Expert Inclusive Entrepreneurship and Access to Finance (f/m/d) job at Light for the World

About us:

Light for the World is a global development organisation working to empower people with disabilities and improve eye health in low-income countries. For over 30 years, we have strengthened health systems, promoted inclusive education, and advanced economic empowerment, focusing on the poorest and most marginalised.

Through our We Can Work programme, an eight-year regional initiative funded by the Mastercard Foundation, we aim to enable at least one million young women and men with disabilities across Africa to access dignified and fulfilling work. The programme drives systems and mindset change by working with organisations of persons with disabilities, entrepreneurship hubs, and key ecosystem actors, while placing young people with disabilities at the centre as leaders and change agents.

Place of work: One of the Light for the World country offices Ethiopia, Uganda or Kenya with frequent travel required

Duration: End of 2023, Full time

- A work permit for one of these countries is required!

Effective as of: March 2026

About the Role

Reporting to the Head of Technical Advisory Services, the Expert Inclusive Entrepreneurship and Access to Finance provides strategic and technical leadership on disability-inclusive entrepreneurship and business development, with a strong focus on the Mastercard Foundation, funded We Can Work programme.

Working across multiple countries, the role supports international and country teams with thematic expertise, strengthens capacity on disability inclusion in entrepreneurship and access to finance, and contributes to advisory services, knowledge development, and quality program delivery. The role also supports external engagement by strengthening partnerships and enhancing Light for the World’s visibility in inclusive entrepreneurship and finance.

Tasks

• Provide strategic leadership on disability-inclusive entrepreneurship and access to finance in line with Light for the World’s Economic Empowerment Strategy.
• Support country teams and partners to design and implement inclusive business development and self-employment initiatives.
• Develop and promote technical guidance, tools, and quality standards for inclusive entrepreneurship and finance.
• Design and deliver capacity-building activities, including training, learning events, and Communities of Practice.
• Provide advisory services to donors, entrepreneurship support organisations, and financial service providers.
• Coordinate technical inputs to the Entrepreneurship track of the We Can Work Academy.
• Contribute to knowledge generation, partnerships, and resource mobilisation in the field of inclusive economic empowerment.

Requirements

• University degree in Business Administration, Economics, Entrepreneurship, Finance, or a related field.
• Minimum of 5 years’ professional experience in entrepreneurship, business development, or economic empowerment programming.
• Proven experience in capacity building, training, and coaching.
• Knowledge and experience of disability inclusion and/or working with organisations of persons with disabilities.
• Experience engaging with financial institutions, entrepreneurship ecosystems, or public-private partners.
• Strong strategic, analytical, and facilitation skills.
• Excellent collaboration and communication skills
• Fluency in English; French is an advantage
• Commitment to Light for the World’s values and mandate.

Benefits

• You join a highly motivated team, appreciating your experience and eager to jointly shape Light for the World’s monitoring and steering mechanisms.
• We are offering an outstanding opportunity to bring about change through an international development organization with strong expertise and a growing profile.
• We are committed to giving our colleagues space to explore new directions, test new ideas and to excel as individuals through and with their team.
• We emphasize a good work-life-balance, have flexible working hours and Home-Office opportunity.
• We are a professional team that strives towards continuous development. We believe in participatory leadership and expect you to contribute your expertise and ideas. We believe that learning from mistakes is an important way of developing and put emphasis on our culture of learning.
• We are an Equal Opportunity Employer and place a high value on diversity and inclusion in our organization. We welcome and encourage applications from all people regardless of national origin, gender, religion, age, sexual orientation or gender identity, and we very much welcome applications from people with disabilities.

For any questions related to accessibility and inclusion at Light for the World, please do not hesitate to contact us.

• Provide strategic leadership on disability-inclusive entrepreneurship and access to finance in line with Light for the World’s Economic Empowerment Strategy.
• Support country teams and partners to design and implement inclusive business development and self-employment initiatives.
• Develop and promote technical guidance, tools, and quality standards for inclusive entrepreneurship and finance.
• Design and deliver capacity-building activities, including training, learning events, and Communities of Practice.
• Provide advisory services to donors, entrepreneurship support organisations, and financial service providers.
• Coordinate technical inputs to the Entrepreneurship track of the We Can Work Academy.
• Contribute to knowledge generation, partnerships, and resource mobilisation in the field of inclusive economic empowerment.

• Strong strategic, analytical, and facilitation skills.
• Excellent collaboration and communication skills
• Fluency in English; French is an advantage

• University degree in Business Administration, Economics, Entrepreneurship, Finance, or a related field.
• Minimum of 5 years’ professional experience in entrepreneurship, business development, or economic empowerment programming.
• Proven experience in capacity building, training, and coaching.
• Knowledge and experience of disability inclusion and/or working with organisations of persons with disabilities.
• Experience engaging with financial institutions, entrepreneurship ecosystems, or public-private partners.
• Commitment to Light for the World’s values and mandate.