About The Ministry Of Trade And Industry (MINICOM)
The Ministry of Trade and Industry (MINICOM), facilitates Rwanda’s economic transformation goals and vision through advancing for a competitive and knowledge based private sector, promotion of industrialization, create a conducive and flourishing environment for entrepreneurs, integrate into regional and global markets while ensuring a high level of consumer and intellectual property protection for Rwandans.
The general mission of the Ministry of Trade and Industry is to lead the development of external and internal trade, competitive companies and cooperatives on the market and promotion of investment and consumer rights.
In April 2020, the Government of Rwanda approved the Entrepreneurship Development Policy (EDP) to foster an effective entrepreneurship support system that creates the necessary conditions and enables for Rwandan start-ups, Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) and large enterprises to unleash their entrepreneurial potential and grow dynamic and competitive enterprises that will drive economic growth and jobs creation. Thus, as an enabler of the EDP implementation, MINICOM mobilizes different stakeholders to intervene in the policy implementation including Access to Finance Rwanda (AFR) through the ongoing collaborative Memorandum of Understanding (MoU).
About Access To Finance Rwanda (AFR)
AFR is a Rwandan not for profit company established in 2010 to promote financial inclusion and financial sector development. AFR is currently funded by Sweden, MasterCard Foundation, and Jersey Overseas Aid.
It is part of the broader Financial Sector Deepening (FSD) Network in Africa that seeks to create a transformative impact on the ending of poverty by supporting efforts to improve financial inclusion and financial sector development by helping financial institutions and markets drive a more inclusive and sustainable economic growth. It is a gender-intentional organization and mainstreams gender across all its programs.
AFR supports the removal of systemic barriers that hinder access to financial services by underserved groups, particularly the rural poor, women, youth, MSMEs, Persons with Disabilities (PwD) and refugees. AFR supports the development and provision of financial services including savings, credit, insurance, investment, payments, and remittances.
AFR is guided by the Market System Development (MSD) approach recognizing that efforts to increase financial inclusion and financial sector development must be market-led, profitable and sustainable.
In line with its Phase III strategy and in collaboration with key stakeholders, AFR continues its journey towards addressing the root causes hindering access to and use of finance for MSMEs in Rwanda by designing relevant impactful interventions.
AFR signed a five-year MoU with MINICOM to jointly promote and support effective and well-coordinated entrepreneurship and MSMEs ecosystem in Rwanda which enables increased access to and usage of tailored, innovative business development services for enterprise growth, investment readiness, resilience, and sustainable employment especially for young women and men. Under this collaboration, AFR, with the support of the Mastercard Foundation, will provide support to MINICOM in enhancing EDP policy coordination.
It is in this regard that AFR, in collaboration with MINICOM, would like to recruit an EDP implementation Coordinator, to support day to day policy implementation activities.
The Role
The EDP Implementation Coordinator will play a crucial role in advancing the objectives of the Government of Rwanda (GoR) through MINICOM to enhance the entrepreneurship ecosystem and bolster the growth of MSMEs.
The primary focus will be to ensure the effective implementation of the EDP, driving inclusive growth and employment, particularly targeting vulnerable groups such as youth and women.
The embedded EDP implementation coordinator will be seconded to MINICOM as AFR staff.
Reporting line: The position reports to Director General of Industry Promotion and Entrepreneurship Development in the Ministry of Trade and Industry [MINICOM] and AFR Head of Finance for Growth and Jobs.
Location: Kigali, Rwanda
Duration of the contract: Two years renewable based on performance.
Expected starting date: 30th June 2024
Scope Of Responsibilities
The EDP Implementation Coordinator will be responsible for the following key tasks:
- Partnership
- Map and engage potential partners to support the Ministry in implementing its mandates regarding entrepreneurship and SME development.
- Build relationships with key actors in the entrepreneurship ecosystem; and design interventions that drive mindset and/or behavioral change within the ecosystem.
- Coordinate forums involving key stakeholders in the MSME ecosystem.
- Serve as the key liaison between MINICOM, AFR and other stakeholders, facilitating collaborative initiatives.
- Participate in management meetings to provide updates, actions and any other subject matter advice related to EDP implementation to the Ministry.
- Policy coordination and review
- Provide strategic advice on potential new policies and initiatives to further support objectives and goals in the National EDP.
- Generate regular reports on progress, impact, and challenges.
- EDP implementation facilitation and stakeholders’ engagement
- Support the review of the EDP implementation progress to date
- Organize and coordinate technical workshops involving government, private sector, and development partners to discuss best approaches aimed at accelerating effective implementation of the EDP.
- Contribute to the update of the EDP implementation plan
- Support awareness campaigns to promote EDP policies and objectives.
- Support the coordination of relevant technical assistance initiatives to start-ups, MSMEs, and large enterprises.
- Coordinate the implementation of EDP initiatives aiming to maximize efficiency and impact and to manage risks arising from this intervention.
- Monitor the progress and effectiveness of entrepreneurship development programs and initiatives.
- As guided by the impact measurement plan, support in collecting data and feedback to assess the impact of the policy and make necessary adjustments or improvements where necessary.
- And other duties as requested by MINICOM and/or AFR.
Education And Qualifications
- A minimum of master’s degree in Entrepreneurship, Economics, Private Sector Development, Project Management, Development studies, Public Policy, or related field.
- Certification in Project Management (e.g. PMP/ PRINCE2) is preferred.
Essential
Job related experience, knowledge, and technical skills.
- A minimum of three (3) years relevant and hands-on experience in areas related to the Private Sector Development, Entrepreneurship and SME development Programs.
- Clear understanding of the entrepreneurship ecosystem in Rwanda including constraints limiting business growth, profitability, resilience, and ability to create decent jobs.
- Strong experience in Entrepreneurship, Private Sector or SME development related policies formulation in Rwanda.
- Experience working with multi partners’ programs.
- Experience working with policymaking institutions.
- Experience working with the local Government in Rwanda in matters related to employment creation, entrepreneurship, private sector, and business development.
- Proven track of record in project management is a strong plus.
- Track record of managing relationships and positively influencing key stakeholders
- Excellent report writing skills and ability to make impactful presentations.
- Excellent written and spoken English.
Desirable
- Familiarity with major players in the MSME ecosystem in Rwanda.
- Languages: French, Kinyarwanda
Behavioral Competences
- Ability to work in a team, including providing strategic inputs and effectively contributing to joint planning and implementation of policy interventions and activities.
- Strong drive for results
- Strong sense of engagement and a sense of initiative.
- Ability to initiate and maintain positive relationships with others.
- Strong communication and influencing skills.
- High degree of professionalism and integrity.
- Learning and resourcefulness
How to Apply
All qualified applicants should submit their applications by clicking on the
Apply button by latest
18th May 2024 at 5 pm.
The applicant should submit a
Curriculum Vitae (CV) containing
an e-mail address, daytime telephone contact, qualifications, key achievements, experience, and names & addresses of three referees together with a cover letter (maximum 2 pages) summarizing why you consider yourself well suited for the position. Please do not attach any other documents at this stage.
All applications will be selected on merit and only shortlisted candidates will be invited for interviews. For any questions regarding the application process, please contact humanresources@afr.rw
Note
- This position is open to Rwandan national candidates only.
- Qualified Women candidates are encouraged to apply.
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