Business Development Services (BDS) Specialist

Rolling Plans Pvt. Ltd (RPPL) announces the vacancy for Rural Enterprises and Remittance Project (RERP) . SAMRIDDHI is a seven-year project funded by International Fund for Agriculture Development (IFAD) and executed by the Ministry of Industry (MOI). Government of Nepal (GON) that aims at providing sustainable sources of income to poor households, migrant families and returnees in the Eastern and Central Regions of Nepal, by supporting the creation and expansion of family, micro, small and medium rural enterprises, both in the farming and off farming sectors. The goal of the project is reducing poverty and achieving sustainable peace through employment-focused, equitable and inclusive economic development.

APPLICATION PROCEDURE:

Application should include a cover letter, updated Bio-data and self-verified copies of necessary documents that qualify the CV. The application through email and/or by post should mention the job position and vacancy code in the subject line or in the envelope respectively. 

Fill the Application Form online from the link: www.rollingplans.com.np/samriddhi

The TOR may be revised at the time of employment agreement.

The organization reserves the right to reject any/all applications without assigning any reason whatsoever. Canvassing at any stage of the process shall lead to automatic disqualification.

DEADLINE:

The application needs to be received latest by 17:00Hrs, October 30, 2016 (Kartik 14, 2073) 

Business Development Specialist

Position’s Key Features

Job Title: Business Development Services (BDS) Specialist

Duty Station: PMO Itahari, Sunsari with frequent travel to Project Areas (about 50% of the time)

Mode of Contract: Annual, with six-month’ probation period, and extendable up to the project period based on satisfactory performance 

Reporting to: Project Manager

Project Overview

Rural Enterprises and Remittances (RER) - SAMRIDDHI is a seven years’ project signed between the Government of Nepal (GON) and International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) on 10 December 2015 covering 16 hills and Terai districts. It aims at providing sustainable sources of income to poor households, migrant families and returnees in the Eastern and Central Regions of Nepal, by supporting the creation and expansion of family, micro, small and medium rural enterprises, both in the farming and off-farming sectors. Ministry of Industry (MOI) is the Executing Agency. Agro Enterprise Center (AEC) under Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI), Helvetas Nepal, selected financial institutions and the business development service providers extending services to the rural areas are the key implanting partners. The Project comprises three inter-linked components encompassing the full set of interventions required to support RMSEs’ profitable and sustainable growth:

• Component 1: Promotion of RMSEs aims at (i) strengthening micro and small entrepreneurs, migrants and their families with sustainable access to adapted Business Development Services (BDS), i.e. non-financial services in support to enterprise creation and/or expansion; and (ii) vocational training and apprenticeship to poor households to build their skills and to secure gainful wage employment in RMSEs. Activities will be driven by an assessment of markets, business opportunities and available services and by an inventory and classification of existing RMSEs through a validation process.
• Component 2: Productive Investment builds on results of component 1 and aims at (i) facilitating RMSEs/migrants/remittance recipient households’ access to financial services at an affordable cost by sustainable financial institutions; and (ii) mobilizing migrants’ resources and skills for creating assets and promoting profitable rural enterprises. It will develop innovative financial instruments designed to offset major constraints faced by RMSEs in accessing investment loans at an affordable cost and to stimulate migrants’ savings and investment in profitable business development.
• Component 3: Institutional Support and Project Management aims at promoting a favorable policy and institutional environment supporting the development of RMSEs at a national scale and the contribution of migration to sustainable development.

Implementation Arrangements

The MOI is overall responsible for coordination and oversight. A Project Management Office(PMO), located at Itahari is responsible for day-to-day implementation of project activities with support from two Corridor Teams providing technical and management support to Enterprise Service Centers (ESCs) and migration-related activities at the district level. Technical partners - Helvetas Nepal and South Asia will support to implement of vocational training and knowledge management aspects. Besides, selected financial institutions and business development service providers’ are expected to support the implementation. A Project Steering Committee headed by MOI Secretary at the national level will provide oversight and guidance.

Expected Results

The development objective of the Project is that viable RMSEs, in both farming and off-farming sectors, provide sustainable sources of income to poor households, migrant families and returnees. Main indicators are: (i) 60,000 RER supported rural entrepreneurs expand their existing business or create a new one; (ii) 30,000 rural youth access job placement services; (iii) 30,000 RER-supported enterprises are still in business after 3 years, of which 33% owned by women, 30% owned by migrant returnees; and (iv) 21,000 RER supported vocational trainees and apprentices, of which 33% of women, are in gainful employment over at least 6 months

Scope Of assignment:

The Business Development Services (BDS) Specialist is a vital position in the project which aims to promote rural enterprises. The Business Development Specialist maintains a good understanding of the recent developments and best practices in the field of enterprise promotion and growth. S/he responsible for identifying potential entrepreneurs and helping them to establish their own business/ or expand their business. S/he helps the PM&E specialist in developing the plan for business development activities.  The business development specialist works with other team members of the PMO (especially Financial inclusion and Rural finance Specialists) to expose the entrepreneurs to the modern financial instruments and services offered by FIs and help them to use these instruments and services. 

