VOLUNTEER BUSINESS MENTOR FOR KILMEAP PROJECT. Open And Apply Now!

Organization

• Practical Action

  Posted7 Jul 2023  Closing date14 Jul 2023

Introduction

Practical Action is a change-making organization that works in unconventional ways. We bring people together in bold collaborations, using knowledge and innovation, to build futures free from poverty and help shape a world that works better for everyone. We put ingenious ideas to work so people in poverty can change their world.

We are an international development agency with more than 50 years’ experience in development and scaling of a range of technologies appropriate to the needs of the poor. Working throughout Africa, Asia and Latin America, Practical Action improves the lives of around one million people every year through access to energy, sustainable agriculture, water, sanitation, hygiene and waste management, and disaster risk reduction.

We are a trusted partner of many communities, governments, development agencies and the private sector. We are uniquely placed as a knowledge broker with a breadth of capacities which enable us to capture and share knowledge in relevant ways for our diverse audiences. We are influential at national level where we work, and globally and considered a “go-to” agency by those seeking to improve lives for men and women living in or vulnerable to poverty.

Our vision is a world where all people have access to the technologies that enable them to meet their basic needs and reach their potential, in a way that safeguards the planet today, and for future generations.

In pursuit of our Vision and Mission, we are committed to advancing gender equality and women’s empowerment through all our work including programmes, knowledge sharing, advocacy, external communications, and also through our own organizational development.

Practical Action is currently implementing the ‘Kenya ICS Last Mile Entrpreneurs Accelaration project (KILMEAP) project in peri-urban and rural areas of Nakuru, Nyandarua and part of Kericho and Baringo Counties.

The objective is to increase use of ICS through market development support to the last mile entrepreneurs to grow sustainable businesses and increase uptake and access of ICS for households and institutions. Justification of the volunteer Business Mentor recruitment Baringo County registered high interest in ICS. Under this project we recruited 83 LMEs and for the project to conduct quality mentorship to these LMEs, we need an additional Business Mentor. The County is wide for one mentor to carried out the tasks needed. The team requested the donor for an additional budget, and it was granted.

Job Functions and Responsibilities

• Training ICS LMEs on Business Skills Development, Agency Empowerment, Selfleadership, and other areas based on identified capacity gaps.

• Providing customized one-on-one business mentoring support to ICS Last Mile Entrepreneurs in the project areas as per the identified needs.

• Coordinating the formation of Village Savings and Loaning Associations (VSLAs) among the ICS LMEs

• Organizing for group networking and information sharing sessions among the LMEs

• Making regular monitoring of LMEs businesses to ensure implementation as per the project goal

• Organizing meetings in liaison with project implementation team for any planned field activities

• Collecting data/information from LMEs for regular monitoring of project indicators.

• Coordinating the generation of reports from the LMEs in the respective regions Any other task that may be assigned by Project Manager/Project Officer-Enterprise Development

Experience and Qualification

• A graduate degree in Business related discipline, Sales and Marketing or any other relevant field with at least 2 years’ working experience or a Diploma with at least 3 years working experience in business development services for small and micro enterprises.

• Experience in financial inclusion, household energy value chains (Improved Cookstoves) and Agency Empowerment programs for energy entrepreneurs will be an added advantage

• He/she must be experienced in adult capacity building; especially in the fields of business skills development and Village Savings and Loaning Associations (VSLAs)

• The incumbent will have strong communication skills in English, Swahili and local languages, training and coaching skills as well as excellent time management, organizational, networking and liaison skills

• He/she will also have In-depth knowledge and understanding of the renewable energy sub-sector of Kenya

• He/she will be proficient in Computer application with knowledge in use of online reporting platforms and report writing.

• In addition, the incumbent will be self-motivated and with the ability to work under minimal supervision

• The person will have strong interpersonal skills and the ability to work effectively with stakeholders across different sectors

• Immediate availability is highly desirable

Behaviors and Motivation

• The most important practical behaviors, for role success are:

• Completing

• Collaborative

• Creative

• Dynamic

A detailed Job Description can be accessed here- https://practicalaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/TOR-for-Additional-Business-Mentor-KILMEAP.pdf

How to apply

Interested applicants should send a motivation letter for the volunteer Business Mentor position; including an updated CV to Practical Action Kenya office by email to recruitment@practicalaction.or.ke with subject line Business Mentor – Baringo to reach Practical Action on or before 14th July 2023.

Practical Action is an equal opportunities employer and we encourage applications from under-represented groups. We stay committed to cultivating an inclusive and diverse working environment and believe that people from different backgrounds or cultures give us different perspectives, and the more perspectives we have, the more successful we will be. By building a culture where everyone feels heard, respected and valued we give everyone working with us the opportunity to achieve their full potential.

We are committed to safeguarding and protecting children and vulnerable adults and as such candidates will be subject to pre-contracting checks.

The successful applicant must have the pre-existing right to both live and work in Kenya.