Assoc Business Advisor at TechnoServe Tanzania

Associate Business Advisor, IRT Cohort 2 Tanzania

Title: Associate Business Advisor

Number of Positions: 3

Grade: 5

Location: Mbeya and Songwe, Tanzania

Reporting/Supervisor: Program Manager, Growth & Investment Program

Duration: August 2026 to May 2027

About TechnoServe:

At TechnoServe, we believe that everyone deserves the opportunity to build a better life. For over 50 years, we have given smallholder farmers and entrepreneurs the skills, connections, and confidence to lift themselves out of poverty. We leverage the power of markets and the private sector to create sustainable economic growth to benefit people and the planet. Our unique mix of business solutions, deep knowledge of local contexts, and data-driven insights is helping to fight poverty across Africa, Asia, and Latin America.

TechnoServe staff are local–95% are from the countries in which they work. We put a high premium on collaboration and entrepreneurship. We hold ourselves and each other to the highest standards of integrity and transparency. And we focus on delivering lasting impact for our mission.

Job Summary:

The Associate Business Advisors will support implementation of the Institutional Referral Track Cohort 2 in Tanzania, focusing on agri-SMEs in Mbeya and Songwe. The role will involve field-based business advisory, screening and due diligence support, training coordination, investment readiness coaching, business profile development, and ongoing follow-up with participating agri-SMEs.

The Institutional Referral Track is a lender-linked technical assistance model designed to strengthen agri-SME financial management, business documentation, credit readiness, and engagement with financial institutions. The Associate Business Advisors will work closely with SMEs to translate program content into practical business improvements and support their progression toward stronger investment readiness.

Program Overview:

The Growth & Investment Program’s Institutional Referral Track supports agri-SMEs referred through financial institution and partner channels to improve their readiness for responsible access to finance. IRT Cohort 2 in Tanzania will build on learning from the first pilot and is expected to support 30 to 40 agri-SMEs in the Highlands Zone, with an initial focus on Mbeya and Songwe.

The program will run from August 2026 to May 2027 and will include screening, due diligence, onboarding, group training, bootcamps, four physical advisory touchpoints, business diagnostics, financial management support, business profile development, and structured engagement with lender partners. The three Associate Business Advisors will be based close to the implementation geography to provide regular, hands-on support to participating SMEs.

Primary Functions & Responsibilities:

• Assist with the recruitment, screening, due diligence, and enrollment of program beneficiaries using predetermined criteria.
• Verify business operations, location, ownership, value chain, turnover, financing needs, and commitment to participate.
• Support baseline data collection and business diagnostics to assess SME maturity, financial practices, documentation, and investment readiness.
• Coordinate activities related to the preparation and delivery of training, bootcamps, advisory visits, and field-based support.
• Provide one-on-one advisory to assigned agri-SMEs aligned to curriculum and tailoring to the need of the SME.
• Support SMEs to develop or improve practical business documents, including business profiles, financial records, cash flow information, sales and expense summaries, financing needs statements, use-of-funds plans, and advisory action plans.
• Support the implementation of four physical advisory touchpoints and ensure advisory is tailored to the maturity, location, value chain, and financing needs of each SME.
• Monitor attendance, participation, and engagement to ensure adherence to program guidelines.
• Support coordination with lender relationship officers, branch teams, and program partners as guided by the Program Manager.
• Help prepare SMEs for structured engagement with lenders by clarifying financing needs, readiness gaps, and documentation requirements.
• Track SME progress, tool adoption, document completion, advisory actions, financing readiness, and lender engagement.
• Support the collection of relevant data for monitoring, evaluation, and learning purposes, including baseline, midline, endline, and post-program follow-up.
• Capture successes, failures, field insights, and learnings and share these internally and externally as required.
• Collate feedback from program beneficiaries through the program’s feedback mechanism.
• Identify and escalate issues related to SME disengagement, unrealistic financing expectations, weak commitment, or business risks.
• Embody and promote TechnoServe’s values, vision, and strategy, ensuring these are integrated into all program activities.
• Perform other duties in line with the evolving needs of the program.
  

Basic Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in business management, economics, finance, agriculture, agribusiness, statistics, international development, or a relevant analytical field; OR at least 2 years of technical and field experience in implementing business development, community development, entrepreneurship, agribusiness, or financial inclusion programs.
• Experience facilitating training, data collection and analysis, digital training delivery, business advisory, or SME coaching.
• Practical understanding of agri-SME operations, financial records, cash flow, costing, business planning, and access to finance challenges.
• Experience conducting field visits, business diagnostics, training, coaching, or advisory support.
  

Required Languages: Excellent oral, written, and interpersonal communication skills, including fluency in Kiswahili and English..

Travel: Travel up to 40%, primarily within Mbeya, Songwe, and surrounding implementation areas.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience working in Mbeya, Songwe, or the Southern Highlands agricultural corridor.
• Experience in agribusiness, SME finance, financial inclusion, lender-linked programs, cooperatives, or value chain development.
• Familiarity with lender requirements, credit readiness, loan documentation, or business profile development.
• Knowledge of priority value chains in Mbeya and Songwe, such as coffee, inputs, horticulture, grains, livestock, or other relevant agri-SME sectors.
• Knowledge of local languages in Mbeya and Songwe is an added advantage.
  

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Ability to engage a broad range of stakeholders, including SMEs, lender representatives, local partners, donor representatives, and program teams.
• Strong field advisory and relationship management skills.
• Ability to translate business and financial concepts into practical actions for entrepreneurs.
• Strong understanding of basic SME financial management, including sales, costs, cash flow, margins, and recordkeeping.
• Excellent interpersonal, oral, and written communication skills.
• Project management skills and ability to work both independently and in a team.
• Strong documentation, tracking, and reporting skills.
• Ability to manage a portfolio of businesses and follow up consistently.
• Good judgment in managing sensitive business information and financing expectations.
• Excellent computer skills, including Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Google Workspace, and digital meeting platforms.
  

We encourage all qualified individuals who share TechnoServe's vision of improving the lives of others through proven business solutions to apply.

With our commitment to diversity, we are proud to be an equal opportunity employer and affirmative action employer and do not discriminate on the basis of gender, race, color, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, HIV/AIDS status, protected veteran status, disability and all other protected classes.

We are also proud of our commitment to protecting staff, partners, and beneficiaries from abuse and exploitation and thoroughly vet all final candidates through rigorous background and reference checks.

If you have a disability that affects your ability to use our online system to apply for a position at TechnoServe please contact the Human Resources at [email protected] or call +1 202 785 4515.