Business Enabling Environment Advisor (Short-Term)

BACKGROUND

The Iraq Durable Communities and Economic Opportunities (DCEO) is a United States Agency for International Development Office (USAID) program implemented by Chemonics International in Iraq. DCEO aims to support vulnerable communities to build community resilience against destabilizing factors by increasing their adaptive capacity and economic well-being.

The Business Competitiveness and Job Creation Initiative (BCJCI) is a five-year strategy within DCEO to support the growth and strengthening of the Iraqi private sector. In order to do this, BCJCI works on a firm-level basis to support partner private sector clients to identify and overcome specific constraints hindering growth and create new jobs for Iraqis. BCJCI works at the upper end of the private sector through investment facilitation services and at the entrepreneur/micro/small business side through providing new opportunities for young Iraqi entrepreneurs to access cutting-edge business incubation and acceleration services. Throughout the program, BCJCI will also engage local business associations and professional networks to improve the overall business enabling environment.

POSITION DESCRIPTION

The Advisor will provide oversight to Objective 2: Business Enabling Environment, specifically that trade and business associations’ capacity to identify, address, and remove constraints to business growth and competitiveness is strengthened. The advisor will review the DCEO’s business enabling environment strategy and ensure activities performed by subcontractor CIPE are in alignment with TO2 indicators, which include:

• Technical assistance to improve private sector networks, i.e., business associations
• Increase MSME development
• Wider partnerships with business associations
• Outreach, network strengthening, and knowledge diffusion  

 RESPONSIBILITIES

• Review Task Order 2 – Objective 2 to ensure that subcontractor has the capacity to fill their scope of work
• Facilitate business enabling environment improvements as related to private sector ecosystems
• Select mechanisms for policy and/or regulatory reforms to support entrepreneurship
• Review CIPE and iMMAP landscape surveys for an integrated approach for reaching Iraq’s business service support infrastructure, including chambers, associations, business development centers (BDCs), microfinance lenders, and incubators. The infrastructure should allow local firms to identify and access local resources needed to reduce operational constraints and increase local job creation.
• Review CIPE’s subcontract and capabilities to reach Objective 2 goals
• Review CIPE’s summary report on firms they have engaged with or visited for highlighted growth opportunities, recommendations, and analysis for process optimization.
• Leverage existing private sector-led Economic Recovery Taskforces and community-led groups, to identify near-term economic needs and opportunities.
• Determine level of MSME support by providing technical advice on in-kind grants directly to businesses associations, technical assistance to inform business trainings, networking to bring private sector actors together for workshops, and the creation of economic recovery plans. 
• Synthesize review and analysis into a strategic plan that covers staffing and activities to be approved by the Chief of Party
• Implement the strategic plan within the window of the assignment
• Other related duties as assigned by supervisor

LOCATION OF THE ASSIGNMENT

In country work will be based in Erbil, with frequent travel to Baghdad.

SUPERVISION AND REPORTING

The STTA will report to the TO2 Director.  

QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor degree in the field of agriculture or industrial engineering.
• Master’s degree in Food Processing and Technology is preferable
• A minimum of 10 years of experience in food processing industry with expertise as advisor to companies and projects, and experience with multiple product lines.
• Prior experience managing operations and/or strategy in a food processing company.
• Experience in the Middle East is preferred.
• Ability to work independently with minimal supervision, to prioritize multiple work assignments in an extremely fast-paced environment, to meet deadlines, and to exercise good, strong professional judgement.
• Ability to work in a professional and cordial manner with fellow staff members, the general public, and partner institutions.
• Fluency in written and oral English is required. Written and oral fluency in Arabic or Kurdish is highly preferred.

To apply, please visit:

Business Enabling Environment Advisor (Short-Term) (smartsheet.com)

Note: We will be reviewing the CVs on rolling basis and the position can be filled even before the closing date.

Chemonics is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate in its selection and employment practices on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, disability, genetic information, age, membership in an employee organization, or other non-merit factors.