International Consultant: C517 - Supporting Partnerships and Innovation under the Access to Finance Strategy

Organizational Context

The International Trade Centre (ITC), a joint agency of the UN and WTO based in Geneva, aims to enable small business export success in developing countries. This role supports the recently approved Access to Finance Strategy 2026-2030, focusing on enhancing SME access to finance and investor readiness across micro, meso, and macro levels.

Job Purpose

This consultancy role is crucial for implementing ITC's Access to Finance Strategy 2026-2030, particularly focusing on Goals 1 and 2, which aim to improve SME finance readiness and their ability to access diverse financial services. The consultant will develop, structure, and operationalize partnerships, instruments, and delivery models to expand SME access to finance. This involves contributing to concept and proposal development, designing partnership models, negotiating arrangements, identifying and mapping strategic partners, and supporting the overall strategy implementation through cross-functional collaboration and the development of operational guidance and tools.

Responsibilities

Key responsibilities include supporting the design and drafting of concept notes, project proposals, partnership frameworks, and pitch decks for access to finance initiatives. This involves developing project budgets, financing structures, and ensuring proposals are technically sound and strategically aligned. The role also entails contributing to the design and negotiation of partnership models with financial institutions and development partners, identifying and mapping strategic partners, and maintaining a pipeline of potential collaborations. Furthermore, the consultant will support the operationalization of the Access to Finance Strategy through cross-functional collaboration, assist in developing the institutional toolbox and use cases, and contribute to the creation of standardized templates and decision tools for project design and implementation.

Work Experience

A minimum of five years of experience in project/programme management, development finance, or a related area is required. Essential experience includes banking, impact finance, and development finance. The role requires proven experience in designing, structuring, and implementing access to finance interventions for SMEs in developing countries, as well as experience working with public and private sector partners, particularly financial institutions.

Skills

Required skills include self-organization and planning, excellent written and oral communication, strong analytical capabilities, and the ability to understand, assess, and summarize financial, business, and regulatory information. Excellent report writing and presentation skills are also necessary.

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