Activity Background:

J.E. Austin Associates, Inc. (JAA) is an international development organization assisting businesses, governments, non-profit organizations, educational and financial institutions, producer organizations, and other organizations around the world to improve productivity, to enhance competitiveness, to strengthen management and strategy implementation, and to facilitate economic development.

JAA is a consortium partner in the USAID’s funded Economic Recovery and Development Activity (USAID-ERDA), which is a five-year project designed to expand economic opportunities in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa including in Newly Merged Districts (NMDs). USAID-ERDA will promote sustainable economic growth by improving agriculture sector capacity and supporting allied MSMEs in the agriculture & non-agriculture sectors.

Activity Objectives:

USAID-ERDA’s objective is to expand economic opportunities in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and its NMD’s by strengthening and modernizing the agriculture sector and promoting micro and small enterprises.

Sub-Objective 1: Agriculture sector capacity enhanced and modernized through strengthening of agriculture production resources.

Sub-Objective 2: Micro, small and medium businesses promoted by strengthening MSME’s in both farm and non-farm sectors.

Sub-Objective 3: Improved business enabling environment through policy reforms and technical assistance to the GoKP.

Objective and Specific Tasks:

Enterprise Development Coordinator will work under direct supervision of the MSMEs & Private Sector Specialist and will be required to adopt proactive approaches with special focus on mobilizing new private sector investments, promoting youth-led enterprise development, building capacities of MSMEs, and improving MSMEs access to markets. The coordinator will assist MSMEs & Private Sector Specialist in designing and implementing private sector led technical assistance and grants packages in both farm and non-farm sectors to help achieve the project objectives. The coordinator will supervise the enterprise development team at field level and ensure effective implementation of activities. This position requires good understanding of the local socio-economic context of KP & NMDs, networking with multiple levels of stakeholders, strong supervisory skills, and proficiency in report writing and communication.

Specific Responsibilities:

As directed by the MSME Private Sector Specialist or his designee, the individual holding this position will perform the following tasks:

• Assist MSMSEs and Private Sector Specialist in design of work plan interventions for off-farm and non-farm priority sectors and business enabling environment.
• Lead the implementation of private sector led interventions in the off-farm and non-farm sectors focused on mobilizing new private sector investments, promoting youth-led enterprise development, building capacities of MSMEs, and improving MSMEs access to markets.
• Lead consultations with relevant public and private sector stakeholders and engage them in design and implementation of the interventions to ensure ownership and sustainability.
• Engage with relevant financial service providers and regulatory bodies, design and implement interventions for promoting MSMEs access to finance in both farm and non-farm sectors.
• Lead the engagement with incubation and co-working spaces’ providers to facilitate ERDA’s work in the start-up ecosystem in KP and NMDs.
• Lead the design and development of concept notes, business case and activities completion reports for interventions under sub-objective 2.
• Lead the design and development of scope of work/terms of reference for engaging full time staff and short-term consultants.
• Work closely with the Grants Manager to guide designing of grants products and smooth implementation of grants support activities related to off-farm and non-farm sectors.
• Mobilize and supervise enterprise development teams at field level to ensure efficient implementation of interventions.
• Work closely with agriculture component team to ensure successful implementation of off-farm and enterprises development interventions.
• Any other tasks/responsibilities assigned by management.
• Estimated Duration of Assignment: Life of the project