About EDI Ethiopia

The Entrepreneurship Development Institute (EDI) Ethiopia is an autonomous institution reporting to the Ministry of Labor and Skills and was established in 2021. EDI came into being following the latest government reorganization bringing together two entities, namely: The UNDP-supported Entrepreneurship Development Center (EDC), established in February 2013, and the World Bank-financed Women Entrepreneurship Development Project (WEDP), inaugurated in December 2012. Both projects used to operate under the auspices of the former Ministry of Urban Development and Construction before the reorganization. 

EDI aims to promote the emergence of a vibrant, competitive, and innovative private sector, in particular a strong SME segment. This is accomplished through a comprehensive package of entrepreneurship support programs ranging from ecosystem and capacity building to BDS, access to finance, market linkage, and business incubation and acceleration services. Following its new mandate as a national institution, EDI plays a key role in the Ethiopian entrepreneurial ecosystem. EDI has undertaken a strategic shift from direct services provider to building the capacities of other public and private institutions in the BDS ecosystem.

About SEED Program

The Sustainable Employment through Entrepreneurship & Enterprise Development (SEED) Program is designed to enable young women and men to access dignified work through relevant skill enhancement, and entrepreneurship and enterprise development. In the next five years, a total of 1 million young people (80% young women and 10% vulnerable groups - homeless and internally displaced youth) will be enabled to find dignified work in 231,000 enterprises (205,000 new and 25,000 existing micro enterprises as well as 1,000 innovative startups).

SEED will be led by Entrepreneurship Development Institute (EDI), a quasi-government entity, along with partners such as American College of Technology (ACT), eHealth IT Services PLC (Orbit Health and Orbit Innovation Hub), Hope Enterprises, and Ethiopian Aviation Academy (EAA), member of the Ethiopian Airlines Group.

In order to address the skilling gaps with youth, SEED will be anchored at the Technical, Vocational and Training (TVT) institutions mainly located at small urban centers and secondary cities. The program aims to support  the advancement of education and youth employment by capacitating  100 TVTs through  introducing transformative operational business models, enabling TVT leaders, standardizing TVT management systems, supporting the establishment and operationalization of business incubation centers, embedding/strengthening entrepreneurship programs in TVTs, supporting development of demand-driven and quality training programs, supporting linkages essential for cooperation and collaboration for TVTs to become self-reliant, entrepreneurial, and a go-to-space for entrepreneurs to learn, test their ideas and grow their businesses.

The program goals and objectives will be achieved through the following four major interventions; 

• Transforming 100 TVTs towards enabling one million young people to find dignified and fulfilling work; 

• Enhancing the employability of young people through skilling and enterprise development; 

• Facilitating innovative access to finance and market linkages; and 

• Improving enabling environment for entrepreneurship and enterprise development. 

SEED will focus on agriculture, manufacturing, digital economy, and services as priority sectors based on a value chain approach, evidence-based systemic change

The program would like to invite competent and qualified candidates to apply for the following positions to be hired on contractual basis

Scope of work

Under the direct supervision of the SEED Project Manager and in partnership with other program managers, the incumbent will be responsible for developing and managing initiatives to improve access to financing and new market opportunities for micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs). This position will design and implement sustainable market-based programs that expand available financing, reduce costs of lending, and connect MSMEs to new buyers, suppliers and partners.

Specific Duties and Responsibilities

Access to Finance

• Design and facilitate an inclusive, accessible and innovative financial products for youth, women, and other marginalized groups.

• Design, experiment and implement various innovative access to finance program initiatives such as concessional loan, psychometric loan due diligence, AI enabled lending, credit risk guarantees, interest rate subsidies, non-collateral solutions, financial literacy training etc.

• Develop strategic initiatives and programs to effectively incentivize financial institutions to increase their lending interest and capabilities for MSMEs.

• Research, evaluate and identify appropriate financial products, services and channels to expand MSME access to finance.

