Palladium is a global company working to design, develop and deliver positive impact on the lives and livelihoods of people around the globe; broaden access to health, water, power, and infrastructure; build enduring, sustainable, and transformative institutions and market systems to address global challenges; and conserve the natural world. We operate in over 90 countries and have a workforce of 4,000 talented, motivated, and diverse staff of all religions, races, languages, and gender identities.

This Opportunity

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.

Location: The position is based in Palladium’s Addis Ababa, Ethiopia office.

You And Your Career

If you are a problem-solver, collaborator, and doer, and you have expertise in policy and regulatory business enabling environment for SMEs, we are interested in hearing from you.

We are a learning organization and provide growth opportunities from the start. We pride ourselves on giving you the freedom, resources, and guidance to chart a fulfilling career!

Reporting And Supervision

The Business Enabling Environment (BEE) Specialist will report to the CATALYZE: MS4G Team Lead. S/he will work to enhance the business enabling environment for SMEs to flourish.

Primary Duties And Responsibilities

The purpose of this assignment is to support the MS4G as it expands its support the enhancement of business enabling environment in Ethiopia. Tasks include:

• Provide support to ensure achievement of programmatic objectives and delivery of high-quality work for Business Enabling Environment activities
• Support project leadership in budget planning and program monitoring
• Directly work with business membership organizations, Professional and sectorial associations to improve BBE
• Prepare periodic policy alerts and briefs
• Work on different research requests of the private sector and USAID
• Responsible for helping to improve the policy and regulatory business enabling environment for SMEs
• Help simplify registration processes for new businesses
• Conduct formative research to support policy reform and present to client and stakeholders
• Design and lead activities which improve policies to engage women, youth and vulnerable populations
• Share results and contribute to monitoring, evaluation, and learning with project leadership, Palladium, and USAID
• Support the improved execution of the Business Enabling policy and regulations
• Build capacity of Civil Society Organizations (CSO) BEE advocacy
• Contribute to effective internal and external project communications
• Conduct other duties as assigned

Requirements

Key Competencies Required

• Advanced degree in business, law, economics, or related field
• Prior experience in a senior level position working on policy and regulatory reform in Ethiopia
• Prior experience working with SMEs and anchor firms
• Diplomatic skills and proven ability to work effectively with government and private sector policy reform stakeholders
• Very good understanding of the applicable business policies, legal framework and customary practices
• Experience supervising personnel and ensuring they acquire the necessary training and skills to meet evolving program needs
• Strong leadership, program, organizational management and oral and written communication skills
• Fluency in English and other local languages preferred

Professional Expertise/Competencies Preferred

• Advanced degree in business, law, economics, or related field