Job Opportunity: Livelihoods and Business Development Coordinator position available at The Lutheran World Federation World Service - Ethiopia in Kebribeyah, Somali. Development and Project Management jobs in Ethiopia are in high demand. Apply now through GeezJobs - Ethiopia's leading job portal.

About the Lutheran World Federation (LWF)

We are a global communion of churches in the Lutheran tradition, living and working together for a just, peaceful, and reconciled world. LWF World Service is the humanitarian and development arm of the Lutheran World Federation. We are a widely recognized, international, faith-based organization working in over 20 countries. We seek to bring people of all backgrounds together in the common quest for justice, peace, and reconciliation in an increasingly complex and fragmented world.

Lutheran World Federation (LWF) in Ethiopia

LWF World Service Ethiopia is a registered foreign charity, which has been operating in Ethiopia since 1973 implementing various development and humanitarian projects in different parts of Ethiopia. LWF World Service Ethiopia works closely with the Ethiopian Evangelical Church Mekane Yesus (EECMY), the Ethiopian Government, UN organizations and other funding partners. Its thematic areas include the promotion of food security and sustainable livelihood, sustainable natural resources management, emergency preparedness, response and rehabilitation, and capacity building.

A commitment to the human rights of every individual, regardless of their status, guides our work, actions, and operations. We are particularly known for our timely, compassionate, and professional humanitarian work, and our field presence in hard-to-reach areas. Our work is people-centred and community-based. Above all, we work with the most vulnerable, and in order to claim and uphold their rights, we engage proactively with local government and community structures.

LWF Safeguarding Commitment

LWF World Service is committed to creating and maintaining a safe organization where people we come in contact with are protected from harm and abuse. Harm and abuse may include but are not limited to physical, psychological, and sexual violence and abuse, financial and material abuse, all forms of modern slavery, and all forms of maltreatment and exploitation.

Job Purpose

The Livelihoods and Business Development Coordinator will lead all field-level implementation of the Business Plan Competition (BPC) and related entrepreneurship development activities in Kebribeyah. The position ensures close engagement with refugee and host community entrepreneurs, oversees training delivery, facilitates business plan submission and evaluation, and coordinates with woreda and regional partners including UNHCR, RRS, TVET, financial institutions and woreda and regional government offices/bureaus to enable participants engage in income generating jobs.

Job Purpose

The Livelihoods and Business Development Coordinator will lead all field-level implementation of the Business Plan Competition (BPC) and related entrepreneurship development activities in Kebribeyah. The position ensures close engagement with refugee and host community entrepreneurs, oversees training delivery, facilitates business plan submission and evaluation, and coordinates with woreda and regional partners including UNHCR, RRS, TVET, financial institutions and woreda and regional government offices/bureaus to enable participants engage in income generating jobs.

Duties and Responsibilities of the Position Holder

1. Coordination & Representation

• Serve as LWF’s focal person in Kebribeyah and Jijiga for a livelihoods and enterprise development project.

• Liaise with UNHCR, RRS, Kebribeyah Woreda Cooperative Office, Job Creation Bureau, TVET colleges, financial service providers, business development services providers, and government institutions at woreda and regional level in the Somali region

• Support the development of business plans and formalization and facilitation of access to financial and technical services for winners. 

• Support the establishment and facilitation of the local BPC steering committee and expert jury.

2. Business Development Support

• Provide refugees and vulnerable host communities with immediate and direct financial and non-financial support that is needed to start and develop income-generating activities that have the potential to create jobs in and around Jigjiga /Kebrebeyah in the Somali region. 

• Provide direct technical support to refugees and host-community MSMEs and cooperatives.

• Facilitate the Generate Your Business Idea (GYB), Start Your Business (SYB), and Financial Education training sessions with ILO-certified trainers.

• Mentor participants in business plan development, recordkeeping, and marketing.

  3. Competition Management

• Lead community mobilization and sensitization on BPC processes.

• Support registration and documentation of applicants, ensuring gender and refugee–host inclusion targets are met.

• Coordinate logistical arrangements for local pitching sessions and award ceremonies.

4. Monitoring and Reporting

• Track progress of training, mentoring, and business plan development.

• Collect data on participation, business outcomes, and lessons learned.

• Contribute to project reports and ensure field documentation meets ILO quality standards.

5. Partnership & Market Linkage

• Facilitate linkages with local markets, cooperatives, and microfinance institutions.

• Identify and promote business opportunities aligned with the local economy and value chains in Fafan Zone and beyond.

6. Carry out other programmatic, management, financial and logistics duties and responsibilities as given by the LWF Ethiopia Program

7. This job description is subject to amendment by the employer when deemed necessary

Required Minimum Qualification and Experience

• BA or MA in Business Management, Entrepreneurship, Economics, Cooperatives Management or any other related field of studies 

Skills Required Attitudes and Attributes:

• Minimum of 5 years of progressive experience in livelihoods, business development, entrepreneurship, or cooperative management—preferably with international NGOs, UN agencies, or development partners.
• Proven experience in implementing and managing projects funded by major donors such as ILO, UNHCR, UNICEF, EU, SIDA, GAC, PRM, or ECHO.
• Solid understanding of market systems development, micro and small enterprise (MSE) promotion, financial inclusion, and vocational skills training approaches.
• Demonstrated ability to apply and/or facilitate ILO’s entrepreneurship training packages (e.g., Generate Your Business Idea (GYB), Start Your Business (SYB), Improve Your Business (IYB), Financial Education, or GET Ahead).
• Strong capacity in stakeholder coordination, especially with local government bureaus (RRS, Cooperative Office, Job Creation Bureau, TVET colleges) and private sector actors.
• Excellent organizational, communication, and facilitation skills, with the ability to mobilize and train diverse refugee and host community participants.
• Analytical and problem-solving skills with attention to detail and adaptability to dynamic field conditions.
• Demonstrated commitment to accountability standards, including the Core Humanitarian Standard (CHS), protection principles, gender equality, and inclusion of youth, persons with disabilities, and marginalized groups in livelihood programming.
• Proficient in computer applications, including MS Office and data collection tools (Kobo Collect, SurveyCTO, or similar).
• Knowledge of business data analysis tools such as Excel or SPSS is an advantage.
• Strong English and Somali language skills (both written and spoken) with the ability to produce concise, high-quality reports.
• Self-motivated, creative, and resourceful, with the ability to work independently and manage multiple tasks under limited supervision.

How To Apply

Interested candidates who meet the above requirements are invited to send only their detailed CV and a cover letter via EthioJobs. 

Women are strongly encouraged to apply. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.