated), the areas of higher concentration of businesses (sex disaggregated), the ratio of businesses that also act as mobile, banking or payment agents or have the requisites to become agents (sex disaggregated)
• The Consultant will report to the BWC Program Manager. The Consultant would be expected to be self-driven but would be supported by members of TechnoServe’s local Mozambique team, and will have access to the Mozambique country offices. The Consultant will also have access to the regional Gender expert

Proposed Timeline and Deliverables

• The main deliverables of the Consultant will be:
• Design of stakeholder questionnaires for interviews (local authorities, business owners (70% women), TNS staff, partners), write-ups of stakeholder interviews and written report summarizing findings
• A final presentation (10-15 pages plus annexes) summarizing the findings of the diagnostic and recommendations for BWC IV, including: recommendation on program locations for expansion and timetable for roll-out; and recommendation on potential partners
• The expected time period is a total of 3 weeks, in March 2020
• A draft report should be submitted to the BWC program team at the end of the field research. The final written report is due at the end of the assignment
• Approximate timeline of consultant’s activities:
• Activity: Planning and initial research

Duties

• Develop detailed work plan for the diagnostic
• Gather key documents from BWC
• Review reports and available data from financial institutions
• Contact TNS local field staff to map out strategic entry points in both provinces
• Estimated timeframe: 4 Days
• Analysis of current portfolio of women-owned business as well as existing women agents; visit to obtain details; understand business model
• Mapping of potential partners for replicability
• Map out areas with high concentration of small businesses (sex-disaggregated) that have the requisites to be part of BWC program and to become mobile/banking agents in Nampula and Cabo Delgado
• Conduct interviews with women-owned businesses in different areas of Nampula and Cabo Delgado to understand their current businesses; challenges and use of financial products
• Conduct interviews with existing women agents in different areas of Nampula and Cabo Delgado to understand their current mobile money/agency banking business model and their challenges
• Identify and interview local partners (organizations, institutions) that have the interest and potential to replicate the training program
• Estimated timeframe: 12 Days
• Synthesize findings and provide recommendations
• Recommend geographies, training approach and expansion strategy for BWC IV in Mozambique
• Summarize findings into document and/or PowerPoint
• Estimated timeframe: 4 Days

Requisites

• At least 5 years’ professional experience in an analytical role such as strategy consulting or investment banking
• Interest in women’s economic empowerment
• Experience in conducting qualitative and quantitative research in Mozambique
• Demonstrated leadership skills, teamwork and relationship building
• Proven analytical and commercial modeling skills (in Excel)
• Excellent written and verbal communication and interpersonal skills
• Strong computer skills, including MS Word, PowerPoint and Excel
• Ability to work independently, flexibly and responsively
• Able to adapt to changing working conditions
• Self-directed, disciplined and driven
• Relevant experience in entrepreneurship/micro& small business development and financial services:
• Knowledge and understanding of the micro and small business sector in Mozambique
• Knowledge and experience of the financial services industry in Mozambique
• Understanding of women’s empowerment:
• Knowledge and experience of issues around women’s economic empowerment
• Able to be thoughtful and practical on ways to engage and interview women Personal and professional qualities:
• Collaborative and dynamic work style
• Attention to detail
• Fluency in Portuguese and preferably English
• Cost: Competitive day rate

Notes

• Only shortlisted applicants will be contacted
• Indicate the source of this job post: emprego.co.mz
• We strongly encourage Mozambican female candidates to apply
• Consultants will be evaluated on the following criteria, assessed through the Consultant’s proposal, CV of main consultant and subsequent interview with BWC team. The proposal should be between 5-10 pages (excluding the CV)
• TechnoServe is an Equal Opportunity Employer of Minorities, Females, Protected Veterans and Individuals with Disabilities

How to Apply

1. Documentation

• Cover Letter
• Curriculum Vitae
• Proposal

2. Application

• Send your Documentation to dboa@tns.org and sbove@tns.org with the Subject line “Independent Consultant”