Market Development Advisor (MDA)
- Kigali, Rwanda
- Full-time
- Contract type: National employment contract
Company Description
SNV Netherlands Development Organization is a not-for-profit international development organizational founded in the Netherlands in 1965; and currently maintains a global presence in 30 countries;across Africa, Asia and Latin America. SNV has been present in Uganda since 1989 and currently undertakes donor funded programming within 100+ districts across the country. As an organisation, SNV focuses on the Agriculture, WASH and Energy sectors and maintains the belief that no one should have to live in poverty; and that all people should have the opportunity to pursue their own sustainable development. SNV contributes to programming within the Agriculture, WASH and Energy sectors by strengthening the capacities of targeted partners and communities at the field level; in order to realize increased skill sets and sustainable performance; reduce poverty levels, expand employment; improve food security; while paying special attention to gender equity, social inclusion of marginalized groups and stakeholder accountability.
Context and Purpose of the Job
Energising Development (EnDev), implemented by GIZ and SNV in Rwanda, is launching a project called Reducing climate impact of cooking in Rwanda through improved cooking energy systems (ReCIC). This consist of a Multi-donor Action jointly co-financed by the European Union, as part of the Global Climate Change Alliance (GCCA+) initiative and the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development.
Through this 5-year ReCIC project that started from April 2021, EnDev aims to set up a sustainable production and dissemination chain for improved cookstoves (ICS) as well as for improved or alternative fuels in Rwanda through a threefold approach: 1) increase production capacities, 2) consumer awareness 3) increase dissemination of ICS and improved fuels.
ReCIC supports a wide range of ICS products and fuels by giving the choice to the Rwandan users to adopt most appropriate ICS design and fuel, according to their needs and purchasing power, through a market-based approach. In doing so, producers of both ICS and alternative fuels will be enabled to grow and professionalise their businesses, and eventually transition into a semi-industrial production, with bigger output and improved quality products, to better serve the Rwandan market. The ReCIC project is aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the Biomass Energy Strategy (BEST) of the government of Rwanda.
Interventions to achieve the goals of the project consist of private sector development through training and other interventions, including through a Business Growth Fund that provides financial and in-kind support to private companies and cooperatives on competitive basis. It also includes increasing consumer awareness through marketing activities (e.g., radio and TV advertisements), community mobilisation and support in access to credit.
SNV’s contribution to the ReCIC project builds on the previous SNV project implemented between October 2019 and March 2021, called EnDev III. The objective of this component implemented by SNV is to increase demand and supply, particularly of improved cookstoves (ICS), improved cooking techniques and more efficient use of fuels.
SNV Rwanda has a position of Market Development Advisor in the EnDev/ReCIC project. The position is originally called ‘Promotion and Mobilisation Officer’ in the ReCIC proposal and Grant Agreement. The Advisor is part of a SNV Country Organisation and works for the ReCIC project in SNV Energy Sector.
The Advisor leads or supports ReCIC activities working in a team of ReCIC staff in SNV and GIZ, in particular for implementation of private sector and cooperatives development through training, coaching, mentoring, business plan development and implementation as well as on marketing, sales and customer services. The Advisor works closely with the Project Manager and other ReCIC team members to strengthen the supply side through the Business Growth Fund for financial and in-kind support to private sector companies and cooperatives. The Advisor also leads or works closely with other team members in promotional activities and in piloting credit financing. The Advisor is expected to spend 50% of her/his time in the field.
The Advisor gives input to Project Manager and project partners in order to meet the agreed objectives and realise successful interventions. The Advisor performs any other duties and tasks at the request of the management, including but not limited to activities related to planning, monitoring and evaluation and reporting. The Advisor identifies opportunities and areas for improvement, to ensure premium quality of implementation, including for timely project results, within the budget.
The Advisor reports to the SNV ReCIC Project Manager. The position is for 16 months, for now, starting from June 1, 2021, with possible extension, based on budget availability and performance.
Job Description
Advisory Services
Acts as technical expert on the areas of expertise for the ReCIC Project Manager and the other ReCIC team members and aims to create an enabling environment (by sharing knowledge, understanding stakeholders and environment) for the implementation of the project, for the project to meet its objectives. Ensures, monitors progress and reviews quality of own expertise and ensures client support and satisfaction during projects.
Result/ KPI
Highest possible level of quality in development projects is reached. Projects are supported by given advise.
