Career Opportunity: Entrepreneurship Ecosystem & MSME Development Expert at Cooperazione Internazionale (COOPI) - MY NGO JOBS

Project: Strengthening Food Systems & Youth Value Chain Employment (WFP & MasterCard Foundation Partnership)

Location: Gashua, Yobe State

Employment Type: Full-time

Application Deadline: December 31, 2025

The Strategic Importance of This Role

In the wake of prolonged instability in Northeast Nigeria, rebuilding the economic fabric is just as critical as providing immediate aid. The Entrepreneurship Ecosystem and MSME Development Expert occupies a pivotal position in shifting the region from dependency to self-reliance by nurturing the next generation of business leaders. By fostering a resilient environment for Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), this role creates the structural foundations for job creation, market stability, and long-term prosperity for the youth of Yobe State.

Job Summary

We are looking for a visionary strategist to lead our efforts in empowering local entrepreneurs and scaling small businesses within the Yobe food systems framework. The successful candidate will design high-impact capacity-building programs, bridge the gap between MSMEs and financial institutions, and architect an innovative ecosystem where local agribusinesses can thrive and compete.

Key Responsibilities

Ecosystem Design & Strategic Growth

Framework Development: Architect and execute comprehensive strategies to strengthen the local entrepreneurship landscape, encouraging innovation and the emergence of new MSMEs.
Business Model Innovation: Design sustainable and scalable business models for project beneficiaries, ensuring they are equipped to navigate local market complexities.
Value Chain Upgrading: Lead the technical analysis of value chains—including market mapping and competitiveness benchmarking—to identify and resolve systemic bottlenecks.
Institutional Synergy: Forge strategic partnerships with vocational institutions and Business Development Service (BDS) providers to create a permanent support network for local enterprises.

MSME Scaling & Financial Inclusion

Market Access: Implement sophisticated approaches to improve MSME scalability, focusing on enhancing their reach into regional and national markets.
Capital Linkages: Provide expert technical advice to entrepreneurs on accessing credit, managing investment, and integrating into formal financial systems.
Agribusiness Development: Support the growth of small and medium agri-enterprises by promoting investment and fostering cluster-based network development.
Compliance Oversight: Guide businesses in adhering to international standards for health, safety, environmental sustainability, and quality management.

Technical Leadership & Capacity Building

Training Management: Oversee the curriculum design and delivery of entrepreneurship training programs, ensuring they translate into tangible business growth.
Advocacy & Support: Act as a technical advisor to the project management team, proposing data-driven interventions that respond to the evolving needs of the Yobe business community.
Performance Monitoring: Establish clear roles, responsibilities, and impact assessment metrics for all value chain upgrading strategies.

Candidate Qualifications & Experience

Academic Credentials: A Master’s or Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration, Economics, Development Studies, or a related socio-economic field.
Professional Track Record: Minimum of 5 years of leadership experience in entrepreneurship development, MSME scaling, or large-scale economic empowerment initiatives.
Technical Mastery: Proven expertise in financial inclusion strategies, market linkage development, and business development services (BDS).
Contextual Knowledge: Deep understanding of the unique entrepreneurial challenges and opportunities within Yobe State and the wider Northeast Nigeria.
Soft Skills: Exceptional partnership-building, negotiation, and stakeholder engagement capabilities.
Languages: Native-level fluency in English is required; proficiency in Hausa or Kanuri is a significant asset.

About the Organization

Cooperazione Internazionale (COOPI) is an international humanitarian organization founded on the pillars of poverty reduction and sustainable community development. Since our inception, we have stood at the forefront of global crises, delivering aid that empowers rather than creates dependency. In Nigeria, our work focuses on the intersection of food security and economic resilience, ensuring that conflict-affected populations have the tools to rebuild their lives with dignity. At COOPI, we celebrate diversity and foster an inclusive environment where every professional can contribute to a legacy of positive, enduring impact.

Why Apply? (Benefits & Expectations)

High-Level Partnership: Represent COOPI in a prestigious project backed by the World Food Programme and the MasterCard Foundation.
Economic Transformation: Directly lead the transformation of the food system value chain in Northeast Nigeria.
Professional Growth: Work in a high-responsibility role that blends humanitarian principles with private-sector strategy.
Remuneration: Competitive salary and benefits package aligned with senior international NGO scales.

Application Instructions

Interested professionals are invited to submit their applications through the online recruitment portal.

Apply Online: APPLY NOW

Selection Note:

Rolling Review: Applications are reviewed as they arrive; early submission is highly recommended.
Inclusion: We encourage applications from qualified female candidates and individuals from minority or indigenous groups.
Local Expertise: Candidates with an existing footprint in Gashua or the wider Yobe region will be prioritized.

Tips for Applicants

Highlight Scalability: In your application, provide concrete examples of MSMEs you have helped move from “survivalist” to “scalable.”
Contextualize Your Expertise: Demonstrate how your previous experience in business development can be adapted to the specific security and economic constraints of Yobe State.
Focus on Partnerships: Be ready to discuss your experience in bringing together government, private banks, and local entrepreneurs to create a unified ecosystem.