Business Development Service Design and Delivery Expert Volunteer
**This is being posted on behalf of the Mennonite Economic Development Associates**
Location of Assignment: Mbeya, Iringa, Morogoro, Zanzibar, and Dar es Salaam; Tanzania
Proposed Level of Effort: 6 weeks
Anticipated Start Date: June/July 2017
Objective(s) of the Assignment:
Mennonite Economic Development Associates (MEDA) are recruiting a Service Design and Delivery Expert Volunteer to work with and provide technical assistance to Business Development Service Providers (BDSPs) on best-practices for the Tanzania Feed the Future Enabling Growth through Investment and Enterprise (ENGINE) Program. The main objective of this assignment is to assist BDSPs in Morogoro, Iringa, Mbeya and Zanzibar to expand their Small and Medium Enterprise (SME) client base by designing and delivering improved or new products, and expanding into new markets. This objective will be attained if BDSPs receive appropriate skills and tools for the design, packaging, marketing, and delivering of Business Development Services (BDS) that are responsive to SMEs’ needs.
Background
The Tanzania Enabling Growth through Investment and Enterprise Program (ENGINE) is a four-year, USAID-funded Feed the Future activity awarded through the Volunteers for Economic Growth Alliance (VEGA), that aims to streamline and enhance many of the regulatory, informational and financial channels that encourage domestic and foreign investment in the southern mainland agricultural regions of Mbeya, Morogoro, and Iringa, and in Zanzibar.
ENGINE works at the district level, using a broad-based approach to engage with district Local Government Authorities, private sector associations, business development service providers, financial institutions and small and medium enterprises. The program’s activities are divided into three main components:
Implement policies for growth. Build the capacity of the private sector to effectively dialogue with the government to set the policy agenda and improve the capacity of the public sector to implement policies.
Equip businesses for growth. Strengthen SME capacity and foster the growth and capacity of a sustainable market for BDS in Tanzania.
Access to finance for growth. Broaden access to finance for SMEs, especially women and youth entrepreneurs and those working within agricultural value chains, to facilitate increased investment and growth.
Led by International Executive Service Corps (IESC), the ENGINE team includes partners Mennonite Economic Development Associates (MEDA), Diligent Consulting, and the International City Managers Association (ICMA). MEDA supports the development of the program’s BDS component and the crosscutting themes of Gender and Youth. Activities under this volunteer assignment will be coordinated through MEDA Home Office and the project Field Office.
Relevance
There is a large potential to expand the market for BDSPs in Morogoro, Iringa, Mbeya and Zanzibar. The number of SMEs who are primarily the consumers of BDS has been increasing over the past few years. However, BDSPs have not managed to fully tap the potential market as their services have not been designed, packaged and delivered to suit the needs of SMEs.
Additionally, over many years, donors have provided BDS to SMEs at no cost, creating the expectation that they will continue to do so, and distorting the market. As a result, many SMEs are not motivated to purchase BDS.
Activities:
The Expert Volunteer will complete the following tasks:
Attend an orientation meeting with ENGINE program staff in Dar es Salaam;
Assess the technical assistance needs of selected BDSPs in the four regions concerning product design, packaging, pricing and marketing.
Assisted by the BDS Coordinator in each region, prepare a follow-up plan for further technical assistance with selected individual BDSPs that includes coaching and mentoring on the above subjects.
Accompanied by relevant ENGINE staff, facilitate group training for BDSPs in Morogoro, Iringa, Mbeya and Zanzibar, covering the following topics:
BDS product design processes (eg. content, packaging, pricing, delivery, etc.), including needs identification, assessment and curriculum development/service delivery approach redesign;
BDS market research and segmentation;
BDS customer identification, including approaches, processes and tools;
BDS pricing and marketing strategy, including awareness raising, development of communication and marketing materials.
Write a Final Report summarizing findings, conclusions and recommendations related to the assignment, as well as challenges and recommended solutions.
Provide an exit debriefing to ENGINE program staff, including an overview of the assignment challenges and proposed solutions.
Deliverables
The Expert Volunteer will submit the following deliverables:
Training materials (eg. slides, handouts, tip sheets, etc.)
Minutes/notes of the meeting(s)/workshop(s) described in (Tasks B, C, D and E above and other project meeting(s))
Documents developed with regional BDS Coordinators (Task C above)
Follow-up Technical Assistance Plans for selected BDSPs. This could include further training, coaching or mentorship on the subjects covered above.
The Expert V olunteer will submit a Final Trip Report to the ENGINE Program that includes the following sections:
A. Introduction
B. Methodology.
C. Findings, Conclusions, and Recommendations related to BDSP group trainings in the four regions
Discussion of assignment objectives and how they were met or why they were not met
Additionally, the Expert Volunteer will provide an exit debriefing (Task F above); complete MEDA’s VVRS; and complete a travel debrief with MEDA Home Office.
Expert Volunteer Qualifications
The ideal BDS Product/Service Design and Delivery Expert Volunteer will have the following skills and qualifications:
5+ years of experience working with businesses, particularly those who provide services to small businesses. Knowledge and experience of needs of SMEs in developing countries, especially sub-Saharan Africa is an asset.
A proven track record in training, coaching or mentoring BDSPs, especially in service/product design, pricing and marketing.
Experience in stakeholder engagement, consultation, and facilitation.
Well-developed writing skills in English and the ability to express one’s self clearly and concisely.
University degree in entrepreneurship, business administration, economics, or another relevant field.
Training skills, including participatory training in group settings. Training and consultation experience utilizing a translator or interpreter is an added plus.
Self-motivated, proactive, detail-oriented, mature, professional team player, who is a strong people person and communicator, with good inter-personal skills.
Ability to address issues, challenges, questions, and concerns in a professional, respectful, logical, and timely manner.
Works well in a multi-cultural setting.
Good computer skills in MS Office.
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