These interventions will be in the form of access to finance, business development support and market access, along with enhancement of the policy, regulatory and collaborative environment while amplifying the youth voice.

The overarching goal of the project will be achieved by enhancing the capacities of youth-owned MSMEs, particularly young women from rural and peri-urban areas, to leverage the AfCFTA opportunity for income generation, job creation and poverty reduction through enterprise, trade, finance and innovation.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Under the overall supervision of the Senior Programme Officer – Access to Finance, the Programme Advisor, Access to Finance will be responsible for the following duties:

• Coordinate the development, implementation, management and evaluation of impact driven access to finance interventions, including blended finance facilities; reviews relevant documents and reports; identifies problems and issues to be addressed and proposes corrective actions; liaises with relevant parties; identifies and tracks follow-up actions.
• Work closely with the gender expert to develop an implementation strategy that promotes strong benefits for women.
• Coordinate the development of relevant policies and frameworks.
• Undertake the design of participant selection tools, including due diligence, on-boarding and contracting.
• Prepare various written outputs, e.g. donor reports, draft background papers, analysis, sections of reports and studies, inputs to publications, etc.
• Provide substantive support to consultative and other meetings, conferences, etc., to include proposing agenda topics, identifying participants, preparation of documents and presentations, etc.
• Undertake outreach activities; conducts training workshops, seminars, etc.; makes presentations on assigned topics/activities.
• Represent the project as technical lead in field missions, including provision of guidance to donors, external consultants, government officials, other program partners and other parties and drafting mission summaries, etc.
• Coordinate activities related to budget and funding (programme/project preparation and submissions, progress reports, financial statements, etc.) and prepares related documents/reports (pledging, work programme, programme budget, etc.), within the specifics of access to finance interventions.
• Carry out in-depth research on selected aspects of programmes, emerging issues and trends, risks and market gaps, etc., to include collecting, analyzing and presenting statistical data and other information gathered from diverse sources.
• Support the development of research-based business cases for tailored financial products relevant to target sectors and collaborate with financial actors to support adoption into their portfolio strategies.
• Support resource mobilization efforts and strategies for programme sustainability.
• Performs other duties as required.

Copyright

The personnel has to ensure that s/he has obtained the necessary permissions with regard to intellectual property rights required to perform his/her services under this consultancy contract and for the subsequent dissemination by ITC in any form.

Documentary proof is to be submitted to ITC.

Should any license fee be due for the use of copyrighted materials of third parties, the Consultant shall request the prior written permission from ITC.

S/he has further to ensure to obtain accreditation to event(s), if required.

Qualifications / Special Skills

EDUCATION

Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in finance, business administration, actuarial science, management, economics or a related field.

A first-level university degree in combination with an additional two (2) years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

EXPERIENCE

A minimum of five (5) years of progressively responsible professional experience in:

• Banking
• Impact finance
• Development finance

Experience in designing and implementing innovative and blended finance initiatives.

Experience in project or programme management, administration or related area.

COMPETENCIES

Professionalism

In depth understanding of MSME financing needs and challenges including in the informal trade sector. Knowledge of structuring blended finance products. Knowledge and understanding of theories, concepts and approaches relevant to particular sector, functional area or other specialized field.

Ability to identify issues, analyze and participate in the resolution of issues/problems. Ability to conduct data collection using various methods.

Conceptual analytical and evaluative skills to conduct independent research and analysis, including familiarity with and experience in the use of various research sources, including electronic sources on the internet, intranet and other databases.

Ability to apply judgment in the context of assignments given, plan own work and manage conflicting priorities.

• Coordinate the development, implementation, management and evaluation of impact driven access to finance interventions, including blended finance facilities; reviews relevant documents and reports; identifies problems and issues to be addressed and proposes corrective actions; liaises with relevant parties; identifies and tracks follow-up actions.
• Work closely with the gender expert to develop an implementation strategy that promotes strong benefits for women.
• Coordinate the development of relevant policies and frameworks.
• Undertake the design of participant selection tools, including due diligence, on-boarding and contracting.
• Prepare various written outputs, e.g. donor reports, draft background papers, analysis, sections of reports and studies, inputs to publications, etc.
• Provide substantive support to consultative and other meetings, conferences, etc., to include proposing agenda topics, identifying participants, preparation of documents and presentations, etc.
• Undertake outreach activities; conducts training workshops, seminars, etc.; makes presentations on assigned topics/activities.
• Represent the project as technical lead in field missions, including provision of guidance to donors, external consultants, government officials, other program partners and other parties and drafting mission summaries, etc.
• Coordinate activities related to budget and funding (programme/project preparation and submissions, progress reports, financial statements, etc.) and prepares related documents/reports (pledging, work programme, programme budget, etc.), within the specifics of access to finance interventions.
• Carry out in-depth research on selected aspects of programmes, emerging issues and trends, risks and market gaps, etc., to include collecting, analyzing and presenting statistical data and other information gathered from diverse sources.
• Support the development of research-based business cases for tailored financial products relevant to target sectors and collaborate with financial actors to support adoption into their portfolio strategies.
• Support resource mobilization efforts and strategies for programme sustainability.
• Performs other duties as required.

• Professionalism
• In depth understanding of MSME financing needs and challenges including in the informal trade sector.
• Knowledge of structuring blended finance products.
• Knowledge and understanding of theories, concepts and approaches relevant to particular sector, functional area or other specialized field.
• Ability to identify issues, analyze and participate in the resolution of issues/problems.
• Ability to conduct data collection using various methods.
• Conceptual analytical and evaluative skills to conduct independent research and analysis, including familiarity with and experience in the use of various research sources, including electronic sources on the internet, intranet and other databases.

• Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in finance, business administration, actuarial science, management, economics or a related field.
• A first-level university degree in combination with an additional two (2) years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.