Job Purpose

The Business Incubation Management Coordinator – Africa will coordinate the design, implementation, monitoring, and strengthening of agribusiness incubation programs across AAIN’s network of incubators in Africa. The Coordinator will support incubation hubs, start-ups, youth agripreneurs, and SMEs by providing technical assistance, capacity building, innovation commercialization support, and ecosystem coordination. The role requires a proactive leader with strong technical, coordination, and partnership-building skills who can support multi-country incubation initiatives and ensure alignment with AAIN’s strategic priorities.

Key Roles and Responsibilities

A. Program Coordination & Incubation Management

• Lead the planning, coordination, and implementation of business incubation programs across AAIN’s member incubators and regional hubs.
• Support incubators in strengthening operational systems, service delivery, and business models to improve efficiency and sustainability.
• Guide the development and implementation of incubation methodologies, toolkits, curricula, and frameworks tailored for agribusiness and agri-innovation.
• Oversee the incubation cycle, including start-up recruitment, pre-incubation, incubation, acceleration, mentorship, and graduation processes.
• Facilitate innovation, commercialization, and support technology transfer initiatives within the AAIN network.

B. Technical Assistance & Capacity Building

• Conduct needs assessments for incubators and design targeted capacity development programs.
• Provide technical advisory services to start-ups and SMEs on business planning, financial modeling, commercialization, and market entry.
• Facilitate training programs, mentorship sessions, masterclasses, and knowledge-sharing platforms across member incubators.
• Assist in developing tools for monitoring enterprise performance and identifying high-growth start-ups.

C. Ecosystem Strengthening & Partnerships

• Collaborate with government agencies, development partners, private-sector actors, investors, and academia to strengthen the agribusiness incubation landscape.
• Support cross-country partnerships and co-creation initiatives promoting youth agribusiness, innovation, and enterprise development.
• Represent AAIN in relevant ecosystem meetings, conferences, and networks.
• Promote visibility of AAIN incubation programs through communication materials, showcases, and innovation forums.

D. Resource Mobilization & Project Development

• Provide technical support in developing project concepts, proposals, and fundraising initiatives related to incubation and innovation.
• Identify funding opportunities and support member incubators in accessing incubation grants, investment funds, or accelerator programs.
• Contribute to the coordination of donor-funded incubation projects to ensure alignment with donor requirements.

E. Monitoring, Evaluation, Learning & Reporting (MEL)

• Develop and apply MEL frameworks for incubation activities across Africa.
• Track performance indicators related to start-up growth, job creation, youth engagement, technology adoption, and investment mobilization.
• Prepare periodic program reports, impact assessments, and success stories for management and partners.
• Document and disseminate best practices, lessons learned, and innovation case studies.

F. Operational & Administrative Coordination

• Support budgeting, activity planning, logistics, and documentation related to incubation programs.
• Maintain accurate databases of incubators, entrepreneurs, partners, and innovation projects.
• Provide regular updates and analytical briefs to the Deputy CEO and senior management.
• Ensure compliance with AAIN’s policies, quality standards, and reporting requirements.

Minimun job requirements

a) Academic Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Agribusiness, Business Administration, Entrepreneurship, Agricultural Economics, Development Studies, or a related field.
• Master’s degree in Agribusiness Management, Innovation Management, Project Management, Business Development, or a relevant field is an added advantage.

b) Work Experience

• At least 5 years of experience in business incubation, enterprise development, SME support, innovation ecosystems, or related fields.
• Demonstrated experience working with incubators, accelerators, technology hubs, or entrepreneurship support organizations.
• Experience in coordinating multi-country or multi-stakeholder programs.
• Background in agribusiness development, youth entrepreneurship, value-chain support, or innovation commercialization.
• Experience in capacity building, training design, mentorship, or enterprise advisory services.
• Exposure to donor-funded projects and resource mobilization is desirable.

c) Key Competencies and attributes

• Strong understanding of incubation models, innovation ecosystems, and SME financing mechanisms.
• Knowledge of agribusiness value chains, agri-technology trends, and youth agripreneurship.
• Competence in MEL processes, reporting, and data analytics.
• Excellent writing skills for reports, proposals, and communication materials.
• Proficiency in digital tools, CRM systems, and virtual collaboration platforms.
• Leadership and Coordination: Ability to manage complex programs and coordinate diverse stakeholders.
• Strategic Thinking: Ability to align incubation activities with institutional strategy and market trends.
• Entrepreneurial Mindset: Passion for supporting start-ups, innovation, and enterprise growth.
• Communication & Networking: Strong interpersonal and relationship-building abilities.
• Results Orientation: Ability to deliver high-quality outputs under tight timelines.
• Expertise in business modeling, enterprise advisory services, and innovation commercialization.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to design and facilitate training programs at different levels.
• Knowledge of investment readiness, start-up acceleration, and market linkage mechanisms.
• High integrity, professionalism, and confidentiality.
• Cultural sensitivity and ability to work across diverse African contexts.
• Adaptability, creativity, and proactive decision-making.
• Strong teamwork and ability to work independently with minimal supervision

