The Rural Business Development Intern (RBD), under the direct supervision of Kiima Foods’ Executive Director, will provide strategic support guiding Kiima Foods to design, document and begin the implementation of a five-year business plan for Kiima Foods’ Farmer Training Center.
Kiima’s Farmer Training Center (FTC) primarily educates rural youth and school dropouts – those who score below the national exam requirements or are in financial hardship, and thus unable to continue on in the formal educational system. To date, the FTC has graduated about 70 students. The goal of the five-year business plan would be to grow Kiima’s FTC, which may include upgrading outdated classroom/laboratory equipment and building additional infrastructures to enable the Center to enroll more students. Ultimately, the aim is to increase the number of youth trained such that their nutritional intake and earned incomes increase through sustainable organic production.
The RBD intern will spend part of the time on-site at the Farmer Training Center, part of the time working with staff in Kiima’s main office in Kasese Town, and the rest of the time conducting field visits to get a broad perspective and understanding of Kiima’s clients and program beneficiaries. Typical work schedule for this position is Monday – Friday from 9am to 4pm, with occasional activities conducted over the weekend. Kiima’s office in Kasese has one computer that is networked with 5 flat screens and the office has regular access to the internet. The FTC has 2 computers that work on a solar system and internet can be accessed with the use of a USB modem.
Major Duties and Responsibilities
A. Business Plan Development (approx. 60% of the time)
B. Outreach and Marketing (approx. 35% of the time)
C. Administrative Support (no more than 5% of the time)
Expected Outcomes:
Supervision and Guidance
Desired Qualifications
Other
Kiima’s Farmer Training Center (FTC) primarily educates rural youth and school dropouts – those who score below the national exam requirements or are in financial hardship, and thus unable to continue on in the formal educational system. To date, the FTC has graduated about 70 students. The goal of the five-year business plan would be to grow Kiima’s FTC, which may include upgrading outdated classroom/laboratory equipment and building additional infrastructures to enable the Center to enroll more students. Ultimately, the aim is to increase the number of youth trained such that their nutritional intake and earned incomes increase through sustainable organic production.
The RBD intern will spend part of the time on-site at the Farmer Training Center, part of the time working with staff in Kiima’s main office in Kasese Town, and the rest of the time conducting field visits to get a broad perspective and understanding of Kiima’s clients and program beneficiaries. Typical work schedule for this position is Monday – Friday from 9am to 4pm, with occasional activities conducted over the weekend. Kiima’s office in Kasese has one computer that is networked with 5 flat screens and the office has regular access to the internet. The FTC has 2 computers that work on a solar system and internet can be accessed with the use of a USB modem.
Major Duties and Responsibilities
A. Business Plan Development (approx. 60% of the time)
- Carry out a thorough and detailed analysis to understand the current FTC business model, including observations, surveys, document/financial reviews, field visits and interviews to better understand FTC’s SWOT, customers, current and potential value proposition, it’s costing structure and revenue streams.
- Facilitate dialogues to enable staff buy-in and contribution in re-designing FTC’s business model.
- Analyze, present, and prepare a report on the survey results, including possible approaches and methods for addressing specific opportunities. Work directly with Kiima staff to address specific issues raised in the survey results.
- In collaboration with Kiima staff, develop a comprehensive 5-year business plan, including short- and long-term actions and a financial projection.
- Build management staff capacity in revising and updating the business plan per implementation outcomes and progress.
B. Outreach and Marketing (approx. 35% of the time)
- Assist Kiima staff in categorizing and identifying information pertinent for outreach and marketing efforts.
- Support Kiima staff in coming up with an action plan to market and publicize the training offered at FTC.
- Assist Kiima to develop its international relations and outreach effort, specifically addressing how strengthened international relations could assist FTC’s success.
- Provide a written set of recommendations and/or next steps for subsequent interns to further address the organization’s outreach and marketing needs.
C. Administrative Support (no more than 5% of the time)
- All internships involve providing ongoing support to various organizational initiatives, including but not limited to assisting with program documentation, filing, taking meeting minutes, and other routine clerical functions. As an intern for the organization, it is expected that you will provide occasional support of this type as needed, along with other duties and activities identified by your direct supervisor.
Expected Outcomes:
- Kiima Foods will have a well thought out business plan for its Farmers Training Centre; key staff will possess a sense of ownership over the plan and have the ability to implement it.
- Key staff, especially those in the upper management, will have a basic understanding of the various components of a business plan and the ability to revise contents of the business plan in the future, as needed.
- Kiima Foods will have a clear and written set of international relations goals and objectives and a basic understanding of the subsequent steps necessary to enhance its international network or presence.
Supervision and Guidance
- The RBD intern functions under the direct supervision of the Executive Director and in coordination and cooperation with the Program Team. The RBD intern is expected to take significant leadership role in initiating, organizing and sustaining the processes required to complete the business plan design and development. In addition to the direct supervisor, the RBD will be assigned a counterpart who will serve as an additional point of resource and reference for the RBD.
Desired Qualifications
- Education: Pursuing or achieved a university degree in International Business, MBA and/or related field.
- Prior Experience: Previous experience working, volunteering or traveling abroad, especially in the Global South and/or with rural communities, in addition to comparable experience or education within a related field.
- Language Proficiency: Spoken and written fluency in English.
- Knowledge: Solid working knowledge of community development and the host-country’s culture/history/current events; demonstrated ability to maintain working level contacts with NGO officials and host families; and demonstrated experience and skills in business modeling and business plan development.
- Skills and Abilities: Ability to take initiative, work under minimal guidance, and in both office and field settings. Organizational and administrative skills. Excellent computer skills in word-processing and database management. Motivation and commitment to work effectively as part of an inter-cultural team. Excellent interpersonal skills. Demonstrated ability to exercise good judgment under normal as well as complex and often stressful conditions.
Other
- It is suggested that the intern bring his/her own laptop as Kiima Foods will not be able to provide the intern with a computer.
