WeForest

WeForest is a fast-growing international non-profit association headquartered in Belgium and with current projects in Brazil, Ethiopia, India, Tanzania, Malawi, Senegal and Zambia. The mission of the organisation is to advance innovative, scalable and lasting solutions to restore forest and landscapes for climate, people and planet. We promote scientific evidence for the ways in which forests contribute to climate change mitigation, beyond their impacts as stocks of carbon, by increasing water availability, enhancing local biodiversity conservation and rural livelihood and resilience

Role

The Livelihoods and Enterprise Development Advisor will be responsible for identifying viable economic opportunities among forest and farm-based value chains that will reduce and reverse forest degradation. S/he will strengthen enterprises, micro-entrepreneurs, cooperatives and associations within the selected value chains and will facilitate business partnerships to take the selected value chains to scale. In close collaboration with programme teams, s/he will conduct market systems diagnosis, identify constraints, design and facilitate enterprise start-up and growth using the Market Systems Development (MSD) approach or similar (Making Markets Work for the Poor, Market Analysis and Development…).

RESPONSIBILITIES

In close collaboration with project teams and local stakeholders, the Livelihoods and Enterprise Development Advisor will:

Technical assistance and leadership

• Lead on the process to develop, implement and monitor sustainable livelihoods & enterprise development strategies within projects
• In collaboration with the Organisational Development Specialist and Project Managers, support the operationalisation and tracking of business plans for all project-supported organisations (VRMCs, producer groups, Community Forest Management Groups, cooperatives, farmers’ associations..)
• Provide recognised tools and methodologies for developing sustainable business models that benefit forest-dependent organisations and individuals such as market systems development and sustainable livelihoods
• Coordinate or undertake economic analysis and value chain studies for livelihood components within new and existing projects.
• Contribute to the establishment of functional market structures for all projects (Collection Centres, Processing Units, Bulking Centres) as appropriate to the commodities the projects promote.
• Lead on the development and evaluation of realistic cost-benefit analysis and business plans developed by partner organisations and individuals, in collaboration with project teams
• In collaboration with M&E staff, contribute to project monitoring, evaluation and learning through regular tracking reports on the performance and achievements of livelihoods and enterprise development components within projects.

Coaching:

• Lead on the provision of entrepreneurship coaching and mentoring services, in collaboration with experts and programme teams.
• In collaboration with experts, develop and deliver training packages including modules on business planning, business skills, strategic planning and entrepreneurship for use in projects.

Partnership & Networking

• In collaboration with Project Managers, lead on partnership development and engagement with organisations  that may contribute to WeForest’s work on forest-friendly livelihoods and enterprise development
• Develop and regularly update a database of partners, collaborators and networks to be engaged in the capacity building of partner organisations and farmers including government, business organisations, research institutions, experts and trainers.
• In collaboration with M&E staff, contribute to the development of contractual performance measurement frameworks when livelihoods are implemented by external partners.
• On a needs basis, represent the organisation at relevant events.
• Identify and synthesize relevant information at national and landscape level which may positively or negatively impact the enterprises and value chains supported in our projects (eg policies, economic conditions, market opportunities…)

REQUIRED SKILLS AND QUALIFICATIONS

• Minimum 7 years of experience in enterprise development with forest/farm value chains
• Experience in business development, entrepreneurship, access to finance and marketing using recognised, structured approaches
• Experience in capacity building and enterprise development services including training, mentoring and coaching
• Experience in facilitating partnerships and leveraging investments
• Experience in engaging women and youth in enterprise development is desirable
• Experience in beekeeping is desirable

Academic qualifications and trainings

• Masters’ degree or equivalent experience in Business Administration, Economics, Marketing, Entrepreneurship or related fields
• Training by a recognised institution in Market Systems Development (MSD), Making Markets Work for the Poor (M4P), Market Analysis and Development (MA&D) or similar approaches
• All academic and professional certificates should be certified by the Zambia Qualification Authority (ZAQA)

Knowledge, skills and abilities

• Strong analytical and operational knowledge of enterprise development, and understanding of the range of support needed for enterprise development, from start-up to expansion
• Knowledge of business policies and procedures including business support services such as business development, financing, sales and marketing
• Understanding of the linkages between forest and landscape restoration and conservation, and forest-based enterprises
• Strong networking, partnership and interpersonal skills and ability to manage a diverse team of technical and management experts
• Ability to communicate effectively with diverse audiences, and to inspire and motivate
• Ability to be proactive, to work independently and as part of a team with colleagues and partners
• IT proficiency in MS Office or similar

Terms & Conditions

Position: Full-time employee, 5 or 6 days per week.

Base: Remote working based in Lusaka, with minimum 20% travel, mostly to project areas

Start date: As soon as possible, preferably by 06/01/2025

Package: Competitive package for a small organisation, level 4b salary package