Position:

Environmental Compliance Officer – Accelerate Prosperity (AP)

Objective:

Accelerate Prosperity (AP), a joint initiative by the Aga Khan Foundation (AKF) and Aga Khan Fund for Economic Development’s Industrial Promotion Services (AKFED IPS), was launched in 2016 across Pakistan and Tajikistan, expanding to Kyrgyzstan in 2018 and Afghanistan in 2021. While AP Afghanistan is not yet a standalone entity, legal reviews are ongoing to determine the ideal operational structure. AP supports entrepreneurship and economic growth through business acceleration programs, offering training, technical assistance, mentorship, and customized financing. By engaging with start-ups and small and growing businesses (SGBs) in fields like agribusiness, digital services, and hospitality, AP aims to foster development by leveraging private sector expertise.  

Role Summary:

The Program-Oriented Expert will lead technical assistance design for AP's portfolio, overseeing incubation and acceleration processes, pre- and post-investment support, and developing online resources for AP’s programs.  

The TA Analyst Virtual Accelerate  will establish and manage the Virtual Accelerate (VA) platform to support start-ups and SGBs across Afghanistan, promoting the "Startup Ideology" through AP’s ecosystem. VA will also be accessible to other incubators, accelerators, and investment funds in Afghanistan and beyond.  

Job Responsibilities: 

Virtual Accelerate Platform Development:

- Develop and oversee blended learning content and business training resources on VA.

- Create regional training materials for entrepreneurs, considering expertise level and input from successful entrepreneurs.

- Register a network of mentors, investors, and coaches in VA to connect with entrepreneurs.

- Build a pipeline of entrepreneur applicants, conduct interviews, and link them to technical support teams.

- Pilot, execute, and refine VA in Afghanistan, ensuring coordination with development partners and managing the feedback loop for improvement.

- Transition AP programs and investment flow within VA.  

Technical Assistance Marketing and Communication:

- Promote VA to the ecosystem (incubators, accelerators, investment funds) with the Regional Virtual Acceleration Manager.

- Conduct marketing activities across social media and other channels to attract participants and partner institutions.  

Pre- and Post-Investment Support: 

- Provide training and advisory to early-stage and SGB start-ups on business modeling, financial modeling, marketing, sales, and investment pitch preparation.

- Track entrepreneur progress within VA, providing assistance for completion and coordination with the investment team.

Monitoring and Mentorship:

- Regularly monitor investees for compliance with financing agreements, due diligence, and AP’s policies.

- Provide post-investment advisory as recommended in due diligence reports to maximize investment effectiveness.

- Uphold AKF(Afg)'s Child Safeguarding Policy in all operations.  

Occasional Responsibilities:  

- Perform additional duties as directed by the TA Lead or AP Country Director.  

Requirements:

Qualifications:

- A strong business and start-up background, with 3+ years in programming and marketing in start-ups or financing, with knowledge of the local entrepreneurship ecosystem.

- Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in business, entrepreneurship, innovation, marketing, or communications.

- Familiarity with web-based applications and excellent fluency in English, Dari, and/or Pashto.

- Proactive and results-oriented work ethic.  

Application Details:

To Apply:

Submit your CV and cover letter by November 16, 2024, to bamyan.hr@akdn.org.  

- Important:  Quote the Vacancy Number in the subject line.

- No additional documents are required at this stage.

- Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.  

Additional Information:

AKF Afghanistan promotes equal opportunity and safeguarding, with strict adherence to the Child Safeguarding Policy. Our recruitment is free from fees and follows transparent guidelines. Official job postings can be found on https://afgjobs.org/

Safeguarding Commitment:

AKF(Afg) maintains a safe environment, requiring selected candidates to comply with its Protection from Sexual Exploitation, Abuse, and Harassment (PSEAH) policy.