Senior Inclusive Supply Chain & Community Engagement Specialist, Nairobi, Kenya

Background / General description

IFC, a member of the World Bank Group, is the largest global development institution focused on the private sector in developing countries. We create opportunity for people to escape poverty and improve their lives. We do so by providing financing to help businesses employ more people and supply essential services, by mobilizing capital from others, and by delivering advisory services to ensure sustainable development. IFC’s Sustainable Business Advisory (SBA) teams work with companies to adopt responsible business practices which transform markets and improve people's lives. We work with a range of industrial sectors including agribusiness, infrastructure, oil, gas, mining, services and manufacturing. One of the biggest challenges facing the private sector in Africa is how to promote inclusive economic growth that benefits communities, small and medium sized enterprises and the ‘informal’ sector. To this end IFC is looking to recruit a specialist to advise IFC and its clients on the development of inclusive supply chains and community engagement strategies. The position is based in Nairobi, and will report to the SBA Manager, Sub-Saharan Africa If the selected candidate is a current Bank Group staff member with a Regular or Open-Ended appointment, s/he will retain his/her Regular or Open-Ended appointment. All others will be offered a 3 year term appointment.

Duties and Accountabilities

The overall role of the Inclusive Supply Chain and Community Engagement Specialist will be to develop and manage IFC’s inclusive supply chain and community engagement programme in the agri-business, manufacturing, mining and banking sectors in Sub-Saharan Africa. S/he will work in close coordination with global and regional investment departments, country managers and other advisory services business lines to identify advisory opportunities and will provide leadership and relevant expertise to develop a pipeline of related advisory projects in the region. S/he will also be an active member of the core global Inclusive Supply Chain and Community Engagement Practice Group and support and develop global projects/programs in other regions as requested. Specific duties include: Program Development and Implementation Strategic: Develop, implement and manage SBA’s Inclusive Supply Chain and Community Engagement business plan for Sub-Saharan Africa; suppot SBA’s support to clients on community engagement strategies. Technical: Develop technical solutions for Agribusiness, Manufacturing, Mining and financial institutions clients, serve as the industrial specialists for SBA on inclusive supply chains. Work with existing and prospective clients to develop sound and sustainable business solutions to engage SME’s and communities in their supply chains and develop new products that meet the needs of SME’s and the base of the pyramid. . Develop and manage IFC’s Training Program for SME’s: Develop and oversee SBA’s training program for SME’s (Business Edge and SME toolkit) . People Management: Mentor, support and supervise the team of project leaders and support staff to set and achieve targets; be responsible for recruitment and on-boarding of new staff, facilitate knowledge sharing among staff members and support program team members to develop professional skills and expertise. . Project and Portfolio Management: Set yearly program/project targets and ensure effective implementation of the projects in terms of activities, timeline, budget and expected impact. This includes technical guidance, supervision and quality control from project start-up, through to implementation, closure, evaluation under IFC’s M&E framework and project management policies, the review and the sign-off of all supervision and project closure reports. . Budget Preparation: Prepare annual budgets and regular cash forecasts, and manage funds so that financial targets are achieved. . Fundraising: Work with the regional manager formulating the SSA strategy related to Inclusive Supply Chain and Community Engagement, and assume responsibility for fund raising in collaboration with the Regional Donor Coordinator. . Communication: Draft and circulate regular communications on client and program performance. . Relationship Management with Inclusive Supply Chain and Community Engagement Stakeholders: Liaise with IFC and WBG internal stakeholders active in Inclusive Supply Chain and Community Engagement; represent IFC externally to relevant global and regional industry players, international organizations and donors.

Selection Criteria

Masters’ degree in development economics or equivalent.

10+ years of relevant experience, with a successful track record developing sustainable supply chains for SMEs.

Understanding of how markets, especially in developing countries, function and ability to provide informed insights about the role of the private sector in addressing sustainable supply chains.

Experience in writing project proposals, logical frameworks and budgets

Excellent communication skills in English, and the ability to present ideas and information clearly and concisely; candidates with French or Portuguese language skills have a competitive advantage.

Experience managing complex projects, monitoring programs, and reporting on a project cycle basis.

Excellent organizational and people management skills.

Ability to operate successfully in a multicultural environment, and to develop and maintain effective relations with a large, and diversified group of internal and external stakeholders.

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