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.*