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The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (The Federation) is the world’s largest humanitarian organisation. The Federation has been working with Bangladesh Red Crescent Society for more than 30 years in humanitarian fields mainly disaster response and management, cyclone preparedness, disaster relief and recovery, community-based disaster preparedness, risk reduction and mitigation, etc. The British Red Cross (BRC) works under the auspices of the Federation in Bangladesh in close cooperation with the BDRCS.

Context

The British Red Cross (BRC) helps people in crisis, whoever and wherever they are. We are part of the global network, responding to conflicts, natural disasters and emergencies. We enable vulnerable people to prepare for and withstand emergencies in their own communities. And when the crisis is over, we help them to recover and move on with their lives.

We are part of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, the world’s largest independent humanitarian network and are committed to, and bound by, its fundamental principles: humanity, impartiality, neutrality, independence, voluntary service, unity and universality.

The BRC has a long history of working closely with and supporting the Bangladesh Red Crescent Society.  In line with the national society’s strategic plan the BRC have agreed to expand the number of projects over the coming years. On this basis we are seeking to employ a suitably qualified Business Development Manager.

Position: Business Development Manager

Duration: 1 Year (Renewable position)
Location: Barisal Office
No. of position: 1 (one)

Overall Purpose of the Post

The Business Development Manager will assist Bangladesh Red Crescent Society in its micro-economic initiatives. She/He will be in charge of supporting creation or improvement and growing of individual small businesses of people living in poverty in Barsihal urban settings by providing cash assistance, guidance, training and tracking business performance to promote their inclusion into the labour market and enhance their incomes. He/She will work to improve profitability through careful strategic planning and positioning in the appropriate markets, or to enhance the operation of the business, position or reputation in some way.
This UK Aid Match supported livelihood project is a three-year community market-based livelihood project with Disaster Reduction Risk (DRR), Protection, gender and inclusion, and Organisational Development as a cross cutting components. The overall goal of the programme is to strengthen resilience and reduce poverty through gender-sensitive livelihoods and Disaster Risk Reduction in 16 slums of Barishal, Bangladesh. More specifically the main aim of the livelihoods project is to increase access to economic opportunities of participants from urban slums of Barishal, through developing their employability and businesses according to market opportunities. This project will build partially on the achievements of the Vulnerability to Resilience (V2R) programme, an integrated resilience building programme, which has been implemented in Barishal since 2015.

Duties and responsibilities

Main Responsibilities

  • Lead market assessments to understand business sector opportunities (including new markets, growth areas, trends, customers, products and services)
  • Lead macroeconomic and microeconomic analysis for identified business opportunities (value chain analysis)
  • Organise/ Deliver training and support development of business plans for individual small businesses
  • Organise and assess profitability of the business plans and provide appropriate advice to improve those business plans.
  • Promote risk-informed business plans development, ensuring inclusion of DRR measures into the business plans (contingency plan)
  • Identify specific blockers for women and PWD to develop their own business and engage with relevant stakeholders to remove/ address these blockers 
  • Organise cash grant distribution for business development (microeconomic initiatives implementation) 
  • Develop training curriculum, training materials and deliver training on life-skills, financial literacy and/or numeracy and business management
  • Develop easy to understand and implement business management tools for illiterate individuals
  • In collaboration with skills development manager, identify suitable training institutions for deeper technical trainings or suitable partners for mentorship
  • Promote, and facilitate if needed, creation of saving and loan groups (livelihoods groups, women groups)
  • Gather information on financial opportunities in Barishal context for micro-credit, grant/subsidies opportunities from local authorities or philanthropic organisations and disseminate to business owners
  • Support/train business owners to develop applications for cash grant for their business.
  • Organise and distribute cash through banks to the individuals in line with the UK Aid Match Livelihood Project proposal for the development or setting up of the businesses.
  • Train staff and volunteers to build their skills and knowledge to deliver the programme activities. 

Monitoring and evaluation

  • Ensure monitoring and evaluation framework of the conditional cash grants for businesses activities is in place and functional
  • Oversee the activity and performance of the implemented businesses by setting individual sales targets, tracking sales goals and facilitating the training of business owners.
  • Foster and/or develop relationships with local authorities, training institutions, micro-finance institutions and key actors of the market

Representation, Relationship and Communications

  • Represent the assigned component of programme(s) and BRC externally in relationships with relevant government representatives, donors, and with other agencies and strategic partners in the area of responsibility as directed by the Programme Manager (Delegate).
  • As required, represent the BRC at important forums including Movement meetings, inter-agency coordination meetings and with corporate and private donors as directed by the Programme Manager (Delegate).
  • Ensure frequent and comprehensive sharing of information and findings between sectorial specialists within the BRC delegation and UK Office as directed by the Programme Manager (Delegate).

