Near East Foundation (NEF), Iraq

Request for Applications for Business Development Master Trainers & Coaches

Application Deadline: 25 April 2024

Number of positions: 5 Master Trainer positions and 4 Coach positions in Basrah.

How to apply: Please apply by submitting your CV.

Position is contingent on Funding. The anticipated award date is May 1, 2024.

About NEF:

For over 100 years, NEF has worked to build more sustainable, prosperous, and inclusive communities in the Middle East and Africa through education, governance, and economic development initiatives. Working through a network of country offices and local partners, NEF currently operates in nine countries: Armenia, Jordan, Lebanon, Iraq, Mali, Morocco, Syria, South Sudan and Sudan. Its programs are organized around three themes: Inclusive Economic Development, Climate-resilient Development, and Stabilization and Peacebuilding.

Background:

NEF offers services through development hubs operating under a NEF-supported Siraj Center model. The word Siraj is Arabic for lantern but is also used to describe a beacon of light or hope. Siraj Centers use a micro-franchise model at all of its locations, each with the shared Siraj brand, standardized operating procedures, and common themes of products and services. The Siraj Center hubs offer sustainable access to safe sources of training, information, guidance, capital, and referrals to support productive asset-building and business creation. Services include, but are not limited to:

·       Entrepreneurship and employment training: Training in business planning, marketing, branding, entrepreneurial skills, market opportunities for home-based production activities and small businesses, and employability skills and readiness with a focus on business management.

·       Tailored resources for: Business planning and business management preparation, employment opportunities, employability skills development, and a platform for matching service providers with business opportunities.

·       Information: Distribution of ‘Fact Sheets’ that provide timely and up-to-date information on markets and demand-driven employment opportunities (including risk and safety checklists linked to community tensions and competition over resources, employment and livelihoods), the work permit process, refugee rights, business formalization, and potential risks and protection strategies in informal work.

·       Life skills: Training in financial literacy, Arabic and English literacy training, and life skills related to formal and informal sector income generation, problem solving, leadership and negotiation, and digital skills.

·       Business acceleration: Acceleration services through mentorship structures, network building, coaching, and market facilitation and strengthening, and;

·       Business training: deliver or assist delivering business development trainings including financial literacy, workplan development, access to market and other relevant topics.

SERVICES DESCRIPTION

The Near East Foundation (NEF) is seeking individuals to provide services as Business Development Master Trainers & Coaches in Basrah, Iraq. Master Trainers & Coaches will work closely with selected Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in abovementioned districts to deliver business development trainings and develop business growth plans for selected MSMEs.

Main responsibilities:     

• With technical support from project staff, deliver Siraj services, including training sessions, market assessments, outreach, selection of entrepreneurs, and structured training for soft skills, empowerment, and business strengthening for selected participants.
• Administratively managing the training workshops including but not limited to attendance sheets & participants’ registration, photos capturing and documentation
• Conduct high quality one-to-one and small groups trainings for selected participants.
• Support the development of business networks and mentorship circles.
• Conducting pre and post evaluation of each training session.

Required Qualifications:

• University degree in relevant Fields.
• Arabic fluency, English literacy.
• Experience of supporting Micro and Small Enterprises, highly desirable
• Preferably two years of relevant experience in developing, organizing, and delivering training and capacity building activities. Longer experience will be considered as an advantage, through providing the needed documentation.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office package (Excel, Word, Outlook).
• Strong verbal and written communication, consultation, and interpersonal skills.
• Capacity to work independently, and collaboratively in a team environment.
• Experience of working with or as an entrepreneur will be highly preferred.
• Experience working in an international environment and for a not-for-profit organization.
• Among the applicants, it is preferable to have candidates capable to deliver sign language for people with disabilities.

Application: 

Application Deadline: 25 April, 2024

Please apply by submitting your CV to the Near East Foundation Careers page at:  https://neareast.bamboohr.com/careers/366?source=aWQ9MTY%3D 

Kindly note only finalists will be contacted.

Applicants are strongly encouraged to familiarize themselves with NEF Belgium and its affiliated entities by visiting the NEF website (www.neareast.org).

Please note this is a consultancy arrangement and benefits will not be provided.