Project Implementation
Leads in implementation of ReCIC project activities that are related to the ICS market development with interventions in supply and demands sides, as well as improving access to credit. The major activities will be around private sector development related activities, including capacity development, business plan development and related coaching and mentoring. The implementation also has a major chunk of establishing and operationalisation of a Business Growth Fund, which will be used to provide cash incentives and in-kind grants, to motivate and support private sector and cooperatives to scale up their businesses or to innovate in product development, business model development, etc.
Contributes in different phases of the project implementation, including planning and budgeting, monitoring, evaluation, reporting, etc. while ensuring premium quality, systems change and sustainability of the market developed.
Result/ KPI
Project implemented and objectives and targets met with premium quality with timely delivery and within the budget/resource.
Knowledge Development
Contributes to internal and external knowledge development,
ensures lessons learned are shared and applied in daily practice and may be appointed as (national) focal point of an expertise network. Initiates/ coordinates the review process and evaluation of advisory services and actual implementation work, in order to collect lessons learned, proposes corrective measures and ensures identification of follow up assignments. Participates in knowledge development/expertise groups and in internal and external networks.
Result/ KPI
Enhanced and innovative knowledge levels are reached and shared both internally as externally.
Project and process development
Identifies and proposes technical process improvements to the project team. Acts on improvement areas within the local internal organisation and processes and gives feedback. Ensures lessons learned are applied in daily practice.
Result/ KPI
Continuous improvement of effectiveness and efficiency of operations.
People Management
Steers (functionally) colleagues and coaches associated partners/ external stakeholders on quality within the context of assignments. Acts as a technical expert in the content area, applies process improvements in projects and coaches colleagues and associated partners both professionally as operationally on quality of context within projects.
Result/ KPI
SNV and local staff is qualified and motivated
Positioning
Identifies and analyses market opportunities and threats and ensures relevant colleagues are informed. Actively participates in strategic positioning meetings and acts as a knowledgeable face of the SNV organisation to the client. Analyses, understands and develops (local) networks with relevant stakeholders, identifies new clients.
Result/ KPI
Opportunities are timely utilised and threats are timely recognised and countered.
Business Development
Builds, maintains and utilises relationships with relevant stakeholders, represents SNV and identifies opportunities for Business Development policies and procedures. Initiates assignments on a local/(sub)national level, supports proposals and develops technical processes during the inception phase of projects.
Result/ KPI
SNV is known as trusted development partner with relevant stakeholders and has an overview of all funding opportunities/ partnerships.
Qualifications
Know How
Well grounded, middle seasoned level of technical professional, with experience in project implementation. Work requires good knowledge and understanding of (a) particular thematic area(s).
Complexity
May serve as a resource to others in the resolution of complex problems and issues in the respective thematic area(s).
Works on own initiative and knowledge but may require support to resolve complex issues.
Gives support to sector leader and identifies and informs project delivery issues and ensures with recommendation of solutions. Coordinates with multiple stakeholders. Assignments are usually broad in nature and require originality and ingenuity.
Supervision
Work is not closely supervised and is governed by standardised work routines that permit the use of initiative.
Impact
Indirect impact through the provision of activities that require proficiency and support.
Problem analysis
The ability to detect problems, recognise important information and link various data to trace potential causes and look for relevant details.
Coaching
Encouraging and guiding employees in order to make their performance more effective and to enhance their self-perception and problem-solving skills.
Focus on quality
Setting high quality standards and striving for continuous improvement and quality assurance.
Result Orientation
The ability to take direct action in order to attain or exceed objectives.
Persuasiveness
The ambition to win over other people for one’s views and ideas and to generate support.
Basic Requirements
Qualification and experience
Minimum bachelor’s degree in business administration or marketing or economics and minimum 5 years of professional experience (after the bachelor’s degree) in development project implementation or a similar technical field. Specific expertise/experiences include public relations, presentation skills, community mobilisation, promotion and marketing.
Experience in private sector development and credit financing will be advantageous.
Additional Competencies:
- Result-oriented and quality focused with social entrepreneurship spirit
- Creative, open-minded, and asking right questions
- Good communication and inter-personal skills
- Ability to work with minimum supervision and with self-initiative while being a good team player
- Strong working knowledge of ICT (e.g., MS Office)
- Excellent knowledge of English and Kinyarwanda, both orally and in writing
- Willing to travel regularly to the field and engage with project clients and partners
- Willing to learn new skills and take up additional responsibilities, as required.
Additional Information
Application Deadline: 13 July 2021.
Duty Station: Kigali
Desired Start Date: 1st August 2021
PS: Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.
