Job Description
Title: Private Sector Partnership
Program: USAID Sri Lanka Economic Modernization
Location: Colombo, Sri Lanka
Expected Duration: Five years with an anticipated award date of September 2024 to September 2029
IESC - the International Executive Service Corps - is a U.S.-based nonprofit that seeks private enterprise solutions to problems of poverty in developing countries and around the world. By providing a mix of technical assistance and volunteer expert support, IESC works with emerging industries, financial institutions, and governments to stabilize economic environments, increase opportunity, and promote growth. We have completed over 25,000 projects in more than 130 countries worldwide.
IESC is seeking a Private Sector Partnership for the USAID-funded Sri Lanka Economic Modernization project in Sri Lanka. The project will serve as USAID/Sri Lanka's new Economic Modernization indefinite delivery, indefinite quantity (IDIQ) and, through its subsequent Task Orders, will provide a broad range of technical assistance and support services to support the Government of Sri Lanka (GSL), small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and other stakeholders to improve the business enabling environment, and performance of small and medium businesses, that contribute to the economic competitiveness of Sri Lanka. The activities anticipated under this IDIQ will focus on the following objectives:
- Objective 1. Improved Business Enabling Environment: Provide support to GSL to create favorable conditions including regulatory frameworks to facilitate the establishment, growth and success of businesses in Sri Lanka and attract Foreign Direct Investments (FDIS) to the country.
- Objective 2. Enhanced SME Export Competitiveness & Growth: Provide small and medium businesses with resources, tools and support to compete in international markets and expand their export capabilities, overcome barriers and take advantage of opportunities in the global marketplace.
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Private Sector Partnerships: Develop and manage partnerships with private sector stakeholders, including small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), industry associations, and business leaders, to support the project's objectives of economic modernization and enhanced SME export competitiveness.
- Capacity Strengthening: Design and implement programs to strengthen the capacity of local partners, providing technical assistance, training, and resources to enhance their business performance and competitiveness.
- Localization Strategy: Contribute to the development and execution of a localization strategy that empowers local stakeholders, ensuring project sustainability and promoting local ownership of project outcomes.
- Stakeholder Engagement: Collaborate with government agencies, NGOs, and other project stakeholders to align private sector partnerships with broader project goals, fostering strong relationships and cross-sector collaboration.
- Business Development Support: Identify and support business development opportunities for SMEs, providing guidance on market expansion, export strategies, and other growth initiatives.
- Monitoring and Reporting: Work with the Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) team to track the impact of partnership and capacity-strengthening activities, providing regular reports to project leadership and USAID.
- Communication and Advocacy: Advocate for private sector partnerships and capacity strengthening initiatives to key stakeholders, communicating the benefits and successes of these programs.
- Team Collaboration: Collaborate with other project team members to ensure integrated and coherent project implementation, sharing information and resources to maximize project impact.
- Event Coordination: Organize and coordinate events, workshops, and training sessions to promote private sector partnerships and build capacity among local stakeholders.
- Compliance and Best Practices: Ensure all partnership and capacity-strengthening activities comply with USAID regulations, and promote best practices in business development and capacity building.
QUALIFICATIONS AND REQUIREMENTS:
- Education: Minimum of a bachelor's degree in business administration, international development, economics, or a related field. An advanced degree is preferred.
- Experience: At least 5 years of experience in private sector partnership development, business development, or capacity strengthening, with a focus on SMEs or economic development. Experience with USAID-funded projects or other donor-funded projects is a strong advantage.
- Partnership Management: Proven experience in developing and managing partnerships with private sector stakeholders, demonstrating strong relationship-building skills.
- Capacity-building Skills: Demonstrated experience in designing and implementing capacity-strengthening programs, with a focus on private sector growth and development.
- Communication Skills: Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to engage with a diverse range of stakeholders effectively.
- Language Proficiency: Fluency in English is required; proficiency in Sinhala and/or Tamil is a strong advantage.
- Cross-cultural Competence: Ability to work effectively in a multicultural environment, demonstrating cultural sensitivity and adaptability.
- Problem-solving Skills: Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to develop innovative solutions to partnership and capacity-strengthening challenges.
- Flexibility and Adaptability: Ability to adapt to changing project needs and priorities, demonstrating a proactive and collaborative approach.
This position will be based in Colombo, Sri Lanka. This position is contingent upon IESC winning the award and approval by USAID.
