International Consultant - Access to Finance Cross-Portfolio Coordination

Organizational Context

The International Trade Centre (ITC), a joint agency of the UN and WTO based in Geneva, empowers small businesses in developing economies. Its mission focuses on providing sustainable development solutions to the private sector, trade support institutions, and policymakers. The organization's access to finance work, particularly for women-led businesses (WLBs), is a growing priority.

Job Purpose

This consultancy aims to establish a coordinated and scalable access-to-finance ecosystem across ITC's women entrepreneurship portfolio. The role will ensure women-led businesses are systematically identified, profiled, and connected with appropriate financial instruments and investors. It involves fostering partnerships with financial institutions and contributing to ITC's strategic plan for 2026-2030, specifically within the SheTrades Initiative, STFF, and WEIDE Fund projects, to enhance financial resource access for women entrepreneurs to drive growth and international competitiveness.

Responsibilities

Key responsibilities include leading and consolidating WLB access to finance pipeline mapping and profiling across active projects, classifying businesses by readiness and size, and maintaining the WLB Access to Finance Pipeline Mapping Tool. The role involves developing a WLB Dealbook and providing gender-disaggregated data. Additionally, the consultant will support the implementation of the Gender Lens Toolkit, identify and profile gender lens capital providers, and initiate partnerships with financial institutions. Cross-portfolio coordination, ensuring alignment with broader trade objectives, and leading access to finance activities are crucial. The consultant will also consolidate insights, develop a learning agenda, and manage a repository of tools and templates.

Work Experience

A minimum of five years of experience in banking, impact finance, or development finance is required. Experience in designing and implementing access to finance interventions for SMEs in developing countries, working on gender-lens investment or women's financial inclusion, and developing partnerships with financial institutions is essential.

Skills

Strong self-organisation and planning; ability to manage multiple workstreams. Excellent written and oral communication skills. Strong analytical skills for assessing financial, business, and regulatory information. Collaborative working style, comfortable in a coordination role.

Explore related opportunities