BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT SUPPORT OFFICER-KASAMA

Posted 5 years ago

ZAMBIA SKILLS DEVELOPMENT AND ENTERPRENUERSHIP PROJECT SUPPORTING WOMEN AND YOUTH SDEP-SWY

 EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY

 BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT SUPPORT OFFICER-KASAMA

 

The Government of the Republic of Zambia has received financing from the African Development Bank toward the cost of the Skills Development and Entrepreneurship Project – Supporting Women and Youth. The Project will facilitate the construction of Industrial Yards, provide support to Cassava Value Chain development and strengthen Business Development Services (BDS) in target districts of Zamia.

 

Government therefore intends to apply part of the agreed amount for this loan towards recruitment of a Business Development Support Officer to be based in Kasama District.

 

Under the technical direction of the SDEP-SWY Manager and while functioning as part of the CEEC Provincial Office, the BDSO will be the principal liaison, implementing and results officer of the Project Business Support Centre in the province. The BDSO will be accountable for:

 

  • Increasing effective demand for BDS among Micro Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in the province
  • Improving the quality and quantity of Business Development Services Providers (BDSPs) in the province
  • Systematically matching MSMEs with suitable BDSPs
  • increasing competitiveness of supported MSMEs, especially but without being limited to those operating in the Industrial Yards and the Cassava Value Chain of the SDEP-SWY
  • Increasing commercial sustainability of BDSPs
  • Leveraging stakeholder resources and promoting cost-share to scale up impact of BDS

 

 

Responsibilities

 

The BDSO will be responsible for undertaking and/or facilitating the following project activities:

  • Undertaking market, sectoral, value chain and competiveness analyses and needs assessments in order to comprehensively understand and effectively address the BDS environment in the province
  • Identifying and engaging Business Development Service Providers (BDSPs) to provide BDS required by target MSMEs
  • Identifying and engaging financed MSMEs in need for BDS support to enable them take fuller advantage of their market opportunities.
  • Maintaining an updated database of MSMEs in need for BDS support and BDSPs, their services, market segment information for BDSPs, etc.
  • Matching and brokering MSMEs and BDSPs so that they transact and engage successfully. MSMEs and BDSPs
  • Facilitating BDSP rating services to promote good BDS quality standards
  • Providing price transparency services, information services (on processes for business registration, licensing requirements, tax regimes, investment incentives, etc.).
  • Developing portal content, determining target user segments, developing and implementing a rapid on-boarding process for new clients,
  • Providing orientation, training and support to SDEP-SWY staff and other stakeholders in the fictive utilization of the portal
  • Developing M&E applications for the portal (adoption metrics, usage measurements and measurement tools).
  • Progressively promoting fee-based services on the portal to enhance the sustainability and cost-share options of project.
  • Raising awareness among MSMEs of the factors that affect their competitiveness in order to stimulate their desire to address them through BDS.
  • Rolling-out the Kaizen programme to the target MSMEs to accelerate the appreciation of BDS by MSMEs and other stakeholders
  • Developing and promoting tools for the MSMEs to be able to evaluate the effectiveness of BDS in meeting their needs in order for them to identify gaps effectively will also contribute to increasing demand for BDS.
  • Promote continuous learning, self-assessment and participatory feedback from supported MSMEs to enable BDSPs continuously update their capacity in line with the changing needs of their MSMEs clients
  • Organizing annual program reviews
  • Disseminating assessment and evaluative reports to BDSPs for continuous improvement
  • Publishing newsletters, brochures, and other communications materials to promote the objectives of the Business Support Centres
  • Maintaining good communications visibility for the project portal, making it user-friendly and with useful up-to-date information for both MSMEs and BDSPs.
  • Preparing quarterly and annual work plans for the Business Support Centre for Mange met approval
  • Preparing quarterly, annual and other progress reports for the Business Support Centre for Management and other appropriate stakeholders

 

Qualifications and Skills

  • Grade Twelve (12) Certificate
  • Graduate Degree in Humanities, Social Sciences, Engineering or any other related field;
  • At least 3 years relevant experience in business development, value chain development, MSME development essential
  • Excellent written and spoken communications skills
  • Good interpersonal skills
  • Ability to work under pressure
  • A strategic team player
  • Excellent computer skill

 

Interested candidates meeting the above profiles should submit application letters enclosing the Curriculum Vitae and copies of the academic and professional certificates to the following address not later than 21st June 2019.

 

The application must be submitted in a sealed envelope clearly stating the preferred District.

 

Director General

Citizens Economic Empowerment Commission

Empowerment House

Plot No.6457, Los Angeles Boulevard Rd.

P.O Box 35068, Lusaka

ZAMBIA

Tel/Fax: +260 211 252 150

 

Or by Email:

Email: [email protected]

 

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Email: [email protected]

Email: [email protected]

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