TAHA is an apex private sector member-based organization mandated to develop and promote horticulture (flowers, fruits, vegetables, spices, herbs and horticultural seeds) in Tanzania. TAHA’s goal is to improve the growth and competitiveness of horticultural industry in the country for social and economic gains. TAHA is a unified voicing platform for Tanzania horticulture, representing farmers at all levels, processors, exporters and service providers in the horticultural industry in Tanzania.

TAHA is implementing the Joint Programme “Transforming Seaweed Farming through Integrated Financial Solutions for Enhanced Food Systems in Zanzibar” supported by WFP in collaboration with the Revolutionary Government of Zanzibar and United Nations agencies, including, FAO, IFAD, and UN Women. The programme aims to transform seaweed farming from a subsistence activity into a resilient, inclusive, and commercially viable sector through strengthened financial inclusion, climate-smart production systems, value addition, market linkages, and cooperative development. The programme targets seaweed farmers, cooperatives, women, youth, and vulnerable groups across Unguja and Pemba. To support the implementation of entrepreneurship, cooperative governance, financial literacy, and market development interventions, the programme seeks to recruit two qualified Business Development Services (BDS) Officers (one located in Pemba, one in Unguja).

Responsibilities or duties

The BDS Officer will support the implementation of project activities related to entrepreneurship development, cooperative strengthening, financial literacy and access, governance improvement, market systems strengthening, and business linkage facilitation for seaweed farmers and cooperatives in Zanzibar. The officer will work closely with seaweed cooperatives, community-based trainers, financial institutions, government authorities, private sector actors, and implementing partners to ensure effective delivery of project outputs and achievement of targeted results.

A. Entrepreneurship and Financial Literacy Support

• Coordinate entrepreneurship and financial literacy training for seaweed farmers, cooperatives, women, youth, and vulnerable groups.
• Facilitate training sessions on budgeting, record-keeping, loan management, market analysis, communication, and business planning.
• Support the rollout of financial literacy trainings and community awareness sessions.
• Assist seaweed farmers and groups in developing simple and bankable business plans.
• Promote adoption of financial management best practices among cooperatives and producer groups and link them to financial institutions.

B. Cooperative Governance and Institutional Strengthening

• Facilitate training on gender-responsive governance, inclusive leadership, accountability, and transparent decision-making.
• Support cooperatives to strengthen governance structures, constitutions, by-laws, and internal management systems.
• Coordinate implementation and use of governance toolkits and financial reporting templates.
• Support the establishment and strengthening of internal control and accountability systems within cooperatives.

C. Market Linkages and Business Networking

• Facilitate market linkage opportunities between seaweed cooperatives, buyers, processors, and financial service providers.
• Support organization of networking and peer-learning events including Seaweed Day and Women’s Day forums.
• Promote business-to-business (B2B) engagement and market exposure opportunities.
• Support cooperative participation in exhibitions, trade fairs, and learning visits.

D. Capacity Building of Community-Based Trainers (CBTs)

• Coordinate field-level support for Community-Based Trainers enrolled in the Certified Financial Educators (CFE) Programme.
• Support identification, mobilization, and follow-up of CBTs across target communities.
• Monitor CBT outreach activities and support cascading of financial literacy and entrepreneurship skills to communities.

E. Monitoring, Reporting, and Documentation

• Collect and compile activity data, attendance records, beneficiary profiles, and training reports.
• Maintain updated records of cooperatives, beneficiaries, and project activities.
• Prepare monthly, quarterly, and activity progress reports.
• Document success stories, lessons learned, case studies, and best practices.
• Support monitoring and evaluation activities, including post-training assessments and beneficiary tracking.

F. Stakeholder Coordination and Collaboration

• Work closely with district authorities, extension officers, cooperatives, financial institutions, and project partners.
• Participate in coordination meetings and stakeholder engagement forums.
• Ensure effective communication and coordination between project beneficiaries and implementing partners.

Education

Degree level

Bachelor’s degree in Agribusiness, Business Administration, Entrepreneurship, Cooperative Management, Community Development, Economics, Rural Development, or related field.

Key skills

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Good planning & coordination, management, and leadership skills.
• Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to build and maintain effective relationships with stakeholders.
• Competence in driving motorcycle or vehicles preferred.

Experience needed

• A minimum of 3 years’ experience in supporting MSME’s or farmer groups in entrepreneurship, financial inclusion, governance or related fields.
• Prior experience in community engagement, training of trainers, capacity building assignments preferred.
• Experience in working in the seaweed sector is desirable.
• Candidates from Zanzibar preferred.

• Coordinate entrepreneurship and financial literacy training for seaweed farmers, cooperatives, women, youth, and vulnerable groups.
• Facilitate training sessions on budgeting, record-keeping, loan management, market analysis, communication, and business planning.
• Support the rollout of financial literacy trainings and community awareness sessions.
• Assist seaweed farmers and groups in developing simple and bankable business plans.
• Promote adoption of financial management best practices among cooperatives and producer groups and link them to financial institutions.
• Facilitate training on gender-responsive governance, inclusive leadership, accountability, and transparent decision-making.
• Support cooperatives to strengthen governance structures, constitutions, by-laws, and internal management systems.
• Coordinate implementation and use of governance toolkits and financial reporting templates.
• Support the establishment and strengthening of internal control and accountability systems within cooperatives.
• Facilitate market linkage opportunities between seaweed cooperatives, buyers, processors, and financial service providers.
• Support organization of networking and peer-learning events including Seaweed Day and Women’s Day forums.
• Promote business-to-business (B2B) engagement and market exposure opportunities.
• Support cooperative participation in exhibitions, trade fairs, and learning visits.
• Coordinate field-level support for Community-Based Trainers enrolled in the Certified Financial Educators (CFE) Programme.
• Support identification, mobilization, and follow-up of CBTs across target communities.
• Monitor CBT outreach activities and support cascading of financial literacy and entrepreneurship skills to communities.
• Collect and compile activity data, attendance records, beneficiary profiles, and training reports.
• Maintain updated records of cooperatives, beneficiaries, and project activities.
• Prepare monthly, quarterly, and activity progress reports.
• Document success stories, lessons learned, case studies, and best practices.
• Support monitoring and evaluation activities, including post-training assessments and beneficiary tracking.
• Work closely with district authorities, extension officers, cooperatives, financial institutions, and project partners.
• Participate in coordination meetings and stakeholder engagement forums.
• Ensure effective communication and coordination between project beneficiaries and implementing partners.

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Good planning & coordination, management, and leadership skills.
• Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to build and maintain effective relationships with stakeholders.
• Competence in driving motorcycle or vehicles preferred.

• Bachelor’s degree in Agribusiness, Business Administration, Entrepreneurship, Cooperative Management, Community Development, Economics, Rural Development, or related field.
• A minimum of 3 years’ experience in supporting MSME’s or farmer groups in entrepreneurship, financial inclusion, governance or related fields.
• Prior experience in community engagement, training of trainers, capacity building assignments preferred.
• Experience in working in the seaweed sector is desirable.
• Candidates from Zanzibar preferred.