Description

Everyone deserves the opportunity to build a better future. This simple idea has been at the heart of TechnoServe’s work around the world for over 50 years. TechnoServe is a pioneer in leveraging the power of business and markets to create sustainable pathways out of poverty.

The low-income communities in which we work are full of enterprising people. Their small-scale farms and businesses are the keys to economic development. But they face many challenges: low literacy, lack of access to jobs and markets, unpredictable political dynamics and, increasingly, the effects of climate change. For many women and young people, the challenges are even more daunting. Working with TechnoServe staff, people around the world are lifting themselves out of poverty. The results are amazing…when incomes increase and living conditions for families get better, they are able to access health care and education previously out of reach. Communities and even whole countries are better off.

Summary:

Addressing Mango Production and Post-harvest Loss and Increasing Fish Yields (AMPPLIFY) is a five-year project funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture under the Food for Progress Program that will facilitate a resilient and growing trade of mango and fish, sustained by profitable farmers making ongoing productivity and climate-smart investments to maintain the health and performance of their farms across Côte d’Ivoire. Over the next five years, the project will use a facilitative market-based approach that leverages the resources of the private sector to drive incentives and behavior change throughout the market system, which can achieve improved productivity, trade, and food security through the provision of high-quality, accessible goods and services for farmers and other value chains (VC) participants.

AMPPLIFY aims to strengthen access to finance across the value chain by increasing the amount of working capital and capital expenditure financing for key market actors. The program will prioritize access to working capital for new and existing input suppliers and other Micro-, Small-, and Medium-Sized Enterprises, working through existing Financial Institutions (FIs). For Value Chain (VC) actors, this will address the existing lack of available operating capital to purchase from Smallholder Farmers and lack of asset financing to acquire or upgrade machinery and equipment critical to productivity and quality improvements.

Duties & Responsibilities

• Develop and execute a comprehensive strategy to improve access to finance for commercially oriented farmers, input suppliers, and agri-MSMEs within horticulture and aquaculture value chains.
• Develop and maintain relationships with local, national, and international FIs interested in investments in aquaculture and/or mango value chains; and ensure their continued engagement and support.
• Identify and prioritize investment opportunities in collaboration with FIs and VC actors, focusing on sustainable growth and financial inclusion.
• Advocate and implement investment strategies that prioritize partnering with existing FIs and VC actors, enhancing the sustainability of our interventions while minimizing the creation of new products and mechanisms.
• Train FIs on developing accessible financial tools including assisting FIs to design new financial products and/or adapt their existing financial products to serve aquaculture and mango value chains
• Continuously monitor and evaluate the impact of financial solutions on participating farmers and agri-MSMEs, adjusting strategies as needed to maximize effectiveness.
• Ensure that all financial activities comply with relevant regulations and internal policies, maintaining transparency and accountability.
• Provide regular reports to stakeholders on the progress of financial solutions initiatives, including key performance indicators and impact assessments.

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in business administration, economics, finance or a related discipline plus 10 years of experience financial management, investment strategy, or a related role, with a track record of successfully facilitating access to finance for agriculture or aquaculture sectors (or Master’s degree plus seven years of experience)
• Strong understanding of financial markets, investment mechanisms, and financial products.
• Excellent networking and relationship-building skills, with the ability to engage with a diverse range of stakeholders including those with little financial knowledge.
• Proficiency in financial analysis, risk assessment, and due diligence.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience working in private sector or on private sector development for donor-funded projects.
• Experience in training and capacity building
• Experience using agriculture financial instruments and financing mechanisms

Required Languages

• Proficiency in English and French

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Excellent oral/written communication and presentation skills.
• Ability to balance multiple priorities and meet demanding deadlines.
• Commitment to sustainable development and financial inclusion.

Supervisory Responsibilities

• This position reports to the Chief of Party and manages a Financial Analyst.

Applicants must have work authorization in Côte d’Ivoire at the time of application. 

We encourage all qualified individuals who share TechnoServe’s vision of improving the lives of others through proven business solutions to apply.

With our commitment to diversity, we are proud to be an equal opportunity employer and affirmative action employer and do not discriminate on the basis of gender, race, color, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, HIV/AIDS status, protected veteran status, disability and all other protected classes.

We are also proud of our commitment to protecting staff, partners, and beneficiaries from abuse and exploitation and thoroughly vet all final candidates through rigorous background and reference checks.

If you have a disability that affects your ability to use our online system to apply for a position at TechnoServe please contact the Human Resources at [email protected] or call +1 202 785 4515.