Senior Access to Finance Lead

ABOUT FIRST CONSULT

First Consult is a leading economic development consulting firm implementing projects in Ethiopia. Founded in 2006, First Consult has grown to design and implement projects across the agriculture, manufacturing and service sectors. First Consult currently is implementing many programmes in partnership with MasterCard Foundation, USAID, GIZ and other development partners. Our multidisciplinary teams combine a capacity to execute with a clarity of the local context. We have delivered at-scale real impact in terms of jobs & wealth creation, business formation & growth as well as investment attraction & mobilization.

 ABOUT THE PROGRAM

The USAID-funded Highland Resilience Activity (HRA) - will contribute to the Productive Safety Net Program (PSNP) 5’s “Big Push” initiative and has the overarching goal of strengthening resilience among vulnerable households in Ethiopia’s Highlands, resulting in 120,000 PSNP households reaching the graduation threshold. HRA will support these households in moving above the graduation threshold and to where they no longer require social safety net programming for household food security and have the capabilities and assets to withstand regular and predictable shocks. The Activity will achieve this goal by directly supporting households in increasing their on-farm, off-farm, and employment incomes while facilitating improvements in the market systems required to increase demand for goods and services in PSNP communities. HRA is a five-year program that starts in October 2023. The program is implemented by a consortium of Mercy Corps, First Consult, and other regional implementing partners. The access to finance component of the HRA enable an environment for graduation of PSNP clients through access to credit by engaging the financial service providers, including banks, microfinance institutions, rural cooperative unions and VESA informal lending systems, as well as the provision of multiple financial services to selected PSNP clients.

POSITION SUMMARY

The Senior A2F Lead provides technical guidance for field level financial inclusion specialists and local NGO partners to enhance access to finance for PSNP beneficiaries. The advisor will support implementation of high-quality financial inclusion through capacity-building for teams  including technical advice, mentorship, and coaching, conducting market assessments, and designing interventions and building relationships with key market actors from the private sector and government. S/he will also be involved in designing Intervention Concept notes (ICN) that have financial inclusion, and helping to ensure robust M&E, working with Mercy Corps and First Consult MEL teams. The Senior A2F Lead have the responsibility to ensure technical implementation of high impact, proven interventions that meet stated HRA’s goals and reporting requirements. He/She will work closely with financial institutions, government agencies, and other stakeholders to identify barriers to access to finance and develop solutions to promote financial service for the PSNP beneficiaries in the selected woredas of the HRA program. The Access to Finance Advisor analyzes financial systems, designs innovative financial products, and provides technical assistance to enhance financial access for vulnerable PSNP5 beneficiaries. The Senior A2F Lead will be based at Mercy Corps Addis Ababa office and report directly to the HRA A2F Lead at Mercy Corps and indirectly to the HRA Program Director at First consult.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Strategy & Vision

• Enhance strategic partnership with stakeholders and partners to advocate, promote and advance organizational issues, priorities, interests and competencies for a successful program delivery.
• Collaborate with clients, partners, and stakeholders to link and harmonize approaches and to promote common interests and achievement of results.

Program Management

• Support the development of work plan, activities, targets, budget, standards for measuring progress and results and determine the processes, tools, and methodologies to be used to ensure effective and efficient program implementation and operations.
• Conduct high quality market system assessments in financial services, providing the foundation for program design.
• Design interventions Concept notes for MSD programs, using tools such as Results Chains and ‘Who Does, Who Pays?’ matrices.
• Lead the design and implementation of the new product design, liquidity enhancement strategies, FIs capacity building, pilot testing and scale up of innovative financial services.
• Ensure gender integration and mainstreaming are incorporated into financial inclusion interventions.
• Monitor progress and identify risks for timely action and early resolution.
• Responsible for the full compliance with First consult and Mercy Corps rules and regulations and policies on financial activities, financial recording/reporting system and follow-up on audit recommendations.
• Actively support knowledge building, sharing, and applying in the program.
• Submission of high-quality reports for financial inclusion programming to the HRA team and other relevant Mercy Corps and First Consult team members.

