The Associate Business Advisor will provide short-term implementation support to the Kenya Tier 2 portfolio under the Growth & Investment Program while the Business Advisor is on maternity leave. The role will ensure continuity of support to participating agri-SMEs over an est. 3-month period, including follow-up on Module 1 activities, Learning Management System engagement, advisory preparation, business-level tracking, and support to program deliverables.

The Associate Business Advisor will work closely with the Program Manager and the outgoing Business Advisor to understand each business’s context, maintain strong relationships with participating SMEs, and ensure that business support continues smoothly during the transition period.

Program Overview:

The Growth & Investment Program supports growth-oriented agri-SMEs to strengthen business systems, financial management, investment readiness, and access to finance. The Tier 2 track works with agri-SMEs across multiple countries, including Kenya, through a combination of digital learning, group workshops, one-on-one advisory, business diagnostics, and investment readiness support.

The maternity cover role is intended to maintain delivery continuity, support SME engagement, and ensure that businesses remain on track during the Business Advisor’s leave period.

Responsibilities or duties

• Participate in the handover process with the Business Advisor and Program Manager to understand each SME’s status, support needs, communication preferences, risks, and immediate priorities.
• Support participating Kenya Tier 2 agri-SMEs through Module follow-up, advisory preparation, and early implementation support.
• Assist with the coordination and delivery of group workshops, advisory sessions, follow-up calls, and SME engagement activities.
• Track SME participation and engagement on the Learning Management System, including login status, module completion, assignment submission, and inactivity.
• Follow up with SMEs who are behind on the Learning Management System, pending deliverables, or require additional support.
• Support SMEs to complete and improve key program outputs essential for tailored advisory support and investment memo development support.
• Maintain updated business-level trackers capturing SME progress, Learning Management System status, advisory status, deliverables, risks, and next actions.
• Monitor attendance and engagement to ensure adherence to program guidelines.
• Support the collection of relevant data for monitoring, evaluation, and learning purposes.
• Capture successes, challenges, and lessons from the maternity cover period and share these internally.
• Collate feedback from program beneficiaries through the program’s feedback mechanisms.
• Provide targeted aftercare support to previous cohort participants, including follow-up on business progress, financing conversations, document updates, and priority support needs.
• Prepare an end-of-assignment handover note for the returning Business Advisor.
• Plan and execute, in collaboration with the team a pitch event for Agri-SMEs to share their pitches
• Embody and promote TechnoServe’s values, vision, and strategy, ensuring these are integrated into all program activities.
• Contribute to the development of the final cohort report as well as the submission of final high-quality investment and pitch deck outputs that will be submitted to the donor
• Perform other duties in line with the evolving needs of the program.

Qualifications or requirements 

• Bachelor’s degree in business management, economics, finance, agriculture, agribusiness, entrepreneurship, international development, or a related field; OR at least 2 years of technical and field experience in implementing business development, entrepreneurship, financial inclusion, or SME support programs.
• Experience supporting SMEs, entrepreneurs, or agribusinesses through training, coaching, advisory, or follow-up.
• Experience facilitating training, collecting data, using digital training platforms, and maintaining program trackers.
• Practical understanding of business models, financial records, sales, costs, cash flow, and investment readiness.
• Excellent oral, written, and interpersonal communication skills, including fluency in Kiswahili and English.
• Ability to build trust quickly with entrepreneurs and maintain strong business relationships.
• Strong follow-through, organization, and attention to detail.
• Ability to manage multiple SMEs and track progress consistently.
• Good judgment in handling difficult, disengaged, or high-need clients.
• Excellent interpersonal, oral, and written communication skills.
• Project management skills and ability to work both independently and in a team.
• Excellent computer skills, including Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Google Workspace, and digital meeting platforms.
• Ability to document business-level insights clearly for continuity and handover.

Experience needed

2 years of technical and field experience in implementing business development, entrepreneurship, financial inclusion, or SME support programs.

Any other provided details (e.g., benefits, work environment, team info, or additional notes)

Travel up to 5%, depending on advisory needs, SME location, and program requirements.

Preferred Qualifications: Experience working with agri-SMEs or enterprise development programs in Kenya. Experience using digital learning platforms. Familiarity with investment readiness, access to finance, business diagnostics, or financial management support. Experience providing short-term program continuity or transition support is an added advantage.

• Participate in the handover process with the Business Advisor and Program Manager to understand each SME’s status, support needs, communication preferences, risks, and immediate priorities.
• Support participating Kenya Tier 2 agri-SMEs through Module follow-up, advisory preparation, and early implementation support.
• Assist with the coordination and delivery of group workshops, advisory sessions, follow-up calls, and SME engagement activities.
• Track SME participation and engagement on the Learning Management System, including login status, module completion, assignment submission, and inactivity.
• Follow up with SMEs who are behind on the Learning Management System, pending deliverables, or require additional support.
• Support SMEs to complete and improve key program outputs essential for tailored advisory support and investment memo development support.
• Maintain updated business-level trackers capturing SME progress, Learning Management System status, advisory status, deliverables, risks, and next actions.
• Monitor attendance and engagement to ensure adherence to program guidelines.
• Support the collection of relevant data for monitoring, evaluation, and learning purposes.
• Capture successes, challenges, and lessons from the maternity cover period and share these internally.
• Collate feedback from program beneficiaries through the program’s feedback mechanisms.
• Provide targeted aftercare support to previous cohort participants, including follow-up on business progress, financing conversations, document updates, and priority support needs.
• Prepare an end-of-assignment handover note for the returning Business Advisor.
• Plan and execute, in collaboration with the team a pitch event for Agri-SMEs to share their pitches
• Embody and promote TechnoServe’s values, vision, and strategy, ensuring these are integrated into all program activities.
• Contribute to the development of the final cohort report as well as the submission of final high-quality investment and pitch deck outputs that will be submitted to the donor
• Perform other duties in line with the evolving needs of the program.

• Ability to build trust quickly with entrepreneurs and maintain strong business relationships.
• Strong follow-through, organization, and attention to detail.
• Ability to manage multiple SMEs and track progress consistently.
• Good judgment in handling difficult, disengaged, or high-need clients.
• Excellent interpersonal, oral, and written communication skills.
• Project management skills and ability to work both independently and in a team.
• Excellent computer skills, including Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Google Workspace, and digital meeting platforms.
• Ability to document business-level insights clearly for continuity and handover.

• Bachelor’s degree in business management, economics, finance, agriculture, agribusiness, entrepreneurship, international development, or a related field; OR at least 2 years of technical and field experience in implementing business development, entrepreneurship, financial inclusion, or SME support programs.
• Experience supporting SMEs, entrepreneurs, or agribusinesses through training, coaching, advisory, or follow-up.
• Experience facilitating training, collecting data, using digital training platforms, and maintaining program trackers.
• Practical understanding of business models, financial records, sales, costs, cash flow, and investment readiness.
• Excellent oral, written, and interpersonal communication skills, including fluency in Kiswahili and English.