Microfinance Specialist Zimbabwe

DAI is seeking experienced candidates for an upcoming Food Security programme in Zimbabwe. The programme will look at developing markets and private sector to better support rural livelihoods; facilitating links between commercial markets and farmer groups to increase farmer productivity and income.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• The Microfinance Specialist will report to the overall Team Leader, and:
• Lead the development of strategies to improve access to financial services (transactions, savings, credit and insurance) for smallholders
• Explore feasibility, and develop strategies, for the introduction of new and innovative financial services models
• Conduct a financial services (for agriculture and agribusiness) market study identifying opportunities and constraints for improving financial inclusion
• Work with the Market Development Specialist to develop a strategy for developing financial services market that is inclusive
• Provide support and facilitate private sector development and introduction of innovative ways of improving financial inclusion
• Contribute to gathering evidence to building a supportive policy environment for inclusive financial services markets
• Ensure the participation and engagement of key stakeholders in the financial services market to facilitate change in the market system
• Contribute to building the financial intelligence of the smallholder farmers as well as the capacity of financial services providers to deal with the smallholder farming sector.
• Provide support and facilitate private sector improvement in the provision of effective microfinance services to the smallholder farmers
• Work with the team to ensure that minority groups are included in financial models

Requirements:

• Advanced degree in Agricultural Economics, Finance, Economics, Rural Development or related area
• Minimum 7 years of rural and agricultural lending experience with financial institutions in Sub-Saharan Africa, including micro lenders, cooperatives, credit unions, microfinance institutions (MFI)and commercial banks
• Experience in training and capacity building on financial issues
• Experience or working knowledge and understanding of micro-insurance preferred
• Working knowledge of DFID and donor funded projects desirable
• Experience applying the Making Markets work for the Poor (M4P) approach highly desirable
• Knowledge and understanding of key access to finance opportunities and constraints within Zimbabwe and identified regions, essential
• Working knowledge of DFID’s Value for Money approach preferred
• Experience addressing gender inequality and promoting entrepreneurship of women and other minority groups in financial market systems
• Fluency in English (both written and oral) is essential; and fluency in local languages, ideal

Project Location: Harare based with occasional travel within Zimbabwe Length of the project: 5-7 years Anticipated

Project Start date: April 2014

Deadline for Applications: 30th November 2013

• Please note that all profiles are indicative only and therefore subject to change once the ToR is made available.*

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