TA Programme supporting EIB intermediated lending operations for small and medium agri-food sector investments integrating smallholders

The beneficiary countries of the Technical Assistance Programme supporting EIB intermediated lending operations for small and medium agri-food sector investments integrating smallholders (“TA Programme”) are Malawi and Zambia.

The EIB is putting in place in Malawi and Zambia a number of intermediated lending and guarantee operations (“Credit Facilities”) to support the longer-term investment-oriented funding needs of private sector entities (mostly small and medium enterprises -SMEs) integrating smallholder producers into agri-food value chains. The beneficiary institutions of the TA Programme are financial intermediaries (“FIs”) based in these countries and include commercial banks and potentially leasing companies engaged in providing finance to private sector entities. In addition, initially in Malawi only and potentially to be extended to Zambia, the TA Programme also targets the SMEs active in the agri-food value chains as Final Beneficiaries.

 

The agri-food value chain expert (Key Expert 2) is expected to assume Team leader functions during absence of the Team leader.


He / She works as a consultant-trainer, and diagnoses needs in the FIs and FBs/smallholder groups and drafts TORs to mobilise short-term experts and quality control their deliverables. Depending on its expertise, Key Expert 2 will primarily be involved in supporting agri-food sector specific interventions, but will also provide input to the establishment of procedures and allocation screening.


Key Expert 2 will lead the preparation of training sessions and/or coordination of long-term in-country and short-term expertise to that effect in order to develop and deliver agri-food finance and agri-food outreach services to FIs and FBs/smallholder groupings, respectively. Responsibilities include drafting TORs, quality management control, training evaluation, guidance to trainers, reporting on attendance, performance, satisfaction and other indices relating to the functioning of the in situ training programme or consulting actions delivered.

Qualifications: 

Qualification and Skills:

  • Education to at least University Degree level in Agricultural Engineering, Agronomy, Food Science and Processing or closely related disciplines. Alternative professional qualifications may be accepted where supported by at least eight (8) years of relevant field experience;
  • Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of local languages in the countries of the assignment would be an asset (e.g. Chichewa, Bemba, Yao, etc.);
  • Computer literate;
  • Educational / trainer certification would be an asset;
  • Excellent communication and inter-personal skills.

General Professional Experience

  • In-depth knowledge of the agricultural, agri-food processing and logistics sector in developing countries as evidenced by a minimum eight (8) years of relevant professional experience (i.e. working on capacity building for agribusinesses and farmers and/or SME/Microfinance financial services providers);
  • At least five (5) years of relevant professional experience in the financing of agricultural, horticultural or agribusiness investments;
  • Good knowledge of social and gender aspects impacting small holder farmers participation in agricultural value chain and access to finance, as evidenced through project experience;
  • Experience or good knowledge (as evidenced through project experience) of EIB financial facilities would be an advantage.

Specific Professional Experience

  • Strong regional experience as demonstrated by at least five (5) years of relevant international professional experience (based outside the country of origin and including in Africa), of which at least 2-3 years should have been spent managing agri-food sector activities in at least one of the countries of eastern or southern Africa;
  • Minimum of four (4) years professional experience within an agri-food extension, outreach or finance provider, including specific focus on out-grower/off-take arrangements between agribusiness and supplier farmers, improving product quality and climate resilience and agri-food value chain finance;
  • Practical experience and proven track record in organising and delivering gender responsive outreach, extension and consultancy programmes with an agri-finance component and development of curricula, materials and demonstrations;
  • Fully conversant with best practices in agriculture, processing and logistics, as well as fair-trade and international standards relevant to the sector, as evidenced through project experience.
Start / Duration: 

The intended commencement date is end March/April 2020 for the TA support to the Malawi Credit Facilities. The period of implementation of the contract will be 48 months for the TA support to the Malawi Credit Facility.


The TA support to the Zambia Credit Facility is preliminarily anticipated to start in May 2020 with a period of implementation of 36 months.

Please send your most recent CV to: job [at] afci.de Screening of applications on a rolling basis