• Lead the planning, coordination, and implementation of business incubation programs across AAIN’s member incubators and regional hubs.
• Support incubators in strengthening operational systems, service delivery, and business models to improve efficiency and sustainability.
• Guide the development and implementation of incubation methodologies, toolkits, curricula, and frameworks tailored for agribusiness and agri-innovation.
• Oversee the incubation cycle, including start-up recruitment, pre-incubation, incubation, acceleration, mentorship, and graduation processes.
• Facilitate innovation, commercialization, and support technology transfer initiatives within the AAIN network.
• Conduct needs assessments for incubators and design targeted capacity development programs.
• Provide technical advisory services to start-ups and SMEs on business planning, financial modeling, commercialization, and market entry.
• Facilitate training programs, mentorship sessions, masterclasses, and knowledge-sharing platforms across member incubators.
• Assist in developing tools for monitoring enterprise performance and identifying high-growth start-ups.
• Collaborate with government agencies, development partners, private-sector actors, investors, and academia to strengthen the agribusiness incubation landscape.
• Support cross-country partnerships and co-creation initiatives promoting youth agribusiness, innovation, and enterprise development.
• Represent AAIN in relevant ecosystem meetings, conferences, and networks.
• Promote visibility of AAIN incubation programs through communication materials, showcases, and innovation forums.
• Provide technical support in developing project concepts, proposals, and fundraising initiatives related to incubation and innovation.
• Identify funding opportunities and support member incubators in accessing incubation grants, investment funds, or accelerator programs.
• Contribute to the coordination of donor-funded incubation projects to ensure alignment with donor requirements.
• Develop and apply MEL frameworks for incubation activities across Africa.
• Track performance indicators related to start-up growth, job creation, youth engagement, technology adoption, and investment mobilization.
• Prepare periodic program reports, impact assessments, and success stories for management and partners.
• Document and disseminate best practices, lessons learned, and innovation case studies.
• Support budgeting, activity planning, logistics, and documentation related to incubation programs.
• Maintain accurate databases of incubators, entrepreneurs, partners, and innovation projects.
• Provide regular updates and analytical briefs to the Deputy CEO and senior management.
• Ensure compliance with AAIN’s policies, quality standards, and reporting requirements.

• Strong understanding of incubation models, innovation ecosystems, and SME financing mechanisms.
• Knowledge of agribusiness value chains, agri-technology trends, and youth agripreneurship.
• Competence in MEL processes, reporting, and data analytics.
• Excellent writing skills for reports, proposals, and communication materials.
• Proficiency in digital tools, CRM systems, and virtual collaboration platforms.
• Leadership and Coordination: Ability to manage complex programs and coordinate diverse stakeholders.
• Strategic Thinking: Ability to align incubation activities with institutional strategy and market trends.
• Entrepreneurial Mindset: Passion for supporting start-ups, innovation, and enterprise growth.
• Communication & Networking: Strong interpersonal and relationship-building abilities.
• Results Orientation: Ability to deliver high-quality outputs under tight timelines.
• Expertise in business modeling, enterprise advisory services, and innovation commercialization.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to design and facilitate training programs at different levels.
• Knowledge of investment readiness, start-up acceleration, and market linkage mechanisms.
• High integrity, professionalism, and confidentiality.
• Cultural sensitivity and ability to work across diverse African contexts.
• Adaptability, creativity, and proactive decision-making.
• Strong teamwork and ability to work independently with minimal supervision

• Bachelor’s degree in Agribusiness, Business Administration, Entrepreneurship, Agricultural Economics, Development Studies, or a related field.
• Master’s degree in Agribusiness Management, Innovation Management, Project Management, Business Development, or a relevant field is an added advantage.
• At least 5 years of experience in business incubation, enterprise development, SME support, innovation ecosystems, or related fields.
• Demonstrated experience working with incubators, accelerators, technology hubs, or entrepreneurship support organizations.
• Experience in coordinating multi-country or multi-stakeholder programs.
• Background in agribusiness development, youth entrepreneurship, value-chain support, or innovation commercialization.
• Experience in capacity building, training design, mentorship, or enterprise advisory services.
• Exposure to donor-funded projects and resource mobilization is desirable.