Position: Entrepreneurship and Business Development Officer

Location: Kismayo, Somalia

Duration: 12 months, renewable based on performance, funds, and need for the position

Closing date: 10th May 2025

Organization: Alight

DEPARTMENT/COUNTRY PROGRAM DESCRIPTION/MISSION

Alight is built on the way we see people. Understanding that a life is about so much more than simply satisfying basic needs, we’re working on how best to help the people we serve find connection, purpose, and joy in the challenging situations they find themselves in today.

We are dedicated to the principles that: abundance is everywhere; humans deserve human worthy service; radical accountability transforms our impact; everyone has the power to make change through democratic co- design; and by scaling deep we can rise to the size of the problem while staying close enough to respond to everyone.

The overall objective of the ALIGHT in Somalia program is to prevent death and alleviate human suffering among affected internally displaced persons (IDPs) in settlements and host communities where we work. ALIGHT has embarked on WASH, Health, Protection, shelter, and livelihood activities in lower juba region of Somalia and health and WASH program in both Banadir, Middle Shabelle Jubaland, Sool region and maroodijeex of Somaliland expand to other parts of the Country. Alight is taking a multi-sectoral approach in responding to the severe drought conditions through a range of activities including Health, Relief Commodities and WASH.

The Somalia Program of the Alight has fully-fledged offices in Mogadishu, Kismayo, Dhobley, Afmadow, Hargeisa, and Las Anod in Somaliland besides a liaison office in Nairobi, Kenya. Alight is working closely with national and regional authorities and with several Somalia-based international and national organizations to galvanize coordinated lifesaving humanitarian assistance to the people in need.

PRIMARY PURPOSE OF THE POSITION

1.       Program Design and Implementation:

§  Develop and implement a comprehensive entrepreneurship program specifically tailored for women, considering their unique challenges and needs.

§  Design and deliver training workshops, mentoring sessions, and networking events to support women entrepreneurs in developing their business skills, knowledge, and networks.

§  Collaborate with Alight external partners and stakeholders to leverage resources and expertise to enhance program effectiveness.

§  Monitor and evaluate program impact and make data-driven adjustments to improve outcomes.

§  Conduct Mapping of community power structures & clan dynamics; Understanding the socio-political & economic analysis and power dynamics in the project environment including assessing the clan structure, power dynamics and its influence on the target group of multi-dimensional poor women-headed households. This will inform how the Village committee will be constituted to ensure representation.

2.       Business Development Support:

Support project to deliver effective Business development support services by undertaking the following responsibilities

§  Under the leadership of program manager, support in developing Terms of reference for training service provider for 6 months Business management skills training course

§  Ensure third-party contracted institution/ agent Conduct Business management skills training course for 6 months.

§  Support program manager in Identification, Selection and contracting of most suitable training service providers.

§  Support Alight in Facilitating Business idea development, Screening and validation process by provide one-on-one guidance and support to women entrepreneurs in developing and refining their business ideas, plans, and strategies.

§  Support supervision of 4–6-month skills-oriented business training for 450 women, using or adapting an accredited business training model.

§  Facilitate connections between women entrepreneurs and relevant industry professionals, investors, and potential customers.

§  Conduct regular monitoring and provide monthly report to Project manager as well as providing regular updates as requested.

3.       Community Mobilization and sensitization

a)       Provide leadership during Community mobilization and sensitization forums which will be conducted throughout the project period.

b)      Conduct Community & stakeholder sensitization on project activities and plans.

c)       Support program team in raising all the Procurement requests and participate other necessary procurement processes as may be required.

d)      Ensure coordination and collaboration with other Stakeholders including Government and humanitarian agencies.

4.       Supervision and Monitoring

§  Support the program manager in Conducting Project Interim Monitoring & Review Workshop which will be conducted at the end of year 1.

§  Carryout regular monthly project monitoring through field visits, observation and carrying out interviews with beneficiaries, community leaders etc.

§  Supervise Business coaches and mentors; Supervision of 10 months regular Business Mentoring & Coaching support for the 450 women owned businesses and ensure coaches have developed and working towards a clearly defined target goal for each beneficiary.

§  Monitor and report on project activities in line with international best practices in development cooperation, placing a particular focus on a do-no-harm approach and preventing gatekeeping and sextortion.

§  Monitoring Business Growth and document success; Regular monitoring of the work of mentors as well as business owners in regards of practicing skills acquired during Business management skills training. A set of Business status monitoring tools will be developed to guide this process.

§  Conduct case studies to report success stories; this will Contribute towards generating and documenting overall project lessons learned with the aim of informing NGOs and governmental actors wishing to replicate the graduation approach in Somalia.

5.       Networking and Partnerships:

§  Establish and maintain strong relationships with ALIGHT partners, government agencies, and community leaders to enhance program visibility and access to resources.

§  Actively participate in relevant industry events, conferences, and forums to showcase the ALIGHT program and build partnerships.

§  Collaborate with other team members to identify and engage potential partners and donors to secure additional funding for program expansion.

6.       Reporting and Documentation:

§  Prepare regular reports on program activities, outcomes, and challenges for internal and external stakeholders.

§  Maintain accurate records of program participants and their progress, ensuring their privacy and confidentiality.

§  Document success stories and best practices to showcase the impact of the program and support future fundraising efforts.

§  Support the program manager in developing the final project report.

1.       Academic Qualification:

§  MUST have Undergraduate degree from Recognized university in relevant skills on Bachelor of Business management/ Business Administration/ Business studies/ Bachelor of Business Management science/ or Economics.

§  MUST have at least 3 years field experience in implementing humanitarian intervention with specific work experience in promoting entrepreneurship development support services.

§  MUST be able to fluent in speak and write English and Somali language.

§  Must be able to work under extreme pressure.

§  The person will 100% work with ultra-poor women and therefore, Female candidates are highly encouraging and will be given special preference.  

§  Past experience in implementing graduation model will be an added advantage.

2.       Other Desirability factors.

§  The person MUST have good understanding on how to build business skills that focuses in creating mindset change in consideration to the four personal factors that influence the success of all entrepreneurs (1) Motivation and Commitment; (2) Abilities and Skills; (3) Ideas and Markets; (4) Resources. The Durham University Business School called these “Ingredients for Success”.

§  Have knowledge on various Business skills training modules; Candidates who possess business skills training of trainers from accredited Business skills training platforms such as ILO’s business training, CEFE trainers; among others shall be considered as added advantage.

§  MUST be able to develop a checklist for monitoring training content & delivery mode as well as conditions of learning environment to ensure that it meets required standards.

§  Possess past experience in Conducting Training evaluation and feedback. This will be done by gathering community training evaluation feedback forms tailored to local context, ensuring that the training is effective and fits the needs of the beneficiaries.

§  To enhance effective delivery of the program, candidate MUST be able to coordinate with key stakeholders who will be involved at different level whether service deliver, or collaboration and or coordination purpose; Local Community & Government authorities in Jubbaland at all levels.

§  Ability to use of community-based targeting approach in which well constituted Village Committees are formed with gender and clan balance considerations. To avoid risk of exclusion of vulnerable groups, the project will use available information and third-party reports.

Kindly send your CV, Cover letter and copies of relevant academic and technical qualifications to: [email protected] not later than 10th May 2025

NB: Please state on the Subject line of the e-mail: Entrepreneurship and Business Development Officer