Takween’s mission focuses on innovative and concrete solutions that have been researched, tested and implemented to meet the needs of communities and their specific built environments to achieve inclusive urban spaces that will thrive for generations to come.  With this mission, Takween aims to improve the quality for inhabitants living in cities across Egypt and the Middle East.

Program Management / Technical Responsibilities

• Provide technical leadership and implementation support to the project management to develop of an effective Economic and MSME Development Strategy that achieves the project goal and objectives through research, field surveys, assessments, preparation of development scenarios, and suggestion of effective methods to support existing MSMEs and attract entrepreneurs to start their own businesses and to identify investment opportunities and innovative ideas.

• Manage, in collaboration with the other project management team members, the implementation of the recommendations and action plans of the i) Tourism Competitiveness Plan (TCP) and ii) Tourism Marketing and Promotion Plan (TMPP) produced by the project with the aim to map Esna’s cultural tourism Value Chain and promote the city as a unique tourist destination.

• Promote and facilitate private sector engagement to restore and utilize cultural heritage assets and to develop higher value-added tourism products through participation in the: i) identification of potential investment sites and activities for private sector engagement opportunities; ii) preparation of Investment Packages for the identified sites; iii) promotion of the Investment Packages among potential private sector entities; and iv) provision of technical support enabling the private sector partners to develop successful intervention plans.

• Collaborate with tourism sector institutions and financial/ nonfinancial service providers to build the capacity of- and mentor local entrepreneurs and MSMEs to develop and manage higher value-added tourism products and services through: i) identifying competent sector-related capacity development and training institutions; ii) connecting / referring local entrepreneurs and MSMEs to ongoing capacity development activities; and iii) managing the development and provision of inhouse capacity development workshops.

• Provide technical assistance to local entrepreneurs and existing/newly established MSMEs, in line with the project objectives, so they can better understand the TCP and TMPP and their relevance to their businesses; properly identify their needs; take effective business decisions; design and implement tailored growth plans/strategies; prepare sound feasibility studies; and ensure compliance with national laws and policies, technical standards and organizational policies.

• Develop and manage –in participation with relevant experts—capacity development activities for local craftsmen to develop, produce and promote cultural heritage related creative products; including the provision of trainings on handicrafts skills, development of creative products, and product branding and marketing.

• Develop and implement –in participation with the project management—an Incentive Program as a catalyst for private sector and community investments in the cultural tourism Value Chain.

Administrative and Financial Management

• Monitor and approve in cooperation with the Financial Department all administrative and financial processes and procedures related to the project’s relevant activities including procurement procedures and approval of contracts and consultants’ payments to monitor and control expenditure - all in compliance with Takween and the donor’s policies and procedures.

Human Resource Management

• Manage the project-related staff to achieve the project objectives, develop staff training plans, approve their workplans, and approve their related HR paperwork and documents - all in compliance with Takween and the donor’s policies and procedures.

Communication and Reporting

• Track and report to the Program Director in coordination with the Grant and Reporting Officer and the Financial Department technical and financial progress of the project-related activities through production and tracking of time schedules and financial tracking tools to ensure the preparation and timely submission of progress and final reports.

• Attend and conduct regular coordination meetings with project staff, consultants, donors, clients and beneficiaries as required; and report on a regular basis progress of activities to the Program Director to ensure the timely and coordinated implementation of project activities.

Assistance to Higher Management Levels

• Assist the Program Director and the Grant and Reporting Officer in preparation of relevant Monitoring, Evaluation and Evaluation (MEL) reports, site visits, project presentations, and any related communication materials required for the good communication of the project objectives, policies, activities and achievements to higher management and different stakeholders.

• Assist the Program Director in achieving the project objectives through: i) dissemination and awareness activities; and ii) technical capacity building of the project-related staff to assist in achieving long-term sustainability of the project activities.

• Assess and control risk, forecast potential opportunities and threats facing the implementation of the project relevant activities, and provide the Program Director with necessary advice to ensure that proper actions and preventive measures are timely taken.