For over 45 years and in 146 countries, ACDI / VOCA
has empowered people in developing and transitional nations to succeed in the
global economy.
ACDI / VOCA currently has approximately 97 projects in 38
countries and revenues of over $140 million.
Financial Services Specialist
Financial Services Specialist
Location: Nairobi, Kenya
We are currently seeking a Financial Services Specialist for the
Resilience and Economic Growth in the Arid Lands-Accelerated Growth (REGAL-AG)
project, funded by USAID.
This project is part of the broader REGAL program that
identifies, integrates and sustains humanitarian investments that prove to be
effective in sustainably increasing resilience and reducing the need for
recurrent humanitarian assistance, and to build on these investments to
accelerate sustainable economic growth.
The goal of REGAL-AG is to foster an inclusive livestock value
chain that increases pastoralists’ resilience and stimulates economic growth in
several Kenyan counties and beyond.
Responsibilities:
Responsibilities:
The Financial Service Specialist will be responsible for
implementing all activities to improve access to financial services by
livestock value chain stakeholders and strengthen the supply of financial
services in targeted counties.
Increase demand for financial services by building the capacity of pastoralists, traders, abattoirs and other potential borrowers to generate demand for and effectively utilize financial products in order to invest in upgrades that increase the competitiveness of the livestock value chain and facilitate access to markets. Specific tasks include but are not limited to:
Increase demand for financial services by building the capacity of pastoralists, traders, abattoirs and other potential borrowers to generate demand for and effectively utilize financial products in order to invest in upgrades that increase the competitiveness of the livestock value chain and facilitate access to markets. Specific tasks include but are not limited to:
- Identifying
local constraints that limit the demand for financial products including
any difference between men and women and develop an appropriate response
strategy to be incorporated into work planning;
- Collaborate with
the Value Chain Competitiveness and Inclusiveness Advisor to ensure that
the Farming as a Business curriculum incorporates financial literacy
tools.
Increase supply of financial services by building the capacity
of financial institutions currently operating in the ASALs or interested in
investing in this region to increase outreach into rural areas and develop
demand-driven agricultural lending products.
- Survey the
financial sector landscape, determine the availability of savings and
lending products, and assess the capacity of various intermediaries to
scale up financing to value chain actors;
- Build the
capacity of banks through direct training and mentoring to develop
increased capacities to extend lending in pastoralist areas and to other
livestock value chain actors;
- Work with
financial institutions interested in establishing and expanding an agency
banking model that allows them to increase their outreach in the ASALs by
allowing businesses to operate as satellite bank branches;
- Work with
financial institutions to develop and pilot new financial products that
target value chain constraints and finance upgrading opportunities at
different levels of value chain (i.e. agrovet input suppliers, traders,
dairies, etc.)
- Explore the
potential for expanding Mpesa to livestock markets in the north.
Facilitate access to viable financial savings options for pastoralists
through the establishment of savings and lending groupstied to the livestock
marketing activities and livestock-related business groups such as hides and
skins and dairy businesses.
Explore risk mitigation measures including the Index-based Livestock Insurance program, and develop and implement strategies to expand access by pastoralists.
Qualifications:
Explore risk mitigation measures including the Index-based Livestock Insurance program, and develop and implement strategies to expand access by pastoralists.
Qualifications:
- At least seven
years’ experience working in the commercial financial services sector with
experience in agribusiness (and particularly livestock) lending a plus
- Experience in
developing and implementing new rural financial products, including
experience with market research techniques, piloting new products,
promoting strategic alliances and monitoring results
- Solid
understanding of best practices in MSME finance, including agricultural
finance and credit delivered by value chain actors
- Experience
establishing and strengthening savings and credit cooperative societies
- Experience with
financial education, informal finance, understanding saving groups,
microinsurance and mobile banking preferred.
- Experience in
the ASALs in Northern Kenya preferred
- Minimum of a
Bachelor degree in Finance, Economics or a related field, and MA
preferred.
To be considered for this recruitment, please e-mail your resume
to REGALAG@joinav.org.
Please include the position title in the subject
line.
No phone calls please.
Only finalists contacted.
Women and minorities encouraged to apply.
EOE.
Please apply by close of business, January 31st, 2013.
