Aasaman Nepal Vacancy for Business Development Counsellor

Aasaman Nepal (ASN), a pioneer organization for education and nutrition, is one of the leading Terai based NGOs led and managed by social activists since its establishment in Dhanusha, Janakpur in 1999. ASN has been engaged in developing and implementing programs aimed at protection, promotion, and fulfillment of child rights in Nepal. Currently ASN has been working in 20 districts under 6 Thematic Areas as: Education/Child Protection, Women Empowerment, Livelihood/ Natural Resource Management, Disaster Risk Reduction, Health/ Nutrition and Good Governance.

Details / requirements:

The Women’s Economic Mainstreaming for Empowerment Rights and Gender Equality (Women EMERGE) project, implemented by Aasaman Nepal in partnership with Manakamana Development Solutions Pvt. Ltd. with financial support from UN Women. The project is a part of Government of Nepal’s Empowered Women Prosperous Nepal (EWPN) program funded by the European Union (EU) and is being implemented by ILO, UNICEF, UNFPA and UN Women a joint programme (JP) with objective to accelerate women’s economic empowerment. Under the joint programme (JP), UN Women is implementing the women’s sustainable livelihood component through the implementation of a comprehensive business/entrepreneurship development intervention for the women from the excluded groups. The program aims to cater to the livelihood needs of vulnerable women in ten focused LGUs from three provinces of Nepal, namely – Madhesh, Karnali and Sudurpaschim.

Position: Business Development Counselor – Provincial Level (3)

Duty Station: The position is based at the provincial level with frequent field visits. The position directly reports to the Team Lead.

Madhesh Province: Janakpur, Agnisair Krishna Savaran, Pakhamainpur, and Birgunj

Karnali Province: Birendranagar, Narayan, Shuvakalika

Sudurpaschim Province: Belauri, Badimalika, Dipayal Silgadhi

The key objective of introducing this position is to support rural women to start their entrepreneurship that is profitable and sustainable by providing customized business counselling, coaching, market information and facilitating linkages with appropriate market and service providers. These counsellors must ensure the program activity under the portfolio are result- oriented leading to economic empowerment and integrate gender and inclusion throughout the project cycle.

Key Responsibilities

A) Business Development Support Package:

• Identify potential trade for on-farm and off-farm entrepreneurship in a given context.
• Coordinate with Provincial Coordinators of UN Agencies and their implementing partners, and Local Government Units (Mayor, Deputy Mayor, Ward Chairperson, Agriculture Unit, Enterprise Development Facilitator and Employment Coordinator).
• Ensure the vocational training are aligned with need and demand based on market study and value chain study
• Lead and facilitate business development support (BDS) services such as business training, digital literacy, financial literacy, and revolving funds.
• Promote innovation, use of digital tools (where feasible), and adoption of better business practices.
• Facilitate access to gender responsive financial services and products, for women entrepreneurs supported by EWPN programme.
• Support and work with UN Women business development support consultant.

B) Market Linkage and Market Information

• Identify market actors and critical stakeholder in local, district, provincial, and national markets.
• Link women entrepreneurs with the market actors including input suppliers, buyers, wholesalers, cooperatives, aggregators etc.
• Tapping on local fair and exhibitions by Palikas.
• Connect women with financial, and digital platforms including MSME, financial institutions and cooperatives.
• Connect participation to opportunities and events such as local fairs, exhibitions, and buyer-seller meets.
• Coordinate with CTEVT, NSTB, Cottage and Small Industries Office and support for skill accreditation process for trained graduate
• Provide timely and practical market intelligence, price trends and demand forecasts, including linking up with existing partnerships with agriculture market management committees.

C) Capacity Development Support to women

• Provide counseling tailored to rural women entrepreneurs, supporting growth strategies and feasibility analyses for business startups or expansions.
• Guide and support the optimal use of seed funds with business plans.
• Coach on record-keeping, financial planning, product pricing, and quality improvement.
• Encourage and assist women in formalizing businesses and accessing registration, renewal, and compliance services.
• Identify additional capacity needs and coordinate or deliver training on entrepreneurship, marketing, product diversification, and value addition.
• Initiate women’s groups to promote savings, leadership, and collective bargaining to utilize local government resources.

D) Coordination, Monitoring, Reporting and Documentation

• Coordination with EWPN UN entities working with GBV survivors and business/skill development
• Regular field visits and onsite coaching to the Mentors and support Provincial Coordinator to update monitoring tracking sheet of beneficiaries.
• Monitor and evaluate the progress of enterprise, especially of those who have been supported with seed fund and provide regular feedback.
• Maintain accurate records of all counselling sessions, coaching visits, market linkage activities, and enterprise progress.
• Collect and compile success stories, lessons learned, and case studies for reporting and knowledge sharing.
• Prepare and submit monthly, quarterly, and annual progress reports to the Provincial Programme Coordinator.

Qualification and Experience Required

Education: Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Entrepreneurship, Economics, Agriculture Business, or related field (Master’s preferred).
Experience: At least five years in business development, enterprise promotion, market linkage, group formation, cooperative facilitation, and business plan preparation, focusing on rural women and marginalized communities.
Expertise: Experience in women’s economic empowerment, gender transformative approaches, social norms change, disability inclusion, and capacity development in rural contexts.
Certification: NSTB certified Enterprise Development Facilitator (EDF) Level 2 or 3 is an advantage.
Knowledge: Understanding of economic and cultural contexts of Madhesh, Sudurpashchim, and Karnali provinces; value chain linkage in on/off farm sectors.
Skills: Familiarity with labor market assessment (LMA) and rapid market appraisal (RMA); strong strategic, networking, analytical, and problem- solving skills; excellent interpersonal, communication, digital literacy, and report writing skills in English.
Other: Two- wheeler license is prefereable.

Languages

Strong command of Nepali, English (oral and written) and local language preferred/required.

Aasaman Nepal has zero tolerance of abuse and exploitation of vulnerable people. We expect all us employees/volunteers to ensure we are protecting children, young people and vulnerable adults from harm and abide by our safeguarding policy.

Other Attributes for all positions: Excellent quality of work and commitment to high standards, strong communication skills, team building and willingness and motivated for good service delivery with strong networking and interpersonal skills and comfortable to work under stress and emergencies.

Age Limit: Candidates between 21 years to 55 years are only eligible to apply for the above position, depending upon the nature of job they will carry.

All employees must adhere to child safeguarding in person’s provisions covered in the project agreement.

Monitor staff and partners’ and ensure adherence to Aasaman Nepal’s policies and internal procedures, protocols, Aasaman Nepal’s code of Conduct with special attention to Safeguarding Standards and Procedure, Case Handling Framework, Child Protection and Do No Harm Policies. Also, immediate reporting and redress of any complaints and issues based on its severity.

Notes:

Locals, especially women and members of ethnic or marginalized communities are encouraged to apply for this position
Applications received after the deadline will not be considered and only shortlisted candidates will be notified for the further process
Canvassing at any stage of the recruitment process shall lead to automatic disqualification of the candidate
Interested candidates are requested to submit their application along with an updated CV by 7 days (9 July 2025), through the link provided below.

https://forms.gle/jgRTjjdaJPt5YSTdA

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted for participation in the recruitment process. No telephone enquiry is entertained. Aasaman Nepal reserves the right to qualify/disqualify any applications without any reason.