Enterprise and Employment in Africa

Increasing Remittance Flows; There has been growing research analysis on the potential of utillising the large-scale transfer of funds from the diaspora to their respective homelands. Globally there is an estimated 258 million international migrants (including refugees) who collectively are expected to make $485 billion in remittance flows to low and middle income countries (LMICs) in 2018, an increase of 4.1 percent from 2017.

This factsheet, produced as part of the AFFORD Business Club’s services, provides a route map of the exciting business opportunities in Nigeria for existing and potential investors within the Small and Medium-sized Enterprise (SME) sector. It aims to bring together useful information and insights that will ease business and country operations for diaspora and other businesses in the complex Nigerian market. The ABC Guide opens with an overview of the country’s economy, political and social context, with basic market insights into the business opportunities that exist in key sectors. In addition to access to finance, which is one of the biggest challenges for diaspora SMEs, this guide provides information of useful statutory and private sector organisations whose functions may have implications for businesses operating in Nigeria. It provides case studies of some of the situations businesses frequently encounter and the strategies adopted to successfully overcome them. It concludes with tips and advice gleaned from the experience of AFFORD and its partners about operating successfully in Nigeria. There will be regular updates of ABC Guide to Doing Business in Nigeria.

JOB SUMMARY AFFORD seeks a Diaspora Experience & Mobilisation Manager with great business and interpersonal skills, professional demeanour, integrity, sound judgment, and strong analytical and project management skills. The Diaspora Experience & Mobilisation Manager will be an integral part of the AFFORD team and will work under the direction of the Executive Director. The successful candidate will be someone who has experience of managing a successful startup project or enterprise. The ideal candidate will be enthusiastic about the development of the diaspora as active agents of transformation in Africa, and will work actively to mobilise, engage and facilitate their contribution of time, skills and money towards job creation and development in Africa. They must have a keen interest in diaspora philanthropy, investment and skills transfer, and the potential they have in adding significantly to the African social economy. This role will suit a candidate who is self-starting and proactive, has a problem-solving attitude and is interested in building a new sustainable online diaspora business model.

JOB SUMMARY AFFORD seeks a Grants Programme Assistant with great interpersonal skills, professional demeanour, integrity, sound judgment, and strong analytical and documentation management skills. The Grants Programme Assistant will be an integral part of the AFFORD Grants team and will work under the direction of the Deputy Executive Director. The successful candidate will have the ability to communicate clearly through both oral and written means, clarifying and implementing grants guidelines, reviewing and writing reports and participating in meetings attended by a wide range of people. S/he will be able to work with the Grants Team on all administration aspects of the role, including contract documentation and database management, to a timely and accurate standard. The ideal candidate will be enthusiastic about the development of diaspora businesses and organisations in their attempt to contribute to job creation and development in Africa. They must have a keen interest in diaspora investment

AFFORD Diaspora Grants (ADG) supports diaspora initiatives in development by providing grants to enhance their work . ADG aims at creating an independent and stronger continent, by enabling and building the capacity of the African diaspora and African partners to access and mobilise financial resources, develop skills and knowledge needed to become economically self-reliant.