Technical Officer – Business Development Service Providers

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Job Title: Technical Officer – Business Development Service Providers
Company: Self Help Africa
Location: Lusaka Zambia

Reports to: Technical Manager – MSME/BDSP

Salary and Benefits: Competitive salary and medical cover, 24 days annual leave, Gratuity 25%, 5% Employer pension contribution.

Length of Contract: Two years – renewable subject to performance

About Self Help Africa:

Self Help Africa’s Zambia programme works with local communities to help them improve their livelihoods. Our mission is to alleviate hunger, poverty, social inequality and the impact of climate change through community-led, market-based and enterprise-focused approaches.

Self Help Africa has been working in Zambia for over 35 years and has reached over 250,000 smallholder farmers. Our work has been focused on ending poverty and hunger through community-led and market-based approaches. Our experience working with rural communities and smallholder farmers during this time has honed our expertise in addressing climate change and its impact on food production and the environment.

We collaborate with companies – both large and small – seeking to create jobs, add value, and develop markets. We also seek relationships with international businesses and corporations seeking opportunities to invest, collaborate, and develop markets that contribute to economic growth in Zambia.

Project Background:

DURATION: July 2024 to June 2028

PROJECT REGION IN ZAMBIA: Nationwide, with a focus on urban areas and key economic development corridors.

IMPLEMENTING PARTNERS: Self Help Africa in consortium with:

  • Imani Development (International) Ltd
  • Prospero Zambia Ltd
  • Tandem Circular Consulting Ltd

SUMMARY: The European Union’s Green Recycling Enterprises Engaging in New Technology for a Circular Economy in Zambia (GREEN Tech4CE) project is dedicated to fostering sustainable and inclusive economic growth in Zambia. Rapid urbanisation, increasing attention to green and circular economy, and the increasing demand for critical raw materials present concrete opportunities towards a more sustainable growth path in Zambia and beyond. The project aims to promote sustainable practices by supporting the creation and growth of start-ups and MSMEs within the green and digital sectors. Through comprehensive technical and financial support, GREEN Tech4CE will drive innovation, create employment opportunities, and facilitate economic diversification. This project operates under the broader Green Economy Promotion and Diversification (GEPD) Programme, which seeks to address Zambia’s economic vulnerabilities and environmental challenges. Together, these initiatives strive to build a resilient and sustainable future for Zambia by integrating green growth strategies and circular economy principles. The project supports the implementation of the Green Growth Strategy launched in March 2024 to generate economic growth that is also socially inclusive and environmentally sustainable.

GREEN Tech4CE will use a combination of ‘technical assistance’ and ‘financial support’ to MSMEs, BDSPs, FSPs/investors, and Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET)-providers to increase knowledge, skills, demand, and investment in sustainable, profitable GCD activities. The project will improve the formalisation, competences, and management of MSMEs with growth potential by identifying businesses to support, conducting needs assessment of those businesses, and facilitating development of GCD value chains.

The project will increase access to finance to improve product quality and product diversification in the GCD economy by issuing grants, strengthening capacity of FSPs, and facilitating linkages between MSMEs and FSPs/investors. The project will improve and expand the support services offered to MSMEs by Zambian BDSPs and FSPs by building knowledge on the GCD economy amongst BDSPs and FSPs and by providing grant support to BDSPs and FSPs to enable them to build upon the services and products that they can offer MSMEs.

The project will promote wider public-private sector engagement through networking, and learning/dissemination events. Finally, this project will support innovation and emerging technologies by working with a TVET-provider to establish two FabLabs.

Job Purpose:

The Technical Officer will be part of the team responsible for technical and operational engagement with SMEs for Green Recycling Enterprises Engaging in New Technology for a Circular Economy in Zambia (GREEN Tech4CE) Implementation Team lead by the Team Leader. The GREEN Tech4CE is a collaboration between Self Help Africa (SHA) and co-applicants Imani Development (International) Ltd (IDIL), Prospero Limited (Prospero) and Tandem Circular Consulting (Tandem) to promote and de-risk investment in green sustainable growth in Zambia through creating and sustaining green, circular, and digital economic opportunities for women, men, and youths.

There are three Technical Officer roles with different portfolio profiles linked to facilitating thematic clusters of firms:

Technical Officer – MSME/BDSP

Technical Officer – Digital & Financial Innovations

Technical Officer – Green, Circular & CRM

The Technical Officer will be responsible for the management of the portfolio assigned to him/her. This will include pipeline generation through networking, information sessions etc. The Technical Officer will also provide leadership in the project refinement for contracting for each company within his/her portfolio. She/He will monitor implementation progress, participate in M&E activities, conduct due diligence/capacity assessments, provide technical assistance and coaching to the portfolio of selected businesses. The Technical Officer will be a member of a team of Technical Managers and Officers under the leadership of the Enterprise Programme Manager.