Stakeholder Engagement

• Collaborate with stakeholders, including financial institutions, government agencies, and NGOs, to develop comprehensive plans and initiatives.
• Assist in maintaining good working relationships with HRA’s staff, officials, government ministries, financial institutions, implementing partners and the international and local NGO community;

Capacity Building

• Design and facilitate the delivery of capacity building support to selected financial institutions and organizations to enhance their ability to serve the target beneficiaries;
• Develop and deliver training programs and workshops on the access to finance interventions for the target beneficiaries 
• Closely work with wide range of financial service providers (MFIs, Banks, VSLA groups) in establishing partnership and managing relationship on regular basis

Teamwork

• Ability to plan own work, manage conflicting priorities and work under pressure of tight and conflicting deadlines.
• Work closely with team members and partners, to support capacity-building and gender integration into the programs.
• Very good interpersonal skills and ability to establish and maintain effective partnerships and working relations.
• Very strong leadership capacities to guide a multicultural team in difficult circumstances.
• Support the identification of program issues, challenges and risks, appropriate recommendations and implements them.

Influence & Representation

• Make sure to coordinate with government, development, and humanitarian actors to promote financial inclusion.
• Represent First consult/Mercy Corps in various platforms, networks, and coordination forums that focus on financial inclusion.
• Always upholds the image and values of First Consult and Mercy Corps.

Gender, Equality, Diversity, and Social Inclusion

• Be a thought partner in the recruitment of diverse teams and promoting inclusive and safe work environments including supporting early career team members to fulfill their professional goals.
• Lead by example to promote a gender-equal and inclusive workplace culture in day-to-day interaction with team members, partners, and program participants.

Supervisory Responsibility

• S/he will technically guide the A2F specialist and work closely with the field level financial inclusion specialists of the program. 

Accountability

• Reports Directly to: HRA Program Director at First Consult.
• Reports Indirectly to Access to Finance Lead, at Mercy Corps.
• Closely work with: HRA program team, HRA consortium partners, MEL team, Finance team, Operations team, private sector partners, and government stakeholders.

• BA or Master’s degree or equivalent in agricultural Economics/Agriculture, Rural Development, Economics, Management, or related field.
• Minimum 7 years demonstrated experience on similar development projects focused on financial services for the poor, including credits, savings, insurance, payment systems, and remittance services, with clear understanding of the financial services context in Ethiopia.
• Previous work experience in the financial sector and international development organization is an advantage
• Understanding of Markets Systems Development (MSD) approach.
• Understanding of the PSNP program and the interplay between key agricultural market actors like financial service providers (MFI, Banks, and insurers), input suppliers, producers, and traders.
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively with government representatives, partners staff, banking, micro-finance sector entities, local community-based organizations, cooperatives, donors, the private sector and other stakeholders.
• Experience working in fragile contexts including those affected by conflict, natural disasters and other political/socio-economic stressors.
• Experience working with micro-finance institutions, banks and/or agricultural lending.
• Experience working with vulnerable populations in particular ultra-poor, women, youth and migrant populations.
• Strengths in inspiring and enabling others through teamwork, training, and capacity building to realize organizational objectives.
• Strong financial and analytical skills to turn data into succinct and useful deliverables for HRA.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills in English.
• Ability to work independently and take initiative.

How To Apply

All documents requested by First Consult at various stages of the recruitment process will be used for this purpose only. Competent candidates should submit their one-page cover letter and updated CVs only to: jobs@firstconsultet.com before July 1, 2024. Candidates MUST refer to the position title "Senior A2F Lead" in the subject line of their email and applications.

The applicant is required to carry out his/her duties in accordance with First Consult’s Code of conduct, HR and Safeguarding policy. All applicants should be aware that our organization is committed to safeguard our programme participants, staff, representatives of the organization and community members we work with is our top priority in everything we do, including recruitment. By applying, you acknowledge and agree to adhere the First Consult recruitment procedure in which all offers are subject to satisfactory background checks. By submitting your application, you consent to the use of your personal data for recruitment purposes. All documents requested by First Consult at various stages of the recruitment process will be used for recruitment purposes only.