Job ID
45731
Job Title
Enterprise Development Lead
To work for
Aga Khan Foundation
Country
Syria
City
Hamah
Field of Work
Humanitarian/Disasters
Job Type
Project Based
Military service
Not Specified
Minimum Education Level
Bachelor/ License Degree
Responsibilities
The Aga Khan Foundation in Syria seeks to employ a full-time Enterprise Development Lead for its office in Salamieh.
JOB NUMBER: W&E/ 06
JOB SUMMARY:
The Enterprise Development Lead (EDL) leads AKF's enterprise and entrepreneurship development portfolio. This includes providing leadership, coordination, and technical oversight for enterprise initiatives within and beyond the Work and Enterprise domain, particularly in sectors requiring private sector engagement. The EDL ensures high-quality, inclusive, and impactful programs by supporting the design, implementation, and scaling of innovative models that strengthen the capacity of entrepreneurs and Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSME)s, economic cooperatives, improve market linkages and systems, and expand access to financial and social resources. The incumbent will report directly to the Program Manager, Work and Enterprise.
ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Lead the design and delivery of enterprise and entrepreneurship interventions to strengthen MSME ecosystem, boost value chains, and foster private sector participation to expand economic opportunities.
- Develop detailed work plans in line with AKF overall strategy and operations and in close consultation with the Program Manager - Work and Enterprise.
- Coordinate closely with area offices to support annual budget allocation, planning, and review processes, ensuring quality and coherence across all interventions.
- Provide technical assistance, develop guidelines, Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), and tools to ensure quality implementation and compliance with AKF standards and donors’ requirements.
- Conduct regular field visits to provide technical guidance, ensure quality control, and monitor progress against targets and performance indicators.
- Coordinate the updating of MSMEs needs assessments and strengthen the targeting of activities to improve relevance and responsiveness to the needs of MSMEs and labor market requirements
- Support the design of financial and non-financial mechanisms, in coordination with AKF programs and area offices, to improve access to affordable capital, markets, and business services.
- Strengthen linkages between communities, enterprises, the private sector, and public institutions for sustainable growth and job creation.
- Ensure that interventions operate within the safety, policies and procedures of AKF; ensure that gender and environmental standards are integrated throughout the project outputs and outcomes
- Produce timely progress reports as requested by AKF and donor reporting systems.
- Build partnerships and liaise with stakeholders, including local authorities, ministries, LNGOs, INGOs, and donors as requested by the Program Manager to ensure quality deliverables of the project.
- Ensure coordination, synergies and cross-integration with other key AKF themes and relevant programmes for mutually reinforcing impact.
- Ensure that relevant data and information are collected and systematic monitoring, evaluation, and impact assessments take place.
- Collaborate with area offices to identify operational and logistical needs for the smooth implementation of Entrepreneurship and Enterprise interventions.
- Collaborate with Partnership Unit, programs, and area offices to develop funding proposals and foster innovative programme design, as directed by the Program Manager.
- Work closely with the finance team to monitor project budgets, track expenditures, and ensure alignment with financial compliance requirements.
- Ensure that all stakeholders, including beneficiaries and communities, are actively engaged.
- Collaborate with the Monitoring, Evaluation, Research and Learning (MERL) team to define an Entrepreneurship and Enterprise research, data and insights agenda and support research, assessments, and case studies.
- Promote learning, innovation, and continuous improvement within the enterprise and entrepreneurship domain, including participation in the W&E Community of Practice.
- Assist in designing and implementing capacity building programs for AKF’s W&E teams
- Identify and mitigate the safeguarding risks through planning for safeguarding prevention measures within the team, programs and operations, ensuring that staff understand and follow safeguarding policies and that concerns are reported and addressed appropriately.
JOB NUMBER: W&E/ 06
JOB SUMMARY:
The Enterprise Development Lead (EDL) leads AKF's enterprise and entrepreneurship development portfolio. This includes providing leadership, coordination, and technical oversight for enterprise initiatives within and beyond the Work and Enterprise domain, particularly in sectors requiring private sector engagement. The EDL ensures high-quality, inclusive, and impactful programs by supporting the design, implementation, and scaling of innovative models that strengthen the capacity of entrepreneurs and Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSME)s, economic cooperatives, improve market linkages and systems, and expand access to financial and social resources. The incumbent will report directly to the Program Manager, Work and Enterprise.
ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Lead the design and delivery of enterprise and entrepreneurship interventions to strengthen MSME ecosystem, boost value chains, and foster private sector participation to expand economic opportunities.
- Develop detailed work plans in line with AKF overall strategy and operations and in close consultation with the Program Manager - Work and Enterprise.
