About Us
Melese Duressa Institute is a nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering communities through education and training, entrepreneurship, health advancement, youth leadership and development, and women’s empowerment. We work to unlock opportunities for underserved populations by strengthening skills, expanding access to information, and mobilizing local and diaspora resources for sustainable community development. Through our integrated programs, we support individuals and communities to build resilience, achieve economic independence, and realize their full potential.
Job Title: Enterprise Development Officer
Location: Finfinnee (onsite), may involve travelling to major cities
Employment Type: Full-time, renewable every 12 months based on performance
Role Summary
The Enterprise Development Officer leads the planning, coordination, and delivery of MDI’s entrepreneurship programs aimed at empowering youth, women, underserved professionals, and communities to become job creators. The role integrates program management, entrepreneurship training, coaching, resource mobilization support, and the promotion of innovation to enable participants to build sustainable and scalable businesses.
The Officer builds strong partnerships with schools, universities, business ecosystems, and community networks to expand MDI’s impact and unlock economic opportunities across Ethiopia and the region.
Key Responsibilities
1️⃣Program Coordination & Implementation
- Design, prepare and deliver entrepreneurship development programs, modules or courses.
- Coordinate participant recruitment, onboarding, and progression
- Manage schedules, logistics, and communications with learners
- Organize competitions, innovation challenges, networking events & demo days
- Maintain accurate documentation, evaluations, and reports
2️⃣ Training & Mentorship Delivery
- Facilitate practical trainings on entrepreneurship essentials:
business ideation, market research, financial literacy, marketing, sales, customer development, etc. - Provide mentorship and business coaching throughout training cycles
- Help participants develop viable business models and action plans
- Promote adoption of digital skills and tools (e-commerce, branding, financial apps, etc.)
3️⃣Partnerships & Entrepreneurship Ecosystem Engagement
- Strengthen collaborations with schools, universities, business associations and Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs).
- Engage diaspora experts, mentors, and volunteers to support program delivery
- Represent MDI in external forums, promoting entrepreneurship advocacy
- Identify industry trends, market opportunities, and support value chain integration
4️⃣Entrepreneur Pipeline, Market & Finance Linkages
- Connect graduates to funding, incubation, and capital providers
- Facilitate market linkages for product/service promotion
- Track alumni progress and document follow-up results & success stories
- Support transition into scaling programs or new initiatives within MDI
5️⃣ Income Generation & Resource Mobilization Support
- Support preparation of program proposals, pitch decks, and sponsorship requests
- Seek in-kind contributions for business startup support (supplies, tools, etc.)
- Contribute to revenue-generating activities for entrepreneurship programs
- Assist leadership in achieving sustainability and growth objectives
6️⃣ Mentor & Volunteer Coordination
- Recruit, assign, and supervise mentors and volunteer trainers
- Maintain a mentor registry and ensure quality engagement
- Provide orientation, scheduling, and performance feedback
- Ensure a supportive environment for volunteer participation
7️⃣ Monitoring, Evaluation & Learning
- Track core indicators: jobs created, startups launched, business growth, market success, learning outcomes
- Support impact assessments and beneficiary follow-up
- Prepare timely monthly/quarterly performance reports
- Recommend improvements based on evidence and feedback
Preferred Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree ((Master’s preferred) in Business, Business Administration, Economics, Management, Entrepreneurship, Development Studies or related fields
- Experience in training, incubation, coaching, or business development preferred
- Understanding of the Ethiopian entrepreneurship and MSME ecosystem
- Strong communication in Afaan Oromo and Amharic (English is an advantage)
- Ability to manage fieldwork and engage diverse communities
- Passion for youth and women empowerment
- Passionate about engaging high-net-worth individuals, influential leaders, diplomats, senior executives, elite philanthropists, and diverse stakeholders to advance shared goals and impact.
Core Competencies
- Entrepreneurship and small-business knowledge
- Facilitation and public speaking skills
- Partnership and stakeholder engagement
- Innovation mindset and digital literacy
- Project management and organizational skills
- Professionalism, ethics, and cultural sensitivity
- Strong documentation and reporting accuracy
How to Apply
Applicants may submit through one of the following:
📧 Email your updated resume/CV to: jobs@duressa.org
📲 For questions, you contact us via telegram: @mdi2026
🌐 Online Application: https://forms.gle/SuJfY9iu2bmWK3rs8
📌 Application Deadline: March 27, 2026
⚠️ Note
Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. Interviews will be conducted on a rolling basis, and the position may be filled before the application deadline once the right candidate is selected.