Gender, Rural Finance and Financial Inclusion Specialist

Organizational Context

FAO is supporting Sierra Leone's inclusive rural development in partnership with key ministries. Despite efforts, rural women face significant exclusion from formal financial services due to gender-specific barriers like limited land access, low financial literacy, and unsuitable products. Systemic issues, including underutilization of the Collateral Registry and nascent implementation of national financial policies, further exacerbate these challenges. FAO's project, funded by FVC, aims to address these by promoting gender-responsive finance for smallholder farmers and rural communities.

Job Purpose

The specialist will lead the 'Plan' phase of the Sierra Leone project component, focusing on developing critical outputs between July and December 2026. This includes conducting a diagnostic study to understand financial inclusion needs and barriers, assessing Village Savings and Loan Association (VSLA) maturity and autonomy, and identifying suitable value chains and pilot districts. The role involves co-designing a pilot financial service package with rural women and financial institutions, ensuring validation by the government. The outcomes of this phase are crucial for informing the subsequent 'Implementation' phase, which will be delivered by a Service Provider in 2027.

Responsibilities

The specialist will execute activities for Component 1, focusing on three work streams. For the Diagnostic Study, they will develop the study methodology and instruments, conduct desk reviews and policy/stakeholder mapping, and lead field data collection via interviews and focus groups. They will also develop a VSLA maturity and autonomy assessment tool, analyze collected data, produce a draft diagnostic report, and organize a validation workshop. In the Targeting stream, the specialist will develop selection criteria for value chains and geography, conduct rapid screening, propose suitable options, and facilitate government and FAO sign-off. They will also develop target group and beneficiary selection protocols. For Co-design, the specialist will convene consultations with women, financial institutions, and government to form a working group, develop participatory pathways for linking women to financial institutions, and produce a co-designed pilot package including a capacity development plan, linkage strategies, rollout plan, and MEL plan. Finally, they will support the Service Provider in Component 2's inception phase to ensure a smooth handover of deliverables.

Work Experience

Requires at least five years of relevant professional experience in rural finance, with expertise in financial inclusion, gender-responsive programming, or applied research in rural development. Demonstrated experience in assessing needs and markets for rural finance products for women, using qualitative and quantitative methods with disaggregated analysis, is essential. Experience with VSLAs or similar institutions in Sierra Leone or West Africa, and knowledge of Sierra Leone's financial sector landscape, are also required.

Skills

Key skills include technical knowledge of gender-responsive financial inclusion in rural agrifood contexts, experience designing maturity/capacity assessment tools for community organizations, and the ability to facilitate multi-stakeholder consultations and co-design processes. A strong understanding of socio-cultural and gender dynamics in rural Sierra Leone is necessary. Familiarity with FAO's strategic priorities on gender equality and rural transformation, and experience in Results-Based Management (RBM), are considered assets.

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