Education Development Center, Inc. is implementing a USAID Youth Livelihood Project entitled “Akazi Kanoze”. The project intends to provide Rwandan youth, ages 14-24 with market relevant life skills and work readiness training and support, hand-on training opportunities, and links into the formal education system as well as the employment and self employment job market. The project has been implemented since 2009 in Kigali; however EDC is in the process of extending project activities in the rural zones, specifically in the southern and western provinces. To help accomplish these activities, Akazi Kanoze works with a range of
implementing partners (IPs) who provide support in such areas as training, access to finance, internships, and job placements.
EDC is recruiting an Entrepreneurship Specialist and the Ambassador Girls’ Scholarship Program (AGSP) Coordinator.
1. Entrepreneurship Specialist
The entrepreneurship Specialist will assist the project in helping youth participants to start and effectively manage their businesses or cooperatives and link them with the Microfinance Institutions (MFIs) as well as with the relevant economic markets. The Entrepreneurship Specialist is a catalyst for youth-oriented entrepreneurship and capacity building: she/he works with the project’s implementing partners and youth on new businesses and cooperatives in terms of start-up and management support as well as coaching on effective use of loans and repayments.
This position is full time and based in Kigali with frequent field visits in rural zones.
Essential functions are:
• Help oversee the successful execution of entrepreneurship programs by Implementing Partners (IPs) from a management and technical perspective. This includes providing guidance and technical expertise to the project’s IPs in the formalization and/or legal registration of youth cooperatives and small businesses and in ongoing business operations;
• Train IPs on training and coaching youth in business plan development and creation of cooperatives and micro-small enterprises and oversee the IPs’ efforts in this regard;
• Design training sessions, regular coaching and/or propose other capacity building strategies accordingly;
• Support new and existing youth business and/or cooperatives in linkages with microfinance institutions (MFIs) and facilitate the process of loans acquisitions;
• Assess business plans and loan application of youth participants before referring them to Micro Finance Institutions;
• Provide technical and financial expertise in the effective use of loans and repayments;
• Support in the identification of new economic opportunities and markets for youth business development, through the creation of youth friendly market analysis tools and linkages with growing value chains. This applies to agricultural as well as non-agricultural opportunities and sectors;
• Link young Akazi Kanoze entrepreneurs to other existing relevant entrepreneurship programs in districts and nationally (such as PSF Business Development Services, district’s programs, existing MFI services);
• Collaborate with other donor-sponsored programs relating to economic growth/entrepreneurship
• Conduct continuous markets analysis and provide advice to Implementing Partners and youth cooperatives/businesses;
• Participate in conferences, meetings and forums on entrepreneurship development in Rwanda and advise EDC and partners accordingly;
• Work within EDC team focused on private sector linkages;
• Provide support as necessary with monitoring and evaluation and with reporting to USAID and other stakeholders.
Qualifications and Requirements
• A degree in Business Administration with emphasis in Finance, banking or other relevant field such as Agribusiness, Economics with 4-5 years extensive experiences in supporting small business development and management including linkages with microfinance institutions or;
• Relevant proven experience in coaching and supporting the development of successful small and micro-enterprises;
• Experience working on a technical and management level with a wide variety of organizations who provide support in the entrepreneurship field;
• Personal experience in market analysis and business creation and management preferred;
• Strong understanding and knowledge of the business environment in Rwanda, as well as of other entrepreneurship and economic growth initiatives – both in the agricultural and non-agricultural sectors;
• Strong background and understanding of agriculture value chains and rural development;
• Training and facilitation skills;
• Strong communication and presentation skills;
• Understanding of the application of information and communications technologies (ICTs) to support entrepreneurs ;
• Fluency in English and Kinyarwanda required, very good command of French desired;
• Conversant with technology tools (internet, Microsoft office and other office tools).
2. Ambassador’s Girl Scholarship Program Coordinator
The Ambassador’s Girl Scholarship Program Coordinator will be responsible for providing support to Amajyambere Iwacu Action (AIA) and for the day-to-day management of AGSP activities. This position reports to the Akazi Kanoze Deputy Chief of Party and to the AIA coordinator. The position is located in Nyamasheke district.
Essential functions are:
• Update the lists of students and schools;
• Record at the end of each trimester the students’ school results;
• In conjunction with AIA Coordinator, produce annual, quarterly plans and budget and;
• Produce quarterly procurement and distribution plan of school materials and school fees payment proof;
• Help in the purchasing, distribution of equipments and schools materials to beneficiaries;
• Prepare monthly, quarterly and annual technical and financial reports;
• Record outgoing and incoming emails and be able to reply whenever necessary;
• Organize field visits to follow up the beneficiaries at schools and in villages;
• Participate in all advocacy activities intending to promote the welfare of the beneficiaries;
• Coordinate the collection of data for reporting, program development and/or whenever requested;
• Facilitate the process of elaboration of small income generating projects for the beneficiaries;
• Coordinate the implementation of all AIA capacity building activities;
• Contribute to the setting up of internal management and control systems;
• Coordinate the trainings and meetings of beneficiaries and mentors;
• Participate in AIA planning and work plan development;
• Perform any administrative tasks including filing of useful documents and correspondence.
Qualifications and Requirements:
• Bachelor’s degree in Social Sciences or equivalent with 3-4 years relevant experience;
• Proven experience working with local or international NGOs;
• Strong knowledge in accounting or financial management;
• Experience with USAID financial and procurement procedures a plus;
• Experience working with the community of vulnerable people;
• Successful strategies for working with local government authorities;
• Strong report writing, records management and communication skills;
• Experience using Windows and Excel;
• Team player with experience in a multi-task environment;
• Successful strategies for working under pressure to meet deadlines;
• Excellent communication in English, French and Kinyarwanda required.
Applications must include the following documents :
• Motivation letter
• Curriculum vitae
• Name, address and telephone number for 3 professional references.
All applications must be sent to the Deputy Chief of Party, Akazi Kanoze, email: ryp@edc.org; indicating in subject line the position for which the candidate applies, not later than February 17, 2012.
Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted for the interview.
EDC is committed to diversity in the workplace. EDC offers a supportive work environment, competitive salary, and excellent benefits
