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VIA – Junior Project Officer - Entrepreneurship, Private financing and Circular economy (H / F)

Expertise FranceLusaka, ZM

26 days ago

Job description

Expertise France is the public agency for designing and implementing international technical cooperation projects. The agency operates around four key priorities :

democratic, economic, and financial governance ;
peace, stability, and security ;
climate, agriculture, and sustainable development ;
health and human development ;

In these areas, Expertise France conducts capacity-building initiatives and manages project implementation, leveraging technical expertise and acting as a project coordinator. This involves combining public sector expertise with private sector skills to drive impactful results.

The SWITCH to Circular Economy in East and Southern Africa Program (SWITCH-2-CE) is co-financed by the European Union and jointly implemented by Expertise France (EF) and GIZ. The program aims to foster an inclusive transition to a circular economy in the East and Southern Africa region through policy frameworks, workers and SMEs participation, and improved financing mechanisms for CE businesses. The activities will contribute to mitigation of climate change by promoting green and circular business models. The foreseen capacity development and strengthening of the regulatory and policy framework aim to contribute to the East and Southern Africa (ESA) countries efforts to meet their obligations under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). The Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) is the regional political partner of the project.

The program is structured around three main outcomes, with the two priority value chains : “ packaging / plastics waste ” and “ electronics / e-waste ”.

The program aims to achieve the following outcomes :

Outcome 1 : To establish an enabling policy framework for circular economy across the ESA region;

Outcome 2 : To enhance the participation of formal and informal workers and SMEs, including women and youth, in circular economy models;

Outcome 3 : To improve access to and use of financing by circular economy businesses

Expertise France is responsible for implementing activities under Outcome 1, jointly with GIZ. Outcome 1 will mainly involve policymaking support activities at the macro-level, with a focus on regional / supranational knowledge management, awareness raising and policy dialogue to create a common vision on circular economy among the target countries.

EF is also responsible for implementing activities under Specific Objective 3, jointly with GIZ, to improve access to financing for circular economy businesses, through the implementation of a financial assistance and capacity-building program. The Action will establish a regional matching grant facility designed to reduce investment risks in early-stage CE firms or business models, from the very beginning of business development to joint ventures. Indeed, this scheme will operate through multiple funding windows, targeting early-stage and growth-stage investments in CE technologies, products, and services for start-ups, small and medium-sized enterprises, and regional CE firms seeking partnerships within ESA or with European companies. Therefore, Expertise France’s activities will be focused on the first stages of business development, i.e. incubation and acceleration phases, while GIZ’s activities, in the continuum, will seek to support projects in their “investment readiness”, working tangentially with financial sector actors such as VC’s and impact funds with the ultimate objective of facilitating joint ventures. The Special Objective 3 also includes technical assistance to financial institutions and capacity building activities to Business Development Services providers supporting circular economy businesses in the two targeted value chains.

Under the supervision of the Programme Co-Lead and in collaboration with other members of the project team both in the field and at headquarters, the Project Officer will have the following responsibilities :

Technical expertise to support targeted MSMEs and start’ups

In close collaboration with the Private Sector Financing Expert, he / she will provide technical assistance across the main activities of Outcome 3. This includes :

Organizing dialogues and exchange events with CE stakeholders, connecting businesses, NGOs, public actors, financial institutions, and investors through pitching sessions, success story showcases, and networking opportunities.

Overseeing the provision of incubation, acceleration, and advisory support to CE businesses

Designing, implementing, and supervising capacity-building initiatives to enhance financial institutions' support for circular economy businesses.

2. Establishment, management and monitoring of a Matching Grant Facility

More specifically regarding the Matching Grant Facility, he / she will Support the Private Sector Financing Expert to :

Develop the overall framework and operational logic of the Matching Grant Facility (MGF), including target groups, eligibility, and funding criteria.

Identify, assess, and select third-party organisations (e.g., innovation hubs, accelerators, MFIs) to implement the MGF,

Provide ongoing technical guidance to third-party partners in project design and grant management, and support the finance team in ensuring compliance, contracting, and milestone-based disbursements.

3. Operational Management and Coordination

In close collaboration with the Private Sector Financing Expert, he / she will :

Lead coordination of EF’s activities under Outputs 3.1 and 3.2, ensuring alignment with programme objectives and coordination with GIZ’s Outcome 3.

Work closely with EF focal points in other countries and EF HQ’s Project Manager to ensure regional implementation and compliance with internal processes.

Collaborate with EF’s Finance Manager in Lusaka for financial management and regulatory compliance.

4. Additional Responsibilities

In addition to the previous listed tasks, he / she will :

Assist the Programme Co-Lead in preparing comprehensive reports and documentation.

Collaborate with the M&E Manager to establish, implement, and update monitoring systems.

Facilitate knowledge sharing and document lessons learned and best practices for the programme.

Represent EF at regional events, fostering partnerships and visibility, with regular travel across East and Southern Africa for monitoring and stakeholder engagement

The list of tasks and responsibilities mentioned above is not exhaustive and will depend on the needs and guidance of the project. The duties of the project officer will be defined by the Programme Co-Lead, with support from the project team at headquarters, and may evolve over time.

Academic background

Master's degree or equivalent in business administration, finance, economics, or a related field. Strong understanding of the entrepreneurship ecosystem, with a focus on supporting startups and MSMEs, particularly green enterprises, including their access to finance and tailored funding mechanisms.

Knowledge of circular economy (CE) business models and green enterprises in the Eastern and Southern Africa region is a strong advantage.

Experience

Initial experience in MSME support programmes, impact investing, or related fields, including technical assistance—e.g., through incubators, accelerators, social and green funds or financial institution. Initial experience working in Southern and / or Eastern Africa would be an asset.

Competencies

Strong skills in financial analysis and business model design will be an asset.

Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, capable of managing relationships with government agencies, consultancy firms, experts, BDS providers and MSMEs.

Proven writing skills (reports, briefing notes, strategies, etc.);

Excellent interpersonal skills in a multicultural context;

Fluency in English. Proficiency in French and Portuguese would be an asset.

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Via Entrepreneurship • Lusaka, ZM