Q-Sourcing Limited trading as Q-Sourcing Servtec is a manpower management solutions firm operating in the East African Region in the countries of Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda, and South Sudan.

On behalf of our client Ripple Effect in the NGO Sector, we are looking for 3(three) competent, skilled, and experienced BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT SPECIALISTS to work in Mbarara, Mbale, Soroti, (Uganda).

About the Project

The Youth Economic Empowerment through Livestock Development (YEELD) Program is a five-year initiative aimed at improving the socio-economic well-being and resilience of financially disadvantaged young people aged 18–35 years in the Teso, Mbale, and Ankole sub-regions of Uganda through livestock value chains. The program seeks to create 250,000 work opportunities, including for 200,000 (80%) young women, 5% persons with disabilities (PWDs), and 3% refugees and displaced persons (RDPs). YEELD is being implemented across 20 districts in the three sub-regions through a consortium coordinated by Ripple Effect, dfcu Foundation, and Multi Community Based Development Initiative (MUCOBADI), in partnership with the Mastercard Foundation.

Role Purpose

The Business Development Specialist in the YEELD Program will play a key role in advancing youth and women-led agribusiness enterprises by building and growing competitive and profitable value chains that are sustainable The role focuses on designing and implementing interventions that strengthen entrepreneurial capacity, improve business performance, enhance value addition, and facilitate access to finance and markets to drive job creation and income generation.

The role involves identifying and promoting successful value chain development strategies and scalable models, including the establishment of anchor Cooperative and Agri-hubs and innovative aggregation mechanisms. These efforts will support the organization of youth and women through farmer groups, Agri-hubs, cooperatives, or other innovative structures. The BDS will also facilitate market access by brokering off-take agreements with private sector actors, thereby enhancing the value of improved inputs for smallholder farmers. He/she will support in building staff capacity in business development thus promoting quality assurance for businesses for young people.

To achieve these objectives, the BDS will lead capacity-building initiatives for the project team, consortium members, and partner organizations in areas such as business planning, financial management, governance systems, and business advisory services. He/She will also develop key marketing and financial linkages, nurture partnerships with both public and private sector actors, and promote access to input and financial services.

Ultimately, by strengthening value chains and improving market linkages, the BDS will contribute to increasing private sector investment in the agribusiness sector, enhancing return on investment (ROI), and driving inclusive economic growth through sustainable youth and women participation in agriculture.

Key Responsibilities

Technical Leadership and Agri-hub / cooperative / farmer group development

• Provide expert technical guidance and practical advice to project design and implementation teams, supporting the operationalization of the agribusiness framework based on proven value chain development models.
• Design and implement targeted business development models that connect enhanced productivity with value addition, market access, and youth transition to work.
• Collaborate with the Partner and Project Manager to implement comprehensive project interventions and models within clusters and across consortium partners.
• Drive the Agri-hub/ cooperative development process by creating technical frameworks for farmer institutional development up and Agri-hub/cooperative formation), and oversee activity planning, execution, and monitoring.
• Participate in co-creation meetings and collaborate with other thematic leads and Cluster Coordinators to mobilize and aggregate youth and women into structured Agri-enterprises such as cooperatives and Agri-hubs.
• Facilitate and broker off-take agreements with private sector actors to expand market access and improve input uptake for Agri-hubs and cooperatives.
• Lead the recruitment process of Community-Based Facilitators (CBFs), including planning, tool development, interviews, onboarding, and orientation

Enterprise Development & Growth Support

• Identify, conduct capacity assessment, onboard, and support youth-led livestock enterprises, and partner agribusiness organizations, across target value chains.
• Support the formulation and implementation of business and operational plans for Agri-hubs, Cooperatives and MSME’s.
• Lead feasibility studies and business development ecosystem analysis of YEELD to identify viable business and investment options that articulate the value proposition of agribusiness ventures and youth engagement in the production-to-market ecosystem.
• Led the development, review, and delivery of agribusiness technical training by creating and refining BD technical manuals, training modules, facilitator guides, and IEC materials.
• Provide tailored business development services including business planning, financial management, and operational improvement through Youth groups, agri-hubs and cooperatives.
• Strengthen enterprise capacity to scale and sustain operations.
• Provide advisory support on establishing and maintaining sound business and financial record-keeping systems for youth enterprises.
• Identify and evaluate innovative financing mechanisms, grants, and investment opportunities for youth and women entrepreneurs and support access to these resources.
• Support project partners in developing business development systems and innovative financial inclusion approaches, establishing financial linkages with VSLAs, SACCOs, and MFIs.

