CEFORD
Job Summary: The Business Development Coordinator (BDC) is responsible for facilitating the transition of skilled but unemployed youth into the workforce. This role involves leading market research to identify new opportunities, analyzing historical and current barriers to youth employment, and developing strategies to enhance access to employment and entrepreneurship. The BDC will collaborate with financial service providers, local governments, SACCOs, and Village Savings and Loan Associations to promote access to affordable credit for business start-up capital. Additionally, the role includes designing marketing strategies and identifying opportunities to ensure sustainable business development and continuity.
CEFORD in Partnership with War Child Canada (WCC), ELECU and other 8 refugee led organisations/CBOs have been implementing a project titled: ‘Bridge: From Secondary Education and Skills Development to Job Opportunities for Refugee and Host Community Youth in Uganda’ program designed to further the Young Africa Works Strategy and address the youth unemployment challenge in Uganda’s refuge host districts. The project targets directly to reach 73,439 (51,768 female) and aims to transition 38,912 (27,239 female) youth into dignified and fulfilling work in nine (9) refugee hosting districts in South Western and West-Nile. To successfully transition the young people multiple strategies have been designed ranging from supporting out of school youth back to school through the AEP; equipping youth with technical vocational skills through formal, non-formal and entrepreneurship skills. CEFORD is responsible for implementing the non-formal skills training in West Nile covering five (5) districts of Adjumani, Obongi, Yumbe, Koboko, Terego and Madi-Okollo.
As part of its overall contribution toward achieving the project goals, CEFORD was allocated a target of 29,042 outreach engagements and the transition of 12,840 young people into employment. These targets are disaggregated as follows: 100% youth (ages 18–32), 70% women, 70% refugees, and 5% youth with disabilities. To realize the project’s goals and objectives, CEFORD seeks to recruit a full-time, competent Business Development Coordinator to enhance business development services and entrepreneurship support among programme youth particularly skilled but unemployed young people. The aim is to help them establish profitable, formal, and sustainable businesses and access meaningful employment opportunities.
Job Title: Business Development Coordinator – 01 Position
Duty Station: Arua with field travels to Madi-Okollo, Terego, Obongi, Adjumani and Yumbe.
Reports to: Project Manager
Contract period: 14 months.
Key responsibilities.
Responsible for conducting barriers assessment and developing strategies for overcoming the barriers for successful transition into work of young people.
Responsible for staff and TOTs training on VSLA methodology, financial literacy, savings culture, loan management, and linkage with financial institutions.
Responsible for conducting business development training for producer young out of work young people and their groups formed.
Responsible for facilitating and providing coaching and mentorship on business identification, planning, budgeting, and investment strategies for the relevant target groups including formalization of businesses (registration and licensing), business documentation (receipt books, invoices, cash sales etc) and opening of bank accounts.
Responsible for building the capacity of young entrepreneurs on business skills, entrepreneurship, and income diversification.
Responsible for collaborating with relevant stakeholders to enhance business and job opportunities for young people.
Responsible for training of young people and their group leaders and members on governance, leadership, risk management, investment and financial management and provide technical assistance to improve business growth, sustainability, and access to markets.
Responsible for the establishment and maintaining strong relationships with community leaders, local government, and development agencies.
Responsible for preparing timely and quality market assessments to inform new product development and market linkage strategies.
Responsible for organizing annual business to business events (trade fairs, business exhibition, learning visits).
Qualifications and Experience:
Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Agribusiness, microfinance and Economics.
Masters in Business Administration is an added advantage.
Minimum of 5 years of experience in financial and market linkages in rural areas, business development, VSLA facilitation, financial literacy and entrepreneurship development or Agribusinesss programming from a recognized institution/NGO.
Experience in training, mentorship, and capacity-building for different communities.
Excellent communication, analytical, and report-writing skills.
Proven skills in project management, reporting, and stakeholder engagement.
Possess a strong understanding of financial inclusion, savings models, and rural microfinance approaches.
Proficiency in Microsoft Office and data analysis tools.
Strong knowledge of financial inclusion, savings groups, and market-based livelihood approaches.
Knowledge of the local languages is an added advantage.
How to Apply:
Application letters, accompanied by a detailed curriculum vitae and photocopies of relevant academic documents such as transcripts, certificates, and testimonials, along with the contact details (including email addresses and daytime telephone numbers) of three referees – two of whom must be your former supervisors – should be addressed to: The Executive Director – CEFORD P.O. Box 303 Arua. Hard copy applications can be delivered to CEFORD Offices in Arua, Yumbe, Paidha, Moyo and Adjumani. Electronic application having all the required documents combined as one pdf file should be emailed with the subject clearly marked “Position Applied-Name of Applicant” to recruitment@ceford.or.ug. All applications should reach the above address not later than Wednesday 14th May 2025 by 4:00PM. Late submission of applications and those not in one pdf file will not be accepted. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. Please submit Once, either hard copy or soft copy NOT BOTH.
NOTE: Women and persons with disability are encouraged to apply.
