Deloitte is seeking qualified Mid- Level candidates for the multi-year USAID Trade and Competitiveness (Udhyam Nepal) to fill the role of ‘Manager – Access to Non-Financial Services’. Deloitte Consulting is the implementing partner for the USAID-funded Nepal Trade and Competitiveness Activity (Udhyam Nepal) based in Kathmandu. This position is under Deloitte Consulting Overseas Projects LLC. The purpose of Nepal Trade and Competitiveness Activity is to increase Nepali private sector participation in targeted global value chains. The Udhyam Nepal Activity will help chart a new growth path as the economy recovers—one that capitalizes on global integration to diversify toward higher quality and higher value exports. It will foster sustainable job growth and income-generating opportunities for those that have previously been left behind by economic growth in Nepal, creating greater sustainability and resiliency. The Activity will achieve this through interventions that incentivize public and private sector actors across the entrepreneurial and business ecosystem to adopt new behaviors driving outcomes across three Objectives:

(1) To increase access to market-based financial and non-financial services;
(2) To increase productivity in sectors with high growth and employment potential; and
(3)To improve the investment climate and BEE, especially for targeted sectors.

 The Activity will support Development Objective 1 of USAID Nepal's CDCS, to promote inclusive growth, and meet align with USAID's Economic Growth Policy, Digital Strategy, Private Sector Engagement Policy, and Gender Equality and Women's Empowerment Policy.

This is a five-year program; however, the position is currently for one year with opportunity for renewal.  This full-time position is based in Kathmandu.

Manager – Access to Non-Financial Services– Overview:

The Manager will lead the management and implementation of the activities aimed towards enhancing the competitiveness and access to export market of SMEs, ensuring the increased availability and diversity of non-financial services to them, through strengthening of the capacity and diversities of the non-financial service offerings of BDSPs (Business Development Service Providers) . She/he will perform assessments to identify and address the key factors affecting the lack of and access to the non-financial products/ services, gaps in the supply side of the non-financial services and help in devising appropriate interventions that impacts the cause of SMEs’ access to non-financial services positively. The Manager will be responsible for the implementation of the technical works aimed towards improving availability, diversity and access to non-financial services of the targeted sectors (agriculture/ agri-business, tourism and digital services) by designing and executing effective strategies to support the implementation of the Udhyam Nepal Activity. The Manager will be also responsible for the implementation of the technical works aimed towards strengthening the overall entrepreneurial ecosystem and bridging the necessary gaps among the participants/ actors of the ecosystem. She/he, inter alia will manage and implement the interventions related to the conducting of assessments (mapping) of the landscape and gaps, facilitation of development of appropriate regulations/ policies, strategies, non-financial products/ services and capacity enhancement activities, supervise technical programs and technical assistance to SMEs and non-financial service providers (existing BDSPs, BSOs, ESOs, TVTPs, Consultants, Academic Institutions and other organizations having potential to act as BDSPs  etc.), development of strong partnerships with the non-financial service providers and value chain actors of public and private sector and promotion of adoption and development of digital solutions. She/he reports directly to the Lead of Objective 1 and is responsible for establishing and maintaining constructive working relationships with stakeholders spanning the public sector, private sector, and civil society in Nepal and with other development partners and USAID implementers. The Manager will work with the rest of the technical teams of Udhyam Nepal to leverage non-financial services and solutions in improving productivity and competitiveness of SMEs and value chains in the Activity’s priority sectors.

Specific Responsibilities Include:

1. Analysis, Review, Identification of key constraints to access to non-financial services critical to growth of MSMEs and priority sectors of Udhyam Nepal Activity

a) Conduct assessments of the current market and landscape of non-financial services and accessibility of/ provisions to SMEs within Nepal and in the region.

b) Carry out mapping exercises of the current SME landscape in relation to their access to and availability of non-financial services and conduct an analysis relating to organizational, management, logistics, technical capabilities and other resources of these SMEs to meet market requirements and harness opportunities determined in (a).

c) Review the current policy/ regulatory/ strategic/ business model framework in the non-financial service value chain affecting non-financial service providers (BDSPs, BSOs (Business Service Organizations), ESOs (Entrepreneurial Service Organizations), TVTPs (Technical and Vocational Training Providers), Training Institutes, Consultants, Experts, Academic Institutions etc. ) and SMEs as their service consumers/ clients.

d) Analyse the current strategy/ initiatives of the government and private sector related to non-financial services’ access and provisions to SMEs which would effectively enhance their productivity and competitiveness.

e) Identification of gaps, constraints and effective solution options on the basis of the assessments, mapping, reviews and analysis done.

