About this role
TechnoServe Fellow - BeniBiz Export Business Diagnostic and SME Readiness Kit Fellow
Location: Cotonou, Benin (with potential local travel to target SME sites)
Timing: Approximately four months
Languages: French and English (written and spoken)
Fellowship: This is a fellowship and is pro bono. Travel-related expenses will be covered such as flights, housing, and per diem.
Background
Founded in 1968, TechnoServe is a leader in harnessing the power of the private sector to help people lift themselves out of poverty for good. A non-profit organization working in 30 countries, we work with people to build a better future through regenerative farms, businesses, and markets that increase incomes. Our vision is a sustainable world where all people in low-income communities have the opportunity to prosper.
In Benin, TechnoServe supports the growth of high-potential small and medium enterprises (SMEs) through various facilities, including the BeniBiz program, to catalyse local economic development. Building upon existing inclusive business networks, TechnoServe is engaging on a new initiative aimed at unlocking the sub-regional and international export potential of Beninese SMEs across three priority sectors: Food, Textile, and Agri-input.
Currently, many local SMEs face severe barriers to international trade, including a lack of structured regulatory knowledge, unaligned quality standards, and absence of actionable export guides. This 13-week project aims to address these gaps through a three-phased approach:
1. Phase 1: Scope refinement, business segmentation, and export competitiveness benchmarking. 2. Phase 2: Creation of a tailored SME Export Readiness Kit (inspired by successful benchmarks like the CASA Kenya Export Readiness Guide) for use by Beninese small business entrepreneurs. 3. Phase 3: Delivery of cohort-based export readiness training and structural dissemination.
The macro-objectives are to enable successful export for 2 to 3 prioritised SMEs within these sectors and to capture strategic recommendations to lower trade barriers for stakeholders in Benin.
TechnoServe Fellow's Role
The Fellow will report directly to the Inclusive Business Manager and will work in close collaboration with the BeniBiz team and specialised technical export consultants. Joining the initiative in mid-August as it transitions from initial scoping, the Fellow will assume direct operational leadership of the on-the-ground diagnostics and strategy formulation.
The Fellow's role is highly collaborative and strategic. While the Inclusive Business Manager will lead initial scoping and guide project delivery, and external Consultants will provide milestone-based technical expertise, the Fellow will act as the strategic coordinator to drive the research agenda, deliver robust, insightful business diagnostics and synthesise into a codified, practical export toolkit that can drive real impact for Beninese entrepreneurs
Deliverables
The Fellow will be directly responsible for producing or co-producing the following key deliverables:
• Benin Export Benchmarking Study: A succinct research report mapping out successful sub-regional export examples, competitive advantages, and initial structural hypotheses for the selected segments.
• SME Deep-Dive Diagnostic & Case Study Pack: Three comprehensive operational diagnostics (one per sector) detailing specific barriers faced by the audited SMEs, formatted as pedagogical case studies.
• The Benin SME Export Readiness Kit : The final master toolkit/guide containing step-by-step export processes, quality certifications required, sub-regional trade regulations, and specialised modules for Food, Textiles, and Agri-inputs.
Impact of Fellow's Role
The Fellow will play a pivotal role in bridging the gap between local production capabilities and international markets. By developing a reusable, highly localised Export Readiness Kit, the Fellow's work will directly contribute to expanding market opportunities for Beninese small business entrepreneurs, increasing processing volumes, and building sustainable regional value chains.
Skills and Requirements
• Professional fluency in French is mandatory (all field interactions, local business audits, and local team collaborations will be conducted in French). Proficiency in English is required for strategic reporting.
• Strong background in corporate strategy, and some interest in international trade, export and supply chain logistics.
• Exceptional qualitative and quantitative analytical skills, with a proven ability to synthesise dense regulatory and legal trade frameworks into practical business matrices.
• Prior experience in management consulting or project-based roles. High autonomy is required.
• Outstanding communication skills to collaborate with diverse stakeholders, ranging from local entrepreneurs and BeniBiz programme coordinators to international senior technical consultants
Logistics
As this is a pro bono consulting position, TechnoServe will not provide fees for the services completed. However, TechnoServe will cover travel-related costs including international airfare, in-country accommodation, in-country transportation, a per diem for living expenses, visas and vaccinations, and emergency evacuation insurance.
IMPORTANT NOTE: To apply, you will complete the general TechnoServe Fellows Program application. If we determine that your experience and availability match this particular project, we will alert you of that. If not, you may be placed in the general pool of Fellow candidates and considered for other projects. Please see below for details on the general TechnoServe Fellows Program application.
TechnoServe Fellows Program
TechnoServe is seeking qualified candidates to join our Fellows Program. Fellows take part in field-based projects ranging from 3 to 12 months in which they engage with entrepreneurs, industry experts, TechnoServe field staff, and other stakeholders. Please note, we review Fellow applications for our general candidate database on a rolling basis, and encourage qualified, enthusiastic candidates – especially those with French and/or Portuguese fluency – to apply.
While no two projects are exactly alike, typical Fellow roles often involve:
• Assessing and identifying opportunities for markets, value chains, and industries
• Crafting business and funding strategies in partnership with TechnoServe clients
• Strengthening the operations and/or organizational capacity of TechnoServe clients
• Designing innovative TechnoServe projects and proposals
• Evaluating program impact
Other, less frequent projects include researching and writing communications materials, developing training curricula, and designing strategic research for our clients and partners.
Review our detailed sample project descriptions to understand the skills and capabilities most often required. View our Fellows FAQ page for more information.
This application is designed to give you the opportunity to tell us about your experience, skills, interests, and motivation to become a Fellow. We will use the information you provide to determine if a potential project match exists. Please complete the questions as accurately as possible to give yourself the best chance for consideration.
To be eligible for the Fellows Program, you must:
• Have successfully completed your undergraduate studies at an accredited four-year program.
• Have at least two to three years of professional, full-time work experience.
• Be available to volunteer for a minimum of ten weeks on the ground.
When completing the application, please keep in mind:
• You cannot change your responses once your application has been submitted. Please send an email to [email protected] if your dates of availability or other required information changes.
• You must attach a PDF document containing the responses to two essay questions before submitting your application. The essay questions will be provided within the application.
• Your application will be reviewed within two weeks of submission. You will be contacted if your background is found to be a potential match with a Fellow role.
Please send questions about the Fellows Program or the application form to [email protected].