About Access to Finance Rwanda:
Access to Finance Rwanda (AFR) is a Rwandan not for profit company established in 2010 to promote financial inclusion and financial sector development. AFR is currently funded by Sweden, Jersey Overseas Aid, and the MasterCard Foundation.
AFR is part of the broader Financial Sector Deepening (FSD) network in Africa that seeks to create a transformative impact on ending poverty by supporting efforts to improve financial inclusion and financial sector development through helping policy makers, regulators, financial service providers and markets drive a more inclusive and sustainable economic growth.
AFR supports the removal of systemic barriers that hinder access to and use of financial services by low-income people, particularly the rural poor, women, youth and MSMEs, and supports the development and provision of financial services including savings, credit, insurance, investment, payments, and remittances.
AFR is guided by the Market System Development (MSD) approach recognising that efforts to increase financial inclusion and financial sector development must be market-led, profitable and sustainable. For more details visit our website: (www.afr.rw).
Access to Finance Rwanda seeks a Tourism and Hospitality Specialist for its upcoming project “Enhancing MSMEs and Entrepreneurship Ecosystem Support in Rwanda Agriculture and Tourism and Hospitality (T&H) Sectors”.
About The project – Enhancing MSMEs and Entrepreneurship Ecosystem Support in Rwanda Agriculture and Tourism and Hospitality Sectors
MSMEs in productive/growth sectors, including those in Agriculture and Tourism & Hospitality sectors, play a critical role in driving inclusive growth and employment. However, they continue to face multiple challenges including low business management capabilities, limited tailored and sustainable business development services, limited access to appropriate financial solutions and gaps in regulations and policies promoting SMEs access to finance. Such constraints hinder the potential for economic growth and job creation including for youth and women led MSMEs.
To better address the above-mentioned constraints and in line with its Phase III strategy, AFR in collaboration with key stakeholders, will continue its journey towards addressing the roots causes to access to and use of finance constraints for MSMEs in Rwanda through “Enhancing MSMEs and Entrepreneurship Ecosystem Support in Rwanda Agriculture and Tourism and Hospitality (T&H) Sectors” project. The project seeks to support Agriculture and T&H enterprise development and growth for improved opportunities for the youth to engage in dignified and fulfilling work with a focus on young women and other disadvantaged youth (persons with disabilities, refugees, and youth in rural areas). The project will mainly focus on the key following interventions:
- Piloting commercial SME Finance Readiness Support: “Terimbere SME Village”
This intervention seeks to strengthen MSMEs’ capabilities to overcome gaps in financial management practices, sound business management procedures and practices, business growth skills and information asymmetry by enhancing technical, managerial, market knowledge, financial and non-financial capacity to prepare them for appropriate financing and growth opportunities. The focus will be on MSMEs in Agriculture and T&H sectors.
- Several other interventions including:
- Improving policy, legal and regulatory environment, and social norms to unlock MSME Finance for growth and
- Research, data analytics, and knowledge to catalyze innovation.
- Strengthening the capacity of Business Development Service Providers (BDSPs) to effectively serve MSMEs; and
- Promoting and supporting the coordination within the entrepreneurship ecosystem.
The Role and Scope of Responsibilities
The Tourism and Hospitality Specialist will be responsible for day-to-day activities of the component of the project focusing on MSMEs in T&H sector. She /He will ensure support that catalyzes innovation, MSME growth, resilience and dignified and fulfilling jobs creation within the Tourism and Hospitality Sector.
This position is contingent upon project award to AFR.
Reporting line: The position reports to the Senior Program Manager.
Location: Kigali, Rwanda
Duration of the contract: Two years renewable based on performance.
Expected starting date: July 2023
The Tourism and Hospitality Specialist will be responsible for the following key tasks:
- Providing technical guidance and assistance to the project in terms of strengthening the ecosystem for the MSMEs in Tourism and Hospitality (T&H) and adjacent sectors in line with the Facility’s objectives.
- Providing thought leadership to the project team and relevant stakeholders on how to drive MSMEs innovation to bring new experiences, develop new products/services and spur diversification within T&H MSMEs ecosystem. Key clusters of interest will include Arts and creative industry, events management, adventure, and religious tourism.
- Providing project management support to the Senior Program Manager in respect of the T&H sector component of the project. The support will include:
- Support to develop detailed implementation plan and other planning documents, cash-flow forecasts that will achieve fund utilization targets, ensure enhanced MSMEs growth and resilience in T&H sector and creation of dignified and fulfilling jobs for the youth.
- Support to strengthen the capacity of Business Development Services Providers to innovate and better serves MSMEs in T&H sector.
- Coordinate the project’s reviews, visits, and research as necessary to adaptively manage the performance of projects and achieve targeted outcomes and impact within the T&H component.
- Ensuring the theory of change is kept updated and that results are achieved, risks are managed, projects are delivered and learnings from projects are fully utilized to maximize impact and innovation.
- Contribute to the development of monthly, quarterly, and annual reports and knowledge management materials.
- Ensuring the robust safeguarding measures for the youth participating in the project
- Building relationships with key actors in the Tourism and Hospitality space; participate in the development and implementation of influencing strategies and interventions that drive mindset &/or behavioral change within the sector and its supporting functions.
- Ensuring that the project focus on young women and young men and other disadvantaged youth (persons with disabilities, refugees, and youth in rural areas) is evident at each stage of the project.
Educational Qualifications
- Minimum of a bachelor’s degree in tourism, business administration, hospitality, or a related field applicable to this position.
- Additional professional qualification and relevant accreditations are an advantage.
Experience and technical skills
Essential
- A minimum of 7 years’ working experience in the tourism industry, including experience supporting MSMEs. This may include experience in tourism industry development, MSME Business Development Support, tourism experiences and products development, project management within T&H sector development, etc.
- Exposure to product /services development within T&H industry
- Extensive knowledge of the tourism industry in Rwanda, including the latest trends, best practices, and standards.
- Understanding of the monitoring and results measurement concepts and processes
- Track record of managing relationships and influencing stakeholders
- Ability to communicate effectively orally and in writing and prepare reports and presentations.
- Excellent written and spoken English.
Desirable
- A good understanding of key clusters under this project: Arts and creative industry, Events Management, adventure, and religious tourism.
- Familiarity with major players in T&H ecosystem in Rwanda.
- Languages: French, Kinyarwanda.
Attitude/ competences
- Strong drive for results and strong sense of engagement and responsibility
- Excellent organizational and time management skills.
- Pro-innovation
- Of a dynamic nature and initiates and maintains positive relationships with others.
- Strong communication and influencing skills.
- High degree of professionalism and integrity.
- Learning and resourcefulness
- Team oriented, collaborative, flexible and can adapt to a changing environment.
How to Apply:
Interested candidates should send their both combined cover letter and well detailed CV no later than 30th April 2023, 5pm via the apply button below.
The application should contain a Resume with an e-mail address, daytime telephone contact, qualifications, achievements, experience, and names & addresses of three professional referees together with a cover letter (maximum 2 pages) summarizing why you consider yourself particularly well suited for the position. Do not attach any other documents at this point. All applications will be selected on merit and only shortlisted candidates will be invited for interviews. For any questions regarding the application process please contact hr@jobinrwanda.com or 0788 300 213.
Note:
- This position is open to national candidates only.
- Qualified women candidates are highly encouraged to apply.
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