• Leading the development and implementation of financial literacy/intelligence training and BDS programs to enhance access to finance opportunities for MSMEs including but not limited to financial planning, investment readiness, export readiness, record keeping, business plan development etc. 

Market Facilitation and Linkages

• Facilitate and promote market development and linkages for MSMEs owned by youth and women

• Develop market linkage initiatives linking MSMEs to anchor companies, export channels, e-commerce platforms, and other new markets.

• Research and identify potential new markets, customer segments, and distribution channels for enterprises enterprise products/services

• Analyze market trends, competition, and customer needs in target markets to identify opportunities for growth, develop market entry and expansion strategies tailored to key target markets

• Organize trade missions, events, and business matchmaking to connect enterprises with potential new buyers and partners

• Provide market intelligence to enterprises regarding regulations, standards, pricing, cultural considerations in target markets

• Share best practices, success stories, and lessons learned from market expansion projects across the enterprise portfolio

Partnership

• Develop strategic partnerships with financial institutions, technology companies, anchor firms, industry associations, development agencies, and other relevant stakeholders.

• Co-develop customized MSME lending and market linkage programs nationally and internationally.

• Initiate partnerships with distributors, sales agents, retailers, or other channels to access new markets establish relationships with key stakeholders in the ecosystem that can integrate local enterprises into their supply chains

• Facilitate linkages between MSMEs and potential investors, crowd funding platforms, angel investor groups

• Represent the organization and coordinate activities through regular engagement with partners.

• Document successes, challenges, and lessons learned working with partners to guide future improvements

Management Arrangement and Reporting

• The incumbent will work under the direct supervision of SEED program manager and operates in close collaboration with other project personnel.

• Prepare donor reports detailing program activities, results, lessons learned and recommendations.

• Document program processes, guidelines and manuals to enable replication.

Program: Sustainable Employment through Entrepreneurship & Enterprise Development (SEED)

Reports To: SEED Program Manager 

Grade: Senior Level – Senior 

Duty Stations: Headquarters, Addis Ababa with some travel to regions

Contract duration: One year with possible extension

Number of position: 1 

Job Requirements

Required Qualification, Experiences and Skills

Education

• Masters’ Degree from a recognized University in Business Management, Financial Intelligence, Accounting and Finance, Economics, and related disciples. A certification in business advisory services/entrepreneurship development will be considered an advantage. Experiences working in facilitating innovative finances and market linkages for enterprises is essential.

Experience 

• Minimum of 8 years’ professional experiences in a related post.

Skills and knowledge

• In-depth knowledge of MSME finance needs, challenges, and operating environments

• Understanding of innovative financial products such as mobile money, digital lending, value chain finance

• Familiarity with latest fintech innovations and alternative credit scoring models

• Quantitative analysis and financial modeling skills to assess product feasibility.

• Ability to analyze risk of new financial products and structure appropriate terms.

• Knowledge of lending methodologies and credit evaluation principles

• Experience negotiating win-win partnerships with financial institutions.

• Entrepreneurial mindset and ability to “sell” new solutions to partners.

• Strong research, critical thinking, communication, and presentation abilities

• Confident and dynamic personality with strong creative outlook.

How to Apply

Entrepreneurship Development Institute (EDI)-Ethiopia now invites eligible candidates to apply for the above mentioned positions. Interested candidates should provide information demonstrating that they have the required qualifications and relevant experience to perform the required services.

The applicants should clearly describe the name of the position to which they are applying for on their application letter.

Female Applicants are highly encouraged to apply for all positions

Submit your including recent and compressive CV with a letter of application and other relevant supporting documents via email: info@edi-ethiopia.org or in person at Entrepreneurship Development Institute (EDI)-Ethiopia located around Kasanchis Nega City Mall 3rd floor For more information contact Tel. +251115571150/ info@edi-ethiopia.org up to or before 26, September, 2023, 4:00 P.M.

Further information can be obtained at the address below during office hours from 8:30 A.M to 12:30 P.M in the morning and from 1:30 P.M to 5:30 P.M in the afternoon.