Specialist – Investment Design & Delivery at Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA)

The Position

Specialist, Investment Design & Delivery  

Job Reference: SIDD/CTE/01/2024, Based in Nairobi, Kenya with frequent travel, approximately 30% .

Reporting to the Head of State Capability, the Specialist Investment Design and Delivery under the State Capability Unit will be responsible for overseeing technical interventions that supports governments and Regional Economic Communities (RECs) in the design and implementation of flagships, Regional Agriculture Investment Plans (RAIPs) and National Agriculture Investment Plans (NAIPs) and drive its implementation, business cases for resource mobilization and public private partnerships to help Government deliver on their visions and strategies. 

Key Duties and Responsibilities:

• Support countries, RECs and the continent to design and develop successful flagships, RAIPs, NAIPs and business cases. 
• Support governments in AGRA focused countries to mobilize public and private sector resources to support implementation of flagships and business cases for PPP. 
• Leads engagement support with investment and implementing partners on all programming aspects and supporting documentation, as needed.
• Leads and contributes to the development and delivery of capacity of Governments and AGRA grantees.
• Leads analysis of potential flagships in terms of development impact, financial soundness, and guides AGRA’s leadership accordingly. 
• Assist country and REC teams in preparing the detailed sector assessment with compelling evidence and in designing proposed projects to implement agriculture flagship programs.
• Lead the identification and preparation of investment projects in collaboration with Governments in AGRA focused countries.
• Support the delivery capacity of Government in the design of flagships and agribusiness financing. 
• Provides analysis on constraints and opportunities for investment at all levels of selected value chain at national level.
• Produce knowledge products including analytical work and practical tools related to investment design, agribusiness, and value chain development.
• Support private sector investment in delivery of flagships and NAIPs, by facilitating public private dialogues aimed at promoting an enabling environment for investment along the value chain.
• Plans and monitors the implementation of grants and prepares progress reports.
• Updates country and RECs operation plans regarding design of NAIPs, RAIPs, flagships and investment opportunities Builds capacity for AGRA Country Program Leads to ensure close coordination and monitoring and reporting of flagship programs at national level.
• Compiles monthly and quarterly reports on state capability interventions.
• Document best practices on investment designs, program and project delivery deriving from AGRA’s resources or other technical and financial partners.
• Follows up and coordinates grantees (under State Capacity Unit) activities.

Key Qualifications and Experience required:

• Masters in Agriculture Economics, Finance, Investment, finance, business management, social sciences, monitoring and evaluation or any relevant qualification with a focus on economic policy, public administration, project management.
• Experience of end-to-end project management, , Public Private Partnership, including scoping and design, resourcing, risk management and quality assurance.
• Specialized training in project management, financial modelling, economic cost benefit analysis and investment analysis, policy analysis and/or related modern statistical techniques and approaches will be an added advantage.
• Experience in implementation of project/investment programs with government, development partners or other such institutions.
• Experience in investment design and analysis.
• Experience in project management.
• Experience in project proposal writing.
• Experience in preparing economic, financial analyses or conducting feasibility studies for development projects.
• Strong analytical skills and demonstrable ability to engage government, development partners and private sector.
• Strong relationships with key national, regional and international partners working on state capability and policy development.
• Demonstrable ability to work in complex work dynamics and challenges. Able to adapt rapidly to new technical areas.
• Sound knowledge of most commonly used project assessment technique.
• Excellent oral, facilitation and written communication skills; works well in diverse teams, with efficiency and diplomacy. 
• Strong local/regional private and financial sector investments experience; 
• Strong analytical skills and demonstrable ability to engage government, development partners and private sector.
• Good command of English and working knowledge of French will be an advantage.