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Project Overview And Role

USAID CATALYZE Ethiopia: MS4G is designed to benefit the Ethiopian people, build community resilience, and strengthen rural-urban linkages, in the areas of food security and WASH. MS4G invests in developing strong relationships with private sector players, co-investing in inclusive business models, advisory services, digital solutions, and market-based initiatives that increase the resilience and sustainability of Ethiopian enterprises and employment for women and youth.

CATALYZE MS4G uses a market systems approach to address key food security and WASH sub-system areas and the impact of economic shocks, including COVID-19 and political instability by stimulating adoption, adaptation, broad expansion, and responsive institutionalization and scaling of approaches and business models to transform the lives of Ethiopians.

Under its Strengthening Enterprise Ecosystem objective, MS4G works with growth-oriented SMEs in food security and WASH sectors to accelerate their capacity to grow, adopt inclusive business models, and provide sustainable employment to youth and women. This is achieved through initiatives that facilitate market-based business development through Business Advisory Service Providers (BASPs) and/or enterprise ecosystem actors such as business incubators, accelerators, and anchor/lead firms

Primary Duties And Responsibilities

The Enterprise Growth Specialist reports to the Enterprise Growth Manager and supports the effective leadership, organization, professional oversight and delivery of Enterprise Support and related strategies for economic growth.

Specific Tasks Are As Follows

• Support the development and implementation of the Enterprise Development Programme,
• Conduct assessment of market and systems to identify constraints and opportunities for businesses improvement of women and youth
• Participate in the development of annual business plan for Enterprise Growth component.
• Work closely with the private sector, regularly interacting with relevant industry bodies and consulting with them regarding planned activities.
• Support the preparation and presentation of reports on Enterprise Development activities.
• Support in the design of programs to enhance the capacity and capability of SMEs to increase their performance and meet program objectives.
• Research and propose different
• Participate in identifications, assessments, and selections of the potential implementing business advisory service providers for enterprise development
• Perform other functions as may be assigned by immediate supervisor.

Required Qualifications

• At least a Master’s degree in Business Administration, Economics, Marketing, Entrepreneurship and other related fields.
• Minimum of 5 years professional experience in SME/enterprise development
• Five (3) years of work experience with SMEs
• Three years of experience in SME business advisory
• At least 5 five years of enterprise development experience
• Experience in marketing, sales and/or business development
• Experience implementing donor-funded program
• Experience implementing in USAID funded program is a plus
• Considerable knowledge of enterprise development, business growth assessment, technical assistance program design, and a range of development business support services.
• Proven experience in supporting businesses grow
• Understanding of a range of enterprise business opportunities supporting business.
• Strong analytical and operational knowledge of enterprise development.
• Strong networking, partnership and interpersonal skills
• Ability to communicate effectively in oral and in writing, work independently and as part of the team, and work effectively with co-workers, partner agencies and the private sector.
• Computer proficiency in MS word, excel, and power point is required
• Fluency in the English language and strong written and spoken communication skills