Summary
Date Posted: Friday, January 26 2024, Base Salary: Not Disclosed

JOB DETAILS:
Job Summary
The Micro Enterprise Counselor will support the implementation of TechnoServe’s efforts under VINES-Project and contribute to the overall delivery of program activities with Emphasis on building the capacity of youth entrepreneurs, Fee for service extension agents and commercial farmers. The Micro Enterprise Counselor will work closely within the rural communities, participants and local stakeholders and will be responsible for timely and effective implementation of project activities and achievement of a portion of the project’s goal to train 720 entrepreneurs. S/he will be responsible for work planning, training of entrepreneurs, provision of business advisory support to the entrepreneurs and monitoring program impact/effectiveness at the individual entrepreneur level. The Micro Enterprise Counselor will also be required to provide regular reports on the progress of the program activities.

Program Overview
TechnoServe, CRS and Frontier Co-op are implementing VINES, a five year, $13 million, USDA Food for Progress program that will make Uganda the world’s next leading supplier of high-quality vanilla. Led by CRS, VINES will leverage the expertise of CRS and its world class consortium of partners (including TechnoServe), associated experts and leading international buyers to provide technical assistance to enhance the production of safe, clean, pure vanilla, develop market links with US trade networks, and strengthen an enabling public policy network to reduce vanilla theft to transform the lives of 16,200 farmers, 356 self-employed service and input providers, 480 processors' employees; and generating 15,820 new on-farm seasonal and permanent processing jobs to reach 32,856 vanilla stakeholders.
In turn, this will provide international buyers with a new origin that will stabilize the extreme price volatility for this unique spice.
Within the consortium, TechnoServe will lead in market analysis, business planning, farmer business capacity building, agripreneur and youth training, input supply and business relationship management.

Primary Functions and responsibilities
Mobilization of participants to the program:
• Promote the program and its benefits within the local communities in the program area
• Identify and recruit participants who meet the stipulated program criteria of age, literacy and geographic location on to the program
• Facilitate group orientation and team building activities to solidify relationships within the group and support identification of appropriate and safe training/meeting venues within the project area.
• Be a good representative of the organisation and the program as per policy.

Training & retention of Project beneficiaries:
• Undergo training and upgrading of knowledge & skills on the program curriculum (participate in ToTs) as required
• Deliver the program curriculum and training sessions as per the manual, adhering to the guidelines and standards of punctuality, size of class, use of materials, activities, lesson plans and ensuring that training is conducted as per approved program and cohort work plans
• Ensure that delivery of technical training packages is of high quality, is appropriate to the local context (use of local language and local examples), and is effectively reaching participants
• Identify Key skill gaps within different categories of trainees relative to the local economic opportunities and provide feedback to supervisor on training requirements/ needs
• Track attendance and report on attrition or other challenges regularly to the area supervisor
• Endeavour to follow up & support participants who face various challenges such as gender related problems, psychosocial related issues, poor attendance drop outs etc.
• Ensure timeliness and quality of activity implementation.

Aftercare support & reporting:
• Follow up on the trainees after the training to track their progress e.g. those who have started businesses or other activities. Provide advice, guidance and any other necessary support as needed by the participants
• Actively participate in regular team meetings to track implementation progress and share relevant field data (e.g. attendance lists, feedback forms etc.)
• Capture and share success stories of the entrepreneurs with the Micro Enterprise Specialist.
• Collect relevant data for monitoring and evaluation purposes
• Facilitate the mentoring of entrepreneurs to execute their business plans i.e. starting up and expanding their businesses
• Work closely with the local stakeholders to ensure proper understanding of the program and enhance collaboration at the local level
• Work with program staff to identify technical assistance needs at sub-county levels
• Understand, respect and promote TechnoServe’s values, vision, and strategy in the implementation of assigned duties
• Perform other related duties as assigned by the supervisor.

Required Qualifications, Skills and Experience
• A Diploma in Business related discipline such as Business studies, Marketing, Entrepreneurship and Agribusiness. A degree is an added advantage
• Minimum of 2 years’ field experience with, Entrepreneurship development, Vendors and micro-retailor business support and engagement, youth and women entrepreneurship support.
• Strong private sector experience, facilitation skills and Participatory Approaches and client relationship building
• Relevant skills of Monitoring and Evaluation tools and practices including use of online digital platform for delivering trainings, data capturing and reporting
• Good computer skills (Excel and MS word)
• Excellent interpersonal, oral and written communication skills
• Proficiency in the Speaking and writing in Luganda
• Ability to ride Motorcycle with valid riding permit, or willingness to learn and acquire permit within one-month period



Work Hours: 8

Experience in Months: 24

Level of Education: Associate Degree

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