Access to finance Specialist

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Description

Job Title                                                Access to finance Specialist

Organizational Unit                                Rwanda Country Office 

Job's Aim  

Responsible for the effective implementation and coordination of the Access to Finance component for PSAC (Promoting smallholder Agro-export competitiveness) project.

About the Project:

The Promoting Smallholder Agro-Export Competitiveness (PSAC) Project aims to tackle the challenges faced by coffee, tea, and horticulture growers in 14 districts of Rwanda. The project focuses on enhancing export competitiveness by improving climate-resilient productivity, market access, and establishing strong market linkages. As part of this initiative, Cordaid will provide vital capacity building, training, and institutional support to farmers, cooperatives, financial institutions, and smallholder exporters. The incumbent will be based in the Kigali head office, playing a key role in driving the project's objectives forward.

Job Specification: 

The position will coordinate and implement the Access to Finance aspects for the PSAC Project in close coordination with the project coordinator and ensure the project is delivered effectively and efficiently in line with Cordaid’s vision and mission as well as the project description as approved by the donor. The position holder will spend 80% of time on technical support for the implementation of activities for the project and 20% of time on acquisition and business development for Rwanda office. This function contributes to the efforts of the programme, finance and operational departments of the Cordaid Rwanda Country Office, to the quality and consistency in relationships with donors and consortium members, to country office planning, managing funds and project implementation.

Aim of the Organizational Unit                Is responsible for realization of the project targets.

Job category/Grade                                Rwanda salary scale, Grade VIII.

Supervisor                                              Project Coordinator- PSAC.  

Supervises                                              N/A

Key Duties & Responsibilities

Result Areas & Description     

Project management

In collaboration with the Project coordinator, s(he) will design access to finance comprehensive interventions, implementation, and monitoring frameworks, along with targeted activity concept notes, to enhance synergistic linkages among key market actors, including agricultural processors, input suppliers, producers, aggregators, traders, exporters, value adders, financial institutions (banks, MFIs, VSLAs), cooperatives, agribusinesses, women and youth enterprises, and business development/mentoring services.

This approach will foster more integrated and efficient access to finance in value chains, enabling these stakeholders to effectively collaborate and expand their reach in supporting producer groups, farmers, and exporters, with a strong emphasis on coffee, tea, and horticulture. By addressing critical gaps in access to finance, access to markets, technical skills, and business support, the incumbent will facilitate these actors to boost productivity, enhance inclusivity, promote sustainable markets and exports, and climate-smart agricultural practices that will all drive economic growth and resilience within the sector.

Fund mobilization

Contribute and support on the development and writing of successful funding proposals. Interacts with (potential) local/institutional donors, convincingly argument 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 Value chain development.

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.

Capacity Building:

In working with the Project Coordinator, Program Manager and the Project team, s(he) will help to facilitate robust capacity-building initiatives for staff and project participants such as private and public market actors, emphasizing Access to finance Development (MSD) approaches to empower stakeholders with the skills and knowledge needed to identify and address market system opportunities and constraints. These efforts will aim to develop tailored strategies and innovative modalities that foster job creation and employment opportunities, among targeted producer groups with special attention to women and youth involved in coffee, tea and horticulture.

Project coordination

Drives the execution of high-impact activities and targeted interventions within the market system, ensuring alignment with strategic objectives while meticulously managing scope, time, budget, and quality parameters. S(he) will ensure the timely and efficient execution of market system interventions in working with the project team but also enhancing the relevance and effectiveness, driving systemic change and maximizing value for all stakeholders involved. Additionally, s(he) will support the program manager with respect to risks as well as building and maintaining close relationships with key government partners across the project implementation areas and all other project stakeholders who contribute to the success of the project deliverables, with a large amount of intercultural sensitivity by understanding partners and matching them with desired results and contextual factors.

Financial management

Assists the program manager with respect to assigned interventions in project budgeting, forecasting, financial monitoring to ensure expenditures are in line with what has been planned for. Reports regularly on budget realization and acts proactively to comply with the budget scope.

Field & Partner visits:

Supports the project team to monitor project achievements, conducts field visits with partners, reviews field reports, analyzes field data and formulate conclusions, discussion points and recommendations for all stakeholders. 

Network representation

Idwntifies and establishes contacts with organizations and explores representation for potential areas for collaboration, considering the mission statement of Cordaid and the possibilities within existing projects.

Represents Cordaid at local government level; maintains and strengthens contacts with the relevant ministries and local authorities.

Project reporting:

Collects information within the project and reports about the results, impact through stories of change, as well as budget and expenditures with possible deviations following required reporting standards, while providing solutions to minimize the financial risks.

Monitoring, Evaluation & Learning

Works closely with the monitoring and evaluation team to identify project learning opportunities, research and publications and implementation of MEL (Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning) policy. Facilitates the dissemination of promising practices and lessons learned. In collaboration with the MERL team, ensures integration of innovations and best practices.

Integrity:

Adheres to the code of conduct and integrity policies, reports concern and follows regular integrity training. This is a medium-risk position, with direct contact with vulnerable communities and regular travels.

Other :    Any other duties assigned by the line Manager/Supervisor.

Requirements

 Knowledge, Skills, and Experiences 

• Management knowledge and coaching styles, project management, managing international cooperation with local partners, country/region of the Country Office, techniques, reporting standards and languages. 
• At least 7 years of experience in agricultural finance, specifically focused on smallholders and Agri-SMEs, along with substantial expertise in facilitating access to finance within export value chains, such as coffee, tea, or horticulture, will be essential.
• Broad understanding of agricultural financial product development, and capacity building for financial institutions with practical experience of agricultural financing context. 
• Comprehensive understanding of agricultural financial product development and capacity building for financial institutions, coupled with practical experience in agricultural financing, as well as deep knowledge of agriculture financing trends and challenges in Rwanda and the region.
• Experience in organizing, facilitating workshops and events with high level audience,experience in partner identification, developing and managing relationships with partners. 
• 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 
• Writing skills to clearly formulate project proposals, project plan and project reports 
• Knowledge of the legal framework that governs Cordaid’s operations, as required by local and national government and by major donors (EU, UN, US, Bilateral Donors)   

Core Competencies 

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

Key Result Area: 

• Financial institution capacity building 
• Product development 
• Capital mobilization for MFIS 
• Linkage of value chain actors with value chain actors 

Others/Extra Details

Cordaid is fully committed to provide a safe and welcoming workplace to its employees, and to maintain respect and dignity of everyone that comes into contact with Cordaid. Therefore, Cordaid participates in the Inter-Agency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme. For more information about Cordaid’s work on integrity https://www.cordaid.org/en/who–we–are/integrity–and–code–of–conduct/.

Applications including a motivation letter and extensive CV in English, should be submitted online;  https://cordaid.hrmagic.co/careers/job?id=OTgx  by 11th October 2024.