About US:
Interchurch Organisation for Development Co-operation (ICCO) was established in 1964 and became a cooperation in 2012. The founding members of the ICCO Cooperation are Edukans, the Protestant Church of the Netherlands (Kerk in Actie) and the association Prisma. Within a coherent programmatic framework, the ICCO Cooperation offers worldwide financial support, brokerage and capacity building to local non-governmental organizations, the private sector, churches and networks that work on sustainable economic development, democracy and peace, access to basic services (health and education), food security and climate mitigation.
Job Summary: The ICCO Business Acceleration Expert works with SME (agri-) businesses to grow them stronger to economic sustainability for social impact. ICCO AbB as a participant in the venture assigns the Business Acceleration Expert to the business for providing and organizing agreed packages of support in the areas of business planning, marketing, systems, financing, coaching, and which are structured as investments in the company. The business acceleration experts works closely with the entrepreneur and the company’s management team, as well as with hired external service providers in the realization of the support packages agreed. The Business Acceleration Expert will be tasked to grow businesses to economic sustainability for social impact by organizing and providing a tailor-made package of support to these companies.
Key Duties and Responsibilities:
1. Identification: In charge of scouting of potential SME (agri-) businesses for business acceleration & investment in the relevant (sub-)sectors set by ICCO
2, Business Incubation/ Acceleration:
Support the entrepreneur/ businesses in turning ideas into viable businesses by developing the concept, the business case, identifying the impact, the market, and finding partners
Support to validation and proof of concept of starting businesses
Provide business development services to entrepreneurs/ businesses as mutually agreed
Organize outsourced parts of the package, manage and follow up on the results
With the entrepreneur, develop business plans looking at different scenarios of growth, quantitative achievements, and short, medium, and long term financing needs
Identify investors and financing institutions, and raise optimum financing mix of debt and equity for the businesses
Significantly contribute to the regular reporting to stakeholders and investors on improvements in the business and help company management to plan the next steps
3. Other:
Build networks of coaches and mentors as well as service providers for supporting the entrepreneurs/ businesses
Identify legal and regulatory issues and address them
Actively contribute to the development and branding of the ICCO AbB and raise funds as per requirement of the organization and the enterprises
Qualifications, Skills and Experience:
The applicant should hold a Business Degree from an accredited University strongly preferred to be completed in English; an advanced degree in sustainability, ethical business or similar area is considered an asset.
Working knowledge of regional or global sustainability topics, trends and opportunities is important.
Significant eroven expertise in Agri-business development from investor/program pitches, proposal writing, ongoing relationship building, and contract signing.
The ideal candidates would have at least five years’ experience working in Agri-business development or related function, with a preference for more years, or be equipped with an impressive substitute.
Previous work or substantial knowledge in Small and Medium Enterprises (SME) value chain development in agriculture, Inclusive Business and Sustainable Development Dynamics fields will considered as strong assets.
Background in private sector, entrepreneurial mind-set, risk-taker and strong business acumen
Creative, curious, pro-active
Impact-driven, strong set of ownership for every deliverable
Ability to attract investors and partners and have strong network capabilities
Can work in a team as well as individually, ability to work under minimum supervision
Excellent communication skills
Familiarity with agriculture, agribusiness and SMEs
Proven expertise with SME admin, finance, management and systems
How to Apply:
All suitably qualified and interested candidates should send their updated CVs of not more than 3 pages and a motivational letter of not more than 1 page to: David.Kamukama@icco-cooperation.org via E-mail only. All applications should be clearly marked: “ICCO Cooperation – Business Acceleration Expert” and no email should exceed 2MB.
Deadline: 4th April 2016 by 5:00PM