ABOUT THE COMPANY:

Climate change, biodiversity loss, environmental degradation, and malnutrition. These four interconnected global crises have put at stake the wellbeing of our planet for years. Fueled by COVID-19, their impact on agriculture, landscapes, biodiversity, and humans is now stronger than ever. Reversing this negative trend is a challenge, but also an opportunity for bold choices and integrated solutions. Established in 2019, the Alliance of Bioversity International and the International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT) was created to address these four crises, maximizing impact for change at key points in the food system.

About the position

The Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT is seeking a motivated and dedicated Business Acceleration Specialist to join our team and co-design, co-develop and co-implement of the business acceleration activities within Bean Program and Pan-Africa Bean Research Alliance (PABRA | The Pan-Africa Bean Research Alliance (pabra-africa.org). In collaboration with other BP& PABRA Team and members/partners , the Business Acceleration Specialist (BAS) will play a crucial role in driving the growth and success of bean value chain related agribusinesses following bean corridor approach Bean commodity corridors scaling up production and market expansion for smallholders in Sub-Saharan Africa (cgiar.org). S/he will provide comprehensive assistance to Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) and business service providers working along the bean value chains.

Key duties & responsibilities

The main responsibilities are the following:

Co-design, co-develop/refine and co-implement the business accelerator program structure, curriculum, and resources for SMES and related business services
Assist in the identification and selection of promising agribusinesses for participation in the accelerator program based on gender inclusion.
Provide hands-on support to participating ventures, including conducting needs assessments, developing customized action plans, and monitoring progress.
Coordinate and facilitate workshops, training sessions, coaching and mentorship activities to enhance the entrepreneurial skills and knowledge of program participants.
Conduct market research and analysis to identify industry trends, market opportunities, and potential challenges for the ventures in the program.
Build and maintain relationships with relevant stakeholders, including mentors, investors, industry experts, and partner organizations.
Catalyze investments and growth of bean-engaged SEMs and business service providers by supporting to them to build their business cases and attract private and public investments in their business
Provide research and timely analytics to track and evaluate the performance and impact of the accelerator program, collecting and analysing data to measure success and identify areas for improvement and learning .
Contribute to the program and theme reporting by preparing regular progress agri-business reports, case studies/impact stories, and impact assessments.
Widely publish and documents the BP& PABRA agri-business
Co-develop proposal and mobilize resources for BP and PABRA to expand the bean-based agri-businesses
Stay updated on emerging trends and best practices in the field of business acceleration, sharing insights and knowledge with the team and program participants.

Requirements
Masters’s degree in business, agribusiness, economics, finance, entrepreneurship, or a related field
Over 5 years’ experience in support SMEs/business service provider particularly women enterprise development through business acceleration, startup support, or venture development
Strong understanding of the women’ entrepreneurial ecosystem, business challenges, and growth strategies.
Excellent project management and organizational skills, with the ability to handle multiple tasks and meet deadlines.
Effective communication and interpersonal skills to engage with diverse stakeholders and build relationships.
Analytical mindset with the ability to assess investment relevance and conduct market research and data analysis.
Knowledge of the agribusiness industry: The ideal candidate should have a strong understanding of the agribusiness industry, including trends, challenges, and opportunities.
Knowledge of business modelling, financial analysis, and investment readiness is desirable.
Passion for supporting agribusiness ventures and contributing to social impact.