MSMEs and Cooperatives Specialist at GIZ Rwanda: (Deadline 2 August 2023)

MSMEs and Cooperatives Specialist at GIZ Rwanda: (Deadline 2 August 2023)

Vacancy Announcement  

MSMEs and Cooperatives Specialist

for

The Skills Development and Economic Transformation (SD4T) Programme 

The Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH is a federally owned international cooperation enterprise for sustainable development with worldwide operations. The GIZ Office in Kigali covers GIZ’s portfolio in Rwanda and Burundi. GIZ Rwanda/Burundi implements projects on behalf of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development, the European Union and other commissioning authorities in the following priority areas: Sustainable Economic Development, Good Governance, Climate and Energy, Digitalization, Extractive Governance and Peace and Security in the Great Lakes Region.

General Context of Skills Development and Economic Transformation (SD4T) Programme 

Rwanda’s economic growth has been remarkable over the years with annual growth rates averaged at 8% over the past two decades. While unemployment (21.1 %) and underemployment (58.9 %) remain high, majority of the population works in the agriculture sector where incomes are low. Furthermore, the number of young people entering the labour market is increasing yet a large proportion of local companies are unregistered micro-enterprises which are not very competitive and cannot harness the long-term potential for growth. Most of these companies are only creating a handful of jobs currently and domestic value creation specifically in the light manufacturing sector is low and meets international standards only to a limited extent. At the same time, the professional skills of many job seekers do not match the requirements of the labour market. However, with strategies like the National Strategy for Transformation (NST1) and the Made in Rwanda Strategy, the Government of Rwanda is promoting skills development, the creation of off-farm jobs and domestic value creation to contribute to the Rwandan Government’s strategy.

The Skills Development and Economic Transformation (SD4T) Programme;

The German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) commissioned GIZ to implement the project “Skills development for Economic Transformation (SD4T)” in Rwanda from 2023 to 2025, as part of the priority area “Sustainable Economic Development” of the Rwandan-German Development Cooperation. The project’s main political partners are the Ministry of Trade and Industry (MINICOM) and the Ministry of Education (MINEDUC). The project aims to create jobs and strengthen the competitiveness of micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) and cooperatives in the light manufacturing industry (e.g. furniture production, metal processing etc.) according to the principles of inclusivity, productivity and environmental sustainability. This will be achieved by following an integrated approach to employment promotion, consisting of 1) the promotion of technical and vocational education and training to enhance the quality of labour supply, 2) private sector development to raise labour demand, and 3) economic policy advice to improve the matching of labour supply and demand with a specific focus on the economic empowerment of women through all its interventions.

It is with this background that GIZ Rwanda is currently looking for MSMEs and Cooperatives Specialist for The Skills Development and Economic Transformation (SD4T) Programme

Location: Huye District

Fixed Term: 15.08.2023-31.12.2025

Position: MSMEs and Cooperatives Specialist

The MSMEs and Cooperatives Specialist will perform the following responsibilities and tasks:

A.   Responsibilities

The MSMEs and Cooperatives Specialist will be responsible for:

• Organisational development of partner organisations in the Huye regional hub i.e. ICPC Huye and ICPC Gisagara, Huye Employment Service Center (HESC), IPRC Kitabi among others

• Capacity building of partner institutions and key stakeholders to coordinate interventions around the light manufacturing sector, specifically the wood value chain for SMEs and Cooperatives in the Huye regional hub

• Ensure effective linkages between interventions within the Huye regional hub and the SD4T Programme office in Kigali

The MSMEs and Cooperatives Specialist will perform the following tasks in close cooperation with the public and private partners

B.    Tasks

Organisational development of partner organisations in the Huye regional hub i.e. ICPC Huye and ICPC Gisagara, Huye Employment Service Center (HESC), IPRC Kitabi among others 

