Access To Finance Specialist (open To Internal & External Applicants)

Organizational Context

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is implementing the Enhancing Capacities of Young Women and Youth-Led Enterprises for Regional Trade (ECoWYERT) project, funded by the Mastercard Foundation. This project aims to build resilience and alleviate poverty by enhancing the capacities of women and youth-led MSMEs to leverage AfCFTA opportunities. The project is co-implemented across six African countries with a Project Implementation Unit based in Lusaka, Zambia. This role sits within this project structure.

Job Purpose

The Access to Finance Specialist will be responsible for establishing and managing the Grants and Revolving Fund components of the ECoWYERT project, with a specific focus on micro and small enterprises. This role is crucial for advancing finance for cross-border traders and MSMEs, creating pathways to dignified work for young people, particularly women. The specialist will lead the design, implementation, monitoring, evaluation, and risk management of these financial operations. Key contributions include developing innovative blended finance facilities, ensuring effective disbursement of funds, building partner capacity, and fostering strategic partnerships to enhance access to finance for project beneficiaries.

Responsibilities

Lead the design and structuring of impact-driven, innovative blended finance facilities, specifically the project's Grants and Revolving Fund components. This includes identifying, appraising, conducting due diligence, contracting, and onboarding strategic partners from both private and public sectors. Ensure effective disbursement of funds by reviewing beneficiary pipelines, conducting due diligence, and managing quality control and risk. Deliver training-of-trainer programs to build capacity of local partners and financial institutions for onward training on financial literacy and management for MSMEs. Collaborate with internal and external teams for seamless project implementation, and oversee the management of the fund components, partners, consultants, and beneficiaries. Facilitate stakeholder convenings, workshops, and webinars to foster tangible outcomes and implementation roadmaps. Integrate youth, gender mainstreaming, and disability inclusion, ensuring over 70% benefit for women. Develop risk assessment frameworks, disbursement strategies, and monitoring frameworks in collaboration with M&E specialists. Manage activity budgets, prepare technical and financial reports, and conduct financial analysis. Conduct impact monitoring and evaluation, participate in field missions, and identify/mitigate project risks. Contribute to knowledge building and sharing through research, developing business cases for financial products, and preparing project knowledge products and communications.

Work Experience

A minimum of 7 years of progressively responsible experience (with a Master's degree) or 9 years (with a Bachelor's degree) is required at the national or international level in banking, impact finance, development finance, or a similar field, with a strong understanding of structuring blended finance. Experience in designing, structuring, and implementing innovative and blended finance initiatives is essential.

Skills

Achieve Results, Think Innovatively, Learn Continuously, Adapt with Agility, Act with Determination, Engage and Partner, Enable Diversity and Inclusion, Knowledge Facilitation, Communication, Digital Awareness and Literacy, Knowledge Generation, Advocacy Strategy and Implementation, Brand & Quality Management, Systems Thinking.

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