Consultant - Technical Advisor
About The Position
Energy 4 Impact - Mercy Corps (E4I-MC) manages programs that increase access to energy and productive use of energy (PUE) for poor and vulnerable communities in Sub Saharan Africa (SSA), Asia and other developing markets. We work with small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and end users to help them grow their business, trial new business models and technologies, and raise new capital. Purpose / Project Description: The Consultant will provide advisory services on Powering Renewable energy opportunities (PREO), Kenya Cold Chain Accelerator (K-CCA), Energy catalyst (ECAP) and potentially other programs as well. Consultant Activities The Consultant will conduct activities as listed below: Enterprise‑focused technical assistance to companies Market analysis, business strategy, and business‑planning support. Supply‑chain design, last‑mile distribution, and operations optimization. Financial modelling, unit‑economics analysis, and investment‑readiness preparation. Capital‑raising support, including investor engagement, pitch preparation, and data‑room development. Sales, marketing, and business‑development advisory to improve customer acquisition and revenue growth. Technology and product development support (design, testing, iteration, performance assessment). Team, leadership, governance, and board strengthening for growing companies. Regulatory and compliance guidance relevant to enterprise expansion in energy‑access markets. Learning Supporting companies to generate robust impact evidence by guiding them on field‑trial design, KPI definition, and monitoring Conducting market diagnostics, sector mapping, and competitive landscape analysis. Designing and executing field‑based and desk‑based studies, including surveys, FGDs, KIIs, and site assessments. Analysing technology performance, commercial viability, and customer‑level impact. Producing case studies, learning briefs, research reports, and knowledge products. Supporting the translation of evidence into programme design, policy recommendations, and investment decisions. Specific to PREO Prepare and organize monthly project meetings with grantees Support companies constructively Monitor progress against KPIs Track and update risks Oversee implementation timelines Coordinate TA and communications Consultant Deliverables The Consultant will be responsible for delivering: PREO Field‑trial impact‑evidence & KPI framework Supervision of TA assignments for PUE SMEs done by contractors (e.g., feasibility studies, go‑to‑market strategies, technical evaluations) Draft public reports, social‑media content, and communication pieces for dissemination. ECAP & K-CCA Market analysis & strategy pack Supply‑chain & last‑mile optimization plan Unit‑economics & financial modelling toolkit Capital‑readiness & investor‑engagement toolkit Sales, marketing & business‑development acceleration plan
Requirements
- Experience working in a fast-moving entrepreneurial environment and an understanding of the unique challenges faced by local businesses.
- At least 5 years’ experience in early-stage business building and capital raising
- Experience in some of the following areas
- Agriculture (productive use applications such as solar irrigation, cooling, processing and e-transportation)
- Electrification (solar home systems/mini-grid/stand-alone systems, grid expansion and densification). We are particularly interested in those with a background in electric engineering, technical system design, business modelling, advice to SMEs etc
- Clean cooking (supply, distribution, financing, advice to SMEs)
- Last mile distribution (end-user financing, retail and distribution strategies, after-sales service, etc)
- Climate-smart and renewable energy technologies and related financing systems
- Experience supporting M&E framework, good understanding of KPIs
- Graduate or Postgraduate Degree in Business Management, Economics, Finance, International Development, Energy, Environment, Climate Change, Engineering or other relevant subject.
- Strong understanding of the off-grid market, entrepreneurial space, and impact investing sectors, preferably in an African context.
- Strong capacity to provide support to early-stage companies
- Ability to manage multiple client engagements and meet deadlines.
- Strong network in energy access space, including SMEs, investors and donors.
- Ability to mentor clients and help them develop commercial or technical solutions.
- Ability to critique and develop financial models.
- Strong written and oral communication skills as well as ability to write high quality products.
- Fluent English.
- Team player.
- High energy.
- Problem solver.
- Attention to detail and a focus on results.
- Ability to think outside the box, to see the big picture and connect the dots.
- Ability to work calmly under pressure.
- A can-do and collaborative mindset.
- Ability to prioritize and multi-task.
- Ability to work with diverse teams in a muti-cultural environment.
- Willingness to travel internationally
- Passion for working in the development and impact sector.
Responsibilities
- Enterprise‑focused technical assistance to companies
- Market analysis, business strategy, and business‑planning support.
- Supply‑chain design, last‑mile distribution, and operations optimization.
- Financial modelling, unit‑economics analysis, and investment‑readiness preparation.
- Capital‑raising support, including investor engagement, pitch preparation, and data‑room development.
- Sales, marketing, and business‑development advisory to improve customer acquisition and revenue growth.
- Technology and product development support (design, testing, iteration, performance assessment).
- Team, leadership, governance, and board strengthening for growing companies.
- Regulatory and compliance guidance relevant to enterprise expansion in energy‑access markets.
- Supporting companies to generate robust impact evidence by guiding them on field‑trial design, KPI definition, and monitoring
- Conducting market diagnostics, sector mapping, and competitive landscape analysis.
- Designing and executing field‑based and desk‑based studies, including surveys, FGDs, KIIs, and site assessments.
- Analysing technology performance, commercial viability, and customer‑level impact.
- Producing case studies, learning briefs, research reports, and knowledge products.
- Supporting the translation of evidence into programme design, policy recommendations, and investment decisions.
- Prepare and organize monthly project meetings with grantees
- Support companies constructively
- Monitor progress against KPIs
- Track and update risks
- Oversee implementation timelines
- Coordinate TA and communications
- Field‑trial impact‑evidence & KPI framework
- Supervision of TA assignments for PUE SMEs done by contractors (e.g., feasibility studies, go‑to‑market strategies, technical evaluations)
- Draft public reports, social‑media content, and communication pieces for dissemination.
- Market analysis & strategy pack
- Supply‑chain & last‑mile optimization plan
- Unit‑economics & financial modelling toolkit
- Capital‑readiness & investor‑engagement toolkit
- Sales, marketing & business‑development acceleration plan
