The Organisation
Plan International is an independent development and humanitarian organisation that advances childrenโs rights and equality for girls.
We believe in the power and potential of every child. But this is often suppressed by poverty, violence, exclusion and discrimination. And itโs girls who are most affected.
Working together with children, young people, our supporters and partners, we strive for a just world, tackling the root causes of the challenges facing girls and all vulnerable children.
We support childrenโs rights from birth until they reach adulthood. And we enable children to prepare for โ and respond to โ crises and adversity. We drive changes in practice and policy at local, national and global levels using our reach, experience and knowledge.
We have been building powerful partnerships for children for over 85 years, and are now active in more than 80 countries.
Job Description
Position: Enterprise Development Specialist
Grade: D1
Department & Location: Programmes (Tamale)
Date: A.s.a.p.
Reports to (position): Project Manager
Directly Supervises: N/A
Purpose:
How does this post support Plan Internationalโs strategy and mission?
Plan International is an independent non-profit organization that advances childrenโs well-being and equality for girls. Working in building powerful partnerships for children for over 80 years and present in 70 countries, Plan International strives for a just world, tackling the root causes of the challenges facing girls and all vulnerable children while working together with children, young people, our supporters and partners.
Plan International Ghana is looking for an Enterprise Development Specialist to effectively support a team of professionals and deliver high quality programming and results for a project titled โWomenโs Innovation for Sustainable Enterprises (WISE)โ. The WISE Project seeks to leverage the enormous potential and agency of Ghanaian women entrepreneurs aged 19 to 55 years in rural and peri-urban areas by employing both demand- and supply-side interventions to contribute to increased realization of rights to economic empowerment, well-being and inclusive economic growth in 3 districts in Bono and Ahafo regions (Sunyani Municipal, Tano North and Techiman Municipal) and 2 districts in Northern region (Kumbungu and Tolon). The project will start in February 2020, has a duration of 4 years, and a budget of over 5.5 million EUR.
Dimensions of Role:
The Enterprise Development Specialist position contributes to WISE Project objective of supporting the establishment of women-friendly business hubs (HerHubs), which will serve as a โone-stop shopโ for women to access gender-responsive services to start and grow small enterprises.
In close collaboration and coordination with the WISE project team, he/she will ensure successful, innovative, efficient and effective functioning of HerHubs through effective business planning, business training and developing private sector linkages in collaboration with women entrepreneurs, civil society organizations and decentralized agencies of the government towards achieving a common goal.
Reporting to the WISE Project Lead, the Enterprise Development Specialist will be responsible for ensuring that women entrepreneurs build their knowledge and skills to develop and run successful enterprises by adopting appropriate business practices and culture.
The post-holder will be based in Tamale but travel to project districts where the WISE project operates for approximately 60% of her/his time.
Typical Responsibilities - Key End Results of Position:
Enterprise Development and Operationalisation of HerHubs: Lead the design, delivery, and monitoring of service support level interventions to deliver results in womenโs economic empowerment. A strong understanding of project cycle management and gender transformative programming are essential to provide relevant technical guidance.
Expected Outcomes:
- Develop an enterprise development framework for the WISE project and lead on its implementation, and regular review and progress updates.
- Coordinate and provide technical oversight of gender-integrated market assessments of women-friendly entrepreneurial, value chains and emerging โgreen businesses / sectorsโ in the five target districts.
- Lead the efforts of the project team and partners to ensure HerHubs in Business Advisory Centres (BACs) and Rural Solar HerHubs are established and operational, ensuring inclusive financial and business development services and products are developed for women entrepreneurs and rolled out.
- Develop and support the delivery of an appropriate training package in business planning, business skills, strategic planning and entrepreneurship for use by the project team, partners and relevant institutions.
- Develop and annually update a list of partnerships with business organisations, academic institutions, and experts and trainers to be employed in the capacity building of partners and women groups.
- Support women entrepreneurs and businesses with the design and development of business models for implementation and which will contribute to the establishment of functional market structures (Collection Centres, Processing Units, Bulking Centres, etc.) as appropriate to the commodities the project will promote.
- Support the operationalization and tracking of business and marketing plans through joint planning, monitoring and collaboration with stakeholders.
