Program Director, Tokafala Enterprise Development Program – Botswana

Reporting Unit/Supervisor:  Western and Southern Africa Regional Director
Location:   Gaborone, Botswana

I. TECHNOSERVE BACKGROUND:

TechnoServe works with enterprising people in the developing world to build competitive farms, businesses and industries. We are a nonprofit organization that develops business solutions to poverty by linking people to information, capital and markets. Our work is rooted in the idea that given the opportunity, hardworking men and women in even the poorest places can generate income, jobs and wealth for their families and communities. With more than four decades of proven results, we believe in the power of private enterprise to transform lives.

II. PROGRAM DESCRIPTION:

Enterprise Development programs targeted at micro, small and medium-sized companies (SMMEs) provide a great opportunity to catalyze economic development and promote inclusive economic growth. The Government of Botswana has acknowledged the importance of SMMEs for stimulating economic growth and diversification and therefore has launched several enterprise development institutions that focus on providing financial, technical and advisory support to SMMEs. However, so far these programs have not realized the potential impact on local economic development that the Government would ideally desire. In response, the Government of Botswana has established a partnership with a private sector company to implement an Enterprise Development Program.

III. POSITION DESCRIPTION:

As presently designed, the Tokafala Enterprise Development Program will be a 3-year program that is supported by the Government of Botswana and a private sector company and executed by TechnoServe as the lead agency. The program aims at fostering the growth of SMEs through linking them to up and downstream business opportunities developed out of the supply chains of the program partners. The program will also be open to other companies to utilize their supply and distribution chains to the same ends. The structure of the program will be based on a series of ‘hub’ entities that will provide support or assist in the provision of support for SMEs in a particular region and the implementation of a fund providing financing to eligible small and medium enterprises. In addition, the program includes a component aimed at building the capacity and improving the performance and effectiveness of selected country’s public supported enterprise development institutions, primarily through capacity building and other mentoring interventions.
The program director will be responsible for implementing the Tokafala enterprise development program, developing and executing strategies that optimize the impact of the program and managing relationships with program partners and other relevant stakeholders.

IV. DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Lead the implementation of the Tokafala Enterprise Development Program and manage the Tokafala program team to ensure the delivery of the defined program results: fostering the growth of micro, small and medium enterprises and supporting selected government institutions in improving the effectiveness of their enterprise development activities
• Ensure the successful implementation and management of the Tokafala fund, targeted at providing financial support to SMEs
• Work with the program management to establish strategic partnerships that will accelerate the impact of the program, including the linkage of SMEs to supply chain opportunities and the engagement with financial institutions
• Lead the strategic design and delivery of capacity building and mentoring services to select government enterprise development institutions, enabling them to improve the effectiveness of their entrepreneurship development activities
• Closely coordinate with relevant government stakeholders to ensure alignment and programmatic synergies
• Develop a broader vision, in coordination with the project partners, to take advantage of enterprise development activities in Botswana and maximize the impact of the program
• Collaborate with enterprise development leaders in TechnoServe, the program partners and externally, to maintain a continuous feedback loop regarding best practices and lessons learned in entrepreneur development and support

V. REQUIRED SKILLS & EXPERIENCE:

• Graduate degree in business, finance or closely related field
• 7-10 years of post-graduate experience in strategy, management consulting, business education, and/or business management
• Deep experience in SME/enterprise development in emerging markets
• Experience in financial management and/or social impact investing desirable
• Excellent oral and written communication skills
• Proven ability to work in multi-cultural work environment
• Strong diplomatic skills to support effective work through project stakeholders, strategic partners and other stakeholders
• Strong analytical and quantitative skills
• Self-starter, ability to work with substantial autonomy and influence others with minimal supervisory authority

V. APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS

Qualified and interested applicants should submit a Word-formatted single document consisting of cover letter, resume and salary history to mheymann@tns.org. Please identify the position for which you are applying in the subject line.

Only applicants meeting minimum qualifications will be considered or contacted. No phone calls please.

TECHNOSERVE IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER