Business Development Consultant

Job Summary:

The Business Development Consultant will work under a project titled “Food System Change – An Alternative, Solidarity-Based Model Towards Food Security in Lebanon” implemented by Mada Association, funded by BMZ and in partnership with Helvetas. The project aims at contributing to improved access to nutritious, local, and diverse diets among crisis-affected people in Beirut.

The has two main expected results: (1) The capacities of Nation Station – a grassroots initiative operating a Community Kitchen in Beirut - are strengthened so that their services meet the needs of vulnerable groups and low-income consumers; and (2) Vulnerable smallholder farmers are trained on agroecological farming practices and supported to access fair markets.

The Business Development Consultant will contribute to the first outcome by developing a business plan for Souk El Mawsam Market, a bi-weekly farmers' market led by Nation Station. The business plan will outline the market’s goals and the strategies to achieve them, with the ultimately goal of growing the market, improving quality and effectiveness, increasing value for money, and reaching more consumers.

Within the project framework, the Business Development Consultant will work for a total of 14 days over a period of 3 months (starting in September 2024).

Main Tasks and Responsibilities

1. Conduct workshop/interviews with Nation Station and the farmers of Souk el Mawsam to assess the market’s current situation and understand the context.
2. Conduct workshops with Nation Station and the farmers of Souk el Mawsam to set goals, objectives, vision, and targets.
3. Conduct market analysis to understand demand, among both consumers and potential consumers.
4. Identify new business opportunities such as partnerships, new product lines, or market expansion.
5. Develop a comprehensive business plan document including:
6. Market analysis (target market and trends, competitive environment).
7. Marketing strategies.
8. Business case to assess number of potential customers and projected sales volumes.
9. Value proposition and competitive advantage.
10. The activities and needed resources for the implementation of the plan.
11. Financial projections, cost analysis, pricing strategy.
12. Strategies to capitalize on identified opportunities.
13. Detailed operational/action plan.
14. Main strategic recommendations.
15. The plan is also expected to include a risk management plan to guide the appropriate governance model (organizational chart, how it should be managed, how decisions are taken).
16. The plan must also include recommendations on its linkages and relationship between the Community Kitchen, in terms of sourcing mainly, as well as usage of organic waste.
17. Personalized mentoring sessions with the Nation Station team and the farmers to guide them through the business plan. Through these sessions, the consultant will guide the team on how to structure, maintain, grow and sustain the market.

Deliverables: Comprehensive Business Plan for Souk el Mawsam.

Requirements and Qualifications:

1. Master’s degree in Business, Economics, or a related field.
2. At least 5 years of experience in business development, strategic planning, or consulting.
3. Experience with social enterprises, local farmers markets, agriculture, or food systems is a plus.
4. Strong analytical skills for market research, financial analysis, and risk assessment.
5. Proficiency in financial modeling and budget preparation.
6. Strong communication and interpersonal skills for stakeholder engagement.
7. Ability to design and implement systematic processes and standardized procedures.
8. Commitment to continuous improvement and innovation.
9. Fluent in English (written and spoken) and Arabic (spoken).