Key Responsibilities:

Application and selection processes

  • Plan and deliver sensitisation and information sharing events for applicants
  • Conduct due diligence and support assessment of project suitability for the fund for shortlisted applicants
  • Review match funding plans for proposed projects
  • Develop a results framework for the shortlisted applicants, in collaboration with the M&E officers
  • Support shortlisted applicants to draw up loan applications to partner financial institutions, in collaboration with relationship managers

Grantee management and support

Manage a portfolio of enterprises to fulfil their contractual obligations and to deliver the stated results. Specific tasks include the following: 

  • Act as the lead contact for an assigned number of enterprises and maintain frequent and regular communication with them
  • Facilitate technical assistance (training, coaching and mentoring) to the enterprises after award to ensure increased value chain integration and sustainable and profitable operations
  • Facilitate enterprises in networking, business-to-business linkages and strengthening their supply chains
  • Assess the enterprises capacity needs and design and provide activities that build their capacity
  • Monitor programme performance to enable early anticipation of necessary adjustments to plans and budgets
  • Provide guidance in the preparation of quarterly milestone reporting

Programme quality, monitoring and reporting

Work closely with the enterprises and other stakeholders, including SHA programme staff, to coordinate coherent and consistent delivery of the programme objectives. Specific tasks include the following:

  • Support programme management on all aspects of the programme cycle: design, planning, implementation, quality and accountability, monitoring and evaluation.
  • In coordination with the GREEN Tech4CE, Imani, SHA Zambia and HO Technical Advisors, ensure effective integration of core technical areas.
  • Provide technical input for the implementation of the programme including in the preparation of work plans, strategies, training materials, guides and manuals
  • Facilitate effective communication between SHA and stakeholders for effective programme management
  • In conjunction with the M&E team, conduct monitoring and evaluation of the selected enterprises’ outputs and compile periodic programme reports as required by the donors and SHA
  • Work with the Project Support Officer to capture learning emerging from the programme
  • Represent the GREEN Tech4CE project at government, donor, NGO and other relevant events in the field in close coordination with the Team Leader and the Country Management Team.

Operations and compliance

  • Ensure all documentation for each company is 100% complete and up-to-date on Salesforce – contracts and agreed amendments, financial and narrative reports, official communications, etc
  • Support the Team Leader to ensure compliance by SHA and partners with contract requirements in planning, financial management, procurement, monitoring and reporting, and facilitate further training where necessary
  • Identify, assess and report on risk elements within the projects and wider programme, including regular updates of the company performance tracker.
  • Support the team in programme design and fundraising initiatives that contribute to the growth of the GREEN Tech4CE programme

Occasionally, other duties may be assigned by the Technical Manager to ensure effective project delivery.

Key Relationships:

Internal

  • GREEN Tech4CE Team
  • Zambia Country Director
  • Head of Programmes
  • Head of Finance and Administration
  • Finance and Administration Team
  • All Programme Coordinators
  • Regional Enterprise Advisor
  • Imani Development, Prospero and Tandem Consulting Team

External

  • EU Delegation in Zambia
  • Lead Firms/SMEs/Implementing Partners
  • Stakeholders including government, research institutions, regional financial institutions, Financial Service Providers (FSPs), Business Development Service Providers (BDSPs), Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) providers, external auditors, and private companies and coordinating bodies

Knowledge and Experience:

  • At least five years’ demonstrated experience in the implementation of entrepreneurship development projects which include.
    • Start/MSME needs assessment for capacity development
    • Planning and implementing business development support to Startups and MSMEs which include but are not limited to counselling, mentoring, coaching, training, business clinics, incubators and accelerators.
    • Performance management and monitoring of Business Development Service Providers
    • Facilitating access to credit, grants, and other financial resources.
    • Offering advice on financial planning and management.
  • Good project management skills with an understanding of business decision-making in competitive market environments; inclusive subsector development and value chain/Market Systems Development
  • Strong analytical skills for appraising business case reports and audited financials with an understanding of performance contracting, follow-up, and execution
  • Proven experience in investment and financial assets management as an analyst or assistant manager in a financial institution environment
  • Excellent communication, interpersonal and team building skills
  • Excellent report writing skills and ability to present results succinctly and for a varied audience

Desirable

  • Familiarity and experience with EU regulations preferred
  • An understanding of the green and circular economy principles and; sustainable business practices
  • Commercial business experience from working in the private sector

Qualifications / Other Requirements:

Essential:

  • University Degree in Business Administration, Management, Finance, Economics or related field relevant to the role. 
  • Strong computer skills especially with MS Word and Excel and other related packages such as Sales force.

Role Competencies:

  • Results-oriented with excellent organisational and communication skills, as well as enthusiasm and initiative
  • Proactive and motivated with a strong commitment to Self Help Africa’s vision, mission and values
  • Attention to detail and the ability to produce timely and accurate reports
  • Ability to work as part of team across different cultures
  • Ability to work under pressure and on own initiative 


How to apply:

Full Job Description here. 

Please complete the application form and upload your CV outlining your suitability for the role here. 

The closing date for applications is midnight Friday,11th March 2025.

Important information: 

Self Help Africa is an international development charity and is committed to the safeguarding of all those who we come into contact with or through our work. We are committed to preventing any type of unwanted behaviour relating to our work including sexual harassment, exploitation and abuse, lack of integrity and financial misconduct; and we are committed to promoting the welfare of children and the people we aim to assist with whom Self Help Africa engages. Self Help Africa expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment and uphold the values and behaviours outlined in the Code of Conduct and Child and Adult Safeguarding Policy. We place a high priority on ensuring that only those who share and demonstrate our values are recruited to work for us. Recruitment to all roles in Self Help Africa will include, and be subject to, a criminal records self-declaration, references, and other pre- employment checks, which may include police and qualifications checking. Self Help Africa is committed to the principles of the Misconduct Disclosure Scheme and will request information from previous employers about any findings of sexual exploitation, sexual abuse or sexual harassment during employment. By submitting an application, the applicant confirms her/his understanding of these recruitment procedures. Subsequently, working or volunteering with Self Help Africa is subject to a range of vetting checks, including criminal background checking. 

Research shows that women and those from marginalised ethnic groups are less likely to apply to jobs unless they meet every single requirement. If you’re excited about this role but your experience doesn’t align with every criteria described we encourage you to apply anyway you could be exactly what we need!