What are the responsibilities and job description for the Conduct Sustainable Business Strategies in West Africa (TechnoServe Fellows Program) position at TechnoServe?
About the TechnoServe Fellows Program:
TechnoServe is looking for Fellows to contribute business acumen and skills to in-country operational teams and global strategic initiative teams. This highly competitive fellowship allows professionals to experience the field of international development firsthand while building new skills and challenging themselves in a cross-cultural and entrepreneurial environment.
Projects focus on supporting local entrepreneurs to develop regenerative agricultural value chains and scale businesses - particularly those addressing climate change. Within local teams, Fellows lead work on industry analysis, business plan development, financial modeling, operations, organizational development, marketing strategy, and stakeholder management. Project locations could be in any of our 30 TechnoServe field offices, including Mozambique, Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Chile, Mexico, Brazil, India, and many more. Fellows have worked with development partners such as the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and the Mastercard Foundation.
TechnoServe Fellows are critical members of the TechnoServe team, working in the field with our full-time staff to further our mission and increase our impact around the world. They take part in projects ranging from 2 to 12 months in which they engage directly with entrepreneurs, industry experts, TechnoServe field staff, and other stakeholders.
Fellows form a global alumni community representing top-tier consulting, industry, and nonprofit organizations and graduate schools such as Bain, McKinsey, BCG, Harvard Business School, Wharton, Yale School of Management, and Kellogg.
Featured Fellow Project:
West Africa Cashew Marketing Strategy Fellow (professional level French required) - Prosper Cashew is a five-year, $30 million project funded by the USDA’s Food for Progress Program to strengthen cashew processing in Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, and Nigeria. Launched in October 2020, it aims to boost cashew processing, improve access to working capital, attract investment, and increase domestic processing of raw cashew nuts to 50%. TechnoServe seeks a Fellow to support marketing in three areas: (1) promoting the West African Cashew brand in the U.S., (2) assisting cashew processors with marketing strategies, and (3) supporting project-level marketing and communications.
If you do not see a project that fits what you are looking for, TechnoServe receives projects on a rolling basis and we encourage you to apply to our general application. Questions about project scopes of work? Please contact fellows@tns.org.
Fellows Program Qualifications:
The process for becoming a Fellow is highly selective. In assessing a candidate’s fit with this opening, we will consider the following:
- Minimum of an undergraduate degree
- Minimum of two years of full-time work experience
- Demonstrated problem-solving and analytical skills, typically through experience with a management consulting firm
- Superior communication skills
- Proven ability to develop an industry or client strategy (including familiarity with developing issue trees, prioritization matrices, etc., to guide one’s approach)
- Ability to structure and manage complex tasks
- Ability to develop clear storylines and presentations
- Ability to work independently
- Evidence of creativity, flexibility and resourcefulness
- Enthusiasm for contributing to TechnoServe’s mission
Who are typical TechnoServe Fellows?:
- A management consultant taking a secondment to do impact work or take the lead on a project
- A business professional wanting to gain experience with an international NGO
- An MBA student fulfilling a summer internship
- A seasoned executive looking for a way to give back
Read more about the program and view sample projects here: https://www.technoserve.org/get-involved/fellows-program
How to apply for the TechnoServe Fellows Program:
*Please note that we only accept applications submitted through our website.
You can find our application here.
Applications are evaluated and accepted on a rolling basis. We accept candidates based on their fit for the program overall, however it does not guarantee that there will be a project for you. Once you apply and are accepted, you will enter our candidate pool. If there is a project that matches your interests and experience, the Senior Manager will get in touch with you.
If you have any questions, please contact fellows@tns.org.
Fellows Program Fees and Expenses:
TechnoServe will cover work-related costs of international travel, including airfare, in-country accommodation, local transportation and a daily per diem for meals. These expenses are agreed upon in advance in a volunteer contract. Please note that this is a pro bono position and TechnoServe cannot provide fees for services rendered.
Learn More about the Fellows Program:
Review the Fellows Program's webpage to find detailed sample project descriptions to understand the skills and capabilities most often required and to read our FAQ page.
Find a list of TechnoServe’s current and past partners to learn more about the organizations that support our programs, such as Nespresso, Mastercard Foundation, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, and USAID.
Salary : $30
