Private Sector Development (PSD) Advisor

Access to Finance (A2F) Specialist

Private Sector Development in Ethiopia

Contract Duration: September 30, 2025

Application deadline: 28/07/2024

Duty station: Addis Ababa 

1. Background 

The private sector plays a key role in the ‘Homegrown Economic Reform Agenda’ of the Ethiopian Government. Although SMEs are key players in economic development and job creation, the landscape for the promotion of these target groups and political responsibilities are however much fragmented. In addition, poor legal and regulatory framework conditions and a lack of needs-oriented business development services inhibit the growth opportunities of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), start-ups, and Small & Growing Businesses (SGBs).

 The Technical Cooperation project “Private Sector Development in Ethiopia” (PSD-E) aims to improve the growth opportunities of MSMEs, start-ups and SGBs and focuses on five intervention areas: 1) Strengthening the institutional capacities of public institutions to improve the legal and regulatory framework focusing on SMEs, start-ups and SGB by involving the private sector via public-private dialogue formats; 2) Strengthening chambers and associations to improve their range of services including their role as a representative of the private sector; 3) Building the capacity of intermediaries to develop viable innovative and future-oriented organizational and business models to support start-ups and SGBs; 4) Strengthening the market for Business Development Services (BDS) through supply- and demand-side interventions; 5) Direct support to MSMEs and entrepreneurs affected by conflicts and crises.

In addition to Addis Ababa, the project implements measures in the regional states Afar, Amhara, Dire Dawa, Harari, Oromia, Sidama, Somali, South Ethiopia and Tigray.

The project has a complex partner structure. It cooperates with Ethiopian public and private institutions, other projects, international consultancies, and international organizations.

The project is looking for a dynamic, proactive PSD Advisor (m/f/d) with expertise in the area of access to finance for MSMEs to support the project management of intervention area 5 of PSD-E.

Intervention area 5, which is co-funded by Germany, the European Union, and the Dutch Government, aims to directly support MSMEs and entrepreneurs in Afar, Amhara, and Tigray affected by recent domestic conflicts or global crises. The businesses are enabled through different support measures like business development skills training and coaching/mentoring to sustain their business operations, to ensure the recovery and even future resilience of their companies. Through specific finance training and matchmaking with financial service providers, businesses shall become creditworthiness and able to obtain third-party funding. 

The specific tasks of the PSD/Access to finance advisor include:

 Responsibilities and Duties

The specific tasks of the PSD/Access to finance advisor include:

• Provide advisory on Access to Finance and general BDS topics to the team and partners, keep track of new developments in the Ethiopian financing market, prioritize and present to the team, and identify and assess new opportunities for the project.

• Provide project management support to the successful implementation of intervention area 5, including steering of contracts with implementing partners, development of operational plans, monitoring of budget, etc.

• Provide business and access to finance advisory to SMEs

• Manage the relationship with national and international consultancies (manage weekly meetings, follow up closely to ensure technical quality and timely financial reporting, facilitate communication and coordination with other stakeholders, etc.)

• Liaise with public and private stakeholders; present and represent the PSD-E project (intervention area 5) in meetings and discussions with other stakeholders.

• Prepare and assess proposals for new contractual arrangements (consultancies or financing/grant agreements), manage the internal process to finalize new contracts in coordination with the contractual partner and other units in GIZ

• Contribute to internal knowledge management and Monitoring & Evaluation

Any other responsibilities upon demand

Qualifications: 

• MA in Economics, Finance, Business Administration, Private Sector Development

• Excellent knowledge of Amharic and English languages both in speaking and writing, Tigrinya language knowledge is an asset.

Required qualifications, competencies, and experience.

Professional experience

• Minimum of 3 years of professional experience in the field of private sector development with a focus on MSMEs, Access to Finance, and BDS promotion

• Minimum of 2 years of project management experience, including the preparation and management of contracts (TOR preparation, proposal development, liaising with contractual partners, etc.)

• Profound knowledge of the private sector in Ethiopia, in particular, the market for finance and BDS

• Specialized experience in one or several of the following fields is a big asset: credit/loan management, business linkages, business continuity management, green economy, investment planning and management, MSME access to financial services, digital transformation of businesses.

• Expertise in approaches to the promotion of women-led businesses and service providers is an asset.

• Relevant professional experience in a similar role in GIZ or other international organizations

Other knowledge, additional competencies

• Pro-active work attitude, strong motivation to contribute positively to the team by sharing knowledge, identifying possible efficiency gains, etc.

• Motivated to learn and develop your competencies (technical, project management, social, etc.)

• Ability to liaise with different stakeholders, with both public and private sector stakeholders.

• High gender awareness and intercultural sensitivity

• Good organizational and project management skills

• Ability to meet deadlines and work under pressure.

• Ability to accept constructive feedback.

• Excellent communication and presentation skills

Good IT skills (MS Office, in particular, Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Teams)

How To Apply

Application procedure:

 Interested and qualified candidates shall submit their motivation letter along with their recent CV via Email: hreth@giz.de

“Please make sure you mention the vacancy number and position title # 086/2024 Private Sector Development (PSD) Advisor in the subject line of your email application. Applications without vacancy numbers in subject lines might be disqualified.

 Only short-listed candidates will be contacted.

 Please refer to our brochure to learn more about GIZ’s attractive benefits package.