Market Access & Commercial Linkages

• Facilitate access to reliable and profitable markets for youth enterprises.
• Link businesses to buyers, processors, aggregators, and off-takers.
• Support enterprises in negotiating contracts and improving pricing strategies.

Financial Access & Investment Readiness

• Support enterprises in accessing finance through banks, SACCOs, and other financial institutions.
• Build capacity in financial literacy, record-keeping, and loan management.
• Prepare youth businesses for investment, including developing pitches and business cases.

Entrepreneurship Capacity Building

• Design and deliver training programmes on entrepreneurship, business skills, and enterprise management.
• Provide mentorship and coaching to youth entrepreneurs.
• Strengthen business mindset, innovation, and resilience among participants

Coordination & Partner Engagement

• Collaborate closely with Value Chain Services Specialist and consortium partners to create and manage private sector engagements, including partner assessments, onboarding, technical oversight, and coordination with district and line ministries for project alignment to ensure enterprises benefit from improved systems.
• Participate in joint planning and programme implementation processes.
• Engage with private sector actors to unlock business opportunities for youth
• Organize and facilitate business forums and multi-stakeholder value chain platforms to strengthen market linkages and investment prospects.
• Work collaboratively with partners to explore new market and investment opportunities, taking the lead in crafting successful business models that secure contracts and long-term partnerships for youth and private sector actors.

Monitoring, Evaluation, Adaptation & Learning

• Track enterprise-level performance indicators such as revenue, profitability, job creation, and business survival rates.
• Conduct regular field visits to monitor project implementation, Document success stories, lessons learned, and best practices, and promote cross-consortium learning.
• Contribute to programme reporting and adaptive management.
• Continuously assess agribusinesses, identify market trends and risks, and develop responsive strategies to enhance commercial success.
• Work with the MEL team to establish measurable KPIs that track project impact and sustainability. Keep track of data relating to all aspects of Agri-hubs / cooperatives and MSME’s.
• Ensure partner compliance with donor and YEELD requirements through coordinated monitoring and performance evaluations.
• Provide continuous feedback on project quality, lead regular consortium leadership meetings, and recommend corrective actions where necessary.

Innovation & Inclusive Enterprise Development

• Promote innovative business models and value addition opportunities within livestock enterprises.
• Ensure inclusion of young women, refugees, and persons with disabilities in enterprise support.
• Integrate digital tools and solutions for business growth.

Other duties

• Ensure compliance with Ripple Effect policies and all relevant legislation.
• Act at all times according to Ripple Effect’s values and in support of its Africa Forward Together approach.
• To undertake other duties of a similar nature as reasonably required by the line manager.

Key Result Areas

• Increased number of viable and profitable youth-led livestock enterprises.
• Improved business performance (revenue, profitability, and growth).
• Enhanced access to finance and markets for youth businesses.
• Job creation and income generation for young people.
• Strong integration of enterprises into livestock value chains.
• Increased participation of young women, refugees, and PWDs in business opportunities

Safeguarding

At Ripple Effect, we are committed to creating a safe and rewarding environment for all of our people, including staff, participants, partners, volunteers, children, and vulnerable adults. It is a shared responsibility to ensure that everyone is treated properly and protected from harm, exploitation, and abuse. To fulfil this commitment, we have established a robust Safeguarding Policy that everyone working with us is expected to follow, along with a confidential whistle-blowing procedure that allows individuals to raise any concerns they may have.

Qualifications

A Master’s Degree in Agribusiness, Agriculture Economics, Business Administration, Rural Development, Enterprise Development, or any other related field.

A Bachelor’s degree in the Agribusiness field accompanied by extensive and proven practical work experience.

Experience and knowledge

Minimum of 8 years’ hands-on experience testing and iterating on different Business Development models, ability to identify and rectify market failures around BDS delivery and should possess insights into challenges of creating and maintaining sustainable BDS models.

Experience in project development, management and/or implementation of agribusiness investment support solutions.

Skills and attributes

Essential:

• Proven experience supporting MSMEs, startups, or agribusiness enterprises.
• Strong understanding of market dynamics, entrepreneurship, and financial inclusion.
• Experience working with donor-funded projects is an advantage.
• Strong coaching, mentoring, and facilitation skills.
• Commitment to youth employment and inclusive economic development

