Junior Project officer / Admin Assistant

About Entrepreneurship Development Institute (EDI)     

Inspire, Disrupt, Transform!

Entrepreneurship Development Institute (EDI) is an autonomous institution under the Ministry of Labor and Skills in Ethiopia, dedicated to fostering a dynamic and innovative private sector through comprehensive entrepreneurship support programs, including business development services (BDS), access to finance, and market linkage initiatives. EDI has established regional offices and Centers of Excellence in Entrepreneurship within higher education institutions to promote an entrepreneurial mindset among faculty, graduates, and the local community. EDI is dedicated to building the capacity of public and private institutions to support the entrepreneurial ecosystem in Ethiopia and beyond.

 About Project: BDS Voucher System

EDI Ethiopia through a grant agreement with GiZ – Deutsche Gesellschaft fuer Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH is implementing a pilot BDS Voucher System Project that aims to improve Small and Medium Enterprises’ (SMEs) access to quality Business Development Services (BDS) in Ethiopia. The project will provide SMEs with vouchers to cover part of the costs of accessing high-quality and impactful BDS. This voucher system incentivizes SMEs to invest in professional services to improve their operations and growth prospects. Additionally, the project envisions to build the capacity of local BDS providers and stimulate demand for their services by increasing visibility, promoting demand-driven BDS and generally contributing to the growth of the BDS market in Ethiopia. 

Scope of Work

Under the direct supervision of the Project Coordinator & Finance & Admin manager, the incumbent will be responsible for the overall facilitation of the project activities spanning provision of support for the SMEs and BDSPs during onboarding and match making process. The job holder will also provide assistance to the project coordinator and other project members for the efficient execution of project activities. 

Specific Duties and Responsibilities:

The specific duties of the Junior Project officer/Admin assistant will include the following but not limited to:

• Support outreach activities to onboard SMEs into the voucher program
• Organize orientation workshops and info sessions for SMEs on voucher eligibility and application by frequently establishing a direct contact with SMEs and BDSPs. 
• Provide translation support to SMEs for all program guidelines and agreements.
• Guide SMEs through the registration and application process; assist with form filling, selection of BDSPs from the BDS portal.
• Support SMEs in evaluating and selecting suitable BDS providers as per their needs
• Facilitate linkages between SMEs and shortlisted BDS providers for service delivery
• Conduct verification checks on SMEs as per program guidelines before voucher allocation.
• Maintain regular communication with SMEs to support voucher utilization.
• Assist senior project staff in monitoring and data collection from SMEs.
• Address operational queries and provide handholding support to SMEs.
• Support organization of meetings, events and forums for SMEs and partners
• Maintain program databases, records and documentation related to SMEs
• Prepare weekly/monthly reports on outreach progress and challenges.
• Provide feedback to identify areas of improvement in SME engagement processes
• Efficiently execute any other tasks and responsibilities as required by the Project Coordinator and other project members.

Duty Station: Headquarters, Addis Ababa with some travel to regions

Contract duration: 9 months with a possibility of extension  

Reports To: Project Coordinator & Finance and Admin manager

Required Qualification:

• BA/BSc Degree in any field

• 0-1 years of experience

• Prior experience in providing training, BDS, M&E, data collection, analysis, report writing, project coordination and facilitation etc. would be a plus.

• Certificate of Entrepreneurship Training Workshop (ETW) or BDS provided by EDI Ethiopia would be a plus. 

Skills and knowledge:

• High level of drive and enthusiasm to learn and develop new skills

• Ability to work independently with minimal supervision

• Willingness to take initiative and ownership of assigned tasks

• Commitment to understanding the project objectives and impact

• Motivation to expand skills and capabilities within the role

• Dedication to completing tasks professionally and in a timely manner

• Adherence to organization and project values/principles

How To Apply

Interested candidates should provide information demonstrating that they have the required qualifications and relevant experience to perform the necessary services. The applicants should clearly describe the name of the position they are applying for on their application letter.

Applicants should submit their recent and compressive CV with a motivation letter of application and other relevant supporting documents via email: hr@edi-ethiopia.org or in person at Entrepreneurship Development Institute (EDI) located around Wossen area EDI headquarters building 3rd floor. For more information contact Tel. +251996173733 info@edi-ethiopia.org up to or before 28, February, 2025, 4:00 P.M. Further information can be obtained at the office hours from 8:30 A.M to 12:30 P.M and from 1:30 P.M to 5:30 P.M. on week days.

Female Applicants are highly encouraged to apply for all positions

Please also be aware that EDI does not demand any payment from applicants at any stage of the recruitment and selection process. Additionally, EDI Ethiopia has not enlisted any agent for recruitment purposes. We emphasize that EDI Ethiopia is an equal opportunity employer.