sequa gGmbH is a globally operating non-profit development organisation. Since 1991 sequa has carried out programmes and projects of international cooperation in close collaboration with the German private sector. sequa offers know-how and long-term experience in capacity development for chambers and associations (BMOs), vocational education and training, private sector development and trade promotion. The organisation is based in Bonn, Germany. sequa employs more than 100 persons (2022) and reported a turnover of EUR 58 m in 2021. 

We are offering a project-based consultancy assignment as National Senior Expert SME coaching (m/f/d) 

The Project 

GIZ has been commissioned with the implementation of the project “Private Sector Development in Ethiopia” (PSD-E). PSD-E aims to benefit small and medium-sized enterprises, start-ups and small growth-oriented companies from improved growth opportunities. The target groups are owners and employees of SMEs, start-ups and small growth-oriented companies. This shall be achieved through five Outputs: (1) Institutional, human resource and technical strengthening of relevant public institutions, (2) Capacity enhancing of chambers and associations, (3) Strengthening the capacities and services of intermediaries in the innovation ecosystem, (4) Strengthening the capacity of private & public business development service providers, (5) Direct support to MSMEs and entrepreneurs affected by conflicts and crises. 

This proposal is integrated into Output 5 of PSD-E. The objective of output 5 is to enable MSMEs and entrepreneurs (with employment potential) to cope with the effects of conflicts and crises. This will be reached by:

• Direct technical, financial, and material support of conflict- and crisis-affected MSMEs for the preservation of their business, jobs or income (business continuity), recovery and resilience of the business (business recovery) and by creating perspectives for vulnerable groups.

• MSMEs and entrepreneurs benefit from improved growth opportunities, e.g., businesses report a real increase in their sales.

• MSMEs and entrepreneurs (with employment potential) affected by conflicts and crises are strengthened and their employees benefit from new employment, secured employment, increased income and/or secured income. 

In this framework sequa implements a SME Grant Scheme that shall provide financial and technical support to companies for capacity building and provide grants for upgrading equipment and production facilities. It targets to improve market competitiveness by focusing on three major aspects: 

• Increasing the competitiveness of SMEs e.g., by improving product quality and quantities, production performance and supporting marketing and sales activities. 

• Boosting management capacities in various management areas of SMEs such as HR, financial, sales/marketing, production, organizational, innovation and strategic management, to overcome bottle necks and support faster growth, better product quality and higher efficiency in production and management.

• Creating business linkages in national and international markets to create national clusters and to expand sales markets. 

The Grant Scheme primarily targets SMEs with high growth and employment potential, employing typically between 10 to 50 employees. They must already be established in the local market and offer access to helpful consumer goods or services needed by the crisis-affected population. 

Through the scheme sequa targets to support 25 Ethiopian SMEs. 

Your Tasks / Responsibilities

• Work with a team of experts to conceptualize and implement the SME Grant Scheme;

• Vet and coach SMEs in conflict and crises-affected areas (means you have to travel regularly outside Addis Ababa). In case you based in Amhara or Oromia region, it is also an option for us;

• Coach SMEs in business model development (monthly, quarterly and annual targets);

• Conduct trainings as peer-to-peer learnings for senior staff and managers of SMEs as well as within SMEs for specific teams;

• Support the missions conducted by short-term experts;

• Cooperate and coordinate activities with the relevant structures of GIZ PSD-E project; 

• Monitor progress and report delivery on executed activities;

• Collect data for the Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) system; 

• Communicate, report to and coordinate with the Team Leader, Project Coordinator and Project Director. 

Assignment Period: 01.11.2022 – 30.06.2024 (expected) 

Working time scope: 40/h per week, full time 

Project: “SME Grant Facility” in GIZ’s “Private Sector Development Ethiopia” (PSD-E) Programme 

Job Requirements

Your Qualification / Skills 

• University degree in a related field such as business management, business administration, strategy, WASH or agri-economics; 

• Fluent in English and Amharic, potentially Oromia; 

• Strong communication skills;

• Good presentation skills;

• Full computer literacy; 

• Outstanding writing and reporting skills in English;

• Good working knowledge of ICT/IT- communication technologies and MS Office (MS Excel and MS Outlook, in particular). 

Your Working Experience

• 10+ years in SME and business development/coaching;

• Relevant university degree, e.g., management studies, economics;

• Previous experience as founder, business owner or (project) manager;

• Relevant private sector experience according to the three selected business segments: (1) Basic food, (2) WASH and (3) Logistic and transportation;

• Added skills: previous experience with GIZ/sequa, experience with M&E and data collection.

How to Apply

Submit your Cover Letter, CV in the EuropeAid format, relevant resumes & salary expectations via email: vacancies.eth@sequa.de

N.B: The CV template can be downloaded through THIS LINK & write "National Project Coordinator" on the subject line of the email