The Business Development Specialist works closely with the corridor team and the ESC in the districts and guides them in selecting the enterprises to be supported by the project and extending the services to these enterprises. He she guides the team members in the district and corridor in the project activities of business promotion.  The Business Development Specialist is responsible for achieving the project outcome and output in the field of business promotion

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES AND DUTIES:

The Business Development Specialist will be responsible for coordinating and managing the enterprise development activities within the project and for delivering the business development services to the rural enterprises being supported by the project as well as for ensuring the delivery the the expected project outcomes working in close collaboration and coordination with other PMT staff members, corridor team  staff and other stakeholders. The responsibilities Of the BDS coordinator include (but not limited to) the following:

Planning:

• Assist the PMT in planning of activities related to business and  Rural Micro enterprise development on  periodic basis
• Develop and provide Information package to the potential entrepreneurs
• Coordinate with corridor teams in planning the business development activities under the  project and ensure project activities as per the PIM and the Annual Plan
• Identify the Short term TA requirements for business development  activities /identification of growth areas(value chains)
• Contribute to the development of TOR  for short term  mapping the business opportunities in the project districts
• Prepare the operational plans for business development services in the project districts
• Develop template of proposal for firms/companies/ individuals  wishing to acquire the support of the project and make them available to the potential and existing entrepreneur

Project Implementation/execution:

• Help the corridor team and the ESC to identify the SPs for BDS service providers
• Develop the template for assessment of the capacity of the BDS SPs.
• Work with the international consultant on Business development and pass  on the learning from international experience  in the execution of the project activities
• In collaboration with other team members develop the inventory of rural businesses in the various project districts
• Coordinate the activities of the corridor teams and the ESC related to BDS
• Help the PMT in identifying the potential sector/subsector as well as the market area/cluster for support under the project, make necessary proposals and documents for discussion and decisions
• Help the corridor team and the ESC to identify BDS service providers , 
• Develop program targeted at capacity building of the SPs 
• Develop documents and tool kits for BDS service providers
• Develop TOR  and cost estimates for short term TAs in the area of enterprise promotion
• Work as a link between the PMT and the corridor coordinators
• Support corridor teams and ESCs in collection of proposals from interested rural entrepreneurs to be accorded support services under the project
• Help the corridor team and ESC in devising and streamlining business plan selection process for business plans eligible for support under the project
• Help the corridor team  in implementing the project activities, identify opportunities and develop strategies to ensure that the project deliverables are met.
• Supervise the implementation of Project activities in accordance with the project document, financing agreements and the annual work plan

Monitoring and evaluation

• In coordination with M&E specialist, contribute to the development of the M&E system within the project
• Feed in BDS related data into the  M&E database of the project
• Contribute to the development of knowledge products related to BDS
• Help the KM specialist to develop knowledge products and information packages on  innovations within the project based on project Implementation
• Use GIS system and software’s in monitoring and planning of the BDS in the project areas.

Training and capacity Development

• Facilitate the project partners  in the development of their capacity to help rural enterprises and entrepreneurs  and maintain their relationship with the rural enterprises
• Identify the particular skill needs of the corridor  and ESC team members and develop the training and skill development programs to meet their skill needs
• Organize trainings of SP, develop training curriculum and training manuals
• Organize trainings for the enterprise service support to the corridor and District stakeholders. 
• Assist the stakeholders in upgrading their business support services
• Help  the corridor teams in building the capacity of ESC and the SPs of the BDS in the project districts

Information collection and management

• Collect the data on enterprises supported by the project and feed that information to KM coordinator and M&E coordinator 
• Ensure that  learning from enterprise promotion is shared  within the project among the PMT, corridor teams and the ESC staff

Others

• Any other works as directed by the Project Manager

QUALIFICATION, EXPERIENCE AND COMPETENCIES:

• Post Graduate or higher degree in economics, Management  or  other related social sciences. 
• 5 years of professional experience in enterprise promotion or business development
• Knowledge of the entrprenual and regulatory environment of Nepal
• Proven result delivery ability in business promotion and development
• Experience  of working in a multi disciplinary team
• Knowledge on GIS softwares
• Ability to analyse and scrutinise business proposals to be supported by the project
• Proven track record in leading multi stakeholders networks and experience in working with both government and non-government partners
• Ability to guide and develop capacities of team members, counterpart staff and other key stkaholders
• Experience in team building, communication and negotiation skill
• Full working knowledge of main MS Office softwares  including MS project, Ms Power Point
• Fluency in spoken and written and English as well as Nepali

Desirable

• Experience of business promotion under a successful donor funded project

Salary and Benefits

• The salary will be paid for only twelve (12) months and is negotiable within the range between NPR. 120,000 to NPR 145,000 as decided by the Project Manager. 
• Tax on the salary will be applicable as per the prevailing GON rules and regulation. 
• Travel and the Daily Subsistence Allowance (DSA) will be as per the prevailing GON rule as applied for the gazetted class II officer while traveling out of the work station for official purpose. 

Other Entitlements

• Leave: The Specialist will be provided with 21 days of home leave and 6 days of casual leave annually, which will not be carried over to the next year. S/he will also be provided 12 days of sick leave per year, which if not consumed, will be carried over to the next year. The unspent sick leave will be compensated as per the existing salary scale at the time of termination of the contract or closing of the Project. In addition, s/he will also be provided with Mourning Leave – 15 days, Maternity Leave -2 months for women (15 days for men, for maternity care leave) and all public holidays.
• Insurance: The Specialist has to insure his/her life including accidental insurance. The Project will reimburse 50 % of the monthly premium for the period working with the Project, not exceeding Rs. 300 per month, upon submission of copy of insurance policy and receipts.

Performance Assessment

The performance assessment of the Admin/Finance Officer will be based on the quality and timely completion of the tasks assigned and contributions to the Project outputs and outcomes. Details on the indicators for performance assessment will be negotiated and agreed upon on a later stage once s/he signs contract with the Project. The Project reserves the right to terminate the contract if the performance of the MS is assessed as unsatisfactory.

These Terms of Reference are subject to revision/update annually per requirement of the Project based on planning trajectory, modification in project design, or as recommended by Joint Reviews/Supervision Missions and lessons learned during the course of implementation.