Business Development and MSME Focal Point

Women Activities & Social Service Association (WASSA) was established in 2002 in Afghanistan as a non-governmental organization, committed to seeking ways for women's empowerment in Afghanistan. WASSA aims to promote women's equal participation in socio-economic sectors of the country. WASSA works directly with communities to bring change in the social attitude of the community regarding women.

An envision “Equal participation of women & men in all sectors of the country.

• Equal Opportunities: WASSA is dedicated to offering equal employment opportunities to all employees and qualified candidates, regardless of race, color, religion, gender, ethnicity, age, or disability.
• Safeguarding and Conduct: WASSA will contact previous employers to inquire about any history of sexual exploitation, abuse, or harassment during the candidate's employment, including incidents under investigation at the time the candidate left. Job offers are conditional on satisfactory reference checks. By applying, candidates confirm they understand and accept these procedures.
• Final Selection: The selected candidate must pass a background check and reference check. They will also be required to sign WASSA's Code of Conduct, PSEA (Prevention of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse), Safeguarding, and other relevant policies before receiving a final job offer/contract 

Position Summary

The Business Development and MSME Focal Point will be responsible for the coordination, implementation, and monitoring of Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprise (MSME) development activities under the MSME Development Project. The role will ensure effective collaboration with WASSA and relevant government authorities, and community stakeholders to promote sustainable livelihood opportunities for targeted beneficiaries.

The position will play a key role in beneficiary identification, business development support, capacity building, monitoring, and reporting to ensure transparency, accountability, and impact-driven implementation of project activities.

Key Responsibilities

1. Coordinate and oversee the implementation of Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprise (MSME) development activities under the MSME Development Project, in collaboration with the relevant government sectors.
2. Coordinate with the community and shuras to identify and select potential beneficiaries for the project.
3. Conduct site mapping, community outreach, and skills assessments in selected areas to identify individuals with entrepreneurial potential and viable business ideas
4. Conduct market assessments to identify opportunities and gaps in targeted provinces, ensuring a balance between supply and demand.
5. Conduct public awareness sessions on the project in selected locations to ensure broad understanding and participation.
6. Conduct beneficiary assessment, registration, and profiling through the Kobo toolkit using livelihood intake forms.
7. Orient eligible candidates identified through the Kobo toolkit system and distribute business proposal templates, ensuring alignment with project objectives and requirements.
8. Establish a Beneficiary Selection Committee (BSC) in accordance with the Livelihood SOP, to ensure a fair and transparent selection process.
9. Collaborate with UNHCR to shortlist candidates by conducting face-to-face interviews using scoring cards and proposal evaluations.
10. Finalize the beneficiary selection process, ensuring transparency and compliance with the Livelihood SOP, and collect required documents, including identification cards (Tazkira), agreement letters, and guarantee letters from beneficiaries.
11. Facilitate the signing of agreements with selected beneficiaries, clearly outlining their roles, responsibilities, and obligations.
12. Provide comprehensive business development training to selected entrepreneurs, covering topics such as entrepreneurship, business management, financial management, sales/marketing, and business plan preparation.
13. Plan and coordinate the distribution of cash and resources to beneficiaries in accordance with the project’s guidelines and procedures.
14. Conduct monitoring and post-distribution monitoring (PDM) to support resilience and address emerging challenges by providing guidance and support to help beneficiaries overcome challenges and ensure the sustainability of their businesses.
15. Facilitating beneficiaries’ access to markets and business networks.
16. Prepare regular progress reports, including narrative reports and statistical analyses, to communicate the achievements, challenges, and impact of entrepreneurship development activities.
17. Contribute to overall reporting, project planning, implementation, and coordination as needed.

• Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Economics, Development Studies, Social Sciences, or a related field (Master's degree preferred).
• Strong understanding of MSME development, livelihoods, or economic empowerment programs.
• Training or certification in entrepreneurship or community development is an advantage.
   

Required Experience:
 

• At least 3–5 years of relevant professional experience in livelihoods, MSME development, business development, or community-based projects.
• Proven experience in beneficiary selection, community mobilization, and field-level implementation of development projects.
• Experience working with INGOs/NGOs and donor-funded projects (preferably UNHCR or similar agencies).
• Practical experience in conducting assessments (market, skills, or needs assessments) and using data collection tools (e.g., Kobo Toolbox).
• Experience in delivering or facilitating business development or entrepreneurship training is highly desirable.
• Familiarity with monitoring, evaluation, and reporting (M&E/PDM) processes.
• Strong communication and coordination skills with communities and stakeholders.
• Ability to work in field settings and manage multiple tasks under pressure.
• Good analytical skills for market and livelihood assessments.
• Fluency in English is required.

• Interested, qualified candidates should submit their information/request through the link (https://airtable.com/app9qEzB5fYCE3BhS/shreLHtT5cu5ZFkJ7)
• Academic certificates or references do not need to be submitted at this time. These will be requested if an interview is called for.
• Only short-listed candidates will be invited for the written test and interview upon project approval.