Pacific Value-Added Enterprise Mentors

Adam Smith International

6d • Hybrid

About The Position

Strongim Bisnis is seeking Pacific entrepreneurs, including Solomon Islanders who have established businesses abroad, to mentor and train Solomon Islands SMEs and aspiring entrepreneurs developing value-added and processing businesses. The assignment aims to help build commercially viable enterprises that create greater value from locally available resources and improve access to higher-value markets. Mentors will share first-hand experience of taking products from raw materials through processing, packaging, marketing and sale.

Mentoring may cover production methods and quality control, product development, packaging and branding, customer and market development, pricing and margins, financial management, business planning, supply chains, sales, distribution and investment decisions. Mentors are expected to focus on practical lessons from their own businesses, including what worked, what did not, mistakes made and how challenges were addressed. Activities may include individual or group mentoring, practical training, business visits, product development sessions, market and business strategy discussions, and participation in entrepreneur-focused events. The specific scope, outputs, timing and remuneration will be agreed with each selected entrepreneur before the engagement begins.

Engagement duration depends on the mentor’s experience and the needs of participating businesses. The role is hybrid-remote and/or based in Honiara, Solomon Islands, with provincial travel. The consultant may engage with program participants and community members, including during provincial travel and filmed interviews, and must follow Strongim Bisnis’ safeguarding approach and DFAT’s Safeguarding Framework. Activities must be safe, respectful and inclusive; safeguarding concerns must be promptly raised with Strongim Bisnis management.

Requirements

• Established, owned and operated a small or medium-sized business in value addition and processing; priority is given to entrepreneurs rather than people whose experience is primarily as consultants, technical advisers or employees of larger companies.
• Demonstrable commercial success, including products sold commercially and evidence of markets reached, customers served and business development or success.
• Direct, practical knowledge of the operational challenges of running a processing business.
• Ability to share practical business experience with Solomon Islands SMEs and aspiring entrepreneurs.
• Understanding of the realities of operating a small or medium-sized business in a Pacific context, including challenges relating to inputs, labour, finance, transport, markets and small-scale production.
• Experience selling products beyond an immediate local market where possible, such as to supermarkets, wholesalers, tourism businesses, exporters, online customers, or regional and international markets.
• Ability to undertake activities safely, respectfully and inclusively, with particular care when engaging women, youth and other potentially vulnerable participants.
• Applicants must submit a business-experience and suitability statement of no more than two pages, a CV of no more than four pages, and contact details for three professional referees.

Nice To Haves

• Experience developing value-added products from coconut, seaweed or horticultural products.
• Relevant experience in other value-addition and processing businesses where the business model, production processes or market experience relate to opportunities in Solomon Islands.
• Experience selling to regional or international markets.
• Pacific Islander entrepreneurs with successful businesses in their home countries, or Solomon Islanders who have built businesses in Australia or New Zealand.
• Experience in markets and operating environments relevant to the Pacific.

Responsibilities

• Provide mentoring, training, business coaching or participate in entrepreneur-focused events and activities.
• Share practical first-hand experience establishing, operating and growing a value-added or processing business.
• Support participating businesses with production and processing methods, product development, customer and market development, pricing, costing, margins, production management, sales, distribution, business planning, investment decisions and input supply challenges, as relevant to the mentor’s experience.
• Explain lessons learned, including what worked, what did not work, mistakes made and how challenges were addressed.
• Engage through activities that may include individual or group mentoring, practical training, business visits, product development sessions, market and business strategy discussions, and entrepreneur development events.
• Conduct activities safely, respectfully and inclusively in line with Strongim Bisnis’ safeguarding approach and DFAT’s Safeguarding Framework.
• Promptly raise any safeguarding concerns with Strongim Bisnis management.

What This Job Offers

• Career Level: Mid Level
• Education Level: No Education Listed