About US:
The Agricultural Business Initiative (aBi) Trust is a multi- donor entity jointly founded by the Governments of Denmark and Uganda to support private sector led agricultural development to achieve the objective of the Government of Uganda’s Competitiveness and investment Climate Strategy (CICS). The mandate of aBi Trust is to support the private sector actors to increase their contribution to the agricultural sector by increasing land and labour productivity, and market competitiveness thereby contributing to poverty reduction through economic growth, wealth, and employment creation. aBi Trust strengthens competitiveness of the Agricultural and Agro-processing sectors through two (2) interrelated components: Value Chain Development (VCD) including trade-related Sanitary and Phyto-Sanitary and Quality Management Systems (SPS/QMS) and Financial Services Development (FSD).
Key Duties and Responsibilities:
The Financial Services Officer will be tasked to work closely with financial Institutions to expand financial services in all areas of agribusiness lending and other products.
The incumbent will offer technical support to improve and strengthen financial services for agricultural and agribusiness enterprises and broader finance and investment issues impacting on rural finance and value chain development
Participating in design and implementation of aBi agribusiness programmes, especially in relation to financial services and investment as required and provide technical backstopping to supported field projects;
Offer technical guidance to aBi partners on ways to address strategy and policy issues for finance and investment which support increased flows of financing of the agricultural sector, especially to small and medium agro-enterprises, rural households;
Appraise financing and investment requirements for agribusiness and recommend appropriate financing strategies to financial institutions for reducing risk and improving effectiveness in agribusiness lending;
Actively participate in capacity assessments and training needs of both existing and potential partners, evaluate capacity building needs in financial partner institutions for products and services which support improved impacts of access to finance and financial inclusion;
Participate in coordination and preparation of subcomponents business plans annual work plans, quarterly and annual reports;
Work with partners and technical assistance consultants to develop, pilot and market new products that contribute to value chain development as well as participate in the forums for promoting agricultural insurance, financial services and innovations, institutional strengthening and other stakeholder partnerships;
In charge of developing and maintaining working relations with counterparts in other organizations, associations, private sector firms and development agencies specialised in finance and agribusiness;
Support component team especially Operations and Portfolio Officer to track outstanding technical assistance and provide informative reports in accordance with the monitoring and evaluation system; maintain records the performance of aBi portfolio with partner financial institutions.
Perform any other activities as assigned to him/her by the component Head.
Key Performance indicators:
Financial Institutions accessing Technical Assistance; Financial Institutions recommended for lines of credit to aBi Finance;
Financial Institutions supported to develop agribusiness financing products;
Number of BDS providers maintained to support partner Financial Institutions
Value chain finance trainings conducted in partner financial institutions
Collaborations made for innovations in agricultural risk management mechanisms
Qualifications, Skills and Experience:
The Financial Services Officer should ideally hold a Master’s Degree in Business Administration (MBA), Development Economics, Statistics and/or related degree(s) required.
Demonstrated operational and/or project management experience (8-10 years) in one and/or a combination of the following areas in access to finance: Microfinance, SME banking, agri-finance, insurance/micro insurance, m-banking, credit reporting, risk management.
Strong expertise and experience working with client financial institutions experience in participatory and qualitative methodologies such as process evaluations, before-after designs and other approaches that make use of interviews and focus-groups; etc.
Skills and competencies in marketing financial services, Institutional Development and strategic management
Credit risk analysis
Branch banking or rural lending needs
Financial product development knowledge
Skills in lending to agricultural firms,
Portfolio analysis and building a lending Guarantee or credit portfolio;
Excellent interpersonal and teamwork skills.
Keen attention to detail, analyze and interpret complex documents.
Initiative and ability to manage multiple tasks
Exceptional planning and organizational skills
Ability to effectively communicate and respond to sensitive inquiries.
A good and resilient negotiator with sound judgment
Excellent interpersonal and teamwork skills.
How to Apply:
All suitably qualified and interested candidates should send their updated resumes with two career references including their contact numbers and copies of academic and professional certificates/ testimonials by email only to: recruitment@qsourcing.com.
NB: Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted for interviews.
Deadline: 10th July 2015.