2. Strategizing and planning, identifying key leverage areas

a) Develop strategies, plans and interventions in order to enhance the productivity and competitiveness of SMEs through provisions of diverse non-financial services and their easier access.

b) Design  interventions related to the firm-level and market driven assistance and supports to help SMEs overcome constraints, acquire necessary organizational and technical capabilities and adopt innovative and sustainable business models in order to take advantage of market opportunities related to the access to non-financial services.

c) Design interventions and technical assistance programs involving various stakeholders like BDSPs, BSOs (Business Service Organizations), ESOs (Entrepreneurial Service Organizations), TVTPs (Technical and Vocational Training Providers), Training Institutes, Consultants, Experts, Academic Institutions etc. in providing capacity enhancement and other technical supports to SMEs.

3. Implementation of the strategies, plans and designed interventions

a) Take lead in the implementation of designed strategies, plans of actions and designed interventions aimed towards improving productivity and competitiveness of the SMEs through provisions of diverse non-financial services and their easier access.

b) Collaborate with various government and private sector actors (majorly BDSPs) and any other associated stakeholders in relation to the cause of enhancing productivity and competitiveness of SMEs through provisions of diverse non-financial services and their easier access.

c) Collaborate with Objective  3 in the development of institutional and regulatory/ legal framework and implementing measure  to improve  the business enabling environment to encourage investment and promote growth of SMEs through provisions of diverse non-financial services and their easier access.

d) Collaborate with Objective 2 in ensuring the provisions of diverse non-financial services and their easier access to target sectors with high growth and employment potential.

e) Facilitate market linkages, networks, peer-to-peer learning, and collaboration among various government and private sector actors (BDSPs, BSOs, TVTPs, Consultants, Training organizations, Experts etc.) in order to ensure provisions of diverse non-financial services and their easier access to SMEs.

f) Develop and supervise delivery of capacity development training programs and other technical assistance to various private sector actors (BDSPs, BSOs, TVTPs, Consultants, Training organizations, Experts etc.) as well as other relevant value chain actors.

Other General Responsibilities:

1. Manage and supervise the project activities, resources and personnel as per the strategic direction provided by the lead of Objective 1.

2. Assist Objective 1 Lead in overall leadership, management oversight and technical direction in relation to the portfolio of ‘access to non-financial services’

3. Act as a key point of contact and liaison for all the stakeholders (GoN counterparts, Local Partners, Beneficiaries, Collaborators etc.) in relation to the activities related to ‘access to non-financial services’.

4. Collect and report on relevant data for reporting to USAID and the relevant project partners in close co-ordination with the MEL Manager.

5. Contribute regular inputs for IPS-C’s weekly, quarterly, and annual reporting, in addition to creating success stories as required.

6. Carry out additional tasks in relation to ‘access to non-financial services’, as per the request of the Objective 1 Lead.

Required Qualifications:

• Advanced degree, such as MBA or MBS or M.S. in Business/ Management/ Entrepreneurship, or other relevant field.
• Minimum of 5 years of experience in the training/ capacity building/ consulting/ startup incubation/ acceleration, including 3 years of experience in capacity building of Entrepreneurs and SMEs.
• Understanding of the entrepreneurial ecosystem and MSMEs landscape and their competitiveness/ capacity/ skills gaps.
• Experience in working effectively with local SMEs, BDSPs, BSOs, ESOs, government agencies, and particularly the private sector participants related to SMEs landscape.
• Experience working in a team environment, possessing excellent people skills.
• Fluency in spoken and written English and Nepali and proficiency in reporting and presenting.
• Nepalese nationality.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Familiarity with  pay-for-performance type of assistance to BDSP support to MSMEs
• Knowledge of the value chain approach, market systems development approach, inclusive business concept, PPP model and related constraints among SMEs and overall entrepreneurial ecosystem.
• Practical understanding of aspects related to the social inclusion, gender equity, and women’s economic empowerment.
• Prior experience in the implementation of donor-funded projects involving multiple partners and host country counterparts is preferred. 

Reporting Requirements

This position will report to the Objective 1 (access to market-based financial and non-financial services) Lead

Place of Performance
Level of effort: Full time

Location: Kathmandu, with travel to other locations of the country as required

Attention:  Please ensure resume/application DOES NOT INCLUDE personal information such as gender, age, marital status, ethnicity, religion.