Business Development and Resource Mobilization Advisor

Assignment Type:

South-South International Volunteer

Eligibility Requirements:

Open to individuals who hold citizenship of a low or middle income country other than the country where the assignment is based

Assignment ID:

VA-107350

Assignment Title:

Business Development and Resource Mobilization Advisor

Partner:

Social Enterprise Ghana

Country:

Ghana

Duration:

Nine months

Time Commitment:

Full-time

Assignment Context

Are you passionate about business development? Do you have resource mobilization skills? If so, this might be the assignment for you!

As the Business Development and Resource Mobilization Advisor with SE Ghana in Accra, Ghana, you will play a key role in strengthening private sector engagement and supporting young entrepreneurs to scale their businesses. You will help connect program participants with strategic financial partners, provide guidance to improve business operations, and contribute to a resource mobilization strategy through opportunity identification and research. Your expertise will also support the organization in building new partnerships and increasing access to funding opportunities.

Apply today to have an impact in empowering entrepreneurs and driving sustainable development in Ghana!

Roles and Responsibilities

• Identify and engage private sector actors, especially financial institutions, to support program participants through partnerships and business linkages
• Provide guidance and training to program participants to help scale up their businesses, improve operations, and become investment-ready
• Facilitate connections between participants and relevant stakeholders, including financial and technical support partners
• Support the development of a resource mobilization strategy that includes opportunity scanning, donor mapping, and partnership development
• Conduct research to identify emerging business development and funding opportunities aligned with the organization’s mission and program

• Participate in pre-assignment training
• Participate in at least 3 public engagement initiatives with Canadian audiences before, during, or after the assignment. Volunteers will be equipped with the tools, training, funds, and support to achieve these goals. Volunteers will also have to report on each of their public engagement activities through our Volunteer Information Portal. Virtual chats and individual check-ins can be booked with the Senior Public Engagement Officer throughout the course of their assignment and up to 2 years after to seek guidance and support with their public engagement activities
• Submit reports as required by the partner organization and by WUSC.

Experience and Qualifications

• Degree and/or training in business development, economics, finance, international development, or a related field
• Experience in resource mobilization, including donor research, proposal writing, or partnership development
• Strong understanding of private sector engagement and building strategic partnerships, especially with financial institutions
• Experience supporting small businesses or entrepreneurs in scaling operations or accessing funding
• Excellent analytical, communication, and stakeholder engagement skills
• Minimum two (2) years relevant professional experience in your field of expertise
• A commitment to gender equality, youth inclusion, and international volunteering
• Flexibility, adaptability, excellent interpersonal skills and cultural sensitivity
• Experience with group facilitation and trainings, including content development considered an asset
• Experience living and working internationally considered an asset
• Written and oral fluency in English.

Project Description

Volunteering for development is one of the important ways in which WUSC pursues its mission. The IGNI+E project, funded by Global Affairs Canada, supports over 70 partner organizations to advance gender equality and the economic empowerment of 1.2 million youth around the world. IGNI+E harnesses the knowledge, capacity and expertise of skilled Canadians through volunteer assignments and public engagement activities to assist partners in improving their performance, advocating for gender equality, and implementing more sustainable, innovative and inclusive initiatives and services for poor and marginalised youth, particularly young women. Overseas, our volunteers collaborate with a wide variety of partners, including enterprise and social enterprise development incubators, skills training centres, women’s organizations, and youth groups. In Canada, WUSC works with institutions and individuals to identify, prepare, and support volunteers who travel overseas to support our partners. Our network in Canada also works with WUSC to raise awareness among Canadians to inspire greater action on global development issues. Our collective focus is on sustainable and inclusive changes to create a better world for youth.

Partner Description

The goal of Social Enterprise Ghana (SE Ghana) is to organize and develop a strong ecosystem for the social enterprise sector by increasing funding, driving policy, intensifying learning and innovation and ensuring that there is adequate research and data on the sector. SE Ghana is a part of the larger African Social Entrepreneurship Network (ASEN) which seeks to improve the social entrepreneurship ecosystem across the continent. SE Ghana, like other networks around the world, brings together social entrepreneurs to support one another, lead development in the social entrepreneurship space, and advocate for their shared interests.

Support Package

• Support and guidance from the WUSC Volunteer Mobilization Team prior to departure and from WUSC Country Team while on assignment
• Pre-departure training to learn about the volunteering for development program, gain practical skills for living and working in an intercultural context and network with other volunteers
• In-country orientation upon arrival in country of assignment
• Language training in country of assignment, where required
• Modest monthly living and accommodation allowance
• Airfare to and from the assignment country
• Visa/work permit
• Pre-departure medical exam
• Health insurance
• Vaccinations and antimalarial medication
• Criminal record verification
• Vacation leave entitlement
• Debriefing after completion of assignment
• An incredible opportunity to make a meaningful contribution to global development, enhance your professional skills and participate in an experience of a lifetime!

WUSC’s Safeguarding Policy

WUSC’s activities seek to balance inequities and create sustainable development around the globe; the work ethic of our staff, volunteers, representatives and partners shall correspond to the values and mission of the organization. WUSC promotes responsibility, respect, honesty, and professional excellence and we will not tolerate harassment, coercion and sexual exploitation and abuse of any form. Successful applicants will be required to sign off on the WUSC Code of Conduct and the Self-Disclosure Form. International and national volunteers will also be required to submit a criminal record verification.

WUSC is a signatory to the Cooperation Canada Leaders’ Pledge on Preventing and Addressing Sexual Misconduct. The pledge represents the shared commitment as Canada’s global development and humanitarian leaders to ensure the full implementation of practices and policies that will protect and respond to our own staff, volunteers and the communities we serve. We are committed to creating safe and respectful workplaces and programs that promote gender equality and are free from gender-based violence, including by addressing and responding to all abuse of power, holding people to account, and protecting the vulnerable. Read the full pledge.