Inclusive Business Manager

About TechnoServe

Everyone deserves the opportunity to build a better future. This simple idea has been at the heart of work around the world for over 50 years. TechnoServe is a pioneer in leveraging the power of business and markets to create sustainable pathways out of poverty.

The low-income communities in which we work are full of enterprising people. Their small-scale farms and businesses are the keys to economic development. But they face many challenges: low literacy, lack of access to jobs and markets, unpredictable political dynamics and, increasingly, the effects of climate change. For many women and young people, the challenges are even more daunting. Working with TechnoServe staff, people around the world are lifting themselves out of poverty. The results are amazing...when incomes increase and living conditions for families get better, they are able to access health care and education previously out of reach. Communities and even whole countries are better off. 

Programme and CASA background

The Commercial Agriculture for Smallholders and Agribusinesses (CASA) Technical Assistance Facility Programme is an £8M FCDO funded programme that forms part of FCDO’s Inclusive Green Growth Centre of Expertise which aims to support a climate resilient and inclusive global agriculture sector (see additional context in the Appendix). Since 2021, CASA TAF has also been providing technical support to FCDO missions based around the world.

In late 2023, TechnoServe was asked to conduct a study by FCDO Kenya to investigate the potential for a specific programme aligned with the CASA-TAF methodology but reaching a larger number of businesses and using this as a leverage to change the way business is done in Kenya at a broader scale. The team was able to find significant interest and availability of businesses that would fit such a scope. As a result, TechnoServe has submitted a proposal for a new agribusiness support programme in Kenya.

Programme Overview

TechnoServe anticipates a 2-year programme in Kenya starting April 2024 funded by the UK government’s Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) in to support agribusinesses with developing new inclusive, climate-smart business models. The ultimate objective is to reduce poverty and increase climate resilience of smallholder farmers. TechnoServe has already conducted a study to “pre-select” a short-list of the highest potential agribusinesses, which include aggregators, inputs and service providers operating across many different value chains and geographies. What they have in common is high potential for (a) company growth and investment and (b) the ability to impact smallholder farmer incomes and climate resilience.

The programme will divide agribusiness support in two ways: (1) “Post-investment” agribusinesses that have already been backed by debt or equity from an impact investment fund; and (2) “Pre-investment” agribusinesses that could benefit from impact investment in future, but haven’t yet secured financing. The package of support is tailored accordingly. Post-investment agribusinesses will receive support in developing inclusive business plans (IBPs) to identify challenges and opportunities for smallholder farmers in their supply chains to improve climate adaptation and livelihoods under a model of sustainable business support. Following the IBPs, the programme will provide direct project management and specific technical support in implementing such models. Pre-investment agribusinesses will receive support in packaging and marketing their business and growth plans to investors, with financial and impact business case development. They will also benefit from support on “core” business innovations (optimizing teams, processes and operations, feasibility testing and certification, route-to-market expansion etc).

The programme will also have a strong learning and influencing agenda. For pre-investment businesses, the programme will work closely with a select 3-5 impact investors to help understand their challenges and build their pipeline of investible agribusinesses. Across the broader portfolio, the programme will develop and package learnings on best practices for inclusive, climate-resilient business models and share nationally and even internationally. It may also choose to support agribusinesses on select influencing agenda items with national-level stakeholders including the Government of Kenya. Lastly, the programme will promote direct sharing of experiences between the partner agribusinesses in its portfolio.

Job Summary

The Inclusive Business Manager will play a critical role within the program, delivering IBPs and supervising delivery of Technical Assistance to partner agribusinesses. The Inclusive Business Manager will be responsible for recruiting and overseeing Technoserve Fellows and Consultants who will lead on day-to-day execution of IBPs. They will also be responsible for sourcing specialist Technical Assistance for both pre-investment and post-investment agribusinesses to help them implement specific business innovations or improvements.

The Inclusive Business Manager will oversee and sometimes personally conduct primary field research, secondary data review, and conduct commercial and impact analysis using Excel models. They will also contribute towards program Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning, and work with the Learning and Influencing Manager to package the lessons learned during program implementation and share this through publications and events.

The role requires frequent local travel and meetings with agribusiness management to understand their business operations, challenges and opportunities. The Inclusive Business Manager will need to liaise with impact investors and understand their requirements to help pre-investment agribusinesses to position themselves for financing. Finally, they will need to connect with a wide range of other investor, business, government and NGO stakeholders.

The role reports to the Senior Program Manager also based in Kenya. The successful candidate will benefit from access to knowledgeable and experienced program officers in the TechnoServe country platform as well as the global CASA TAF team which has a wealth of experience delivering IBPs and TA in Kenya and other markets.

