Local Business Development Services Specialist – Philippines

Aninver Development Partners SL (www.aninver.com) is looking for a Local Business Development Services Specialist for a finance, private sector consultancy assignment financed by UNIDO in Philippines.

Aninver Development Partners SL is currently preparing a proposal for an upcoming UNIDO-funded consultancy assignment in the Philippines. The initiative focuses on strengthening local value chains, fair production, and economic opportunities for vulnerable communities in Mindanao, particularly within the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao and Geographically Isolated and Disadvantaged Areas. The overarching goal is to foster an enabling environment for sustainable peace and inclusive development through robust private-sector engagement and enhanced financial inclusion.

To support this prospective assignment, we are seeking a qualified Local Business Development Services Specialist. The expert will play a critical role in conducting a comprehensive assessment of business development services and financial services, alongside a detailed mapping of service providers. This assignment applies a conflict-sensitive, gender-responsive, and human rights-based approach to identify gaps, improve access to finance—including Islamic and Shariah-compliant finance—and support agribusinesses, cooperatives, and aspiring entrepreneurs across the target regions.

Aninver is preparing a proposal for this assignment. The selected expert will be part of the proposed team; the engagement is conditional on the contract being awarded to Aninver. The full Terms of Reference for the position are shared with shortlisted candidates.

Objectives of the assignment

• Deliver a robust, evidence-based, and gender-responsive assessment of existing business development and financial services in Mindanao.
• Map service providers across public, private, non-state, cooperative, and microfinance sectors, including Islamic and Shariah-compliant finance institutions.
• Inform the selection and capacity strengthening of business development and financial service partners.
• Establish reliable baselines and propose realistic, measurable targets for project indicators.
• Provide actionable recommendations for improving access to finance and business development services in target locations.

Scope of work

• Map the supply of business development services and financial services available to agribusinesses, cooperatives, and entrepreneurs.
• Assess regulatory and institutional environments, coverage gaps, and opportunities for vulnerable populations and women-led providers.
• Construct a structured inventory database and populate the landscape of inventoried providers.
• Conduct key informant interviews with regulators, financial institutions, and service providers, alongside focus group discussions in local dialects.
• Perform demand-side validation and execute a comprehensive desk review of the sector.
• Apply scoring and assessment matrices to develop BDS gap and coverage matrices and capacity strengthening plans.
• Verify shortlisted providers through targeted enterprise interviews and rank them using selection matrices.
• Prepare comprehensive reports, editable datasets, and decision-ready presentations for validation workshops.

Your role as Local Business Development Services Specialist

• Lead field-level implementation of the business development services and financial services assessment in Mindanao.
• Engage with local stakeholders, regulatory bodies, cooperatives, and private sector actors to gather qualitative and quantitative data.
• Contribute to the mapping and inventory of public and private service providers, including microfinance institutions and Shariah-compliant finance providers.
• Assist in conducting key informant interviews and focus group discussions in local languages and dialects.
• Validate supply-side findings against demand-side insights and draft analytical assessment reports.
• Contribute to the identification and ranking of provider shortlists for capacity strengthening, prioritizing women-owned or women-led entities.
• Help formulate strategic recommendations, baselines, and targets for project indicators.

Requirements

• At least 5 years of professional experience relevant to business development services, private sector development, or financial services.
• Demonstrated expertise and contextual knowledge of the economic and social landscape in the Philippines, preferably with direct exposure to Mindanao.
• Strong background in conducting qualitative and quantitative assessments, mapping exercises, or value chain analyses.
• Familiarity with gender-responsive, conflict-sensitive, and human rights-based approaches in development programming.
• Excellent stakeholder engagement skills with experience interacting with government agencies, financial institutions, cooperatives, and local communities.
• Fluency in English (written and oral), with proficiency in local languages or dialects spoken in Mindanao considered a strong asset.
• National of, or based in, the project country

Desirable

• Prior experience working on assignments funded by UNIDO or other United Nations agencies.
• Knowledge of Islamic banking, microfinance, and Shariah-compliant financial instruments.
• Experience designing capacity strengthening plans for local business development service providers.

An experienced Local Business Development Services Specialist with a strong background in private sector development, financial inclusion, and qualitative research within the Philippines and specifically Mindanao.

Assignment details

• Location: Philippines
• Financed by: UNIDO
• Sector: Finance, private sector
• Contract: individual consultancy (conditional on award)

About Aninver Development Partners

Aninver is an international development consulting firm headquartered in Spain. It supports governments, development banks, UN agencies and bilateral donors with feasibility studies, technical assistance, evaluations and capacity building across Africa, Latin America, the Caribbean, Europe, the Caucasus, Central Asia and Asia-Pacific, working with a network of international and national experts.

Why apply

• Join a multidisciplinary team on a UNIDO-financed project in Philippines.
• Individual consultancy: flexible, output-based engagement with an experienced proposal team.
• Your CV stays in Aninver's expert network for future assignments that match your profile.

How to apply

Sign in (or create a free account) and upload your CV in English. Add your LinkedIn profile, indicative daily rate and availability to speed up the assessment. Aninver will contact the shortlisted candidates.

Frequently asked questions

Is the position confirmed? The engagement depends on the contract being awarded to Aninver. Shortlisted experts are included in the proposal with their consent.

Can I apply if I am not based in the country? This position requires a national of, or a professional based in, the project country.

What happens with my CV? It is used to assess your fit for this and future positions and is not shared with third parties without your consent.