The Enterprise Development Coordinator will lead the design, management, and implementation of the enterprise development strategy within the project, focusing on strengthening fodder enterprises, market systems, and promoting inclusive business models for youth and women in the dairy value chain. This role involves significant technical coordination, private sector engagement, capacity building, and monitoring activities to ensure the sustainability and profitability of agricultural enterprises.
Responsibilities & Deliverables
Enterprise Development (30%)
- Lead in the design and manage the implementation of the enterprise development strategy for the project, along with reviewing and updating it as appropriate.
- Facilitate capacity assessment using appropriate Capacity assessment tools and develop capacity development plans for the fodder enterprises.
- Support the establishment and strengthening of fodder enterprises, including producer organizations (POs), youth groups, and SMEs involved in feed production and processing.
- Facilitate development of business plans, operational manuals, and governance charters for POs and entrepreneurs to ensure sustainability and accountability.
- Build the entrepreneurial and financial management capacities of farmer organizations and feed/fodder businesses through training, mentorship, and coaching.
- Support cooperative-based feed production and aggregation models that improve economies of scale and profitability.
Market Systems and Private Sector Engagement (25%)
- Coordinate relevant research within the project along the feed and fodder value chains including market research, competitor analysis to identify new business trends, to inform project implementation and market actors’ support.
- Identify and engage private sector actors (e.g., commercial fodder producers, mechanization service providers, agrovets, and processors) to strengthen market linkages.
- Facilitate structured supply contracts and co-investment partnerships between farmer organizations, feed processors, dairy Cooperative, fodder producers/entrepreneurs and others, as appropriate.
- Support development of last-mile input distribution networks and agent-based business models to expand access to affordable feed and fodder.
- Promote digital platforms that enhance market access, price transparency, and transaction efficiency in the feed and fodder value chain.
- Collaborate with financial institutions and fintech partners to design and promote innovative financial products for fodder enterprises, youth, and cooperatives, with guidance and leadership of the Heifer’s Access to Finance team.
- In liaison with the Access to Finance team, facilitate investment pitch sessions, linkages with microfinance institutions, and blended finance opportunities to stimulate private investment in feed businesses.
Inclusive Business Models and Youth/Women Empowerment (20%)
- Facilitate the development of innovative and scalable business models for feed and fodder availability and access in the dairy value chain amongst the youth/women.
- Promote youth and women participation in enterprise leadership, value addition/conservation, and last-mile distribution networks.
- Support the creation of agribusiness fodder production and conservation hubs and mentorship programs to enhance skills, access to technology, and entrepreneurship opportunities for youth and women.
- Facilitate, in collaboration with the access to finance team, design of gender-responsive financial solutions and business models that remove barriers to women’s participation in the dairy value chain.
Technical Backstopping and Coordination (10%)
- Provide technical input to enterprise and business components in collaboration with the Livestock Coordinator and Project Manager.
- Support integration of climate-smart and digital innovations in business operations and value chain interventions.
- Participate in project planning, review meetings, and technical backstopping visits to ensure quality implementation.
Monitoring, Reporting, and Learning (10%)
- Coordinate with dairy cooperatives, fodder producers, and other market actors in collection, collation and entry of business performance data into Heifer’s Integrated project management system (IPMS).
- Support collection and analysis of data related to enterprise performance, profitability, and market outcomes.
- Participate in all project team planning meetings.
- Participate in learning forums at the county and regional level, sharing project implementation models, successes and lessons learnt.
- Document case studies, success stories, and lessons learned for internal learning and donor reporting.
- Collaborate with the MEL Officer to monitor enterprise-level indicators and adapt strategies for continuous improvement.
Other Duties (5%)
- Contribute to business development and resource mobilization efforts by leveraging learnings and evidence generated from the project.
Minimum Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in Agribusiness, Agricultural Economics, Business Management, Cooperative Development, Enterprise Development, or related field.
- A Master’s degree will be an added advantage.
- At least six (6) years of demonstrated field and technical experience with the commercial sector, agribusiness development in a mix of economic growth/trade, value chain competitiveness, investment promotion, or SME development.
- Demonstrated experience in enterprise development, agribusiness, or market systems development programs in the agriculture/livestock sector highly desired.
- Strong background in private sector engagement and facilitating partnerships between farmer organizations, off-takers, processors, and input suppliers.
- Proven record in promoting inclusive business models, particularly for youth and women in agribusiness.
- Experience in donor-funded programs with results-based management and reporting.
