Value Chain Finance Consultant at NCBA Group

Job Purpose Statement

• To develop and implement data-driven financial solutions for agricultural value chains, enhancing credit accessibility for farmers while ensuring sustainable business growth through advanced analytics and model development.
• The consultant will work closely with key stakeholders including financial institutions, agricultural input providers, buyers, irrigation authorities, and farmer groups to develop sustainable financing solutions.
• Location: Based in Kenya with regular travel to agricultural production areas. Flexibility to work with remote stakeholders as needed.
• Contract Duration: 6 months subject to extension based on performance

Key Accountabilities (Duties and Responsibilities)

Strategic Framework Development

• Design and implement a comprehensive value chain financing framework that addresses current challenges in the rice sector while ensuring scalability to other agricultural value chains
• Develop standardized processes for stakeholder coordination, including input providers, financial institutions, buyers, and farmer organizations
• Create robust risk management strategies that protect all parties involved in the financing structure

Process Optimization

• Review and redesign current operational processes, with particular focus on:
  • Farmer onboarding and KYC procedures
  • Input distribution and verification mechanisms
  • Milestone certification and documentation
  • Payment triggering and disbursement workflows
  • Harvest management and buyer coordination
• Implement block farming models that optimize production efficiency and resource utilization.

Stakeholder Management

• Design and facilitate stakeholder workshops to align interests and establish clear roles and responsibilities.
• Develop comprehensive MOUs and contracts that clearly define obligations and benefits for all parties.
• Create communication protocols that ensure transparency and timely information sharing among stakeholders.

Financial Structure Design

• Design innovative financing mechanisms that address current challenges in disbursement and recovery.
• Develop warehouse receipt systems integrated with collateral management
• Create milestone-based financing structures that align with agricultural production cycles
• Establish clear metrics for monitoring and evaluating the financing program's success

Job Specifications

• Master's degree in Finance, Agricultural Economics, Statistics, Data Science or related field
• Advanced certification in data analytics, financial modeling, or agricultural finance is desirable
• Knowledge of agricultural value chains and rural finance mechanisms.

Desired Work Experience

• Minimum 10 years of experience in financial services, agricultural lending, or data analytics or value chain financing.
• Proven track record in developing and implementing successful agricultural financing programs and credit risk models
• Experience working with farming communities especially small holder farmers and agricultural stakeholders

Technical Competencies

• Expert knowledge of financial product development and risk management
• Strong understanding of agricultural production systems and value chains
• Extensive experience with digital financial services, particularly USSD platforms and API integrations
• Demonstrated expertise in data management systems and automated verification processes
• Experience in designing and implementing digital farmer registration systems with real-time validation
• Knowledge of alternative credit scoring models for agricultural financing
• Strong background in process automation and systems integration
• Proficiency in developing monitoring and evaluation frameworks with clear KPIs
• Strong proficiency in statistical analysis and data modeling techniques (For example XGBoost, Logistic Regression)
• Experience with dataset construction and management
• Understanding of credit risk assessment and lending processes
• Knowledge of agricultural value chains and rural finance mechanisms
• Proficiency in automation and system integration design
• Ability to develop and implement pilot programs