Latest Jobs 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

About the Project

To achieve Vision 2030 and the target of universal access by 2020, the Government of Kenya (GoK) seeks to close the access gap by providing electricity services to remote, underserved areas of the country. With US$150 million of financing from The World Bank, the GoK intends to deliver the Kenya Off-Grid Solar Access Project for Underserved Counties (K-OSAP), to support the use of solar technology to drive electrification of households, enterprises, community facilities, and water pumps.

SNV will be tendering for the Facilities Manager role for “Component 2: Stand-alone Solar Systems and Clean Cooking Solutions for Households” (US$47m), anticipated to start in 2018 and to run for 4 years and 9 months. This component is split in a Debt Facility and a Results-Based Financing Facility for stand-alone solar systems and clean cooking solutions for households. To develop and manage all procurement under this programme, SNV Kenya is seeking qualified candidates for the position of Project Manager.

Overview of the Position

You will design and deliver sound management of the RBF and Debt Facility. You will develop RBF and Debt Facility implementation manuals that will cover the procedures and main criteria for competitive selection. In the roll-out phase, you will prepare for its launch and initiate RBF award windows. Finally, you will perform day-to-day management of the RBF and Debt Facility operations.

Responsibilities

The Project Manager shall:

• Serve as the Team Leader for the overall Facility
• Understand the design and lead the implementation of the Fund;
• Lead, manage and oversee all technical and managerial aspects related to Finance, Grants Management, and other financing instruments;
• Provide high quality leadership, strategic and managerial oversight, due diligence and administration of the Fund financing instruments;
• Design and Implement effective management oversight methods and techniques to monitor progress on sub-grant implementation;
• Ensure timely financial reporting and provide supervisory oversight of the budget to ensure timely spending;
• Conduct annual performance appraisals and ongoing supervision grants and financing mechanisms.
• Ensure successful operationalization, launch, and administration of the RBF and Debt Facility. This will include the activities listed below:
  • Preparation of RBF and Debt Facility implementation manuals
  • Coordination of RBF Facility roll-out;
  • Ongoing RBF and Debt Facility operations management;

Candidate profile

• Advanced University Degree in finance, international development, management or related field.
• A relevant post-graduate qualification in an energy related field will be an advantage.

Desired Experience:

• A minimum of 10 years or more in managing large donor or government funded programs
• Demonstrated experience in managing funds, preferably in promotion of off-grid renewable energy
• Experience in, and understanding of, the off-grid solar market in Sub Saharan Africa, ideally including PAYG solar required
• Experience in, and understanding of, the clean cooking market in Sub Saharan Africa desirable
• Experience in, and understanding of, the Kenyan market (experience in the Underserved Counties is desirable though not essential) strongly preferred
• A track record of structuring and managing RBF facilities aimed at market stimulation, ideally facilities funded by multilateral development banks and/or development finance institutions and/or bi-lateral development assistance agencies or;
• A track record of providing debt financing to rural/off-grid home appliance distribution businesses and/or consumer finance businesses (including, for instance, MFIs)
• Demonstrated understanding of success factors of for-profit businesses;
• Experience managing reporting relationships with government stakeholders and large development finance organizations is highly desirable;

Desired start date:

September 2018

Duration of contract:

Three (3) years, with possibility of contract extension subject to satisfactory performance