2010 GBF

About Grassroots Business Fund
The Grassroots Business Fund (GBF) is a not-for-profit organization with a mission to build and support high impact intermediary organizations that provide sustainable economic opportunities to thousands of people at the base of the economic pyramid. GBF provides these organizations with appropriate financing and targeted technical assistance to enable them to become catalysts for economic growth and social change.

These intermediary grassroots business organizations (GBOs) are nonprofit or for-profit business enterprises in developing countries that empower large numbers of the poor as producers of income-generating commodities and products, as consumers of affordable goods and services, and as independent entrepreneurs. Offering goods or services on a commercial basis, these GBOs are strategically positioned to deliver strong impact and help small-scale entrepreneurs create wealth.

GBF’s approach delivers:
-Capital: critical long-term capital and business support essential to building grassroots enterprises.
-Technical Assistance: knowledge of best practices in grassroots development that can be leveraged to assist growing GBOs.
-Partners: experienced partners who offer unique investment opportunities to social enterprises.

GBF’s approach is distinctive. Its long-term, actively managed programs strengthen our client’s business capacities, enhance their social impact, and grow their organizations.   GBF’s is currently managing investments in 14 social enterprises located in Kenya, Tanzania, Zambia, Ghana, Peru, Bolivia, India and Cambodia.

Strategic Initiatives Manager
The person would jointly report to Executive Director of GBF, Harold Rosen, and COO, Agnes Dasewicz.  Responsibilities will include developing new initiatives within GBF based on capacity building efforts currently being implemented across its current investees. The initiatives will most likely focus on four inter-connected key areas in small business management:

- Strengthening MIS and financial management of small enterprises in developing countries;
- Governance of small businesses; transition from family owned enterprise to a an appropriate Board governance structure;
- Metrics and social impact measurement, implementation and working towards industry standards in social enterprise;
- Developing marketing function, and creating access to new markets for social enterprises;

The assignment would involve working directly with the management and staff of GBF, it partners, and its investees. The goal is to develop best practices in these areas, help GBF’s investees implement them, and share best practices with the broader sector. 

Assignment could be amended based on candidate’s interest and experience. This is an exciting and valuable opportunity to work with an organization making a major difference in the field of social enterprise and international development. 
 
The person will primarily work at the GBF headquarters in Washington, DC, but the assignment might also include travel to the field to conduct hands-on work with GBF investees.

Additional Selection Criteria

Skills Preferred but not required:
- Understanding of broad issues in the development sector especially in the area of social investment or small business support
- Strong project management skills
- Able to juggle multiple tasks and meet tight deadlines
- Strong skills in one of the described focus areas (finance, MIS, marketing)



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