Working with our academic partners, the African Centre of Excellence for Sustainable Cooling and Cold-chain (ACES), under the Clean Cooling Network (CCN), is building out its portfolio of in-person, hybrid, and online courses to expand access to hands-on, modular, and locally relevant training. It is aiming to create a vertical learning experience as well as a learning journey for its students to support employability. We are also working on accreditation to offer both diploma and degree courses.
To support curriculum development, delivery and applied learning, the Lecturer in Community-Based Business Models (including Value Creation and Value Addition) will support the design and facilitation of training modules and applied projects focusing on sustainable and inclusive business model development for the cold-chain, food processing, and related sectors. Working closely with trainers, programme coordinators, and innovation teams, this role will be responsible for enabling trainees to build and test viable community-led solutions that improve livelihoods, food systems, and environmental outcomes. The selected candidate will also produce materials and innovative teaching methods adapted to the diverse levels of experience of the students in each course.
Employer
Africa Centre of Excellence for Sustainable Cooling and Cold Chain (ACES)
Contract Type
Permanent - Full Time
Duration
1 Year Renewable Contract
Location
Office-based
in Kigali, Rwanda
Application Deadline
1st August 2025
Start Date
Immediate
Position Overview
The role spans course delivery, learner engagement, curriculum co-design, and academic support across ACES’s training programmes, with an emphasis on applied and community-led business development.
The successful candidate is likely to have a strong background in rural entrepreneurship, community-based business model development, or value chain design, with experience in participatory and experiential learning methods.
You will have excellent communication skills, a strong commitment to local value creation, and a passion for helping learners create impact through inclusive, sustainable cooling business models.
In addition to delivering lectures and facilitating learning sessions, you will also be responsible for student assessments, project supervision, and contributing to curriculum and materials development.
Research
An agreed proportion of time would be allocated to research in relevant areas, focusing on sustainable and inclusive community business model development for the cold-chain and related sectors. This could include working with partners at the University of Birmingham, Dundee, etc., as well as the in-country research team.
Duties & Responsibilities
Working with the subject matter experts and other stakeholders
- Support the development and delivery of ACES’s curriculum on community-based business models, value creation, and value addition. It will be essential to have the initiative to also identify areas for development.
- Facilitate training sessions, workshops, and group projects that promote entrepreneurial thinking and local innovation.
- Guide learners in identifying, testing, and refining business ideas suited to smallholder farmers' communities.
- Design and implement learning activities that connect business theory to practical cold-chain and agri-food challenges.
- Support the integration of climate and GESI dimensions into business model learning.
- Monitor learner progress and provide academic advising and mentorship throughout their business development journey.
- Coordinate with programme teams on learner assessments, curriculum reviews, and materials development.
Skills & Experience
You will need to show qualifications and/or proven experience in
- Community-based entrepreneurship and business model development
- Value chain development, agribusiness, or inclusive innovation
- Mini-grids, off-grid energy, and/or energy storage
- Teaching or training in applied business-related subjects
- Working with adult learners with a diverse range of skills and multi-disciplinary teams.
- Understanding of sustainability, circular economy, or food/one health systems to systems approaches
- Using Moodle (or equivalent LMS) and delivering lectures online.
Qualifications may include:
Postgraduate degree in Business, Rural Development, Agribusiness, Social Entrepreneurship, Development Economics, Energy Economics, or related field
Extras
How To Apply
To apply for this position, please send your CV and a covering letter to [email protected] before the deadline of midnight on 1st August 2025.