Business Expert – Business Coaching & Grant Support

About the role

The Business Expert will provide coaching, mentorship and technical assistance to beneficiaries of business grant programmes across the country. Working closely with the project team and MEAL department, you will ensure that business plans are realistic, financially sound and aligned with local market conditions.

Key responsibilities

• Coach and mentor grant beneficiaries on business plan development, budgeting, financial forecasting and market analysis.
• Collect, review and give structured feedback on business and budget plans, ensuring completeness and compliance.
• Conduct regular field visits to start‑up and MSME beneficiaries (approximately 75 start‑ups and 100 MSMEs per area), verify proper grant use and monitor business progress.
• Provide on‑site troubleshooting, basic financial‑literacy support and flag high‑risk businesses early.
• Maintain detailed records of visits, update the beneficiary tracking system and produce regular monitoring reports.
• Support project activities such as trainings, assessments, data collection and the organization of business fairs, networking and pitching events.

Required profile

• Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Economics, Finance or a related field.
• 3‑5 years of experience in business development, SME/MSME support or entrepreneurship programmes.
• Minimum 2 years of experience working with NGOs or development projects.
• Strong understanding of business planning, financial management and local market dynamics.

Required skills

• Strong coaching and mentoring abilities.
• Analytical and problem‑solving skills.
• Excellent communication and reporting skills.
• Ability to work in field conditions with diverse communities.