Senior Officer, Business Development

 POSITION SUMMARY

Reporting to the Country Representative, the Senior Officer Business Development is in charge of exploring and diversifying new program and business opportunities from institutional donors, conducting donor analysis needed for business plan and contributing to GGGI Senegal and Burkina Faso grow as per the strategic orientations of the Country Planning Frameworks. S/he will play an important role in the capacity building and country specific knowledge development for effective resource mobilization result deliveries; maintaining effective program reporting and communication internally and externally in line with GGGI corporate policies, standards and protocols

PURPOSE

• Actively identify and seek to maximize the potential opportunities that are in line with GGGI’s mandate;
• Conduct the initial assessment, review of donor requirements and analysis of the potential feasibilities of the initiatives based on GGGI context, expertise and experiences at various levels;
• Engage with GGGI colleagues and Staff from the HQ and Country Offices (including but not limited to Senegal and Burkina Faso) based on the approved business opportunities;
• Play a key role into the design of the Expressions of Interests, Concept Notes and/or Proposals as necessary based on agreed actions;
• Apply institutional strategy(“GGGI Strategic Plan 2015-2020”) and country engagement strategy (“Country Planning Framework”) to the design and development of yearly business development plans and activities for the alignment with GGGI core values and corporate priorities
• Analyze dynamic contexts and evolving green growth needs & priorities of the countries and integrate them into design and development of GGGI Capacity statements, Concept Notes and Proposals;
• Maintain a reliable system of tracking and monitoring business development data and knowledge management of donors/partners and their requirements.
• Assess issues and opportunities within targeted thematic areas for development of concept notes and proposals;
• Develop result reporting of business development activities internally and externally;
• Builds support and understanding working closely with national counterparts for application of green growth in development planning;
• Identify specific project initiatives where green growth can be most effectively illustrated;
• Develop project models that align with national development priorities and can be promoted to the donor community.

ENGAGEMENT

• Advise Country Team and Representative with evidence and data driven substantive inputs and analyses on program activity development, implementation and assessment
• Collaborate with other country teams, units and divisions of GGGI  on identified joint  activity opportunities to ensure integrated delivery as “One GGGI”
• Maintain active professional relations with partner governments and other key stakeholders to capture and integrate their changing green growth needs and manage “client” expectations.
• Promote green growth and the GGGI methodology with the donor community and other stakeholders;
• Advise GGGI on opportunities for engagement in the national context, demonstrating effective adaptation of the GGGI approach;

DELIVERY

1. Business Opportunities: Identification and Detailed Analysis

• Explore new program and business opportunities from institutional donors as per GGGI’s business plan and in agreement with the Country Representative
• Help formulate, review and revise country/regional program business plans, as well as organizational strategies and priorities
• Develop, review and regularly update GGGI institutional donor opportunities mapping by theme, geographical coverage and priorities
• Contribute to/Lead the development, writing and packaging of applications to respond to RFPs/RFAs from bilateral and multilateral agencies, including but not limited to Regional/Global Development Banks.
• Initiate concept note development and some full proposal development based on capabilities and agreed actions
• Work closely with relevant GGGI staff members in HQ and in Countries (including but nor limited to Senegal and Burkina Faso) and in the field and engages with the donor to further explore and negotiate on the opportunity
• Develop and maintain high quality working relationships with donors and counterparts from different part of GGGI and its partner organizations
• Manage the internal processes and documentation related to new business development

1. Networking, Partnership Development and donor relationship management

• Represent where appropriate GGGI at relevant forums and networks,
• Ensure successful on-going donor relationship management which align with GGGI Global Strategy and Country Planning Frameworks;
• Contribute to ensuring positive relationships with GGGI offices
• Attends different program meetings and provides inputs for overall organizational growth and sustainability
• Proactively develop successful donor relationships in accordance with GGGI’s values, principles and practices and commitment towards child rights / child protection

