SENIOR ACCESS TO FINANCE EXPERTS (TREPA and PRISM Projects)

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Description

About Cordaid

Cordaid is a Dutch international NGO, that believes in a world without poverty and exclusion. We strive for just and sustainable societies where every person counts. We stand for knowledge and talent sharing between North and South, between farmers and businesses, between activists and policymakers. Where poverty, conflict and exclusion divide societies, we connect people and communities. We stand for professionalism, expertise, and solidarity across borders. We aim at maximizing our social impact and contributing to systemic change. We operate where natural disasters strike, where conflicts tear up communities and where lack of opportunities and service delivery keep families in extreme poverty. Cordaid has been active in Uganda for over 25 years; and our programmes currently focus on three thematic areas: resilience, investments and humanitarian aid.

Cordaid is one of the leading CSO’s in the Netherlands, working in fragile contexts on Health, Resilience, Economic Opportunities, Humanitarian Aid and Security & Justice. Apart from our work abroad we also contribute to new forms of job creation and social innovation in The Netherlands.Cordaid is a member of the international Catholic networks Caritas and CIDSE and we are active in worldwide civil society networks. We work in around 30 countries in Africa, Middle East and Asia.

As of January 1st 2021, ICCO Cooperation and CORDAID globally joined forces and decided to use the name of CORDAID. The combined strengths of ICCO Cooperation and Cordaid will not only allow for the continuation of extraordinarily successful and innovative approaches to market systems development and access to finance in Rwanda but also provide additional resources, approaches and experiences to the livelihood programming and enable for better linkages of programs to Rwanda’s climate, health, and education strategic objectives.

Cordaid seeks to recuit two experts to fill vacancies on the Transforming Eastern Province through Adaptation (TREPA) and Partnership for Resilient and Inclusive Small Livestock Markets (PRISM) Projects. 

Job Summary

The Senior Access to Finance Experts will be repsonsible for the implementation of access to finance projects, acquisition and business development. They will spend 100% of the time on implementation and management of access to finance interventions. 

Contract information:  One Year, renewable based on performance and funds availability

Duty Station: Kigali, Rwanda, but with regular field visits 

Position type: National  

Supervisor: Country Manager

Supervises: In-country Junior Program Officers, Project Support Staff 

Proposed start of contract: August 2022

Key Duties & Responsibilities

Project Plan

• Translates the Cordaid project results into specific results in designated project areas and formulates an operational project plan within a country/region. Remains within budget propositions and infrastructural possibilities. 

Project Management

• Manages the project with respect to risks, stakeholders’ issues and the project team. Agrees with all contributors to project success deliverables, with a large amount of intercultural sensitivity. Understands partners and matches desired results and contextual factors. Stimulates progress and makes necessary adjustments to realize the project within given boundary conditions, scope, time, budget and quality. 

Financial Management

• Manages the project budget ensuring expenditures are in line with what has been planned for. Reports regularly on budget realization and acts proactively to comply with the budget. 

Field & Partner Visits

• Monitors projects achievements, conducts field visits with partners, reviews field reports, analyzes field data and formulates conclusions, discussion points and recommendations for all stakeholders. 

Supported Partners

• Identifies the need for support with partner organizations and translates this into (customized) forms of support, taking into account (large differences in) the background and circumstances of (individuals in) partner organizations. 

Network Representation

• Identifies and establishes contacts with organizations and explores representation for potential areas for collaboration, taking into account the mission statement of Cordaid and the possibilities within existing projects. 

Project Reports

• Collects information within the project and reports about the results, specifics, budget and expenditures and possible deviations following required reporting standards, providing solutions to minimize impact of deviations. 

Monitoring, Evaluation, Research and Learning

• Work closely with monitoring evaluation team to identify project learning opportunities research and publications and implementation of MEL policy. Facilitates the dissemination of promising practices and lessons learned. In collaboration with the MERL team, Ensure integration of innovations and best practices. 

