Job Summary

Under the direct supervision of the Program technical team, the Market Promotion and Business Development Assistant undertakes the following roles and responsibilities:

Duties & Responsibilities

• Assist, manage, develop, and implement community mobilization activities related to the implementation of private sector and livelihood sub-projects and SMEs “business initiatives”.
• Conduct market needs assessment, and market movement monitors data collection and identification of high-valued skills, MSMEs, local producers, and non-agriculture products from the HHs.
• Facilitate vulnerability assessments to identify the vulnerable groups including men, women, youth, elders, and people with disabilities, IDPs and marginalized groups.
• Help in establishment of men and women producers’ group at the targeted districts, which will be supported in handicrafts, local SMEs and agricultural production, processing, and marketing.
• Help in Designing, developing, and managing community mobilization activities which provides effective support to men and women groups in agricultural businesses, SMEs, cooperatives, and associations which benefit program beneficiaries and are in line with our program.
• Conducted training need assessments and assist in capacity development of men and women producers’ group operating handicrafts, agricultural businesses, cooperatives, and associations; to improve business and financial performance which results in an increased sustainable production.
• Preparation the list of selected MSMEs, SMEs, local producers include of men and women and conduct the awareness raising campaigns regarding small invitation founds “Grants and shared the reports and plans with program technical team in main office.
• Deliver project related training and guidance, to men and women producers’ group and women-run handicrafts, local business, agribusinesses and cooperatives and conduct capacity building activities to men and women groups.
• Prepare plans for workshops and public awareness programs to the men and women groups on Women economic empowerment and development and Assist Market Development Officer in the Preparation and development of the concept notes and ToRs for the business events and exhibitions.
• Assist women groups in marketing of their local products, handicrafts and agriculture products and improving linkages between them and sellers through local business process and assist in the formation of value chain partnerships and networks.
• Identify value chain opportunities, notably by mapping and evaluating existing supply chains, and recommend additional priority opportunities for value chain and skills development.
• Outline value chain opportunities by developing project summaries and market analysis reports and must select the vulnerable, marketable, and sustainable value chains.
• Facilitate, monitor, and supervise the process of selection of lead farmers and other producers’ groups and the setup of key component outputs and tools, including the training activities, transfer of technologies, and facilitation of producer groups’ creation.
• Assist entrepreneurs, and prospective investors by providing advice and technical support, including business case development, economic viability analysis, risk assessment, and feasibility of value chain activities – projects.   
• Maintain close coordination/linkages with relevant departments or agencies on the implementation of project value development activities and project product market linkages.
• Work closely with the departments of commerce and industry DoCI, Afghanistan chamber of commerce and investment ACCI, DAIL, and key stockholders (NGOs, community institutions, private sector and etc) to coordinate the overall implementation project activities.
• Assist in the Preparation of the business development capacity-building training materials on (financial literacy, bookkeeping, principle of business management, branding quality control, production process, marketing, and business plan writing).
• Conduct business development training for entrepreneurs, SMEs, and project beneficiaries and prepare, develop production plans and business plans for small households and entrepreneurs for scaling up their business/economic activities. 
• Prepare the lists of identified MSMEs target groups for business grants and maintaining coordination with the government authorities in provincial and district level. Coordinate with other stakeholders in provincial level and district level. 
• Maintain strong communications with clients and disseminate outputs with provincial field managers and conduct business grants post-distribution monitoring processes and Prepare reports and submit to line manager weekly/monthly basis.
• Performing any other activities as directed by the Livelihood project manager and program technical team.

Expected Results:

• Mapping and Assessment report of existing business assistance, socio-economic aspect, describing ways in which they are integrated into the sub-national development planning process.
• Research on the identification of recommended local livelihood adaptation measures “MSMEs” and proposed delivery mechanism for such measures that can be introduced through the project.
• Facilitation consultations and dialogue to formalize partnership agreements and contributions to project implementation and close coordination with technical team in main office and business service provider. 

Functional Competencies:

• Strong interpersonal and communication skills.
• Excellent English written communication skills, with analytic capacity and ability to synthesize project outputs and relevant findings for the preparation of quality project reports.
• Ability to speak, read and write technical and conversational English.
• Ability to understand new terminology and concepts easily and to synthesize information from different sources into a coherent project document.
• Skill in negotiating effectively in sensitive situations.
• Skill in achieving results through persuading, influencing, and working with others.
• Skill in facilitating meetings effectively and efficiently and resolving conflicts as they arise.
• Maturity and confidence in dealing with senior and high-ranking members of international, regional, and national institutions.
• Displays sensitivity and adaptability to different cultures, genders, religions, races, nationalities, and age groups.
• Good oral communication skills and conflict resolution competency to manage inter-group dynamics and mediate conflicting interests of varied actors.
• Good team player, self-starter, has ability to work under minimum supervision and maintain good relationships.