Everyone deserves the opportunity to build a better future. This simple idea has been at the heart of TechnoServe’s work around the world for over 50 years. TechnoServe is a pioneer in leveraging the power of business and markets to create sustainable pathways out of poverty.
The low-income communities in which we work are full of enterprising people. Their small-scale farms and businesses are the keys to economic development. But they face many challenges: low literacy, lack of access to jobs and markets, unpredictable political dynamics and, increasingly, the effects of climate change. For many women and young people, the challenges are even more daunting. Working with TechnoServe staff, people around the world are lifting themselves out of poverty. The results are amazing...when incomes increase and living conditions for families get better, they are able to access health care and education previously out of reach. Communities and even whole countries are better off.
Position DescriptionThe Associate Business Advisor (ABA) will support in the implementation of the Smart Souks program activities in Addis Ababa and its environs. Working closely with the Program Manager, the ABA will be responsible for timely and effective implementation of project activities and achievement of the project’s goal.
Program and Smart Duka BackgroundThe Ethiopia Smart Souks Initiative represents a significant evolution in the partnership between TechnoServe and the elea Foundation to strengthen the micro-retail sector in East Africa.
Smart Souks will build on the successes of the previous four phases of the Smart Duka program in Kenya, which have directly impacted over 57,000 micro-retailers (dukas); mobilized over $5 million in capital; fostered partnerships with more than 10 financial institutions and over 50 manufacturers, wholesalers, and distributors; and established 58 business groups and 10 regional associations that forms the NDO membership. Through business groups, the micro-retailers have been able to aggregate fast-moving consumer goods products worth over $1M attracting an average of 2–5% quantity discounts.
Smart Souks’ vision for micro-retail is rooted in a long-term process of sector transformation strengthening systems through interventions that support commercialization, maturity, and sustainability. In Ethiopia, we aim to enter the market further along this pathway than we did in Kenya. Rather than starting with training individual micro-retailers, we propose a more advanced, collective approach—organizing micro-retailers into scalable clusters, serving selected high-density condominium communities in Addis Ababa, working through locally embedded Business Development Services (BDS) providers. This model is particularly promising in essential goods sectors like cooking oil, where early signals from government actors suggest strong alignment and interest.
Key Roles and ResponsibilitiesThe Associate Business Advisor will be responsible for the following duties:
Implement the program activities and ensure achievement of deliverables, including specific outputs and outcomes laid out the program proposal
Support the program in identifying, vetting and selecting the souks
Lead the process of conducting baseline, midline and end line surveys
Ensure training of souks is delivered in the specified curriculum and one on one coaching to the souks owners
Work closely with souks owners to form business associations
Through critical review of project activities in the field, work with the Program Manager to eliminate risks that may hinder effective implementation of the project
Establish and maintain strong relationships with relevant stakeholders including government ministries, private sector companies, financial institutions, business associations and academic institutions
Maintain project work plan and ensure timely project implementation
Submit the weekly report on activities conducted and report on monthly/quarterly targets
Understand, respect and promote TechnoServe’s values, vision, and strategy in the implementation of assigned duties
Perform other duties as assigned by the Program Manager
Bachelor’s degree in business related field such as Marketing, Business Administration, Finance, Entrepreneurship, Human Resources and MIS
2 years experience of consulting/working with micro-businesses in Addis Ababa
Conversant with recent trends in the retail industry in the country
Experience working with communities living on less than $2 a day and willing to travel frequently in the informal settlements
Strong and demonstrable report writing skills
Track record of building strong client and stakeholder relationships with government ministries, private sector companies, financial institutions, business associations and academic institutions
Excellent interpersonal, oral and written communication skills a must
Proficiency in MS Office especially Excel and PowerPoint
Ability to generate innovative solutions in work situations and work with minimum supervision
Skills Required
- Bachelor’s degree in a business-related field such as Marketing, Business Administration, Finance, Entrepreneurship, Human Resources, or MIS
- Two years of experience consulting or working with micro-businesses in Addis Ababa
- Knowledge of recent retail industry trends in Ethiopia
- Experience working with communities living on less than $2 per day
- Willingness to travel frequently in informal settlements
- Strong report-writing skills
- Experience building relationships with government ministries, private companies, financial institutions, business associations, and academic institutions
- Excellent interpersonal, oral, and written communication skills
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office, especially Excel and PowerPoint
- Ability to generate innovative solutions and work with minimal supervision
What We Do
TechnoServe works with enterprising people in the developing world to build competitive farms, businesses, and industries. We are a nonprofit organization that develops business solutions to poverty by linking people to information, capital and markets. Our work is rooted in the idea that hardworking people can generate income, jobs and wealth for their families and communities. With five decades of proven results, we believe in the power of private enterprise to transform lives. Our success in creating business solutions to poverty is due in large part to our talented and highly committed team. TechnoServe employs more than 1,500 people, the vast majority of them host-country nationals working in the field. Our staff combine business expertise with local knowledge, relationships, and context to help hardworking men and women generate income, jobs and wealth for their families and communities. In 2020, TechnoServe's work helped transform the lives of 1.3 million people in Puerto Rico as well as countries throughout Africa, Latin American, and Asia by targeting improvements in farms, businesses, and industries. Learn more about our impact at www.technoserve.org/impact
