Funding Laison Officer

Job Description:   

Objective: The Funding Liaison Officer will be responsible for facilitating access to funding for women entrepreneurs trained by Creative Space Startups LTD/GTE. This role involves developing strong relationships with funding institutions and providing tailored support to our entrepreneurs to ensure they successfully secure the necessary financial resources to grow their businesses. 

Key Responsibilities: 

• Relationship Building: Establish and maintain relationships with banks, venture capitalists, angel investors, and grant agencies. Act as the primary point of contact between these institutions and Creative Space Startups LTD/GTE. 
• Entrepreneur Support: Work directly with trained women entrepreneurs to understand their business plans, financial needs, and specific challenges in accessing funding. 
• Tailored Guidance: Provide personalized advice and support to entrepreneurs, including assistance in preparing funding applications, business plan refinement, and pitch coaching. 
• Market Analysis: Regularly research and stay informed about the latest funding opportunities, trends in women’s entrepreneurship, and financial products suitable for startups and MSMEs. 
• Stakeholder Engagement: Coordinate workshops, meetings, and networking events that bring together entrepreneurs and funders. 
• Reporting & Feedback: Prepare regular reports on engagement activities, and funding success rates, and provide feedback to both the entrepreneurs and funding institutions. 
• Program Improvement: Continuously evaluate and refine engagement strategies to improve success rates in securing funding. 

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs): 

• Funding Success Rate: Percentage of entrepreneurs successfully securing funding post-training. 
• Relationships Established: Number of new funding institutions engaged per quarter. 
• Entrepreneur Satisfaction: Positive feedback from entrepreneurs regarding support and guidance provided. 
• Funding Application Success: Increase in the number of successful funding applications submitted by entrepreneurs. 
• Event Engagement: Number of successful networking events or workshops conducted, and participation rates. 
• Report Timeliness & Quality: Regularity and comprehensiveness of reports on engagement activities and funding outcomes. 
• Program Improvement Initiatives: Implementation of new strategies or tools to enhance the funding success rate. 

Essential Skills and Qualifications: 

• Financial Acumen: Strong understanding of financial concepts, funding mechanisms, and investment strategies relevant to startups and small businesses. 
• Business Knowledge: Familiarity with business planning, financial modelling, and market analysis. Ability to understand and evaluate business plans and proposals. 
• Communication Skills: Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to clearly articulate funding requirements and processes to entrepreneurs and negotiate with funding institutions. 
• Relationship Building: Proven ability to build and maintain relationships with a variety of stakeholders, including banks, investors, and entrepreneurs. 
• Problem-Solving Skills: Ability to identify challenges in securing funding and develop innovative solutions. 
• Networking Abilities: Strong networking skills to connect with funding bodies, financial institutions, and other relevant stakeholders. 
• Organizational Skills: Capability to manage multiple projects and entrepreneurs simultaneously, keeping track of various funding applications and deadlines. 
• Educational Background: A degree in Business Administration, Finance, Economics, or a related field. Advanced degrees or certifications in finance, banking or entrepreneurship could be advantageous. 

Desirable Skills and Experience: 

• Experience in Fundraising or Finance: Prior experience in fundraising, banking, venture capital, or related fields. 
• Entrepreneurial Experience: Direct experience in starting or managing a business can provide valuable insights into the challenges faced by entrepreneurs. 
• Workshop and Training Delivery: Experience in organizing and delivering training programs, workshops, or seminars. 
• Cultural Sensitivity: Understanding of and sensitivity to the diverse backgrounds and experiences of women entrepreneurs. 
• Analytical Skills: Ability to analyze financial data and market trends to provide informed advice and support. 
• Technology Proficiency: Familiarity with financial software, CRM systems, and other relevant business tools. 
• Language Skills: Fluency in English Compulsory. Working knowledge of French and any other indigenous languages in Nigeria or Cameroon is a bonus.  

Personal Attributes: 

• Empathetic and patient, with a genuine interest in supporting entrepreneurs. 
• Self-motivated with a proactive approach to identifying and pursuing opportunities. 
• Strong ethical standards and integrity, especially in handling confidential information. 

Additional Requirements: 

• Willingness to travel, if necessary, to meet with entrepreneurs and funding institutions. 
• Flexibility in work hours to accommodate meetings or events outside of regular business hours.