1. Business development Monitoring and Knowledge Management

• Perform data collection and analyses to build and maintain country specific knowledge base;
• Stay abreast of international development, policies and best practices with particular attention to issues pertaining to global change, children and poverty.
• Organize forums to share successes and program learning with donors, partners and peers
• Managing the tracking system for monitoring of new business development opportunities in GGGI;
• Develop result reporting of program activities and facilitate internal and external communications
• Develop a knowledge bank of donor requirements and systems by donor;
• Capture lessons learned in project management to support refinement/improvement of existing policies and procedures.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Master’s Degree in business administration, international relations or similar relevant to the position
• A minimum of 8 years of experience in international development
• Proven track record in grant acquisition and donor relationship management (from study, training and practical experience)
• Good familiarity, networking and working relationships with different donors and other partner organizations
• Demonstrated ability to review and synthesize information and produce appropriate documents, with a strong analytical background, coupled with exceptional strategic thinking skills
• Demonstrated understanding of the economic, social and environmental aspects relevant to green growth/ climate change programming in developing countries in general and Senegal in particular;
• Solid knowledge of Senegal and Burkina Faso development issues, trends, challenges and opportunities and implications to the country’s economic, sustainable and green growth context;
• Demonstrated ability in research and policy level analysis, and to review, synthesize information and produce quality reports;
• Excellent computer skills using Microsoft Office (Word, Excel and Power Point), MS Project and internet use
• Must be eligible to work in Senegal
• Able to work in a team enviornment, pitch in attidute a must
• Fluency in both spoken and written English and French is a requirement. Knowledge of a local language in Senegal would be an advantage.

FUNCTIONAL

• Able to think strategically and in close collaboration with others.
• Detail-oriented striving for quality and consistency in all outputs and communications.
• Able to perform analysis of management and administrative matters in tandem and under time constraints.
• Output-oriented, demonstrating creativity, innovation and an entrepreneurial drive.
• Highly-organized and able to effectively and efficiently multi-task and prioritize.
• Comfortable working both in a team and independently, pitch in attitude a must 
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CORPORATE

• Understand and actively supports GGGI’s mission, vision and values.
• Promote an organizational culture of trust, transparency, respect and partnership.
• Process and share information easily and is excellent at problem solving.
• Manage emotions and stress positively, builds rapport and resolves conflict easily.

ABOUT THE PROGRAM

Senegal has been a member of GGGI since November 2014. The government of Senegal (GoS) recognized the need for change and adopted a very ambitious development strategy called “Plan Senegal Emergent” (PSE), to make the country an emerging economy by 2035. A Priority Action Plan (PAP) has been adopted to substantially improve the investment climate by end of 2016, and implement key reforms and projects to reach an annual growth rate of 7.1 percent in the period of 2014-2018 and to reduce the budget deficit from 5.4% in 2013 to 3.9% in 2018.

The GoS, as outline in its INDCs, is increasingly aware that green growth approaches are essential to integrate within its economic growth strategies.  GGGI plans to support this initiative.  Taking stock from 2016 planned deliverables, the interventions in the proposal for the 2017-2018 period will strengthen the efforts to green the economic growth and ensure poverty reduction and social inclusion. Building on GGGI’s lessons learned in other countries like Rwanda, and based from the current development priorities of the GoS as well as some of the ongoing green city initiatives of key development partners in the country, GGGI will accompany the Government of Senegal in 2017 to achieve the followings: (a) Adoption of the National Green Growth Strategy; (b) Confirmation of priority green growth actions for 2017-2018 by selected secondary cities; and (c) Design of financially feasible Green energy projects. Through these strategic areas in 2017, GGGI will be responding to the GoS’s request and help creating coherence and providing guidelines for the government to reach the goals set in the INDC and the Emergent Senegal Plan (PSE). In developing the guidelines, a special emphasis will be put on poverty reduction and social inclusion measures. 

Senegal’s principal strategic focus in the coming 5-10 years is the successful implementation of policies to sustain strong macroeconomic growth and catalyze structural changes that targets poverty reduction and social inclusion.  Current challenges such as inadequate urban infrastructure, delayed reform in the energy sector along with obsolete infrastructures, high cost of production outputs, low productivity of the private sector inhibit GDP growth and poverty reduction. In addition, the challenge in attracting the competing resources/funding for projects submitted to financial institution further complicated Senegal’s pressing need for effective climate change mitigation and adaptation. The government recognizes the need for change and adopted an ambitious strategy ‘Plan Senegal Emergent’ PSE, the economic growth roadmap that ambitions to make Senegal an emerging country by 2035. Though, green growth strategy has not been well included in the PSE framework; fortunately, the country has subscribed to ambitious INDCs. Under the INDCs, the country has also described its sustainable development growth prioritizing the sector of energy, transport, waste management etc.  Senegal has recently developed the National Strategy for Sustainable Development but the government is requesting a National Green Growth Strategy, to better define the norms, understanding and implementation of green growth strategies. 

Reporting to the Country Representative, the Senior Officer will play an important role in guiding, strengthening and supporting GGGI Senegal capacity and expertise in green growth programming, implementation of the country planning framework, business development, policy/research development and public engagement initiatives that the Organization will commit to, in its support to the Government of Senegal efforts to transition towards a new model of growth.