Project Manager

Job Description

• The project’s context

In 2019, PURProjet mandated Empow’Her to carry out a diagnostic study about gender in Ethiopia and in Uganda on projects about agroforestry in order to (1) Acquire a better understanding the gender dynamic, (2) Understand what is preventing women to fully participate and benefit from PUR project’s economic activities and (3) identify the key motivators and how to activate them so that PUR project can contribute to female empowerment through their projects.

At the end of the mission, Empow’Her issued a complete diagnostic report to PURProjet with recommendations and best practises that are applicable in both countries. Following up to this mission, PURProjet recruited Empow’Her to help them launch a course of action in line with the recommendations. More precisely, Empow’Her new mission consists of:

1. Employ PURProjet and its staff on the expansion of a local gender strategy
2. Launch a micro-company program for the women that are the beneficiaries of our business partner: the Fura co-operative zone

Moreover, our incubation program will be conducted through 3 phases:

1. Step 1: Carry out a diagnostic to evaluate the beneficiaries needs and the opportunities on the market
2. Step 2: Recruit 25 to 30 women that are at the conception stage through bootcamps that will lead to the creation of business ideas. Followed by the selection of 5 projects to support during the incubation process
3. Step 3: Incubation of the micro-companies, by integrating entrepreneurship training and techniques during an 8-month period, to help women to identify their business model, and to acquire the proper tools and knowledge on business administration.

• About the position

As project manager, your mission will consist to guarantee the development and the execution: (i) of the incubation program in the Fura cooperative zone (ETH) (ii) On the “gender strategy” with our business partner and their team in Uganda and Ethiopia. Your role will be transversal and will more precisely consist of:

Ensuring the execution and the operational management of the incubation program (50%):

• Ensure the proper execution of the project (particularly through Empow’Her project management tools: planning, budgets, CRM, etc.)
• Provide the financial follow-up of the project (ensure the tracking of the expenditures, and a proper budget management)
• Organize, develop and co-animate personalized entrepreneurship workshops for women entrepreneurs (develop support actions to the beneficiaries, host training/ coaching sessions).
• Ensure the reporting (including impact evaluation) of the project data collection, data analysis, writing reports…
• Ensure financial and activity reporting
• Contribute to the proper communication and valorization of the incubation program (collection of the impact data, video content, pictures of the beneficiaries, etc.)
• Ensure the proper and consistent information feedback to the team at the head office (via reporting tools/communication).

Ensure the finalization of the training program “Gender Strategy” for our business partner’s team in Ethiopia and Uganda (30%)

• Organization of monthly sessions to follow up and evaluate the implementation of the gender strategy with our partner and its partners (gender champions, members of the board…)
• Individual follow-up of the “Gender Champions” in order to ensure their support throughout the time of our accompaniment (implementation of tools, tips, support on the implementation of the gender strategy)
• Involvement in content creation on the gender training, in support to the pedagogical engineer at Empow’her (head office).
• Framework and accompaniment of the gender consultant (coach): a) Ensure that the deliverables are produced and respect the project requirements & specifications and b) Logistics support for the organization of training sessions and field missions.
• Consolidation of the gender strategy (it will be the final deliverable of the mission), that is following up the feedback of different stakeholders, the impact measurement and the implementation of the strategy.

To contribute to the development of the Empow’her network, in particular with stakeholders that are part of the entrepreneurial ecosystem. (20%)

• Explore the different development opportunities, for Empow’Her action in Ethiopia and moreover the East African zone via: a) Meeting with financial stakeholders and potential funders, b) Benchmark of different entrepreneurship organizations and meeting with entrepreneur networks to understand their needs, c) Development of a network of business partners that are supporting entrepreneurs within Addis-Abeba (Experts, mentors, Coaches, support Organizations, etc.)
• Define the growth strategy for Empow’Her in EA, its positioning in the market, and showcase the offers that are a priority for the development of the zone (Selection of programs, Offers of service…)
• Writing proposals and respond to bid solicitations, with the support of the manager of the African zone and the Fundraising manager that are located at Empow’Her’s head office (France).

About the Organization

Empow’Her est une association créée en 2013 qui a pour objectif de soutenir l’autonomisation économique et sociale des femmes à travers l’entrepreneuriat. Convaincu·e·s que l’entrepreneuriat est un levier d’émancipation formidable, notre activité principale consiste à proposer des programmes de formation et d’accompagnement qui visent à renforcer aussi bien les compétences entrepreneuriales des femmes que leur confiance en elles, pour leur permettre de se lancer dans leur parcours entrepreneurial avec tous les outils et savoirs nécessaires pour leur réussite.

Empow’Her a trois grandes stratégies d’impact:

• Former et accompagner les femmes entrepreneures : Il s’agit de l’activité historique de Empow’Her, depuis 2013, nous avons accompagné plus de 7 000 femmes entrepreneures. Nous concevons, développons et exécutons des programmes d’accompagnement réservés aux femmes pour leur permettre de développer leurs compétences business et leur posture de leadership, dans le but de surmonter les obstacles et réussir leurs projets d'entreprise.
• Sensibiliser l’écosystème : Empow’Her oeuvre pour la création d’une culture entrepreneuriale plus inclusive, à travers la production d’études, l’organisation d’évènements thématiques de sensibilisation, mais aussi la création d’espaces dédiés aux femmes entrepreneures, leur permettant de connecter avec divers réseaux et de mettre en lumière leurs réalisations. À travers ces actions, notre objectif est d’impliquer toutes les parties prenantes dans la promotion de l'entrepreneuriat féminin et de faire évoluer, sur le long terme, le système de représentation qui prévaut dans l’écosystème.
• Accompagner d’autres organisations : nous mettons à disposition notre méthodologie et notre expertise auprès d’entreprises et d’ONGs pour les aider à concevoir et intégrer des stratégies et des bonnes pratiques en lien avec le genre, ainsi que pour leur permettre de renforcer leur impact en faveur de l’autonomisation économique et sociale des femmes.