Position: Advisor - Export, Trade And Growth
Duty Station: Kathmandu

• Build and nurture strategic partnerships with businesses, business service providers, business membership associations, financial institutions, impact investors, and others
• Collaborate with Nepali growth- and export-oriented businesses that empower women. 

• Undertake business diagnostics to identify business challenges and capacity development needs, 

• Support SMEs in developing export strategies and action plans, 

• Advice on product adaptation, pricing, and positioning for target markets,

• Assist in identifying competitive advantages and unique selling propositions,

• Facilitate SME participation in trade fairs, B2B matchmaking, and export promotion events,

• Identify potential buyers and distributors.

• Advise businesses and associations to identify export markets and facilitate trade, including understanding of regulations, standards and certifications.

• Build partnerships with financial institutions, including commercial banks, impact investors and private equity firms that invest in women-led and climate resilient MSMEs; facilitate investments in innovative technologies and services. 

• Engage with key stakeholders in the ecosystem to drive innovation, including integration of digital solutions to address supply chain challenges and drive business growth.

• Actively gather evidence and support business membership organizations through dialogue, advocacy and training on export and growth-related matters.

• Contribute thoughts on overall strategic direction, approach through project level planning and learning processes.

• Develop knowledge products and communicate key developments and insights to a broad and diverse audience. Embed project results and lessons learned into team processes and organizational practices, supporting continuous improvement across relevant groups

Required qualifications and experience:

Educational Qualification:

• Master’s degree in business administration, management, international development, economics or related field. Equivalent qualifications will be considered.

Professional Experience: 

• At least 5 years of experience in the area of private sector development, export-oriented agribusiness promotion.
• Demonstrated expertise in sustainable private sector development in the context of rural and urban Nepal, with a specific focus on women’s economic empowerment and climate resilience.
• Experience working with market systems development approach.
• Thorough understanding of challenges of export-oriented businesses in Nepal.
• Experience working with international standards and certification.
• Experience working on SME financing and agriculture insurance. 
• Experience with e-commerce and digital trade platforms is an advantage.
• Familiarity with sustainable trade practices and green exports is an advantage.

Skills and Competencies

• Excellent analytical skills and solution orientation; proven track record in driving results and implementing solutions.
• Strong networking and communication skills, capable of building and maintaining partnerships with private sector actors. 
• Good understanding of challenges of women and youth-led businesses in Nepal.
• Ability to advise businesses at the leadership level and facilitate business to business deals.
• Sound network with financial service providers. 
• Excellent documentation and presentation skills. 
• Ability to work independently under pressure with minimal guidance and meet tight deadlines.
• Open to constructive feedback.

Language Proficiency

• Excellent command of Nepali and English languages (written and spoken)