• Mobilize stakeholders and actors at the regional level to facilitate multistakeholder initiatives around private sector development and enhance competitiveness
• Support ICPCs operating in the hub to apply good governance and establish good accounting and financial management procedures and adopt a management model for the cooperatives/ SMEs

Capacity building of partner institutions and key stakeholders to coordinate interventions around the wood value chain and light manufacturing for SMEs and Cooperatives in the in the Huye regional hub 

• Identify and link Business Development Service providers with the different partner institutions and cooperatives within the hub based on their needs

• Identify trainings and mentorship programs to for the MSMEs and ICPCs in the hub with focus on the light manufacturing sector

• Facilitate peer-to-peer business advisory sessions with carpenters and joiners within the cooperatives in the ICPCs.

• Ensure close collaboration with the colleagues working on the topic of women economic empowerment in the programme to support with the design and implementation of women led initiatives within the ICPCs and the Huye employment service center
• Advise cooperatives in the ICPCs and SMEs on access to market, procurement procedures and participation in the different local tenders

• Provide information to the cooperatives in the supported ICPCs on how to purchase good quality timber, proper storage and management

Harmonize interventions to upgrade the performance of wood cooperatives in the supported ICPCs

Ensure effective linkages between interventions within the Huye regional hub and the SD4T Programme office in Kigali 

• Identify key actors to drive the employment promotion topic at local/regional level through multi-stakeholder platforms and identify change processes in supported ICPCs that require specific interventions of the Programme in collaboration with key stakeholders
• Advise implementing partners on the concept development, implementation, and monitoring of activities
• In close cooperation with key stakeholders, develop annual action plans and follow up regularly on implementation, monitoring, reporting and harmonize financial planning
• Establish collaboration with different financial service providers i.e. BDF and other financial institutions that can support the ICPCs to acquire the required finance for the purchase of equipment in close collaboration with the SD4T Programme office in Kigali
• Oversee the implementation of all SD4T activities in the Huye regional hub

C.   Other qualifications and Education experience: 

• 8 years’ experience in the field of private sector development or cooperative management or working with financial institutions in Rwanda
• Master’s degree or a Bachelor’s in Business Administration, Management, Development Studies or any other relevant fields
• 5 years’ experience working with SMEs and cooperatives in Rwanda and a background in private sector development is crucial
• 5 years’ experience in partner/ stakeholder coordination is crucial as the incumbent will be responsible for the coordination of the different activities within the Huye regional hub to ensure the smooth implementation of activities in the ICPCs, IPRCs and the employment service centers to ensure the transition into the job market for skilled professionals in the light manufacturing field

D.   Others

• Willingness to work and reside in Huye district with frequent travels during the coordination of the programme’s activities at the different ICPCs and IPRCs within the region
• Willingness to always abide by the principles and regulations of GIZ while implementing the different activities and representing the SD4T programme within the different partner institutions
• Ability to work independently and coordinate all the planned activities in accordance with the programme’s operational plan and the needs of the different partner institutions within this regional hub
• Knowledge of the use of MS Office (Word, Excel, Outlook, Teams etc.)
• The candidate must be very conversant and fluent in both Kinyarwanda and English.  French is an added advantage.

Interested candidates should submit their application (motivation letter, updated CV, certificates and references),  until 26^th July 2023 at 4:00 PM, by e-mail to [email protected] The email attachment (max. size 2 MB) should be a PDF file. Please quote the job title in the subject. 

GIZ is an equal opportunities employer and is committed to the full inclusion of all qualified candidates. This includes the provision of reasonable accommodation, if needed, in order to participate in the job application and interview process and to perform essential job functions. Please, let us know if you have any particular requirements should you be invited for an assessment/interview or that you wish us to take into account when considering your application.

Women and persons with disabilities are particularly encouraged to apply. 

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted for test and interview.

GIZ Office Rwanda

KN 41 St. / Nr.17, Kiyovu

P.O. Box 59, Kigali,

Rwanda

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