Trade & Investment Officer

The Kenya Private Sector Alliance (KEPSA) is the apex body of the private sector in Kenya, established to drive economic development through year on year improvements in the business environment, by addressing cross cutting business issues, driving investments and addressing socio-economic issues with partners. KEPSA brings together business associations, corporate bodies, Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) and start-ups to speak in one voice, working closely with Government and other stakeholders through structured Public Private Dialogue (PPD) platforms and other engagement mechanisms.

Background

The Micro Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in Kenya, contribute approximately 40% of the GDP with the majority falling in the informal sector. MSMEs in Kenya are engines of economic growth and development, research suggests that MSMEs account for over 80% of firms in Kenya, create jobs, contribute to GDP, aid industrial development, satisfy local demand for services, innovate and support large firms with inputs and services.

In this regard, KEPSA is working on an upcoming project to support the Micro and Small Enterprises (MSEs) by increasing access to affordable and appropriate finance for micro and small businesses, drive the change in behavior of entrepreneurs by catalyzing enterprise level changes that will enable MSEs to attain resilience, grow and ultimately transform work opportunities, Deepening the ecosystem of business development services targeting MSEs, Increasing the options available to youth entrepreneurs by increasing access to new and more lucrative market options, and; Strengthen the ecosystem within which MSEs operate.

In order to achieve this, KEPSA wishes to engage a Trade and Investment Officer for five-year contract to support with access to market opportunities to MSEs aimed at increasing the visibility and impact of the project.

Objective of the Role

KEPSA seeks to recruit a suitable Trade & Investment Officer to create market opportunities for the participating MSEs for sustainability and scale up and strengthen KEPSA business hub to implement and monitor memorandum of understanding on trade facilitation with a key focus
on supporting the project beneficiaries and wider MSE ecosystem. The Trade and Investment Officer will report to the Head of SME Development.

The Kenya Private Sector Alliance (KEPSA) is the apex body of the private sector in Kenya, established to drive economic development through year on year improvements in the business environment, by addressing cross cutting business issues, driving investments and addressing socio-economic issues with partners. KEPSA brings together business associations, corporate bodies, Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) and start-ups to speak in one voice, working closely with Government and other stakeholders through structured Public Private Dialogue (PPD) platforms and other engagement mechanisms.

Background

The Micro Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in Kenya, contribute approximately 40% of the GDP with the majority falling in the informal sector. MSMEs in Kenya are engines of economic growth and development, research suggests that MSMEs account for over 80% of firms in Kenya, create jobs, contribute to GDP, aid industrial development, satisfy local demand for services, innovate and support large firms with inputs and services.

In this regard, KEPSA is working on an upcoming project to support the Micro and Small Enterprises (MSEs) by increasing access to affordable and appropriate finance for micro and small businesses, drive the change in behavior of entrepreneurs by catalyzing enterprise level changes that will enable MSEs to attain resilience, grow and ultimately transform work opportunities, Deepening the ecosystem of business development services targeting MSEs, Increasing the options available to youth entrepreneurs by increasing access to new and more lucrative market options, and; Strengthen the ecosystem within which MSEs operate.

In order to achieve this, KEPSA wishes to engage a Trade and Investment Officer for five-year contract to support with access to market opportunities to MSEs aimed at increasing the visibility and impact of the project.

Objective of the Role

KEPSA seeks to recruit a suitable Trade & Investment Officer to create market opportunities for the participating MSEs for sustainability and scale up and strengthen KEPSA business hub to implement and monitor memorandum of understanding on trade facilitation with a key focus
on supporting the project beneficiaries and wider MSE ecosystem. The Trade and Investment Officer will report to the Head of SME Development.

1. Successfully build and manage a pipeline of market and investment opportunities for the MSEs from both local and international markets;
   

2. Develop and implement B2B and match matching framework of investment and market opportunities;
   

3. Support in capacity building activities of the targeted MSEs especially on market readiness and raise their proficiency in implementing effective digital marketing strategies, increase their brand awareness, value and sales conversions across multiple digital channels;
   

4. Work with KEPSA Business Hub to plan and organize for trade and investment forums especially those targeting MSEs;
   

5. Development and implementation of framework to track impact and outcome of trade and investment engagements to ensure this is well documented;
   

6. Provide support in assessment of the trade and investment barriers and opportunities and provide solutions, suggestions and recommendations for policy and regulatory interventions;
   

7. Develop and create partnerships for market readiness to support Kenyan MSEs in-market to address market access barriers through capacity building or policy interventions;
   

8. Foster an environment and develop incentives framework for promotion of local innovations by MSEs and oversee innovation awards;
   

9. Support in mobilization activities of the MSEs to be enrolled in the project;
   

10. Support in assessing and prescreening the applications by the MSEs to access the finance facility in order to ensure key eligibility criteria are achieved and filtered to the Fund Manager for due diligence and processing of loan facility;
    

11. Prepare progress reports (e.g. monthly, quarterly, etc.) to be shared with the management and project partner (s) as may be required;
    

12. Undertake any other tasks as required and commensurate with the level of this post that are related to the success of this program.
    

Essential Qualifications & Skills

• A minimum of University degree in Business or Social Sciences-related field;
  

• At least 5 years of experience working with micro and small enterprises in trade and investment,
  

• Experience in demand creation/market-based approaches. Knowledge of e-commerce and different digital trading platforms will be a plus;
  

• Experience in facilitating innovation will be an added advantage;
  

• Proven experience in conducting and evaluating feasibility studies for MSMEs;
  

• Strong knowledge of processes and tools associated with economic development mechanisms;
  

• Strong mentoring and advisory skills related to capacity building efforts;
  

• Good leadership and Excellent communication (written and oral), reporting and presentation skills
  

• Excellent social and networking skills, ability to engage with the private sector, civil society and governments