Agri-Finance And Business Case Development Advisor at SNV Netherlands Development Organisation

Programme Overview

HortIMPACT is a program financed by the Netherlands Embassy in Kenya that started in January 2015 and will last till end of 2019, and is implemented by a consortium of SNV, HIVOS, Solidaridad and Delphy. The programme is addressing the following three critical issues in the Kenya horticulture sector: 1) farmers inclusion in market oriented supply chains, 2) food safety and integrated crop protection, and 3) food losses in supply chains.

The focus of the programme is on small and medium sized, entrepreneurial farmers and also closely cooperates with Dutch and Kenyan entreprises and makes use of their advanced technologies, products and market linkages in so-called business cases. Simultaneously HortIMPACT addresses policy and market related, systemic issues at farm, industry and government level, supported by results from innovative and market oriented business cases.

Together with a company called Dodore, SNV HortIMPACT has been awarded a new project to roll out a new mobile financial application called Agri-wallet. Agri-wallet has been developed by Dodore and provides farmers with the opportunity to save for inputs that they can purchase at local agro-vets and other input suppliers. Furthermore, the Agri-wallet also has an overdraft component through which farmers are able to acquire loans.

Position Summary

Reporting to the HortIMPACT team leader, the agri-finance and business case development advisor will have sufficient experience, skills and flexibility to contribute to the development and scaling of business cases with an agri-finance bias. Specifically, s/he will have the following responsibilities:

Responsibilities

• Take lead in coordination and implementation of assigned HortIMPACT business cases in which the use of Agri-wallet by farmers, input suppliers, and buyers is or will be integrated. This will involve amongst others: business planning, coordination, monitoring, and reporting.
• Build capacities with business case companies, farmers, and producer organisations, provide technical advice, and manage (quality of) service providers.
• Work closely with the other HortIMPACT team members and act as main contact person to Dodore.
• Ensure business viability and supply coordination and facilitate/give backstopping where required.
• Liaise, coordinate, and garner support from stakeholders (central or local government, other financial service providers, projects, etc).
• Contribute to analysis, knowledge and solution development around the three hortIMPACT themes and the other HortIMPACT business cases where required, and especially up-scaling, sustainability and inclusion of women and youth.
• Contribute to hortIMPACT’s Management for Results Framework and system (including evaluation and reportin), in close collaboration with the M&E support officer.
• Advise and conduct market research; analyze information and disseminate to stakeholders.
• Work in close coordination with the rest of the team and undertake additional assignments as requested by the team leader.

Candidate profile

• At least a Bachelor Degree in Business Administration, Economics, Agri-business, Finance, or a related field;
• Over 3 years of relevant work experience in fields relevant and related to this scope of work.
• Proven experience in agricultural marketing, financial services, private sector engagement, and business management.
• Experience in facilitating access to finance in the agriculture sector, linking farmers to markets; credit and other service providers.
• Proven ability to develop and maintain a network in the area of agriculture finance provision, and with private sector, national & county governments, and other stakeholders.
• Management, leadership, and interpersonal skills required.
• Result oriented and problem solving capacity
• Prepared to travel widely and undertake substantial fieldwork.
• Excellent writing and oral communication skills and capacity to facilitate dialogue across multiple stakeholders.
• Experience in inclusive finance (youth and women) will be an advantage.

Contract Duration:

Initially 1 year from May 2018 (With possibility of extension)

Desired start date:

7th May 2018