Blended Finance Facility Specialist - International Consultant
Organizational Context
The International Organization for Migration (IOM) is a UN agency promoting humane and orderly migration. IOM Iraq supports economic recovery and private sector development for vulnerable populations. This role contributes to the Peace and Recovery unit, aiming to establish a blended finance mechanism to enhance access to finance for underserved businesses and entrepreneurs in Iraq.
Job Purpose
This consultancy aims to support IOM Iraq in assessing, designing, developing, and operationalizing an innovative blended finance facility. The facility will utilize catalytic donor funding alongside commercial lending to improve access to finance for underserved businesses and entrepreneurs, particularly MSMEs and vulnerable individuals. The role involves providing technical advice to IOM, the Central Bank of Iraq, and partner financial institutions to create a practical, implementable, and scalable financing mechanism. The objective is to mobilize capital, reduce lending risks, strengthen financial institutions' engagement, and promote sustainable market development while ensuring financial sustainability, regulatory compliance, and measurable development impact.
Responsibilities
The specialist will lead the design, development, and operationalization of the blended finance facility, providing strategic and technical guidance. Key duties include financial structuring through modeling and risk analysis, supporting engagement with the Central Bank of Iraq and partner banks, and developing cooperation frameworks. The role involves establishing the facility’s operational model, risk management framework, and implementation procedures. Additionally, the specialist will design and deliver capacity-building initiatives, establish monitoring and reporting systems, and develop a strategy for future partnerships, resource mobilization, and facility expansion, including a scale-up concept note.
Work Experience
A minimum of 10 years of progressive professional experience in banking, structured finance, blended finance, lending, microfinance, financial inclusion, or development finance is required. Experience designing and implementing blended finance structures, credit guarantee facilities, or MSME financing programs is essential. Experience in fragile or emerging markets is highly desirable.
Skills
Blended finance, SME finance, financial inclusion, banking, structured finance, lending operations, financial product development, risk management, stakeholder engagement, financial modeling, capacity building, research and reporting, MDB/DFI engagement.