Pacific Value-Added Enterprise Mentors

Position: Pacific Value-Added Enterprise Mentors Program: Strongim Bisnis Location: Hybrid-Remote and/or Honiara, Solomon Islands with provincial travel Duration: The nature and duration of each engagement will depend on the mentor's experience and the needs of participating businesses. Line manager and directly report to: Team Leader, Strongim Bisnis Works with: Technical Teams and Program Leadership Background Strongim Bisnis (SB) is supporting the development of a more resilient, diversified and inclusive private sector in Solomon Islands. While Solomon Islands has significant opportunities to increase the value generated from its natural resources and agricultural products, there remains a limited number of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) successfully processing and marketing value-added products. This is particularly evident in sectors such as coconut, seaweed and horticulture, where Solomon Islands has a strong resource base but relatively limited processing and product value addition, reducing access to higher-value markets. Building a stronger pipeline of value-added enterprises will require not only access to finance and equipment, but also practical knowledge of how to develop, operate and grow a commercially viable processing business. Strongim Bisnis therefore seeks to identify experienced entrepreneurs from across the Pacific, as well as Solomon Islander entrepreneurs living in Australia and New Zealand, who have successfully developed their own small or medium-sized value-added businesses. The assignment will draw on entrepreneurs who have practical, first-hand experience of taking products from raw materials through processing, packaging, marketing and sale to customers The selected entrepreneurs will be engaged as mentors and trainers to share their experience with Solomon Islands businesses and aspiring entrepreneurs. The objective is not to provide conventional consultancy advice, but to bring practical business experience into Solomon Islands and enable local entrepreneurs to learn directly from people who have built and operated similar businesses. Purpose of this consultancy The mentors will share their experience across the different aspects of establishing and growing a value-added enterprise, including production methods and quality control, product development, packaging and branding, marketing and sales, financial management, business planning, supply chains and access to markets. The assignment also aims to demonstrate to Solomon Islands entrepreneurs that value can be created from locally available resources and that commercially successful processing businesses can be developed at an appropriate scale. An important part of the assignment will therefore be to expose emerging entrepreneurs to successful Pacific and Solomon Islander business people who can provide practical examples, challenge existing thinking and inspire a new generation of entrepreneurs. Scope of work Entrepreneurs will provide mentoring, training, business coaching or participate in entrepreneur-focused events and activities. Potential mentors may be based anywhere in the Pacific Islands or may be Solomon Island nationals who have established businesses in Australia, New Zealand or other countries. Strongim Bisnis is particularly interested in entrepreneurs who understand the realities of operating a small or medium-sized business in a Pacific context, including challenges relating to access to inputs, labour, finance, transport, markets and production at relatively small scale. Areas of Mentoring and Training Sought The precise areas of support will be determined according to the experience of each entrepreneur and the needs of participating Solomon Islands businesses. Mentoring and training may include, but will not be limited to: - developing and improving production and processing methods - product development and identifying commercially viable products; - understanding customers and developing appropriate markets; - pricing, costing and managing margins; - managing production at small and medium scale; - sales and distribution in domestic, regional and international markets; - business planning and investment decisions; and - the practical challenges of starting, managing and growing a processing business including managing supply of inputs. Mentors will be expected to focus on practical experience and lessons learned from their own businesses, including what worked, what did not work, mistakes made and how these were addressed. Selected entrepreneurs will be engaged by Strongim Bisnis for specific mentoring, training or entrepreneur development activities. The nature and duration of each engagement will depend on the mentor's experience and the needs of participating businesses. Engagements may include individual or group mentoring, practical training sessions, business visits, product development sessions, market and business strategy discussions, or participation in events designed to expose Solomon Islands entrepreneurs to successful Pacific business models. Strongim Bisnis will agree the specific scope, outputs, timing and remuneration for each engagement with the selected entrepreneur prior to commencement. Safeguarding Considerations This may consultancy involves engagement with program participants and community members, including provincial travel and filmed interviews. The consultant is expected to undertake all activities in a manner that is safe, respectful and inclusive, and consistent with Strongim Bisnis’ safeguarding approach and DFAT’s Safeguarding Framework. Particular care must be taken when engaging with women, youth, and other potentially vulnerable participants. Any safeguarding concerns identified during the assignment must be promptly raised with Strongim Bisnis management.