- Facilitate entrepreneurship opportunities, facilitate increased access to markets, expand agri-businesses, and establish sustainable business (green) streams which aligns with Ghanaโs existing programs, policies and investments, including the Rural Enterprise Programme, Planting for Food and Jobs, and One-District, One-Factory initiatives, etc.
- Project cycle management processes and tools (including detailed implementation plans) effectively implemented to achieve project results and comply with donor requirements, government, and partnership agreements.
- Contribute to regular project narrative reports, ensuring high quality technical inputs, data and learnings are available to complete reports on time
Technical Support for Womenโs Groups, Associations and Cooperatives: Contribute to improved governance and management of women groups/associations (namely Village Saving and Loan (VSLA) groups), and promote strong cooperative values and principles:
- Lead the technical review and validation of Plan Internationalโs Savings Groups Program Guide to develop an institutional framework for women association/groups and other apex entities with clear linkages with individual associations, as well as specific training components on life skills, financial literacy and business management.
- Design, develop, and support in the delivery of capacity building programs on governance, strategic planning, financial management, conflict management and human resources management pertaining to VSLAs, associations and groups.
- Monitor and provide semi-annual tracking on the growth and development in governance, management and overall development of VSLAs, groups and associations related to the project.
- Facilitate the establishment of agricultural and green producer group associations.
Partnerships, Communication and Coordination: Foster and maintain productive and professional relationships with and between all project stakeholders (women entrepreneurs and beneficiaries, government, private sector (including MFIs and Oiko) and non-profit) to deliver products and services that respond to the unique needs of women entrepreneurs.
Expected Outcomes:
- Engage multiple partners and stakeholders to facilitate the delivery of gender-responsive services and products across the five main services areas of HerHubs.
- Ensure innovative digital platforms linking HerHub providers are developed and integrated into local financial institutions to promote women-owned businesses.
- Work with multiple stakeholders including the Association of Ghana Industries (AGI) to ensure availability of inter-connected and inclusive enterprise development services and products for women entrepreneurs in project locations.
- Develop linkages with relevant national institutions to support the registration to formalize businesses
- Foster strong coordination and collaboration with women entrepreneurs through open and transparent communication, participation and joint decision-making, and respect for their agency and technical expertise.
- Work with program staff and technical advisors to identify the technical support needs of the project and ensure this support is provided.
- Develop increased knowledge and understanding of womenโs economic empowerment results through cross learning, co-mentoring activities to exchange experiences with stakeholders.
- Best practices and lessons learned are documented, shared, and integrated into programming and used to inform policy and advocacy efforts.
Others
- Ensure that Plan Internationalโs global policies for Child and Youth Safeguarding, Child Protection, and Gender Equality and Inclusion are fully embedded in accordance with the principles and requirements of the policy including relevant implementation standards and guidelines as applicable to their area of responsibility. This includes, but is not limited to, ensuring staff and associates are aware of and understand their responsibilities under these policies and Plan Internationalโs Code of Conduct, their relevance to their area of work, and that concerns are reported and managed in accordance with the appropriate procedures.
- Perform any other job assign by supervisor.
Communications and Working Relationships:
The Enterprise Development Specialist will work with the Project Lead to ensure productive and functional relationships with the project team, project partners including women entrepreneurs, private organizations, civil society organizations, and government departments, and the wider Plan International Ghana and Plan International Canada teams.
- High contact with Plan International partner organizations to provide and coordinate technical support;
- Maintains medium contact with other staff from the Program Unit and country office to offer support for understanding and implementation of the WISE related activities.
Knowledge, Skills, Behaviors, and Experience Required to Achieve Roleโs Objectives:
Qualification and Experience
- Masterโs degree or equivalent.
- A minimum of 7 years of relevant professional experience in leading complex development projects that deliver high quality economic empowerment programming and gender transformative results, particularly in agricultural development, value chain and/or green, Agriculture Economics, Entrepreneurship, Enterprise Development or business sector.
- Demonstrated experience providing technical support to gender transformative programming gender issues in the NGO/voluntary sector
- Significant experience in building public/private partnerships preferably in Enterprise Development, Agriculture and Green Businesses.
- Demonstrated experience in conducting business and investment analysis, and capital budgeting; and sufficient evidence on how the results were used to develop potentially viable business ideas and subsequently tangible businesses.
- Proven experience in building the capacity of partner institutions; supporting partners to manage knowledge, measure progress, and plan and innovate within Agricultural Value Chains and Green Businesses.
