NGO Advisor

Job Description

PROJECT DESCRIPTION

USAID’s Strengthening Entrepreneurship and Enterprise Development (SEED) in Egypt project is part of the Trade and Investment Promotion in Egypt (TIPE) project. The project focuses on strengthening the development of micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) and entrepreneurship. More specifically, the purpose of the contract is to increase employment and income of MSMEs and entrepreneurs, especially those owned by women and youth, by: (1) stimulating entrepreneurship and innovation; (2) enhancing formalization of private enterprises; (3) improving financial and non-financial services to MSME; (4) integrating MSMEs and entrepreneurs in progressive value chains; and (5) addressing enabling environment policy reform initiatives to facilitate MSME development that is aligned to the Government of Egypt’s (GOE) plans and commitment, and subject to the emergence of champions who will advocate for these reforms.

SEED provides technical assistance, capacity building, and training to relevant stakeholders and counterparts in order to support the growth of MSMEs and promote entrepreneurship in Egypt. Stakeholders and counterparts include public sector reform champions, universities, BDS providers, mentors, business associations, investors, financial institutions, public organizations, MSMEs, and entrepreneurs. SEED will collaborate with other development partners (donors) and other USAID contractors to take full advantage of synergistic opportunities in achieving results. Special focus will be given to disadvantaged areas and population groups such as women and youth. Youth is defined for the purpose of this activity as individuals who are between ages of 15 and 29 years old.

OVERALL RESPONSIBILITIES

The NGO Advisor is in charge of collaborating and networking with key actors in the NGO sector to engage them in the SEED Project. The NGO Advisor will work with Sector Advisors, the Academic Advisor, and the Private Sector Advisor to engage and work with NGO sector leaders in incubator/accelerator development, entrepreneurial programs, and other relevant services provided by the NGO community. The NGO Advisor reports to the Component A Team Leader and will be based in Cairo, Egypt.

TASKS

• Fosters in-country working relationships and linkages among the NGO community, including national and regionally based business associations, trade and professional associations, groups focusing on women and youth economic development, organizations providing services to those interested in becoming entrepreneurs, accelerators, incubators, and other NGOs offering mentorship services, finance, BDS, volunteerism programs and other services relevant SEED’s target audiences;
• Work with the Grants Manager to explore potential NGOs worthy and suited to receiving SEED grant funds;
• In collaboration with the Academic Advisor, foster in-country relationships and linkages among schools, universities, science and technology institutes, and other organizations to identify, mentor, and support promising entrepreneurs;
• Work with the Incubator & Accelerator Senior Advisor to recruit and retain an advisory board of NGO sector representatives to train pilot incubators on sustainable management and market needs;
• Ensure that the GOE has a better understanding of the role of NGOs in entrepreneurship
• Work with the Component B Team Lead to establish partnerships between local private sector organizations and local research and advocacy organizations to advocate for critical policy reforms necessary for the development of MSMEs;
• Alongside the Component A Team Lead and the Entrepreneurship Skills Development Senior Advisor, build policy analysis tools and trainings to help NGOs respond to current and future needs of the entrepreneurial community; and
• Work with the Component C Team Lead to engage the private sector and lead Egyptian firms to work with NGOs to fulfill their social mission and more specifically support the growth and expansion of NGO capability to serve the entrepreneurial community.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Applicant must be an Egyptian citizen;
• Experience working with the NGO sector to understand market needs and relaying this information back to entrepreneurs and/or service providers;
• A degree in business, entrepreneurship, or related field;
• Prior experience working with women and youth on entrepreneurship issues;
• Strong understanding of and network within the Egyptian NGO sector and ability to provide analysis of the market including quality, quantity, and gaps of services;
• General awareness of key players in the entrepreneurship/incubator sphere in the private, public and academic sector including the ENCC (Egyptian National Competitiveness Council), TTO (Technology Transfer Office) and TIEC (Technology Innovation and Entrepreneurship Center) and others;
• Experience working in underserved areas throughout Egypt preferred; and
• Prior USAID experience preferred.

About the Organization

AECOM is a premier, fully integrated professional and technical services firm positioned to design, build, finance and operate infrastructure assets around the world for public- and private-sector clients. With nearly 100,000 employees — including architects, engineers, designers, planners, scientists and management and construction services professionals — serving clients in over 150 countries around the world, AECOM is ranked as the #1 engineering design firm by revenue in Engineering News-Recordmagazine’s annual industry rankings, and has been recognized by Fortune magazine as a World’s Most Admired Company. The firm is a leader in all of the key markets that it serves, including transportation, facilities, environmental, energy, oil and gas, water, high-rise buildings and government. AECOM provides a blend of global reach, local knowledge, innovation and technical excellence in delivering customized and creative solutions that meet the needs of clients’ projects. A Fortune 500 firm, AECOM companies, including URS Corporation and Hunt Construction Group, have annual revenue of approximately $19 billion. More information on AECOM and its services can be found at www.aecom.com.

About the Governement Business Line:

AECOM’s Global Support Services (GSS) organization resides within AECOM’s Government business line and is comprised of three divisions — International Development, Operations and Mission Support, and Global Programs. GSS has the international presence, personnel networks and procurement infrastructure to deliver support for any mission, anywhere. We optimize the reliability, availability and sustainability of equipment, logistics systems and facilities for clients around the world. GSS supports the U.S. Government, non-U.S. Governments and industry clients with worldwide program management, planning, design, operations and maintenance, logistics, aviation services, security, international development, environmental and civil engineering and mission and intelligence support.