National Volunteer - Entrepreneurship Development Advisor

VSO is the world’s leading international non-governmental organisation that works through volunteers to create a fair world for everyone. Our work centers on those left out by society, including those living in extreme poverty, disability, or illness. The Waste to Work Project seeks to strengthen the knowledge, skills, and agency of young people in the waste sector, particularly green youth-led start-ups, to enable them to create decent jobs through waste recovery and value addition.
Role Overview

1. Role Title: National Volunteer - Entrepreneurship Development Advisor  
2. Location: Kenya (Nairobi, Kisumu, or Mombasa) 
3. Duration: 1 year 

Role Purpose: 

1. To provide comprehensive business development services (BDS) to green entrepreneurs, focusing on emerging small enterprises in the waste management sector. The role aims to strengthen capacity in business planning, financial management, market access, and regulatory compliance.

Key Responsibilities

• Business Planning: Assist green youth-led startups in developing simple written business plans and educate them on business growth stages.
• Training & Mentorship: Train and provide post-training support to startups on entrepreneurship fundamentals and coordinate business mentorship and coaching.
• Market Linkages: Help startups understand market needs and research while supporting direct linkages to the market.
• Networking: Plan business acceleration activities and coordinate network events for Youth Business Clubs.
• Financial Advisory: Provide advisory services to help entrepreneurs understand financial products, access credit, prepare for funding, and link to financial services.
• Strategic Support: Enhance strategies to support early-stage entrepreneurship development and acceleration.

Experience and Skills Required

• Professional Background: Relevant training and experience in enterprise development and providing BDS to Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs).
• Technical Expertise: Strong entrepreneurship skills with the ability to mentor youth-led start-ups in financial management and business planning.
• Sector Knowledge: Essential knowledge of the waste management and green economy sector.
• Partnership Building: Capacity to build networks with markets and financial institutions.
• Communication: Proven ability to communicate effectively at various levels in English and Kiswahili.
• Personal Attributes: Strong problem-solving and organizational skills, high integrity, and an openness to learning.

Apply below