| Salary band 4–Professional 4T | Advisor – Private Sector Development |
| Reports to: | Programme Manager |
| Duty Station: | Freetown, Sierra Leone |
| Contract Duration: | 01 October 2025 – 31 December 2027 |
Overview
The Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH implements projects and programmes based on a bi-lateral agreement between the Governments of Germany and Sierra Leone. As a provider of international cooperation services for sustainable development and international education work, we are dedicated to building a future worth living around the world. GIZ has over 50 years of experience in a wide variety of areas, including economic development and employment, energy and the environment, and peace and security. GIZ has been working in Sierra Leone since 1963 with now more than 100 national and international personnel working in projects implemented together with our Sierra Leonean partners funded by the German Government, the EU, and others.
The GIZ project “Youth Employment Promotion through Socio-Ecological and Economic Transformation of selected Rural Value Chains” (ET) aims at strengthening MSMEs in selected value chains in Sierra Leone with respect to business and job creation aspects, particularly for women and youth. To this end, the project works in three main fields of action:
1. Support for MSMEs in selected agricultural value chains: Through a holistic value chain approach, tailored training and coaching as well as different financial support modalities, MSMEs in several agricultural value chains will be strengthened, production facilities optimized, and new products and supply chains developed. Supported value chains are the cassava, vegetables, poultry and cocoa/coffee value chains. The focus is on the creation of jobs for women and young people.
2. Strengthening the entrepreneurial ecosystem: Under this output, ministries and the central bank will be advised on improving the general framework conditions for MSMEs and economic growth as well as an improved access to finance for MSMEs.
3. Women economic empowerment: Women organisations and female entrepreneurs will be strengthened through training and mentoring along the 3R approach focusing on improved access to rights, representation and resources.
We are advertising the position of “Advisor – Private Sector Development in the EET Project in Freetown”.
The Advisor – Private Sector Development will support the Freetown Office under the Socio-Ecological and Economic Transformation (EET) project in Sierra Leone. You will work closely with the Advisors on Policy Advice and Business Ecosystem to enhance the competitiveness of the private sector by providing technical expertise, implementing strategies, and ensuring the inclusion of key stakeholders, particularly women and youth, in private sector development. Your role will be pivotal in improving the business environment and fostering private sector development at the national level.
This position requires an expert who can lead technical interventions, coordinate and cooperate with partners at various levels, and contribute to the overall success of the EET. Building and maintaining trusting relationships with our partners and clients, along with fostering strong internal cooperation, are particularly important elements of this role.
You are responsible for performing diverse, specialized, and complex tasks focused on private sector development and the business ecosystem in the context of the EET project. This role requires a high level of technical expertise, advisory skills and strategic engagement with stakeholders. This includes strategic planning, coordination and implementation of policy and business ecosystem related activities, as well as the monitoring, evaluation, and communication of project outcomes. All activities must be carried out in compliance with GIZ rules and regulations. The role requires a high degree of independence, initiative, and discretion within defined guidelines
A. Responsibilities
• You will support the implementation of private sector development activities, promoting inclusive and sustainable economic transformation in selected agricultural value chains.
• You will conduct stakeholder mapping and analysis to identify key actors, gaps, and opportunities to strengthen MSME development and the business ecosystem.
• You will assist in the development and implementation of inclusive policies, tools, and frameworks that enhance value addition, access to finance, and market competitiveness.
• You will be responsible for planning, implementing and monitoring of change projects that support MSME growth, ensuring quality implementation and alignment with project objectives.
• You will contribute to internal and external communication activities by drafting social mediacontent, success stories, and by engaging with partners and stakeholders to ensure visibility and transparency.
• In addition, you will contribute to regular reporting on policy and private sector development activities, outcomes and lessons learned to commissioning parties and any relevant partners.
B. Tasks
Specific tasks of the Advisor – Private Sector Development in Freetown include, but are not limited to:
Technical Support and Advisory Services:
▪ Ensure all private sector development related activities support the inclusive and sustainable economic transformation objectives of the EET project.
▪ Conduct national-level stakeholder mapping and analysis to identify key actors, institutional opportunities, and gaps affecting the development and strengthening of MSME and economic empowerment.
▪ Identify and advise on strategic policy interventions to enhance access to finance and markets, as well as private sector competitiveness, with strong focus on women and youth economic empowerment.
▪ Support the development, updating, and harmonisation of private sector policies and frameworks that strengthen MSME development and economic empowerment.
▪ Working with start-up incubators and growth accelerators
▪ Collaborate with partners to design and implement change projects that drive private sector development and a conducive business ecosystem.
▪ Support the development and implementation of tools and instruments related to certification, production standards, traceability systems in selected agricultural value chains, and market intelligence.
▪ Support the rollout of financial products, business development services, certification, and regulatory standards for selected value chains.
▪ Assist with budget planning, expenditure monitoring, and operational planning related to private sector development activities.
▪ Support the preparation of an annual operational plan in line with the overall project.
▪ Support the monitoring and evaluation of interventions under private sector development.
Communication:
▪ Ensuring timely and smooth communication withproject partners and within the project.
▪ Support the internal and external representation of the programme in coordination with the M&E Advisor of the programme and line management.
▪ Provide input to and develop ideas for communication materials and forward to the M&E Advisor of the programme.
▪ Ensure visual documentation of activities.
Administration and Reporting:
▪ Support the reporting according to BMZ standards.
▪ Active participation in the monitoring of the programme and exchanging experiences and lessons learnt with other colleagues.
▪ Ensuring compliance with GIZ processes and rules (PuR).
Supervision Received and Exercised
Receives general direction from the EET Programme Manager.
C. Required qualifications, competences, and experience
Qualifications
• Completed university degree in economics, business administration, finance, agricultural studies or comparable degree programs, a master’s degree would be an added advantage.
• Strong conceptual and analytical skills as well as high advisory competence in policy and private sector development.
• Experience supporting private sector development, policy advisory, or business ecosystem.
• Experience in project management, including planning, implementing and monitoring projects in the context of international development cooperation.
• Familiarity with key tools, instruments, and frameworks used in private sector development.
• Excellent working knowledge of Microsoft Word, Outlook, Excel and PowerPoint.
• English, also in reading and writing level C2, is a must.
Professional experience
• Several years of relevant experience in development cooperation in the field of private sector development, agriculture, employment promotion, or similar areas.
Other knowledge, additional competences
• Commitment, team spirit, reliability, diplomatic skills, gender competence and intercultural understanding.
• Ability to think and act strategically and analytically or quick perception and an eye for the essentials.
• Excellent people skills and ability to negotiate between different stakeholder groups.
• Able to work independently as well as part of a team.
• Strong problem-solving skills, proactive, responsible and result oriented.
• Committed to deadlines and goal-oriented person.
Mode of Application:
Suitable candidates are invited to apply not later than 31.07.2025 with this ref: Advisor – Private Sector Development in the EET Project in Freetown.
Applications include:
– Cover letter
– CV (including work experience and references)
– Photocopies of certificates
and have to be submitted to the email address recruitmentsl@giz.de. Only applicants shortlisted will be contacted for an interview. GIZ-Sierra Leone is an equal-opportunity employer, and therefore women are strongly encouraged to apply.
