Manager, Nutrition Financing and Development at Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN)

About the role

• GAIN is seeking a Manager, Nutrition Finance and Development to provide strategic technical guidance on strengthening the design of financing solutions to Development Finance Institutions (DFIs) and governments across multiple countries (Bangladesh, Benin, Pakistan and Rwanda), ensuring alignment with the IFAD grant’s strategic goals. This role focuses on leveraging financing mechanisms such as loans, grants, and blended finance to achieve sustainable nutrition outcomes.
• The Manager will advise governments on financing needs, integrate tailored financial products, and guide on SME lending, credit risk, and sustainable finance. They will build strong partnerships with DFIs, financial institutions, and development organisations whilst developing the capacity of country teams to effectively engage with DFIs.
• This role will be offered on a two (2) year fixed term contract, subject to availability of funding and will be based in either Nigeria-Abuja, Kenya-Nairobi or Rwanda-Kigali.

Key responsibilities include

Technical Advisory and Strategy Development

• Provide strategic technical guidance to DFIs and governments on structuring financing solutions to promote sustainable nutrition outcomes.
• Design tailored financial products, integrating them with government policies and grant components.
• Lead the development of financial models, business cases, and proposals to secure funding for government-backed initiatives.

Project Design, Planning and Implementation

• Lead the preparation of inception workshops and design country workplans
• Work with relevant environment, gender and safeguarding specialists to ensure that these components are integrated in project design and implementation plans.
• Oversee the delivery of project activities, ensuring quality, timely delivery, and budget compliance

Capacity Building and Knowledge Management

• Design and deliver capacity-building programs to enhance GAIN staff and country teams' engagement with DFIs and their financing processes.
• Provide targeted training to country teams on DFI operations, negotiation tactics, and building strong relationships with DFI technical officers.

Project Management and Oversight

• Proactively identify and resolve project issues, adapting activities as needed and escalating issues for wider support when necessary.
• Monitor risks, develop contingency plans, and ensure regular project reviews to stay aligned with objectives.
• Collaborate with finance and procurement teams to manage budgets, ensure compliance, and select ethical suppliers.

People Management

• Build a high performing project team consisting of people across the organisation.
• Coach and/ or mentor the project team members and support the development of their capacity.
• Build understanding of and commitment to adhere to equity, diversity, gender, child safety and staff health and wellbeing principles

Relationship Management

• Build and maintain strong partnerships with relevant government entities, private sector actors, financial institutions and development organizations to drive sustainable, inclusive financial solutions geared towards nutrition financing.
• Help to facilitate partnerships between SMEs and investors and service providers

About you

• The ideal candidate should have demonstrable experience working for, or with Development Finance Institutions, government agencies, international development banks, impact investment consultancies, or development organisations in the financing and project management space working on the design of grants and loans.