Vacancy Advisor East Africa
About the BiD Network Foundation
BiD Network Foundation’s objective is to start, grow and finance small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) in developing countries. By 2020 BiD Network aims to start or grow 5 businesses every day. Today we are at two businesses a week. BiD Network uses two strategies to achieve its goals. Firstly, via the joint venture BiDx B.V. and its web platformwww.bidnetwork.org; and secondly, via the Advisory Services team that advices and supports SME intermediaries in developing countries. Since the website was launched 7 years ago www.bidnetwork.org has grown to be the largest online community serving developing country entrepreneurs and investors. The web platform has 46,000 members, 12,000 entrepreneurs, 1000 coaches and 673 businesses that have grown or started. With its network of 120 formal - and angel investors BiD Network has leveraged USD 13 million from financiers to businesses over the last 4 years.
The Advisory Services team
In addition to the high added value web-tool, that selects and advises good quality entrepreneurs in all developing countries, BiD Network has an Advisory Services team that supports entrepreneurs via local SME financiers and service providers in 16 developing countries, 5 in Latin America, 6 in Africa and 5 in Eastern Europe, the Middle East and Asia. These local partners support entrepreneurs on their road to become “Ready for Finance.” Coaches are engaged and financiers ranging from Business Angels to banks are part of the networks we mobilize to make the start, growth and financing of SMEs possible. BiD Network aims to grow its Business, Finance and Training services into a professional business consulting practice for SME service providers. The goal for Advisory Services is to become financially sustainable, relying on commitments from clients, governments or other funders. Most colleagues in this team are young, very proactive, entrepreneurial, strategically strong and very pragmatic. The atmosphere is informal, social and result driven.
The Advisory team is organized according to the types of Services we offer:
- Business Services: are geared towards preparing entrepreneurs in need of finance, which includes helping entrepreneur to start and grow businesses. These services are delivered via SME service providers and intermediaries such as business incubators, business support centres, chambers of commerce, NGOs, government agencies who, in turn, will support their entrepreneur clients directly. Examples of services are the “Ready4 Finance” training of trainers of entrepreneurs; training and engagement of coaches for entrepreneurs; the use of the www.bidnetwork.org web platform and organising competitions and matchmaking events for SMEs.
- Finance Services: aim to influence the local financial markets, in order to improve the access to finance for SMEs in developing countries. This includes increasing the range of financial products and the number of financial actors in a country. The target group for these services are well-established SME service providers and SME financiers, like banks, business angels or investment funds that seek investable business proposals. Examples of services are: the establishment of Business Angel Networks; a “Ready2Invest” training package for novice local investors; Matchmaking services for investors and entrepreneurs; and the use of the web-platform to increase local investment in SMEs.
Our advisory services team is looking for a new advisor to join the team which works in East Africa. This advisor’s work will focus on the Business services. BiD Network currently has one senior advisor who is stationed in Kigali, Rwanda and the new advisor will also be stationed in Kigali.
Responsibilities of the Advisor
- Build upon current relationships with local partners in Eastern Africa
- Capacitating local partners so they can better support their clients, such as local SMEs
- Work on further implementing local services such as coaching networks, ready for finance training programs, business plan competitions, networking and matchmaking events
- Manage partnership agreements, reporting and monitoring
- Work together with the Sr advisor in building new partnerships and fundraising within the region.
Qualifications
- Able and willing move to Kigali, Rwanda within 4-6 months, for a period of at least two years
- Fluent in written and spoken English and French
- Ability to relate, connect and work together with local partners and their stakeholders
- Educational background in business and finance
- Experience in giving trainings and/or the ambition to develop these skills
- Experience with business development of SMEs in Africa
- Proactive, entrepreneurial, flexible, strategically strong and very pragmatic
- Ability to operate in flexible working environment
- Experience in living and working in Africa is a strength
- At least 2 years of relevant working experience
What we offer
- A competitive salary
- A one year contract, with the intention of renewal
- A young and dynamic working environment
- A large network of partners
- Access to an energetic and knowledgeable team of colleagues
- The possibility to work and live in a fast growing country (Rwanda) which is on the forefront of pro-SME development and growth policies in Africa.
- The chance to grow your own skills in SME development and finance, and your network in Eastern Africa
Please submit your letter and CV to jobs@bidnetwork.org preferably by the 18th of July.Final deadline for submission is the 25th of July.
Specific questions can be asked to Anneke Evers +31-20-7555001 or Sara Japenga +31-20-7555001 or can be submitted to jobs@bidnetwork.org. Interviews are planned for 6-10 August.
We do not accept applications from recruitment agencies.
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