Operations Officer - AgriFinance Program- Lilongwe, Malawi

Job #:	120231
Title:	Operations Officer - AgriFinance Program
Job Stream:	Technical Assistance & Advisory Services
Location:	Lilongwe, Malawi
Closing Date:	02/27/2012
Background / General description:
The International Finance Corporation (IFC), a member of the World Bank Group, promotes sustainable private sector investment in developing countries as a way to reduce poverty and improve people’s lives. The Private Enterprise Partnership (PEP) for Africa is a primary vehicle for delivering IFC advisory services in Africa. IFC PEP Africa works in partnership with donors, governments, and the private sector to deliver programs and advisory services that accelerate the development of the private sector as the engine for reducing poverty and improving people’s lives. To support this mandate, the IFC has established the Africa AgriFinance Program (AAFP) to support smallholder farmers by working with intermediaries throughout sub-Saharan Africa. This program began operations in July 2009. The goal of the AAFP is to achieve large-scale impact on the availability of financing for agriculture and the food supply chain in Africa by leveraging existing financial institutions (local and international), agriculture market participants (agribusinesses) and knowledge management and capacity building efforts. IFC PEP Africa is seeking an Operations Officer based in Blantyre, Malawi, to take on project coordination of the Malawi AgriFinance Program. The main objective of the Malawi AgriFinance Program is to provide commercially-based finance and extension support services to a class of farmers currently unable to access either. Focus will mostly be on smallholder farmers across several promising agricultural value chains to provide not only financing but also to strengthen the quality of extension services to these farmers with a view to increasing productivity and business skills to enable them to conduct farming as an enterprise. The Malawi AgriFinance Program will be implemented through a partnership between NBS Malawi and IFC.
Duties and Accountabilities:
Reporting to the AAFP Program Manager, the Operations Officer will oversee the IFC advisory services work of the program in Malawi, under the guidance and with support from the IFC AgriFinance Program Sector Lead. Main responsibilities will include but are not limited to the following: Tasks and Activities • Supervise and coordinate implementation of the Malawi AgriFinance Project under guidance of the IFC Sustainable Business Advisory (SBA), and Access to Finance Business Lines. • Develop and maintain a detailed activity plan for the Project. • Act as liaison for the Project between key stakeholders. • Support partners in selection and supervision of various support service providers. • Develop a monitoring system for the Project based on specific performance indicators. • Liaise with development partners to ensure leverage of parallel project activities. • Develop advisory projects linked to IFC investments in Malawi. • Create templates to be used for future banks/regions as needed. • Prepare various reports including weekly and monthly progress reports and final pilot report. Implementation and Monitoring • Assist with the monitoring of the consultant groups implementing the program at individual bank level, including ensuring monthly, quarterly and annual reports are completed, managing the billing (together with finance), working with the banks management to be sure they are satisfied with the overall as well as individual components of the advisory package. • Create templates to be used for future banks/regions as needed. • Ensure clients are ready to receive IFC and consultant teams and have prepared answers to any advisory due diligence questionnaire previously sent by IFC. • Assist with other tasks as needed. Communications • Responsible for quarterly meetings with consultants and banks. • Prepare updates for Country Manager and Senior Management/Executive Directors. General Program Management and Administration • Work with the regional donor team in accessing funds and procedures for use of raised funds. • Budgeting for project. • Invoice review/payment processing.
Selection Criteria:
• Masters degree in business or agribusiness. • Minimum of 5 years’ experience in agribusiness and proven track record in the private sector; experience must include working with smallholder farmers in commodity lending, agricultural credit schemes, value chain financing and/or agricultural supply chain development. • At least 2 years’ experience with international companies/institutions, or comparable international exposure. Relevant experience in financial services or banking is an added advantage. • Experience in Project management and monitoring, preferably in development projects including experience in designing, leading and participating in training, technical assistance and capacity building assignments. • Experience in Sub-Saharan Africa and/or in transition economies is preferred. • Demonstrated self-motivation, initiative and resourcefulness, drive, character and integrity • Committed team player with exceptional inter-personal skills and ability to work largely unsupervised. • Excellent verbal and written communications skills in English including a high level of presentation skills. • A keen interest in development and working in a multicultural environment. • Willingness to travel within sub-Saharan Africa. Women are strongly encouraged to apply.
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