Përshkrimi i punës

REQUEST FOR EXPRESIONS OF INTERESTS
Consulting services for
Yunus Social Business Balkans
(expected to start as soon as possible in Tirana)

Yunus Social Business Balkans (YSB Balkans) accelerates and finances social businesses that address pressing society’s social problems in a financially sustainable way. YSBB is co-founded by Nobel Peace Laureate, Professor Muhammad Yunus, and is part of Yunus Social Business (YSB) - Global Initiatives and the Grameen family of social businesses. Building on Prof. Yunus successes, YSB’s goal is to sustainably solve social problems through supporting and fostering the establishment of SBs worldwide.
YSB does this through provision of entrepreneur services (i.e. acceleration and incubation programs, mentoring, coaching, etc.) and provision of financing support YSB Global Initiatives (with main office in Frankfurt, Germany) is active in 12 countries where more than 50 local investment professionals. In the last five years YSB has supported over 700 entrepreneurs, invested around 10 M USD in 45 companies, which already support over 15,000 incomes and serve more than 1.5 million clients with essential products and services in emerging and developing countries.
At YSB Balkans (with its office located in Tirana, Albania), we are currently a team of four full time people, plus volunteers, with backgrounds in strategy consulting, entrepreneurship, civil society and international development, who source, screen, support and invest in promising social businesses with a strong impact- and business model. Although the social businesses initiatives supported by YSB so far are developed in different economic sectors, we consider that there is need to foster the support for entrepreneurship more broadly in Albania and especially for social impact initiatives in different subsectors with potential to provide positive impact to a large number of poorer and marginalised communities in Albania. In this context, YSB Balkans is looking for short-term consulting services (from individuals or organizations) to work jointly with our team in the fields presented below.

In the concern of the limited time required for completion of the services, one consultant will be selected for only one of the services below.

Consultant # 4: Startup Ecosystem Development Support Services

Main responsibilities:
Preparation of a quick review of the situation of the startup ecosystem in Albania, including current situation, challenges, opportunities, best practices and needs for support in the future:
(i) the situation of the startup idea design, business modelling and growth/development support services, i.e. incubation, acceleration, mentoring and coaching services;
(ii) opportunities for access to finance for startups in Albania, be it for seed and/or growth financing;
(iii) legal and policy situation for startups in Albania and recommendations for improvement in the future.

The assessment should be completed (including field travels, data collection and analysis and report writing) and submitted within December 2017.

Required Qualifications:
A university degree (preferably in economy, business, or other related educations/qualifications); at least 10 years of experience of which at least 5 years related to provision of consulting and/or support services for startups and/or small and medium businesses; and very good knowledge of startups community and ecosystem in Albania.

Application:
If you are interested in this position and you think that you fit the role description, please send a CV and cover letter, in English or Albanian, by email, by not later than Friday, 24 November 2017 at 16:00, to the following addresses: albania@yunussb.com
Please be advised that the qualified consultant, selected based on CV/experience, will be requested to submit an offer within not later than 3 days following the receipt of the qualification notice.

Thank you!