• Provide expert technical guidance and practical advice to project design and implementation teams, supporting the operationalization of the agribusiness framework based on proven value chain development models.
• Design and implement targeted business development models that connect enhanced productivity with value addition, market access, and youth transition to work.
• Collaborate with the Partner and Project Manager to implement comprehensive project interventions and models within clusters and across consortium partners.
• Drive the Agri-hub/ cooperative development process by creating technical frameworks for farmer institutional development up and Agri-hub/cooperative formation), and oversee activity planning, execution, and monitoring.
• Participate in co-creation meetings and collaborate with other thematic leads and Cluster Coordinators to mobilize and aggregate youth and women into structured Agri-enterprises such as cooperatives and Agri-hubs.
• Facilitate and broker off-take agreements with private sector actors to expand market access and improve input uptake for Agri-hubs and cooperatives.
• Lead the recruitment process of Community-Based Facilitators (CBFs), including planning, tool development, interviews, onboarding, and orientation
• Identify, conduct capacity assessment, onboard, and support youth-led livestock enterprises, and partner agribusiness organizations, across target value chains.
• Support the formulation and implementation of business and operational plans for Agri-hubs, Cooperatives and MSME’s.
• Lead feasibility studies and business development ecosystem analysis of YEELD to identify viable business and investment options that articulate the value proposition of agribusiness ventures and youth engagement in the production-to-market ecosystem.
• Led the development, review, and delivery of agribusiness technical training by creating and refining BD technical manuals, training modules, facilitator guides, and IEC materials.
• Provide tailored business development services including business planning, financial management, and operational improvement through Youth groups, agri-hubs and cooperatives.
• Strengthen enterprise capacity to scale and sustain operations.
• Provide advisory support on establishing and maintaining sound business and financial record-keeping systems for youth enterprises.
• Identify and evaluate innovative financing mechanisms, grants, and investment opportunities for youth and women entrepreneurs and support access to these resources.
• Support project partners in developing business development systems and innovative financial inclusion approaches, establishing financial linkages with VSLAs, SACCOs, and MFIs.
• Facilitate access to reliable and profitable markets for youth enterprises.
• Link businesses to buyers, processors, aggregators, and off-takers.
• Support enterprises in negotiating contracts and improving pricing strategies.
• Support enterprises in accessing finance through banks, SACCOs, and other financial institutions.
• Build capacity in financial literacy, record-keeping, and loan management.
• Prepare youth businesses for investment, including developing pitches and business cases.
• Design and deliver training programmes on entrepreneurship, business skills, and enterprise management.
• Provide mentorship and coaching to youth entrepreneurs.
• Strengthen business mindset, innovation, and resilience among participants
• Collaborate closely with Value Chain Services Specialist and consortium partners to create and manage private sector engagements, including partner assessments, onboarding, technical oversight, and coordination with district and line ministries for project alignment to ensure enterprises benefit from improved systems.
• Participate in joint planning and programme implementation processes.
• Engage with private sector actors to unlock business opportunities for youth
• Organize and facilitate business forums and multi-stakeholder value chain platforms to strengthen market linkages and investment prospects.
• Work collaboratively with partners to explore new market and investment opportunities, taking the lead in crafting successful business models that secure contracts and long-term partnerships for youth and private sector actors.
• Track enterprise-level performance indicators such as revenue, profitability, job creation, and business survival rates.
• Conduct regular field visits to monitor project implementation, Document success stories, lessons learned, and best practices, and promote cross-consortium learning.
• Contribute to programme reporting and adaptive management.
• Continuously assess agribusinesses, identify market trends and risks, and develop responsive strategies to enhance commercial success.
• Work with the MEL team to establish measurable KPIs that track project impact and sustainability. Keep track of data relating to all aspects of Agri-hubs / cooperatives and MSME’s.
• Ensure partner compliance with donor and YEELD requirements through coordinated monitoring and performance evaluations.
• Provide continuous feedback on project quality, lead regular consortium leadership meetings, and recommend corrective actions where necessary.
• Promote innovative business models and value addition opportunities within livestock enterprises.
• Ensure inclusion of young women, refugees, and persons with disabilities in enterprise support.
• Integrate digital tools and solutions for business growth.
• Ensure compliance with Ripple Effect policies and all relevant legislation.
• Act at all times according to Ripple Effect’s values and in support of its Africa Forward Together approach.
• To undertake other duties of a similar nature as reasonably required by the line manager.

• Proven experience supporting MSMEs, startups, or agribusiness enterprises.
• Strong understanding of market dynamics, entrepreneurship, and financial inclusion.
• Experience working with donor-funded projects is an advantage.
• Strong coaching, mentoring, and facilitation skills.
• Commitment to youth employment and inclusive economic development

• A Master’s Degree in Agribusiness, Agriculture Economics, Business Administration, Rural Development, Enterprise Development, or any other related field.
• A Bachelor’s degree in the Agribusiness field accompanied by extensive and proven practical work experience.