Purpose:

ACEBA supports export-oriented businesses through a combination of technical assistance, grants, and business enabling environment activities that will improve access to finance and facilitate exports. ACEBA will support Afghan export businesses to increase sales in international markets by working to improve production processes, increase productivity, and export products that meet international demand at competitive prices.  ACEBA also provides support to non-exporting business that supply goods and services to exporters.

The Senior Private Sector Development Case Manager will be responsible to increase the capacity of the ACEBA regional office to review concept papers and work with applicant businesses to co-develop grant applications that will increase sales, exports, and jobs. They will also train regional office staff in business concept assessment, business financial assessment, project budget review, the calculation of the current financial position, the calculation of financial projections, and gathering the specifications for equipment and machinery. The Senior Private Sector Development Case Manager will contribute to the process of generating innovative project concepts, finding more efficient ways to engage with businesses and assisting in the process of deciding which concepts will be implemented.  

The Senior Private Sector Development Case Manager will be an innovator who builds coalitions within the ACEBA project, the development community and the private sector that will create a sense of teamwork and common purpose. The candidate will also work with non-traditional partners/SMEs in addition to leveraging other donor projects. New solutions may be found anywhere, including private sector solutions to changes in developed markets. The candidate will have patience and the willingness to explain things repeatedly, if necessary, so that staff will improve their skills through persistent mentoring. 

Responsibilities and Key Tasks:

Assess concept papers and help applicants to develop grant applications with better business strategies.
Train ACEBA’s value chain team leads in business and financial planning skills to supplement their technical knowledge.
Train ACEBA’s value chains team leads on preparation and review of budgets, calculation of financial figures (including Return on Investment and Cost of Goods Sold) and understanding the business plans.
Help ACEBA’s value chain team leads to review of grants applications and prepare the data on Capital Investment Specification Forms (CISF) and other financial templates.
As part of the Business Enabling Environment team, play an active role in the initiation, development, and implementation of activities to support small and medium enterprises (SME) development in ACEBA’s five target value chains.
Play an active role in ACEBA’s trade fair management and implementation.
Support business expansion, sustainability of businesses to increase sales in international markets and improve production processes and productivity.    
Assist value chain leads in the identification of export-oriented businesses with high potential production capacity that are well placed to utilize ACEBA grants.
Support SMEs to assess their capacity for financial management, marketing, and producing to international buyers’ expectations, and refer them to Finance Corps and MBA Corps activities for potential support.
Perform any other duties assigned by the Business Enabling Environment Expert.