Associate Program Officer, FISFAP

The Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA) is working with African governments, donors, NGOs, the private sector and African farmers to significantly and sustainably improve the productivity and incomes of resource poor farmers in Africa through agricultural development.

AGRA is implementing the Financial Inclusion for Smallholder Farmers in Africa Project (FISFAP), funded by the Master Card Foundation. The project will be implemented in Kenya, Tanzania and Ghana between years 2015 and 2020. FISFAP’s overall goal is to reduce food insecurity and increase the incomes of about 700,000 smallholder farmers in the target countries by 2020 through improved digital financial and non-financial services delivery by financial institutions, mobile network operators and agricultural value chain actors, like agro dealers, aggregators-warehouse operators and farmer based organizations.

AGRA has its headquarters in Nairobi, Kenya and regional offices in Accra, Ghana. AGRA is seeking to recruit an experienced and exceptional individual to fill the Associate Program Officer (APO) position. Reporting to the Team Leader - Financial Inclusion for Smallholder Farmers in Africa Project (FISFAP), this position is nationally recruited and will be based in Daresalaam, Tanzania on a three (3) year renewable contract.

Associate Program Officer, FISFAP (Ref.: APO – FISFAP / 09-15)

The Associate Program Officer - FISFAP will develop a portfolio of partners and capacity building projects that enhance the delivery of appropriate and affordable digital financial and non-financial services to smallholder farmers. This means the APO will oversee market development and identify and build relationships with relevant partners that will deliver the FISFAP results for AGRA in Tanzania. S/He will focus on leveraging innovative technology to drive wide scale growth of FISFAP across Tanzania with travel up to 50% of time required.

Specific responsibilities will include:

• Identifying and managing opportunities and commercial and non-commercial partners that seek to deliver appropriate and affordable non-financial or financial services to smallholder farmers;
• Identifying and assessing available ICT and other mechanisms that facilitate financial and non-financial service delivery and agricultural value chain functions;
• Developing the business case for each potential partner involved in the delivery of digital financial and non-financial services delivery mechanisms;
• Assessing the needs for capacity building at smallholder farmers and financial and non-financial services providers level and translate those in concrete and concise funding proposals;
• Overseeing grantee actual implementation process and provide relevant technical backstopping as may be required;
• Contributing to the program strategy for seeding and scaling low cost rural branchless solutions for financial and non-financial services;
• Identifying and managing AGRA’s related commercial and non-commercial partnerships;
• Facilitating innovation and ongoing channel enhancements to significantly improve cost efficiencies of rural services delivery. Tracking the business for diverse channels in close collaboration with partners;
• Collaborating with the Associate Program Officers in Kenya and Tanzania to exchange client engagement and feedback for improving customer service and technology capabilities for strong usage of financial and non-financial services;
• Contributing to the data monitoring and management system for supported projects in consultation with M&E units, the Team leader, Program Officers and where necessary, with Grantees;
• Developing and/or reviewing the project implementation framework including implementation strategy with grantees and providing detailed annual work plans and budgets for Tanzania;
• Representing FISFAP at grantees fora and liaise with project focal staff for areas where special attention is needed by FISFAP program officers;
• Assisting the Team leader in assessing and identifying capacity needs and gaps in grantees ability to implement projects; and
• Representing AGRA with broad stakeholders, financial institutions, grantees, universities, other funders, international organizations and beneficiaries.

Key qualifications, knowledge and experience required:

• A minimum of an advanced degree in Finance, Economics, Business or related Field;
• A minimum of six (6) years of relevant experience in development and design of financial products and activities (preferably rural or agricultural finance). Preferably in the private sector (with mobile network operators, leading m-commerce firms, commercial or microfinance banks, card companies, management consultancies and insurance firms amongst others);
• At least two (2) years of management experience in with a strong emphasis on financial services delivery, agro business and related ecosystem with familiarity with existent industry challenges and constraints for rural access;
• An understanding of Agricultural value chains, marketing, commodities and the challenges faced by smallholder farmers , and with sound knowledge and experience in agricultural finance development at national, regional and/or international levels; and
• Ability to network, build solid business relations and to communicate fluently with financial sector players and smallholder farmers alike.

HOW TO APPLY:

For more information on these positions, applicants can visitwww.agra.org

An attractive remuneration package commensurate with the position’s responsibilities will be negotiated with the successful candidate. If you believe you can clearly demonstrate your abilities to meet the relevant criteria for this role, please submit your application with a detailed CV, stating your current position, current remuneration and e-mail and telephone contacts and quoting the respective reference number on your application letter.

To be considered, your application must be received by 16 September 2015 addressed to:

The Director

Executive Selection Division

Deloitte Consulting Limited

Deloitte Place, Waiyaki Way

Westlands, Nairobi, Kenya

Email: agra@deloitte.co.ke

Tel: +254 20 423 0000