Kenya PSDI Director, Business Advisory Service Providers (BASP) at Palladium International

Project Overview and Role:

Palladium is seeking a Director, Business Advisory Services Providers (BASP) for an anticipated USAID-funded private sector development initiative, which is anticipated to begin in 2023. The USAID/Kenya and East Africa Private Sector Development Initiative will be a 5-year program focused on accelerating agriculture-led growth in Kenya through partnerships with large agricultural sector firms (such as processors and off-takers) and expansion of smallholder farmer out-grower schemes. The anticipated activity will focus on creating jobs and generating large scale increases in sales/exports in the agriculture sector cost-effectively and, ideally, through a sustainable and locally-led vehicle.  The activity would combine tools used in USAID’s traditional private sector development activities with tools used to mobilize finance and investment into one mechanism – supporting a range of agricultural firms to expand investments and operations via a blended finance approach.

Primary Duties and Responsibilities: 

• Define PSDI’s business advisory services workplan and strategy to increase capacity of the private sector to access fit-for-purpose financing
• Provide technical leadership on strategy to increase access to finance amongst new and existing businesses, create sustainable long-term funding vehicles, and provide a range of tools to support agricultural firm expansion
• Present PSDI’s business advisory services activities in meetings with public and private sector actors including GoK, non-governmental organizations, business associations, among others
• Supervise implementing partners, sub-contractors, and grantees as they undertake tasks relating to business advisory services. Subcontractor tasks may include working with BASPs to improve the delivery of quality services to businesses in financial planning, ESG, responsible investment, and investor protection standards, and connecting businesses with potential investors and other sources of capital
• Lead work planning and monitor the budget tied to the business advisory services component of PSDI
• Travel to various regions of Kenya as needed
• Any and all other project-related tasks as required by the Chief of Party and Palladium HQ

Required Qualifications:

• Advanced knowledge of business advisory service providers (BASPs), financial services providers and investors in Kenya
• Robust networks within the Kenyan financial sector
• Proven track record improving businesses’ access to finance, connecting businesses with potential investors, and improving services provided by business advisory agencies
• Experience working on USAID or other donor-funded programs of a similar size
• Excellent communications, organizational, and interpersonal skills
• Knowledge of USAID policies, procedures, and reporting requirements preferred
• Experience working for large donor organizations such as USAID preferred
• Written and oral proficiency in English required