PRACTICAL ACTION

ABOUT THE ROLE

The Last Mile Distribution Technical Manager will be a member of Practical Action’s Global Distributors Collective (GDC) team.

For the past seven years, Practical Action has been hosting and building the GDC: a collective of over 200 last mile distribution companies that cumulatively reach millions of the poorest consumers in the world with beneficial products like solar lanterns, water filters and improved cookstoves. The GDC provides a collective voice for distributors to ensure their voice is heard; drives research and innovation across the sector; facilitates the exchange of information, insight and expertise; and provides critical services that leverage economies of scale.

The GDC’s 2022-25 strategy focusses on six key areas:

• Accelerating innovation, e.g. through our Innovation Launch Pad
• Building capacity, e.g. through information exchange, formal training for managers and agents, and mentoring programmes
• Helping members access products, suppliers and services at affordable prices
• Helping members access finance and become investment-ready
• Undertaking market intelligence and research, e.g., by creating a performance benchmark for the last mile distribution sector
• Engaging with members and advocating for their interests

The GDC is hosted by Practical Action and is delivered in consortium with strategic and operating partner Bopinc.

This role holder will work alongside the Head of the GDC to support on researching and writing technical content and reports for GDC audiences, supporting on programme development and fundraising and delivering specific projects.

SCOPE

Title: GDC Last Mile Distribution Technical Manager

Reports to: Head of the Global Distributors Collective

Direct reports: N/A

Relationships: Head of the GDC, GDC Senior Advisor, GDC Access to Finance Lead, GDC Communications Manager

Location: Kenya or Senegal

Duration: One year contract

Travel: Expected approximately 2-3 week per annum

ACCOUNTABILITIES

The ideal candidate is a someone who has experience in delivering projects, studies and research pieces within the last mile distribution sector, and has experience in supporting the design of new programmes and writing fundraising bids. Ideally they would also have first hand experience running or working within a last mile distribution company.

Specifically they would work with the Head of the GDC to:

Research

• Undertake research as directed by the Head of the GDC, for projects and business development in the areas of last mile distribution.
• Technically input into thought leadership on last mile distribution, for example through shaping and authoring, with support from colleagues, high profile research outputs, blogs/ articles etc for GDC audiences.
• Analyse GDC member data, and other relevant data sets to draw out trends and patterns to support research and advocacy objectives and in the advancement of last mile distribution
• Review and input into technical briefs/powerpoint and webinars.

Advocacy

• Create and maintain relationships and partnerships with stakeholders including members, other technical support providers, funders etc to help advocate for last mile distributors
• Work with the Head of the GDC and GDC Communications Manager to refine key advocacy messages
• Represent the GDC at key sector events to build our profile and build relationships at advance our last mile distribution agenda.

Business Development

• Work closely with the GDC strategic management team to support the development of concept notes for projects responding to immediate or anticipated funding opportunities.
• Support the clear articulation of technical approaches and programme design within proposals, ensuring that impact, theories of change and key project goals align with funder interests and are communicated well.

Programme Management

• Manage research and other projects as requested by the Head of the GDC
• Provide technical inputs for projects and programmes as required

The ability to work independently in a remote environment with a range of colleagues is essential.

PERSON PROFILE

To be successful in the role, the ideal candidate will be able to demonstrate the following experience and knowledge:

Essential

• Masters in a relevant discipline or equivalent work experience
• Experience of living and working in markets in which last mile distributors operate
• Experience in last mile distribution, inclusive business, or energy access.
• Excellent communication and influencing skills across cultures and mediums, including proven technical writing and presentation/ communication/ advocacy skills.
• Experience in running research projects and writing technical research papers
• Excellent strategic and analytical thinking skills
• Exceptional attention to detail
• Business development experience including preparing and writing funding proposals and winning work
• Willingness to get stuck in and get things done- we are a small team.
• Fluency in written and spoken English is essential
• Exceptional relationship management skills
• Ability to work independently, prioritise tasks effectively, and work well under pressure

Desirable

• Experience working with networks, membership organisations or communities of practice
• Familiarity with project management approaches, tools, and phases of the project lifecycle
• Understanding of, or a willingness to learn about, gender dynamics within inclusive business
• An understanding of monitoring, learning and evaluation in a development setting
• Fluency in French

A detailed Job Profile can be accessed from the download section: https://practicalaction.org/careers/vacancies/gdc-last-mile-distribution-technical-manager/

How to Apply:

APPLICATION INFORMATION

Why join us?

Highly respected in the development world, Practical Action has been at the forefront of development thinking and practice for over 50 years. Our work regularly receives awards and recognition for innovation, collaboration and, most importantly, results – as measured by lasting change in people’s lives and livelihoods.

Put simply, to join Practical Action is to join one of the world’s most innovative and influential development teams. Go for it!

The opportunity to work for an organisation that is making a positive difference to the lives of people worldwide, a friendly and supportive culture, and working with values-driven and highly engaged colleagues are just some of the reasons we think Practical Action is a great place to work.

The successful applicant must have the pre-existing right to both live and work in the country from which they will be based (Kenya or Senegal).

Additional information

Practical Action believes that having a diverse workforce and inclusive workplace culture based on respect will enable us to be an effective organisation. We seek to create an inclusive workplace in which people are accepted as individuals, regardless of their differences and where they feel their contribution is valued. Practical Action is an equal opportunities employer, and we encourage applications from under-represented groups.

We stay committed to cultivating an inclusive and diverse working environment and believe that people from different backgrounds or cultures give us different perspectives, and the more perspectives we have, the more successful we will be. By building a culture where everyone feels heard, respected, and valued we give everyone working with us the opportunity to achieve their full potential.

Practical Action is committed to safeguarding and protecting children and vulnerable adults and as such candidates will be subject to pre-employment checks including criminal checks and terrorist financing.

Closing date for applications: 6th June 2025.Please note that should we recruit a suitable candidate before the closing date, we will close applications earlier than the specified date.

If you do not hear from us within four weeks of the closing date, please assume your application has not been successful on this occasion.

HOW TO APPLY

If you want to work for a charity with significant people ambitions, then we would like to hear from you. For more information, please visit our careers page.

To apply please submit a copy of your CV (a Maximum of 4 pages) and send us a supporting statement that includes your Writing samples: Two writing samples e.g. publication, presentation, blog post (Note: the samples do not need to be work-related)

Please send your CV and supporting statement to recruitment@practicalaction.org.uk