- Coordinate closely with area offices to support annual budget allocation, planning, and review processes, ensuring quality and coherence across all interventions.
- Provide technical assistance, develop guidelines, Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), and tools to ensure quality implementation and compliance with AKF standards and donors’ requirements.
- Conduct regular field visits to provide technical guidance, ensure quality control, and monitor progress against targets and performance indicators.
- Coordinate the updating of MSMEs needs assessments and strengthen the targeting of activities to improve relevance and responsiveness to the needs of MSMEs and labor market requirements
- Support the design of financial and non-financial mechanisms, in coordination with AKF programs and area offices, to improve access to affordable capital, markets, and business services.
- Strengthen linkages between communities, enterprises, the private sector, and public institutions for sustainable growth and job creation.
- Ensure that interventions operate within the safety, policies and procedures of AKF; ensure that gender and environmental standards are integrated throughout the project outputs and outcomes
- Produce timely progress reports as requested by AKF and donor reporting systems.
- Build partnerships and liaise with stakeholders, including local authorities, ministries, LNGOs, INGOs, and donors as requested by the Program Manager to ensure quality deliverables of the project.
- Ensure coordination, synergies and cross-integration with other key AKF themes and relevant programmes for mutually reinforcing impact.
- Ensure that relevant data and information are collected and systematic monitoring, evaluation, and impact assessments take place.
- Collaborate with area offices to identify operational and logistical needs for the smooth implementation of Entrepreneurship and Enterprise interventions.
- Collaborate with Partnership Unit, programs, and area offices to develop funding proposals and foster innovative programme design, as directed by the Program Manager.
- Work closely with the finance team to monitor project budgets, track expenditures, and ensure alignment with financial compliance requirements.
- Ensure that all stakeholders, including beneficiaries and communities, are actively engaged.
- Collaborate with the Monitoring, Evaluation, Research and Learning (MERL) team to define an Entrepreneurship and Enterprise research, data and insights agenda and support research, assessments, and case studies.
- Promote learning, innovation, and continuous improvement within the enterprise and entrepreneurship domain, including participation in the W&E Community of Practice.
- Assist in designing and implementing capacity building programs for AKF’s W&E teams
- Identify and mitigate the safeguarding risks through planning for safeguarding prevention measures within the team, programs and operations, ensuring that staff understand and follow safeguarding policies and that concerns are reported and addressed appropriately.
Qualifications
- The applicant must have a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Economics, Socio- Economic Development, or a related field.
- At least 4 years of progressive experience in enterprise development, MSME support, market systems development, or livelihoods programming.
- Proven experience managing complex, multi-stakeholder projects, preferably within INGO or development cooperation settings.
- Technical expertise in value chain analysis, entrepreneurship promotion, financial inclusion, and cooperative strengthening.
- Strong leadership, team management, and stakeholder coordination skills.
- Excellent analytical, communication, and reporting abilities.
- Strong command of written and spoken English
- Proficient computer skills
- At least 4 years of progressive experience in enterprise development, MSME support, market systems development, or livelihoods programming.
- Proven experience managing complex, multi-stakeholder projects, preferably within INGO or development cooperation settings.
- Technical expertise in value chain analysis, entrepreneurship promotion, financial inclusion, and cooperative strengthening.
- Strong leadership, team management, and stakeholder coordination skills.
- Excellent analytical, communication, and reporting abilities.
- Strong command of written and spoken English
- Proficient computer skills
Specific Vacancy Requirements
Deadline for application submission is Tuesday December 16th 2025.
Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.
Salary and Benefits
According to AKF Salary Scale.
Health and Life Insurance.
Health and Life Insurance.
About us
The Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN) is a group of development agencies with mandates that include the environment, health, education, architecture, culture, microfinance, rural development, disaster reduction, and the promotion of private-sector enterprise and the revitalization of historic cities. AKDN agencies conduct their programmes without regard to faith, origin or gender.
Safeguarding Commitments:
AKF is committed to maintaining the highest standard of ethical behaviour among its staff, representatives, and partners to make sure of do no harm of the beneficiaries and whom they deal with. In line with this commitment; the selected incumbent must adhere to the AKF Code of Conduct and the relevant Safeguarding policies
Safeguarding Commitments:
AKF is committed to maintaining the highest standard of ethical behaviour among its staff, representatives, and partners to make sure of do no harm of the beneficiaries and whom they deal with. In line with this commitment; the selected incumbent must adhere to the AKF Code of Conduct and the relevant Safeguarding policies
Required employees number
1
Posted On
Dec 02, 2025
Expiry Date
Jan 01, 2026
CV Language
English
