PTA BANK AGRICULTURE EXPERT

1.BACKGROUND

The Eastern and Southern African Trade and Development Bank, commonly known as the PTA Bank, was established on 6th November, 1985 pursuant to the provisions of Chapter 9 of the Treaty (1981) establishing the Preferential Trade Area (PTA) for the Eastern and Southern African States. PTA was later transformed into the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA).

As set out in Article 4 of the Charter, the Bank was established to promote intra and extra-regional trade and industrial development within the Member States with the specific objectives being to:

1. Provide financial and technical assistance to promote the economic and social development of Member States;
2. Promote the development of trade among Member States conducted in accordance with the provisions of the Treaty by financing, where appropriate, activities related to such trade;
3. Further the regional integration aims of COMESA by financing, wherever possible, projects designed to make the economies of the Member States increasingly complementary to each other;
4. Supplement the activities of national development agencies of the Member States by joint financing operations and by the use of such agencies as channels for financing specific projects;
5. Co-operate, within the terms of its Charter, with other institutions and organizations, public or private, which are interested in the economic and social development of the Member States; and
6. Undertake and provide such other activities and services as may advance the Bank’s objectives.

The Bank’s vision is to become a world class financial institution contributing to the economic growth and prosperity of the Eastern and Southern African region through provision of trade, projects and infrastructure finance. As set by the road map of the newly approved Corporate Plan (2013-2017), the Bank aims to transform from a mid-sized regional development financial institution into a prominent and respected continental financial institution, integrating and advancing the regions’ economies.

2.AFRICA AGRICULTURE AND TRADE INVESTMENT FUND (AATIF)

PTA Bank recognizes the importance the agriculture sector plays in the economies of its member states. 

In 2012, the Africa Agriculture and Trade Investment Fund (AATIF) together with PTA Bank signed a US $30 million facility agreement to finance agricultural sector. In addition to this financial assistance complementary technical assistance was foreseen, to be provided by AATIF’s Technical Assistance Facility to help develop a strategy for the PTA Bank’s approach on the agricultural sector and to define and support the build-up of the bank’s capacity accordingly.

The AATIF mission is to develop and promote growth initiatives targeted towards the agriculture sector directly or indirectly i.e. through on-lending programmes with financial institutions. PTA Bank was the first financial institution to draw financing from AATIF. This makes PTA Bank a true landmark investment for the AATIF.

3.SCOPE OF WORK

The main objective of the Consultant will be to provide hands on and practical experience and guidance to the Project and Infrastructure Finance and Trade finance department in the agriculture sector area.

Key areas include:

• Develop and define the Agriculture Strategy for the Bank (PTA Bank);
• Assess the current role of PTA Bank in financing the agricultural sector and the opportunities for expanding this role;
• Formulate recommendations to the management of the PIF and TF departments on how to best implement the strategy;
• Support the PIF and TF departments in implementing the Agriculture Strategy of the Bank and in sustainably growing their lending to agriculture and contribute to agriculture project appraisals for both departments.

4.EXPECTED OUTPUTS / DELIVERABLES

• Develop a conceptual framework and roadmap for the Bank in the agricultural sector in the various member states;
• Formulate strategies that will position the Bank to exploit opportunities as presented in the various member states;
• Design strategies to attract “patient capital” and “social venture capital” for the Bank to be able to on-lend to the agricultural sector in a sustainable manner;
• Build linkages with other Agricultural institutions operating in member states with a view to form strategic alliances;
• Develop marketing strategies that will result in enhanced business development in the member states;
• Design a risk  acceptance  framework to be adopted by  the Bank  specifically tailored to mitigating the front end risks  inherent  in the agricultural sector in the various member states;
• Devise a due diligence process specifically geared towards primary and secondary agricultural lending;
• Develop sustainable financing models to enable the Bank to lend towards Agricultural Infrastructure  i.e. irrigation , post-harvest storage, transportation, cold chain and value addition infrastructure;
• Elaborate an integrated  value-chain financing proposition to ensure that the Bank’s agricultural lending is  structured equitably and all stakeholders  are sufficiently  incentivized to extend sustainable benefits to small farmers and out-growers schemes;
• Provide support in developing a Long Term  Carbon Credits Scheme which can be traded by farmers to offset the cost of funding;
• Build a knowledge transfer platform on issues related to agriculture for  credit  and client facing officers;
• Develop a skills building framework on the agricultural sector to be used internally by the Bank

5.TRAINING AND SUPPORT

The Consultant will be expected to offer training and provide advisory as required.

6.REPORTING STRUCTURE

The consultant will be based in PTA Bank’s Nairobi office and will report to both PIF and TF department directors.

7.QUALIFICATIONS

The Consultant will be expected to have the following capabilities and skills:

• A University degree (Masters, or post-graduate) in Agriculture, Economics and other related fields;
• A minimum of ten (10) years of relevant professional experience in the financial sector; especially in development as well as regional integration and trade issues in developing countries;
• Knowledge of all aspects of the agricultural value chain financing in developing countries, notably input financing, crop financing, contract farming, post-harvest financing,  warehouse receipting, pre and post shipment financing;
• Understanding of strategic choices to successfully promote and finance the agricultural value chain;
• Experience in operating  in the agricultural Sector in emerging markets , preferably Sub-Saharan Africa;
• Experience in working with commercial out-grower schemes and small-scale farmer oriented organisations;
• Working Knowledge of technical aspects of agriculture related engineering such as irrigation, water management, soils characteristics, hydrology, crop trials and pilot schemes;
• Good knowledge of land and agricultural policies in member states;
• Strong analytical, writing and presentation skills are required;
• Fluent in English. Knowledge of French is an added advantage;
• Applicants of nationalities from COMESA member countries are preferred.

8.TIME FRAME

The consultant will be appointed for a period of 2 years. There is no guarantee for extension after 2 years. However, if PTA Bank budget can allow for an extension and the consultant has delivered in-line with expectations, an extension will be possible. The Consultant must be available to start at the earliest possible time and no later than July 2013.

9.APPLICATION

Applications should include a resume, passport size photo, contact address and names and addresses of three referees. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted for interviews.

Interested and qualified candidates should express their interest by submitting their applications directly to sheila.amule@ptabank.org or to the following physical address on or before 17.00 hours on 16th May, 2013:

The Director, Human Resources and Administration

The Eastern and Southern African Trade and Development (PTA Bank)

Bishop’s Road, NSSF Complex 22nd Floor

P. O. Box 48596 00-100

Nairobi

KENYA

Tel: +254 20 2712250 Fax: +254 20 2711510