Others:

  • Perform any other related duties or responsibilities that may be assigned by the line manager and Programme Manager (Delegate)
  • Ensure understanding of roles, responsibilities, lateral relationships and accountabilities.
  • Actively participate in all team meetings
  • Support other team members
  • Work and behave in accordance with all BRC policies and procedures
  • Uphold the fundamental principles of the Red Cross and acts with integrity, in accordance with the Society’s values (inclusive, compassionate, courageous and dynamic).

Person Specification

 

 

     Requirement

Evidenced obtained through Shortlisting (S) Interview (I) or
Assessment (A)

 

Education/ Training

Essential
✓✓

 
  • Bachelor’s Degree or Master’s Degree (preferred) in business, marketing, or related fields

S,

Desirable

                 
  • Technical qualification in “market-based livelihoods, business management, skills development, micro finance, economic security, or equivalent experience would be a distinct advantage

S

 

Experience, Knowledge and Technical skills

Essential
✓✓

 
  • At least 5 years’ experience in a similar role with excellent writing skills. Experience in writing proposals and concept notes.
  • A minimum of 3 years of experience of working on the DFID/ECHO/USAID funded projects
  • Overall project management, including planning
  • Tracking progress throughout the entire project cycle thorough understating or experience of the business environment in Barishal
  • Technical/professional knowledge within the areas of cash and markets, with an emphasis on the ability to design and implement cash-based interventions, market-based interventions, value chain analysis and ensure appropriate monitoring and evaluation processes
  • Working in partnerships
  • Coaching, mentoring and leading others
  • Knowledge of disaster risk management approaches (including protecting individual income generating activities, savings schemes, financial inclusion)
  • Experience in setting up and running businesses and building capacity and organizational development of businesses
  • Capacity to transfer skills and deliver training
  • Excellent organizational skills.
  • Very good communication and interpersonal skills in Bangla and English
  • Able to work and deliver programme in a complex and stressful environment with limited resources
  • Able to work with people who have limited access to education and training
  • Adaptable and innovative spirit
  • Thorough understanding of the world of work and up-to-date information about trends that affect the employment outlook.
  • Experience in capacity building of partners

S, I

 

S, I

 

 S,I

S,I

 

 

S, I

 

 

 

S, I

S, I

S, I

 

S, I

 

S, I

S,I

S, I

 

 

S, I
S,I
S, I

S,I

S, I

Desirable

 
  • Technical/professional knowledge or experience in livelihoods in urban areas
  • Experience with livelihood protection and disaster risk reduction
  • Knowledge of gender and inclusion approaches
  • Awareness of environmental sustainability
  • Experience within the Red Cross Red Crescent Movement or membership-based non-governmental organizations
  • Experience of assessing skills, developing curriculum for adult skills development and conducting the trainings for adult.
  • Technical experience in DRR for livelihoods

S,I
S,I

I

 

S,I
S

 

S, I

 

S, I

 

Behaviours

  • Working collaboratively
  • Communicating and influencing
  • Leading and engaging
  • Solution focussed
  • Accountable for resources
  • Passionate about development
  • Dynamic and enterprising
  • Team Player

I
I,A
I
IA
I,A
I,A
I,A
I,A

 

Additional requirements

Essential
✓✓
  • Upholds the fundamental principles and acts with integrity, in accordance with the Society’s values (inclusive, compassionate, courageous and dynamic).
  • Ensures inclusive practice and promotes Diversity

I,A

 

I,A

Desirable
  • Willingness to work out of office hours when necessary

 

This job description and person specification may be subject to change as a result of operational requirements. 

Application Instructions:

  • Last date of application is November 07,2020 on or before 5:00 p.m.
  • Candidates who don’t have equivalent qualification & Experience on relevant field need not to apply.
  • Only suitable & qualified candidates are invited to apply with their detailed CV and cover letter justifying your suitability

to:

Country Manager, British Red Cross, Bangladesh
By email at: HRAdminBD@redcross.org.uk

Only short-listed candidates will be notified

The IFRC is an equal opportunity employer
The IFRC is an equal opportunity employer