Primary Functions & Responsibilities

Inclusive Business Plan (IBP) development

Lead the development of IBPs, by conducting research and analysis into agribusiness operating models, to identify existing challenges and opportunities, and design commercial models for greater support to smallholder farmers (e.g. training delivery, communications, credit finance etc) Identify potential capacity gaps within agribusiness management team and propose areas of training and support Present ideas and opportunities to agribusiness management and incorporate their feedback to develop commercially viable solutions Manage Technoserve fellows and third party consultants supporting delivery of IBPs (provide strategic direction, provide commercial and technical quality control of their output, and support in communicating the solution to key stakeholders) Manage IBP operations effectively (recruitment, timeline, budget, compliance)

Pipeline building

With the Program Manager and with support of the global CASA team, scope out new businesses that are aligned with program Theory of Change and could be relevant for program support

Project design and TA implementation

Manage the end-to-end process, including business/project scoping, designing, proposing, obtaining approval for, tendering, and supervising a selection of the technical assistance projects for agribusinesses Facilitate monitoring and assessment of TA project delivery, quality and impact on SHFs and agribusiness operations; advising on areas for improvement and identifying need/opportunity for new interventions. Provide technical guidance and support to implementing partners on increasing quality TA delivery and optimising SHF impact Provide direct technical assistance (if needed) to support implementation of inclusive business models. Provide technical advisory in specific areas such as smallholder extension, access to finance, smallholder aggregation, climate and nature positive interventions, digitisation and/or gender inclusion Prepare and submit relevant sections for donor progress reports and communications/learning products (e.g. bulletins); support facilitation of portfolio review meetings Quickly identify, assess, and manage risks related to execution. Proactively communicate risks with key stakeholders ahead of time Provide other support to the TA Provider, Fund Managers and investee companies as required to ensure quality and sustainability of interventions for portfolio projects

Stakeholder engagement

Build strong relationships with key agribusiness and investor partners (targeting of key decision makers, building credibility) Support successful execution, stakeholder alignment and learning through facilitating project SteerCo meetings Connect agribusinesses within the program portfolio by arranging exchange visits, meetings and/or online networking groups Understand investor priorities and requirements and help to translate these to agribusinesses that could potentially be investible Represent the program as needed with mid-level personnel within Government, investors, industry bodies and donors

Monitoring, Evaluation, Learning and Influencing

Help to drive thought leadership on inclusive business themes; disseminate methodologies and learnings with internal (TechnoServe) and external stakeholders. Contribute to written publications and the organization of events by providing key information and learnings from the program and suggesting relevant audiences Contribute to the design of the monitoring and reports measurement (MRM) process for all activities under responsibility, and to collecting of key data to enable this monitoring to take place

Basic Qualifications:

Bachelor's Degree with a minimum of 7 years of relevant work experience or Master’s Degree plus 5 Relevant work experience includes mid-level management role in a commercial agribusiness, agricultural development program, donor overseeing agricultural development portfolio, investor, or management consulting firm Experience designing and overseeing research / data collection activities Proven commercial analysis skillset, including basic modelling in Excel and “common sense” approach to commercial management Demonstrated leadership skills, teamwork and relationship-building Proven stakeholder management skillset Demonstrated passion for field work in a developing country Excellent written and verbal communication and interpersonal skills Strong computer skills, including MS Word, PowerPoint, and Excel

Travel:  This position will be based in Nairobi, Kenya and requires local travel only (c.50%)

Preferred Qualifications:

Prior strategy consulting experience at a top-tier firm Advanced degree in business management or other relevant field Experience working with corporations around shared value initiatives Experience implementing field work in Kenya or developing economy

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

Ability to work independently, flexibly, and responsively Ability to adapt to changing working conditions Ability to prioritize and meet deadlines Has a strong sense of ownership, accountability and can-do attitude

Supervisory Responsibilities

The role will involve a mix of own delivery of Inclusive Business Plans, as well as managing Technoserve Fellows and third-party consultants to deliver Inclusive Business Plans, with the mix evolving over time towards greater management as the candidate grows in experience and understanding of our approach to technical assistance The Inclusive Business Manager will also oversee delivery of technical support to agribusinesses by specialist consultants Some of these reports may be more senior than the Inclusive Business Manager; the role is intended to provide guidance on context, manage timelines and budgets, and support in translating technical advice into concrete, implementable innovations for the agribusiness partners.

We encourage all qualified individuals who share TechnoServe's vision of improving the lives of others through proven business solutions to apply.

With our commitment to diversity, we are proud to be an equal opportunity employer and and do not discriminate on the basis of gender, race, color, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, HIV/AIDS status, protected veteran status, disability and all other protected classes.

We are also proud of our commitment to protecting staff, partners, and beneficiaries from abuse and exploitation and thoroughly vet all final candidates through rigorous background and reference checks.