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Strategic Planning Volunteer

5:28:00 PM

PROJECT: TechnoServe Strategic Plan Development, for 2013 - 2017

REPORTS TO: Gretchen Phillips, Strategic Planning Manager

START DATE: As soon as possible

JOB DURATION: 2 – 7 months, negotiable

POSITION LOCATION: The volunteer will work out of TechnoServe’s Washington, DC office or his or her home.

I. PROJECT BACKGROUND

TechnoServe is a US-based 501(c)(3) non-profit international economic development agency (see http:///www.technoserve.org). Our 2012 revenue budget of $68M is more than double that of 5 years ago. Through this period we have expanded our footprint from 16 to 30 countries of operation, and made substantial investments and improvements in our systems of program planning and management structure, human resources management and staff development, financial planning and management and knowledge management. We approach the coming five years confident in our ability to continue to grow and become increasingly effective in reducing poverty in the developing world.

However, the development industry is in an ongoing state of flux. This is reflected in ongoing uncertainties within two of TechnoServe’s major donors: the yet-to-be-determined full ramifications of USAID’s Feed the Future initiative and associated Governmental budgetary challenges and the implications of the strategy refresh of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. The situation is complicated by ongoing tension in global markets, as the global financial crisis has morphed into a European debt crisis.

Both because of and notwithstanding this unsettled environment, this planning exercise needs to help us identify and come to terms with both the clear trends and the more ambiguous ones in our operating and funding environments, and position ourselves to maximize our opportunities while mitigating the major risks.

II. SCOPE OF WORK

The volunteer will support the development of TechnoServe’s Five-Year Strategic Plan (2013 – 2017). The volunteer will work under the direct guidance of Gretchen Phillips, in close consultation with an internal Strategic Planning Committee. Key questions that will be addressed by the plan include:

  • What do we know “works” in development, and what not?
  • What needs to be altered in our theory of change?
  • What should be TNS' overarching goal over the next 5 years?
  • What will be the main strategic levers to achieve desired impact?
  • What do we expect to change in our funding/resource environment, our on-the-ground operating contexts and our competitive environment in the next 5 years?

III. TASKS/ACTIVITIES

The volunteer will provide critical problem solving, research, analytical and modeling support to the strategic planning leadership team. Depending on the skills and time commitment of the volunteer consultant, there may be opportunities to integrate and/or draft specific sections of the plan.

The key tasks foreseen may include a range of the following support areas to the strategic planning process:

  • Analyzing our historical performance in core program areas
  • Reviewing our Theory of Change and anchoring it in relevant intellectual frameworks
  • Conducting research to identify and understand critical emerging trends related to our funder/donors, competitors and operating environment and developing future scenarios
  • Supporting the team to identify and prioritize areas for TechnoServe’s future engagement and innovation
  • Modeling the strategic plan, including our goals and corresponding resource requirements
  • Developing, administering and analyzing results of internal surveys and focus group discussions

IV. DELIVERABLES

The volunteer will be responsible for completing specific briefs as an input to the plan decision making process, as well as for developing a model to map our organizational goals / impact and resource requirements.

V. SKILLS REQUIRED

• Two to seven years of professional experience in strategic planning, business research, economics, philanthropy/fund-raising, marketing, finance and/or business consulting
• Strong analytical and quantitative skills - proven problem structuring and problem solving experience
• Strong interviewing, research and data gathering skills
• Strong writing and presentation skills – able to effectively and concisely convey complex issues in clear prose and graphics


VII. FEES

This is a volunteer position. The volunteer will be expected to supply and use his or her own laptop computer.


To apply:

Please submit resume and statement of interest to: Gretchen Phillips (gphillips@tns.org).

Technoserve, Inc. is an equal opportunity employer. Women are encouraged to apply.

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