Business Development Officer at Chabash Development and Health Initiative (CDHI)

The Chabash Development and Health Initiative (CDHI) is a women-led national NGO registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC/IT/NO 85190) and operational across Northeast and Northwest Nigeria. CDHI’s mission is to empower individuals and communities to live healthy, productive lives through integrated interventions in health, nutrition, protection, WASH, and livelihoods. CDHI partners with international organizations and government agencies to deliver sustainable and community-driven solutions that strengthen local systems and promote equity.

We are recruiting to fill the position below: Job Title: Business Development Officer Location: Jakusko, Yobe Job type: Full-time Reports to: Project Manager Supervises: Assistant, and Project Support Staff/Facilitators Job Summary The Business Development Officer leads the technical execution of market-driven interventions, value-chain enhancement, micro-enterprise growth, and financial inclusion under the WFP-supported Integrated Food System and Resilience Project implemented by Chabash Development and Health Initiative (CDHI) in Jakusko LGA, Yobe State.

The position focuses on transitioning smallholder farmers, youth, and women from subsistence production to commercial viability by establishing linkages with market actors, financial institutions, and post-harvest processors. The Officer works directly with local cooperatives, agro-processing hubs, and private sector actors to build sustainable economic resilience in target communities. Key Responsibilities Market Mapping & Value Chain Analysis: Conduct market system assessments, value-chain analyses, and commercial feasibility studies for key agricultural commodities in Jakusko LGA and surrounding trade hubs.

Agro-Enterprise & Cooperative Capacity Building: Support the establishment, registration, and institutional capacity development of farmer cooperatives, women’s agro-processing groups, and youth business ventures. Value Addition & Post-Harvest Business Support: Design business models for community post-harvest hubs, processing units, solar-powered cold storage, and grain storage facilities to maximize income generation and commercial viability.

Financial Inclusion & Savings Groups: Facilitate access to formal and informal financial services by supporting Village Savings and Loan Associations (VSLAs), micro-finance opportunities, and digital financial solutions. Market Access & Private Sector Linkages: Connect smallholder producer groups directly to local markets, off-takers, agro-dealers, and private buyers to reduce middleman exploitation and guarantee fair pricing.

Business Skills Training: Develop and deliver training modules on basic entrepreneurship, record-keeping, financial literacy, pricing, marketing strategies, and risk management for rural business groups. Monitoring & Economic Progress Tracking: Monitor group financial performance, income levels, loan repayment rates, and business sustainability, providing regular analytical reports to project management.

Qualifications and Experience Education: Bachelor’s Degree or Higher National Diploma (HND) in Agribusiness, Business Administration, Agricultural Economics, Marketing, Development Economics, or a related field. Experience: Must have 3–5 years of professional experience in enterprise development, value-chain promotion, micro-finance, or agribusiness interventions, preferably within humanitarian or development settings in Northeast Nigeria.

Technical Expertise: Demonstrated experience in market systems development (MSD), VSLA management, post-harvest commercialization, and smallholder market linkages. Community Engagement: Proven success in training rural self-help groups, women’s cooperatives, and youth entrepreneurs. Language & Context: Professional fluency in English and Hausa; deep understanding of local market dynamics, trading routes, and business environments in Yobe State.

Core Competencies: Deep understanding of agribusiness development, inclusive m