Stakeholder/Partner Management

• Develops and maintains relationships with a variety of local and international partners and stakeholders related to the project implementation and development of new interventions. Is able to successfully build partnerships and influence stakeholders and partners to engage and/or support. This can range from donors to consortium partners, as well as beneficiary partners (especially financial institutions).  

Fund Mobilization/Business Development  

• Contribute and support on the development and writing of successful funding    proposals   budget. Interacts with (potential) local/institutional donors, convincingly augmenting the added value of Cordaid as to acquire funds and ensure the future funding for the programme(s) in Rwanda. This includes increasing revenues, growth in terms of business expansion, increasing profitability by building strategic partnerships and making strategic business decisions. 

Bid Management

• Support bid manager on  calls for proposals and tenders related to the assigned specific donor portfolio. Support negotiations for specific assigned bids, especially access to finance. The bid team provides donor specific advice on rules, regulations and policy. Uses donor contacts to ensure the winning outcome of calls and proposals. Oversees (parts of) the role division, planning and communication with donors and a consortium in order to achieve a positive outcome for Cordaid. 

Integrity

• Showcases integrity standards as outlined in Cordaid’s integrity policies. Fulfills integrity responsibilities as outlined in Cordaid’s Integrity Framework and Standard Operating Procedures. Actively contributes to a safe environment within their scope of influence by encouraging dialogue, trust, as well as understanding and adherence to Cordaid’s integrity standards and procedures. This is a medium-risk position, with direct contact with vulnerable communities and regular travels. 

Any other duties assigned by the manager.

Requirements

• Master’s degree in economics, finance, business administration or any other relevant subject 
• At least 7 years of experience in agricultural finance in Rwanda (working with/for financial institutions facilitating access to finance for smallholders and Agri-SMEs, providing technical guidance/advisory on Agri-finance). Experience on green/climate resilient finance is a plus 
• Broad understanding of different agricultural financial interventions (product development, fund mobilizations, capacity building for financial institutions, market / needs assessment, etc.)  
• Broad understanding and knowledge of agriculture financing trends and challenges in Rwanda and in the region 
• Basic level of knowledge on the topic of climate change, climate resilience and climate adaptation in agriculture. Expertise on green finance is a plus 
• At least 4 years of experience working in complex international cooperation projects  
• Extensive experience working with high level international and national partners including consultants, stakeholders and government institutions and officials   
• Experience in organizing, facilitating workshops and events with high level audience 
• Experience in partner identification, developing and managing relationships with partners 
• Fluent in Kinyarwanda and English and working proficiency in French 
• Good communication skills, both orally (presentation skills, networking, facilitation meetings, etc.)  and written (clearly formulating project reports, proposals, and plans) 
• Social skills to agree on deliverables, ensure progress with staff and to support partners 
• Behavioral values and skills: trust, accountability, problem solving, cooperation, teambuilding, negotiation, conflict management, collaboration, flexibility, creativity 

Core Competencies 

• Quality orientation 
• Organisational awareness including planning  
• Negotiation skills 
• Dealing with details 
• Problem analysis 
• Conceptual thinking 
• Social awareness 
• Intercultural orientation 
• Managing conflict 
• Coaching 

Others/Extra Details

Terms of employment

• The Cordaid Human Resource Manual is applicable.

Working conditions

• 40 hours a week

Please note that Cordaid has integrated background checks in the recruitment procedures. Having implemented a broad integrity framework, we apply an interagency scheme to prevent misconduct and will ask for written references in the final stages of the recruitment procedure.

Cordaid is an equal opportunity employer that is committed to diversity and inclusion in the workplace. We prohibit discrimination and harassment of any kind based on race, colour, gender, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, genetic information, pregnancy, or any other protected characteristic as outlined by the law. This applies to all employment practices within our organisation, including hiring, recruiting, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, leave of absence, compensation, benefits, training, and apprenticeship. Cordaid makes hiring decisions based solely on qualifications, merit, and business needs at the time.