Business Mentor - Kamwenge

Employer: Village Enterprise 

Industry: Nonprofit/ International Development/ Social Entrepreneurship 

Duration: One year subject to renewal upon satisfactory performance and availability of funds

Job Title: Business Mentor (1 post) 

Position Type:Full Time employment 

Reports to: Field Associate 

Location: Kamwenge District (working in selected sub counties) 

Organization Description: 

At Village Enterprise, our mission is to end extreme poverty in rural Africa through entrepreneurship and innovation. Our vision is a world free of extreme poverty, where people have the economic means to sustain their families. Village Enterprise provides business training, seed capital/start-up funds and business mentoring to entrepreneurs to enable them to start and sustain new businesses. Over the past five years (since 2021), Village Enterprise has been working in Kyenjojo and Kamwenge districts in the sub counties and communities bordering Kibaale National Park to advance its vision.  

A Village Enterprise Business Mentor is a community-based resource person who directly trains, coaches and supports aspiring entrepreneurs to start and grow sustainable businesses while leveraging local knowledge and providing practical guidance from business planning to overcoming challenges, to ultimately lifting families out of poverty. This is a full-time employment job opportunity. A time commitment of 8 hours per day, 40 hours per week is required. An attractive compensation in line with Village Enterprise structure and benefits package will be provided to the successful candidate. 

Job Description: 

This is a dynamic position that requires an individual with an innovative mindset and passion for supporting communities move out of the poverty traps. The candidate must have a strong business acumen with knowledge on market linkages, business literacy, village savings and loans management. Some of the specific roles for this position include, but are not limited to:

Develop micro-enterprises 

• Responsible for the identification of potential areas for Village Enterprise program, quality implementation and delivery in your respective area of work.
• Mobilize qualified groups and participants to participate in Village Enterprise program.
• Accurately fill in village forms for each micro enterprise as specified in the Business Mentor manual.
• Spearhead the start of approved microenterprises in your region in accordance to the funding cycle.

Training and disbursement:

• Properly train all new Village Enterprise Business owners according to training process detailed in the Business Mentor Training Manual.
• Work with other Village Enterprise staff to carry out grant disbursement for all approved business groups.
• Conduct supplemental training sessions and evaluate micro-enterprise performance after grant disbursements.

Mentoring: 

• Provide mentoring to business owners on choosing and running a business using methods outlined in Mentoring Manual. Mentoring will require at least two visits to each business per month.
• Prepare monthly reports detailing progress of business groups including successes and challenges, general observations using an approved format.

Business Savings Groups (BSGs) 

• Organize and support 2 Business Savings Groups (BSG) with approximately 30 members.
• Train business groups on BSG formation for self-directed savings and loans.
• Attend Monthly Savings Group Meetings as needed to provide general guidance and technical support to emerging entrepreneurs.

Regional Exposure and Analysis 

• Assist Field Associate and Regional Manager to introduce the Village Enterprise program to local government agencies and to the community leaders.
• Work with the Field Associate to help identify most viable businesses in your region for profiling.
• Consult with other Business Mentors to determine best practices and share information for quality program implementation.
• Attend Business Mentor trainings, participate in regional Business Mentor meetings, usually on bi-weekly basis and provide input to innovation initiatives.
• Organize business visits to the sites of operation as and when requested by the Country Office. 

Reporting:

• Submit a Monthly activity progress reports.
• Submit Business Profiles and success stories as and when requested for by the supervisor.

Safeguarding: 

"Safeguarding at Village Enterprise is everyone’s responsibility"

• Continuously sensitize program participants about possible risks of child abuse, sexual/financial exploitation, prevention and response mechanisms.
• Ensure compliance with VE’s safeguarding policies and Code of Conduct in all programs, operations and practices.
• Report any incident of child or adult safeguarding in program operations for appropriate action and follow up.

Qualification and Experience 

• Minimum qualification of Diploma in Social work, Education, Business Management or related field.
• 1-year experience in teaching, training, mentoring and/or community work with adults.
• Merit and ability in work performance and verifiable results.
• Capability in conducting field work and residence in the specified area or willing to reside in the sub county of operation.
• Ability to Read, write, communicate and deliver business training in the local languages (Rukiga) spoken in the project area is a MUST. This will be tested.
• Self-starter, hardworking, Honest, trustworthy, open and approachable

Interested and qualified candidates who meet the set criteria should send applications including:  

Attachment 1: (Cover Letter)

• Cover Letter.
• Introductory letter from LC1 of your current/permanent Village of residence (stamped with LC1 Telephone contact)

Attachment 2: (CV/Resume)

• Curriculum Vitae (CV), which must include:
  • Details of three (3) most recent work-related referees, including their email and telephone contacts
• Copies of academic certificates and other relevant certificates

Submit applications until February 4, 2025. 

Note: Please do not contact Village Enterprise to enquire as to the status of your application. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action:

Village Enterprise will provide equal employment and advancement opportunities to all individuals. Employment decisions at Village will be based on merit, qualifications and abilities. Village does not discriminate in employment opportunities or practices on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, gender identity, age, disability, marital status or any other characteristic protected by the law. Village Enterprise will make reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with known disabilities unless doing so would result in undue hardship to daily operations.

Village Enterprise is a corruption, solicitation or bribery free organization. We or any of our employees or associates do not charge money from job applicants before, during or after recruitment. Please report malpractices through our safeguarding Tollfree hotline 0800 204450.