Access to Finance Consultant at Ikore International Development Limited

Primary Duties and Responsibilities

• The program manager, Access to Finance, will be responsible for the planning and implementation of financial inclusion activities. He/she will conduct market research targeted specifically for low income and marginalized communities and source for potential public and private sector partners and stakeholders for the project.

Responsibilities

• Conduct market research to understand the financial needs and behaviors of the target population.
• Design, plan, and implement, based on market research, financial inclusion programs/activities to ensure access to finance.
• Source and establish partnerships with public and private sector partner organizations, financial institutions, microfinance banks, and other relevant stakeholders to enhance access to finance for target population.
• Develop and coordinate capacity-building activities to enhance financial literacy and financial management skills among project targets.
• Develop and manage partnerships with financial institutions and service providers.
• Provide technical support to project beneficiaries to get them investment-ready.
• Provide technical advice to project stakeholders on financial inclusion and related matters.
• Work with the MEL Manager to develop monitoring and evaluation systems to assess the effectiveness and impact of financial inclusion activities.

Qualifications

• BSc or Master’s Degree in Finance, Economics, Financial Management, Business Administration, or any other relevant field.
• At least four years of experience raising funds for institutions and businesses.
• Proven experience coordinating or working with financial institutions and/or development organizations on access to agribusiness finance.
• Experience supporting smallholder farmers and agribusinesses to access finance through various channels (impact investment, grants, equity investment, blended finance)
• Experience in project management and coordination, including budget management and reporting.
• Strong existing network in the access to finance space and financial ecosystem in Nigeria.
• Strong analytical skills and the ability to conduct market research and data analysis.
• Excellent communication, organizational, and interpersonal skills, with the ability to work effectively with diverse stakeholders and partners.
• Proven experience in conducting market research to identify and understand financial inclusion gaps and opportunities would be required.