Small business advisers
We need small business owners and managers to advise organisations in poor communities.
Roles are generally longer term, ranging from one to two years, but we also have occasional short term assignments for up to six months.
You’ll have at least three years in management, with specific experience of small business development or advising small businesses (five years for short-term roles). An MBA is preferred for some (but not all) roles.
You’ll bring with you experience in marketing, business planning, financial management, staff management and training. You'll also be confident in identifying and implementing new business opportunities. Experience and knowledge of supply and value chains is highly desirable.
What you’ll be doing
You'll mainly be working with community-based organisations helping to develop all aspects of their business.
You’ll advise them so they'll become more productive, more sustainable and, most importantly, more prosperous, so they contribute to their local economy.
Countries in which you could be working include Zambia, Tanzania, Rwanda, Malawi, Nigeria or Sierra Leone.
Example roles
Please note these are just example placements to illustrate the kind of roles that may come up in your skill area.
Small business adviser
Malawi
You'll be working to support a new local business development centre in Lilongwe to provide business development training, advice and services to individual farmers, farmer associations and other small enterprises.
Malawi continues to suffer from acute maize shortages and chronic under-nutrition, with small-scale farmers, female-headed households and people living with HIV and AIDS facing the greatest risks. VSO volunteers are working towards food security for these vulnerable groups, ensuring families can feed themselves and are able to earn an independent and sustainable income. As a small business adviser you’ll support a new local business development centre in Lilongwe. The centre provides business development training, advice and services to individual farmers, farmer associations and other small enterprises in all areas of small business development.
What does the role involve?
- Mentoring and supporting the centre manager in the development of services and management systems at the centre
- Providing business advice, training and support to small enterprises, through the development of business plans and proposals, bookkeeping and accounting services
- Identifying and extending information to new client groups that could benefit from the services offered by the centre
- Developing relationships with finance institutions and other relevant stakeholders
Skills, qualifications and experience required
You’ll need a degree level qualification in business, finance or other relevant subject with at lest three years’ small business experience. Ideally you will have been involved in a business start-up before and have experience in providing accounting services and/or business development advice to small enterprises. You’ll need to be a strong team player, able to work with others at all levels, from heads of finance institutions to small enterprises. Flexibility, patience and a good sense of humour are essential to help you adapt to a new cultural way of working.
And the rest...
Landlocked Malawi is situated in south-eastern Africa, bordering Tanzania, Mozambique and Zambia. Its area is one-fifth covered in water and magnificent Lake Malawi is Africa’s third largest lake with an astounding sub-aqua life. You’ll be based in Lilongwe, Malawi’s capital. There are two well-stocked supermarkets in town and several market areas with a wide range of fresh foods, clothes, second-hand shoes and household equipment. Lake Malawi is around 1-2 hours’ drive from Lilongwe, so it’s a popular option for weekends away.
We’ll ask you to commit to 12-24 months to make a sustainable contribution to our development goals. In return, we’ll give you comprehensive financial, personal and professional support. We'll provide you with extensive training before your placement, and our financial package includes a local living allowance, return flights, accommodation, insurance and more. When you return to your home country, we'll help you to resettle and many of our returned volunteers stay involved with us long after their placement ends.
Agribusiness adviser
The Philippines
Working with the Municipality of Hernani on the Island of Samar, you will focus on contributing to economic development though developing and improving various agriculturebased livelihood activities.
The Philippines is an amazingly rich and diverse part of South East Asia, with more than 7,000 islands spread over 1,600 km. The Municipality of Hernani, on the Island of Samar, is struggling to ensure economic development and is trying to find ways to overcome this. This volunteer placement will focus on contributing to economic development though developing and improving various agriculturebased livelihood activities.
What does the role involve?
- Identifing agribusiness opportunities and developing these into viable livelihood opportunities for communities
- Mentoring communities who are involved in agribusiness projects
- Assisting in the accessing of resources/writing of fundraising proposals for small enterprise development projects
- Networking, coordinating and sharing expertise with the neighbouring municipalities
Skills, qualifications and experience required
You will need a degree qualification in agribusiness, or another relevant subject, with at least three years of professional experience working in commerce. You will need to be able to work fairly autonomously, and be confident in decision-making. Excellent communication skills and the ability to work with others are important traits for this role. Flexibility, patience and a sense of humour are essential qualities for all VSO placements, as they will help you to adapt to live and work in a different culture. You’ll also need to be happy to work in a multicultural environment and work creatively with limited resources.
Stories
FAQ
How do I find out if you need my skills?
Take a look at our volunteer roles section to see what skills we need.
Contact us
+44(0)20 8780 7500
9am-5pm, Mon-Fri
