Specialist on Rural Finance

Harare

Organization: FAO - Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
Location: Harare
Grade: Consultancy - Consultant - Contractors Agreement
Occupational Groups:
- Banking and Finance
- FAO ZIMBABWE
Closing Date: Closed

IMPORTANT NOTICE\: Please note that Closure Date and Time displayed above are based on your personal device date and time settings

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FAO is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender and nationality

People with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply

All applications will be treated with the strictest confidentiality

The incumbent may be re-assigned to different activities and/or duty stations depending on the evolving needs of the Organization

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Organizational Setting

The Government of the United Kingdom through the Department for International Development (DFID) is supporting the Zimbabwe Livelihoods and Food Security Programme (LFSP), which aims to contribute to poverty reduction through increased incomes for a minimum number of 200,000 beneficiaries’ households from 2014 to 2020. The programme is being implemented in four provinces covering ten districts as follows\: Mutasa, Mutare, and Makoni in Manicaland province; Guruve, Bindura and Mt Darwin in Mashonaland Central province; and Kwekwe, Gokwe North, Gokwe South and Shurugwi in Midlands province and two additional districts reached with biofortification component only; Mazowe and Zvimba in Mashonaland Central and West provinces. The programme is being implemented by a multiple of partners and the components in the extension phase are structured around the following with gender mainstreaming cutting across on all components;

• Extension and Nutrition (EN)
• Rural Finance (RF)
• Policy Support (PS)
• Biofortification (BF)
• Market Development (MD)
• Monitoring, Learning and Evaluation (MEAL)

The Rural Finance interventions include a Technical Assistance Facility (TAF) for participating Financial Institutions (Banks and Micro-Finance Institutions) and a Wholesale Fund

FAO have contracted a Wholesale Fund (Zimbabwe Microfinance Fund (ZMF) to manage a Refinance Facility –a credit line created to provide lending capital to participating Microfinance Institutions ( MFIs)

FAO are recruiting an international consultant to support the Fund with capacity building in identified areas as outlined in technical focus and key result areas below.

Reporting Lines

Working under the overall supervision of the FAO Representative for Zimbabwe, the direct supervision of the LFSP-APN Chief Technical Advisor, ZMF Chief executive Officer and in close collaboration with relevant FAO staff, donors, implementing partners, government and other LFSP components, the incumbent will be responsible for review and Design of the wholesale fund model that best suits the Zimbabwean environment based on International best practices, building capacity of the fund as well as operationalization of systems of designed model.

Tasks and Responsibilities

• Assess different business models that Wholesale funds can take, regional and international examples to be used as case studies
• Perform a presentation of different models and growth trajectories for wholesale funds
• Recommend a model that works well in the Zimbabwean context from a sustainability and financial inclusion perspective
• Develop an appropriate organizational structure for the proposed model
• Develop appropriate products as per the proposed business model in addition to existing products,
• Train staff on the operationalization and rolling out of the new products
• Design tools for assessment of agriculture and rural finance proposals in collaboration with the agricultural economist
• Assist the Fund to review, enhance and implement the Risk Management Framework and loan security systems designed under phase I Technical Assistance. .
• Facilitate attachment of the fund staff to International Funds offering similar services and products proposed above for on-the job training.
• Perform other related duties, including the direct implementation of some technical activities, as required

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements\:

• Advanced university degree in Business and Finance, Agricultural Economics or related field
• Over 10 years of relevant experience in Agricultural and Rural Finance including Management of Wholesale Funds
• Working knowledge of English, with limited knowledge French or Spanish
• An understanding of Zimbabwean/sub-Saharan macroeconomic environments will be an added advantage.

FAO Core Competencies

• Results Focus
• Team work
• Communication
• Building Effective Relationships
• Knowledge Sharing and continuous Improvement

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Please note that all candidates should adhere to FAO Values of Commitment to FAO, Respect for All and Integrity and Transparency

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This vacancy is now closed.
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