The Women in Business Forum (WiBFo) is a non-governmental organization (NGO) dedicated to supporting businesswomen in Nigeria. As a member-based networking business alliance, WiBFo works with diverse stakeholders to create an enabling business environment for women-led enterprises and cooperatives, particularly in the agriculture sector.
WiBFo serves as a State Apex Organization, providing financial services to underserved and unserved populations. Additionally, it acts as an aggregator, facilitating market linkages for small-scale food entrepreneurs and smallholder farmers (SHFs). Through its initiatives, WiBFo empowers women entrepreneurs, strengthens cooperative structures, and promotes inclusive growth in agri-food systems.
Project Title: Resilient and Inclusive Agri-Food Systems Empowering Women and Youth (RISE)
Project Location: Bauchi, Kano, and Kaduna States, Nigeria
Implementing Partner: Women in Business Forum (WiBFo)
Supervising Partner: Mennonite Economic Development Associates (MEDA)
Donor: Global Affairs Canada
Duration: 5 Years
Application Deadline: 8th October 2025, by 12:00 Midnight (Nigerian Time)
Project Overview
The RISE Project seeks to empower women and youth by creating 8,000 decent and sustainable jobs in Nigeria’s agri-food sector. The project promotes resilience, inclusivity, and economic empowerment through cooperative development, capacity building, and market-driven approaches.
Key Responsibilities
- Develop and implement business models and agri-food value chain strategies to strengthen enterprises across Bauchi, Kano, and Kaduna States.
- Identify, establish, and maintain partnerships with private sector actors, cooperatives, producer groups, and market players to expand opportunities for women and youth.
- Design and deliver entrepreneurship and business management training tailored to women and youth beneficiaries.
- Facilitate access to finance by linking SMEs with microfinance institutions, banks, and investment funds to ensure inclusive financial services.
- Conduct market analysis and feasibility studies to identify viable agri-food business opportunities and inform investment decisions.
- Promote quality assurance, certification, and compliance standards to enhance competitiveness of agricultural products and services.
- Develop pricing strategies and support contract negotiations with buyers, suppliers, and distributors to improve market access.
- Monitor business performance indicators and provide advisory support to emerging enterprises.
- Apply MEDA values in all activities-culturally sensitivity, transparency and integrity in all relationship.
- Design and implement innovative financing mechanisms (e.g., grants, concessional loans, equity partnerships) to support inclusive enterprise growth.
- Support the development and management of business incubation centers and entrepreneurship hubs to foster innovation, skills development, and enterprise sustainability.
Requirements
- First Degree in a business-related field (Business Administration, Accounting, Economics, Marketing, Public Relations, etc.).
- NYSC Discharge Certificate.
- Minimum of 2 years’ experience in business development or marketing. Fluency in English and Hausa (oral and written).
- Willingness and ability to travel within the state (Bauchi, Kano, Kaduna).
- Strong adaptability, reliability, and flexibility.
- Knowledge of value chain development, marketing, rural development, participatory methods, and organizational capacity building is an added advantage.
- Excellent organizational and communication skills.
The above recruitment activities are currently in progress:
Application Method
Qualified candidates should send their Cover Letter and CV as a single PDF attachment to:
[email protected]
- Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.
- Application Closing Date: 10th October 2025, by 12:00 Midnight (Nigerian Time)
- Please note: Only shortlisted applicants will be contacted.
