Financial Inclusion Specialist at International Fertilizer Development Center (IFDC)

Position summary

• Access to finance plays an important role in any business. In the context of 2SCALE, access to finance also plays a critical role in ensuring commercial viability (and financial sustainability) of target value chains, and of the piloted/ promoted inclusive business models within these value chains.
• The 2SCALE program pro-actively promotes financial inclusion, i.e., the delivery and effective use of a full range of (formal) financial services at affordable costs to all (bankable) households and targeted small- and medium-scale companies, including the disadvantaged and low-income segments of society, in the value chains that we support.
• Based on feasibility analyses the 2SCALE Financial Inclusion Specialist will support in identifying relevant/interested financial institutes, investors and programs and bring them together to bridge financial gaps targeting vulnerable groups in 2SCALE partnerships.

Knowledge and experience

• At least 7 years of working experience with agribusiness development, farmer cooperatives, microfinance and micro enterprise, entrepreneurship and/or financial analysis relating to agricultural sector is required
• Experience in working on donor funded financial inclusion programmes will be an advantage, either in a programme management function or technical expert
• Experience in rolling out financial programmes targeting farmer groups and MSMEs preferred
• Excellent interpersonal and oral and written communication skills a must
• Ability to undertake cohesive analyses and develop well-written reports
• Track record of building strong stakeholder relationships (VSLA, Microfinance institutions, banks, African Development Bank, IFC, impact funds…)
• Pitch deck development and presentation to financial stakeholders
• Experience in working with micro, small to medium enterprises and financial institutions

Qualifications

• Master degree in Agricultural Economics, Agricultural Business Management, Community Development, Entrepreneurship or a related field is required
• Strong computer skills especially with MS Word and Excel

Role competencies

• Creative thinker
• Excellent verbal, analytical, organisational, training, facilitation, and written skills
• People management skills
• Attention to detail and the ability to produce timely and accurate reports
• Ability to work as part of team across different cultures
• Ability to work with minimum supervision and take initiatives
• Fluent in French and English
• In close collaboration with the other 2SCALE Financial Inclusion Specialist(s) (SNV and BoPinc) develop a financial inclusion strategy and build and supervise a network of local/ regional consultants (and – if required/ useful – young talented 2SCALE financial inclusion assistants) to support financial brokering, technical assistance, and training in support of specific partnerships and value chains.
• Identify key financial constraints and financial inclusion priority areas in target value chains supported by the project and develop specific strategies to address them;
• Identify and support financial (partner) institutions, including identifying potential development programs/projects to build synergies in scaling/replicating transformative financial inclusion activities for specific client groups (households, small- and mediumscale enterprises) in target value chains;
• In close collaboration with partnership facilitators and financial partners, coordinate the design pilot-testing and scaling of practical solutions and innovative practices to improve financial inclusion within target value chains.
• In close collaboration with partnership facilitators and financial partners, monitor and evaluate financial inclusion of target stakeholders, as well as the commercial viability and financial sustainability of target value chains and piloted/ promoted inclusive business models; whenever needed – propose measures to strengthen financial arrangements.
• Support partnership facilitators in designing/ implementing phasing out strategies to ensure commercial viability/ financial sustainability of target value chains.
• Document experiences and lessons learned of financial inclusion pilots; and analyse the factors that determine success/ failure, and the challenges within specific sectors and/ or countries/ regions to promote financial inclusion.
• Develop, deliver, and coordinate training programs and technical assistance to partnership facilitators, to local-level financial intermediators and trainers, and financial institutions. This includes the design and coordination of capacity building activities for entrepreneurs in developing bankable business plans and loan applications; and effective/ cost-efficient financial literacy training programs to selected/ targeted small-scale businesses and smallholder farmers (or their organizations).
• Develop (supportive) partnerships with professional financial service providers, other projects/ initiatives in financial inclusion, and donors and funders to expand access to finance, develop appropriate financial products and to leverage resources;
• Provide “thought leadership” on financial inclusion in target value chains and (related) agri-food industries;
• Any other assignments that the project management deems necessary for the success of the project.