- Knowledge of and experience with or within community organisations.
- Demonstrated experience in project management including in donor budget managements, proposal development and monitoring and evaluation.
Demonstrated behaviours needed by the postholder to successfully perform the role.
- Sensitivity in working with multiple cultures and beliefs.
- Commitment to working transparently and with integrity.
- Inclusive and empowering approach to providing technical advice and support.
- Strong negotiation and influencing skills, natural ability to manage diverse opinions and agendas, finding win-win solutions in a respectful manner.
- Demonstrated creativity and willingness to innovate.
- Flexible and adaptable work style to respond to an evolving context.
- Ability to work under pressure, prioritize and meet deadlines.
- Communicates clearly and effectively
Skills Specific to the post needed to put knowledge into practice.
- Familiarity with Global Affairs Canada guidelines and requirements is an asset.
- Strong understanding of feminist principles, gender equality, and womenโs socio-economic empowerment.
- Strong experience in partnership management and aptitude for cultivating strong relationships with multiple stakeholders including civil society organizations, private sector organizations, government, and donors.
- Ability to fully function in English (verbal and written) in essential. All donor reports, deliverables and communication will be in English.
- Proficient computer skills and use of relevant software and other applications (e.g. word processing, spreadsheet, database, internet).
- Flexible, able to shift directions quickly and occasionally work long hours to meet tight reporting deadlines.
Physical Environment and Demands:
Typical office environment
Travel requirements:
This post holder will be stationed in Tamale in the Northern Region of Ghana with regular travel (approximately 60% of time) to project locations where WISE operate.
Level of Contact with Children:
Responsibilities of this job require a low level of contact with children. Plan Internationalโs global policy on safeguarding children and young people will be adhered to at all times.
Plan Internationalโs Values in Practice
We are open and accountable
- Promotes a culture of openness and transparency, including with sponsors and donors.
- Holds self and others accountable to achieve the highest standards of integrity.
- Consistent and fair in the treatment of people.
- Open about mistakes and keen to learn from them.
- Accountable for ensuring we are a safe organisation for all children, girls & young people
We strive for lasting impact
- Articulates a clear purpose for staff and sets high expectations.
- Creates a climate of continuous improvement, open to challenge and new ideas.
- Focuses resources to drive change and maximise long-term impact, responsive to changed priorities or crises.
- Evidence-based and evaluates effectiveness.
We work well together
- Seeks constructive outcomes, listens to others, willing to compromise when appropriate.
- Builds constructive relationships across Plan International to support our shared goals.
- Develops trusting and โwin-winโ relationships with funders, partners and communities.
- Engages and works well with others outside the organization to build a better world for girls and all children.
We are inclusive and empowering
- Seeks constructive outcomes, listens to others, willing to compromise when appropriate.
- Builds constructive relationships across Plan International to support our shared goals.
- Develops trusting and โwin-winโ relationships with funders, partners and communities.
- Engages and works well with others outside the organization to build a better world for girls and all children.
Location: Tamale
Type of Role: Programmes
Reports to: Project Manager
Grade: D1
Closing Date: 7th June, 2023
Equality, diversity and inclusion is at the very heart of everything that Plan International stands for.
We want Plan International to reflect the diversity of the communities we work with, offering equal opportunities to everyone regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex or sexual orientation.
Plan International is based on a culture of inclusivity and we strive to create a workplace environment that ensures every team, in every office, in every country, is rich in diverse people, thoughts, and ideas.
We foster an organisational culture that embraces our commitment to racial justice, gender equality, girlsโ rights and inclusion.
Plan International believes that in a world where children face so many threats of harm, it is our duty to ensure that we, as an organisation, do everything we can to keep children safe. This means that we have particular responsibilities to children that we come into contact with and we must not contribute in any way to harming or placing children at risk.
A range of pre-employment checks will be undertaken in conformity with Plan International's Safeguarding Children and Young People policy. Plan International also participates in the Inter Agency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme. In line with this scheme we will request information from applicants previous employers about any findings of sexual exploitation, sexual abuse and/or sexual harassment during employment, or incidents under investigation when the applicant left employment. By submitting an application, the job applicant confirms their understanding of these recruitment procedures.
Please note that Plan International will never send unsolicited emails requesting payment from candidates.