Current Recruitment at at Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ)

Field of activity
As part of the programme on Pro-Poor Growth and Employment Promotion in Nigeria, one of the areas that GIZ is working in is financial system development. In this context, the programme advises and supports the Central Bank of Nigeria and the regulatory authority for the insurance sector on developing and implementing an enabling framework for microfinance, microinsurance and consumer protection. This involves providing advisory services and support to refine the relevant regulatory frameworks. In addition, the programme cooperates with stakeholders in the private sector to assist them in complying with and implementing regulations, and to promote product development, e.g. through capacity development and public-private dialogue. Improving basic financial education and consumer protection (responsible finance) is another priority area. The programme also works in the field of financing for micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs), focusing on value chain finance. The programme cooperates with selected government bodies and selected stakeholders in the private sector in all areas. It also operates at federal, regional and local level.

Your tasks
Your main duties will involve advising government actors and stakeholders in the private sector on the topics of financial system development (responsible finance, microfinance, value chain finance, microinsurance). In addition, you will assume general project management tasks and support the area of activity and programme managers on sectoral topics and reporting.

Your profile
In addition to a university degree in business management/economics or social sciences, your career to date has focused on financial system development. You have worked in the field of development cooperation for at least three years (including work abroad, ideally in Africa), during which time you have acquired knowledge of policy consulting and advisory services in partner organisations. You have demonstrated your project management skills, showing perseverance and persuasiveness. You have a very good command of written and spoken English.

Assignment period
As soon as possible (December 2014) until March 2015, with an option to extend the contract.

What we offer you
With an international remit and a multicultural working atmosphere, we are successful because we share knowledge across disciplinary frontiers. Your professional and personal development is important to us. Whether it is the multifacetted day-to-day challenges in one of our partner countries or the considerable scope for applying creativity in your work - there are plenty of good reasons to join our motivated team.

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Field of activity
Despite strong growth rates, the economic and social situation in Nigeria remains dominated by extreme poverty and un(der)employment. Because attention is concentrated on the oil and gas industry at the expense of other economic sectors, many people work in micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) in the informal sector. The lack of a conducive operating environment and limited access to resources and markets are hindering their development. Against this backdrop, the programme pursues the following objective: 'The framework conditions for MSMEs to engage in their business and investment activities are improved and they have better access to resources and markets.' To achieve this objective, the programme is implementing activities in four areas: Developing the financial system, improving the business and investment climate, promoting value chains and facilitating trade. The programme operates at national level, in three federal states (Niger, Plateau and Ogun) and in selected Local Government Areas in these states. It promotes exchange and synergies between these three levels.

Your tasks
As advisor, you will be responsible for planning, implementing and coordinating activities in the area of 'improving the business and investment climate' in the programme's three partner states, i.e on the state level. This will involve the following tasks:

•     Cooperating with partners at state level, e.g. ministries, parliaments and other strategic units, providing specialist advice on implementing reforms (tax at state level) and setting up public-private dialogue platforms and one-stop shops, etc.;
•     Advising on and implementing capacity development measures for private sector lobby groups at federal state level to enable them to assert their rights more effectively and engage in dialogue with the public sector ;
•     Cooperating with partners in the field of improving the general conditions for economic activity, for example on the cross-cutting issues of tax, lobby groups and other programme modules;
•     Cooperating with other donor-financed programmes working to improve the business and investment climate (e.g. DFID and World Bank);
•     Contributing to reporting and results monitoring.

Your profile
You have preferably an economics degree and advanced specialist expertise in improving the business and investment climate and promoting local and regional economic development and SMEs. You have several years of professional experience in development cooperation, preferably in Africa, and will ideally be able to promote cooperation in an interdisciplinary team.

Your personal strengths include excellent management, advisory and communication skills and a high level of intercultural sensitivity. These enable you to reconcile and mediate between different interests in a demanding political environment. You are a team player and capable of working under pressure. In your dealings with others you are respectful, credible and assured. An excellent command of English is essential and (very) good German skills would be an advantage.

Assignment period
We would like you to start as soon as possible. The contract will run up to March 2017.

What we offer you
With an international remit and a multicultural working atmosphere, we are successful because we share knowledge across disciplinary frontiers. Your professional and personal development is important to us. Whether it is the multifacetted day-to-day challenges in one of our partner countries or the considerable scope for applying creativity in your work - there are plenty of good reasons to join our motivated team

You will be required to travel regularly to the three federal states in which the programme operates.
Medical care is available in Abuja, where, among other doctors, there are three German general practitioners.