World Bicycle Relief
Project: Bicycles for Growth (funded by USAID)
Location: Lilongwe, Malawi
Reporting to: Country Director, WBR | Buffalo Bicycles Malawi
About the Project
Through Bicycles for Growth, World Bicycle Relief (WBR), a global leader in rural bicycle transport, is implementing a five-year grant from USAID to conduct research and implement pilots to increase access to and uptake of fit-for-purpose bicycles. More than 70 percent of sub-Saharan Africa’s rural residents must traverse long distances without access to roads or transportation to commute to work, transport goods to market, travel to school, or obtain medical care. Bicycles provide an affordable, accessible, reliable, and efficient alternative to walking, offer more carrying capacity, and easier access to critical destinations. The Bicycle for Growth Initiative represents a simple, but impactful approach to addressing a common development challenge.
Over 3.5 years, WBR will implement pilot activities in at least two locations in Malawi-in collaboration with local partners and stakeholders -to test, measure, iterate, and demonstrate the means to rapidly increase bicycle uptake for individuals who cannot afford or do not have access to transport. WBR has designed pilot activities based on in-depth bicycle market assessments conducted over the first 1.5 years of the Bicycles for Growth project. An illustrative pilot activity may include WBR collaborating with financial services providers to develop and roll out a financial product for bicycles in select rural and peri-urban areas. Pilot activities are anticipated to launch in May/June 2023.
About WBR
WBR uses an innovative business model to create sustainable bicycle ecosystems. We are a 501(c)3 not-for-profit that owns 100% of Buffalo Bicycle Limited, a for-profit social enterprise operating in Kenya, Malawi, Zambia, Zimbabwe, and Colombia with assembly and distribution warehouses, spare parts supply chains, and networks of trained local mechanics. Through WBR’s 501(c)3, we provide transport solutions to those who cannot afford them, and through Buffalo Bicycle Limited, we sell the rugged Buffalo Bicycle and spare parts. Buffalo Bicycle Limited also offers bicycle users repair and maintenance services via a retail network of shops and local mechanics. WBR has distributed over 700,000 fit-for-purpose bicycles and trained 3,000 community-based mechanics. Our bicycle users drive positive change in their own lives: girls with Buffalo Bicycles are 19% less likely to drop out of school; dairy farmers earn 23% more income, and health workers reach 88% more patients.
About the Position
WBR seeks a full-time Pilot Technical Manager for Bicycles for Growth. The Pilot Technical Manager will lead the management, implementation, monitoring, and coordination of the project’s activities.
- The Pilot Technical Manager will be responsible for management, coordination, administration, and execution of day-to-day pilot activity tasks (80 % time).
- Coordination of pilot implementation stakeholders that will include BFG staff and consultants, community- based participants/leadership, partners (e.g. financial institutions, cooperatives), and WBR staff. (10%)
- The Pilot Technical Manager will monitor and report on execution of pilot activity tasks, performance, and compliance requirements (10%).
- The Pilot Technical Manager will be managed by the Buffalo Bicycles Country Director and will collaborate extensively with the following:
- Technical matters: BFG’s Strategic Advisor for Bicycle Mobility, WBR Global Senior Program Director,
- Lead Technical Consultant for Bicycle Mobility, Research Manager, and Pilot Manager.
- Influencing activities and broader market system initiatives: BFG’s National Convening Partner and Advisory Committee responsible for bringing together market system actors with like-minded
- interests in promoting the bicycle market system.
- Administrative matters: Buffalo Country Director, BFG’s Project Director, Strategic Advisor for Bicycle
- Mobility, and Home Office Support and Deliverables Manager.
- USAID has funded the full-time position for 3.5 years, starting from April\/May 2023. We are seeking an individual with an entrepreneurial spirit who has a passion for market-led solutions to poverty and accelerating people’s access to economic opportunity. The position will exercise significant autonomy in the execution of tasks and requires previous experience in donor-funded economic development and market systems activities.
Responsibilities
- Manage day-to-day implementation and monitoring of pilot activities, such as liaison and coordination with technical/implementation partners, leading pilot logistics (e.g. bicycle uptake through financial inclusion, collection of material from partners), communications, activity tracking, and monitoring of results.
- Liaise and coordinate with BFG colleagues, market actors, implementation partners (e.g. private sector, NGOs), community-based oversight committees, regional and national convening partners, other field-based stakeholders, and WBR technical support teams. May require some coordination with USAID missions and projects.
- Track pilot expenditures.
- Identify challenges and potential issues to meeting pilot activity goals. Propose solutions to address risks.
- Review and support development of written project deliverables.
- Coordinate production of communication, marketing, and learning materials
Requirements
- 8+ years of project technical implementation experience as part of a donor-funded activity, preferably USAID.
- Familiarity with the market systems development approach, economic growth sector, and development programming. Completed a course in Market Systems Development / M4P training preferred.
- Experience with private sector engagement required.
- A collaborative team mentality, can do spirit, and ability to adapt to fluid project environment.
- Demonstrated project implementation skills, including field-based activities, liaison with local partners, private sector actors and other stakeholders, compliance, and client knowledge.
- Demonstrated leadership skills, including for project implementation teams based in a project-site/field setting, preferably in Malawi.
- Bachelor’s Degree plus extensive experience in business, economics, development, social science, or related field. (Master’s preferred)
- Excellent communication skills and collaborative mindset to complement an adaptive, innovative, entrepreneurial, and driven BFG team.
- Strong coordination and management skills, including a successful track record of managing multiple high priority work streams and delivering results.
- Understanding of donor-funded requirements and implementation following those requirements, preferably for USAID.
Method Of Application
Please send applications and updated CVs to rnhamo@worldbicyclerelief.org by 30 May 2023