UNCDF Jobs - 47649- Expert - Value Chain Finance - NPPP -2

Expert - Value Chain Finance - NPPP -2 - (2 positions) - (Open to Nepalese National only) NEX Project

Advertised on behalf of

UNCDF

Location :

Biratnagar, NEPAL

Type of Contract :

Other

Starting Date :

01-Sep-2014

Application Deadline :

23-Jul-14 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

Other

Duration of Initial Contract :

1 year with possibility of extension

Languages Required :

English

Expected Duration of Assignment :

UNDP is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality and culture. Individuals from minority groups, indigenous groups and persons with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated with the strictest confidence. UNDP does not tolerate sexual exploitation and abuse, any kind of harassment, including sexual harassment, and discrimination. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks.

Background

United Nation Capital Development Fund (UNCDF) is the UN’s capital investment agency for the world’s 49 least developed countries. It creates new opportunities for poor people and their communities by increasing access to microfinance and investment capital. UNCDF focuses on Africa and the poorest countries of Asia, with a special commitment to countries emerging from conflict or crisis. It provides seed capital – grants and loans – and technical support to help financial service providers reach more poor households and small businesses through inclusive finance approach, and local governments finance the capital investments that will improve poor peoples’ lives.

In Nepal, UNCDF has recently signed an agreement with Government of Denmark where UNCDF will implement an Access to Finance (A2F) component of UNATTI programme. A2F will be implemented through National Implementation Modality (NIM), the Nepal Rastra Bank’s, Microfinance Promotion and Supervision Department will be the implementing partner.

Access to Finance and UNATTI: This programme has been designed to enhance and improve agricultural sector in Nepal. The Government of Denmark along with the Government of Nepal is supporting the Inclusive Growth Programme in Nepal (UNNATI). The objective of UNNATI is “Promotion of sustainable inclusive growth that reduces poverty and raises living standards.” Within the context of UNATTI, the purpose of the Access to finance (A2F) project is to support financial service providers to more effectively serve the agricultural value chain actors with appropriate financial products thereby enabling smallholder farmers and MSMEs to invest into their value chain activities leading to the sustained improvement in competitiveness of selected value chains. The A2F project interventions will have a national impact with a specific focus given to the Eastern Development Region of Nepal, under the umbrella of UNATTI, specifically in the seven districts of Mechi and Koshi corridor - Ilam, Paanchthar, Terhathum, Bhojpur, Dhankuta, Taplejung and Sankhwasabha.

Duties and Responsibilities

Expert - Value Chain Finance will report to the Team Leader – Value Chain Finance and will be responsible for the day to day field related project activities and achievement with respect to working with financial institutions and other project partners.

Duties and Responsibilities:

Be responsible for maintaining and developing strong partnerships with regional and local level banks, microfinance institutions, cooperatives, insurance companies, partners, collaborators, private sector players, and any other associated stakeholder;
Will implement all field operations under A2F according to the work plans, project document and implementation strategy;
Ensure active participation and representation at different levels of the project regionally and nationally;
Work closely with local partners and develop strategies to promote their organizational development and capacity-building; Identify AVCF needs of value chain actors in tea, ginger and dairy sub-sectors and develop local partnerships for creating suitable financial products and ensure delivery;
Build capacities of local level financial institutions and project partners involved in AVCF. Conduct capacity building trainings for regional and local teams of financial institutions and selected partners under the project;
Monitor and ensure successful delivery of financial competency projects with local partners in EDR
Work closely with financial institutions to ensure successful achievement of pilots implemented on the field and up scaling of successful pilots;
Undertake periodic regional market mapping in the area Agriculture Value Chain Finance (AVCF);
Undertake market chain finance evaluations and analyses indicating the key stakeholders, identifying cross district characteristics, problems, opportunities and key entry points for interventions;
Identify financial products and entry points where value chain actors are benefitted in terms of use and access to financial services;
Identify product development needs in terms of savings, credit, insurance, warehousing and leasing products.

Competencies

Knowledge Management and Learning

Have excellent written and oral communication skills in English and Nepali;
Shares knowledge and experience and contributes to value chain finance areas;
Encourages project staff to share knowledge and contribute to the project.

Development and Operational Effectiveness

Ability to implement communications and publications strategies;
Excellent networking with a demonstrated ability to build and maintain professional relationships Communicates sensitively and effectively across different constituencies;
Demonstrates excellent ability to write and communicate orally with accuracy and professionalism;
Good knowledge of current development issues particularly those pertinent to UNCDF Financial inclusion Practice Areas;
Ability to conceptualize issues and analyze data;
Ability to use computers, office software packages and web based management systems.

Management and Leadership

Well-developed interpersonal skills, including the ability to liaise effectively at senior levels, including central bank departments;
Focuses on impact and result for the client;
Leads teams effectively and shows conflict resolution skills;
Consistently approaches work with energy and a positive, constructive attitude;
Builds strong relationships with clients and external actors;
Demonstrates openness to change and ability to manage complexities.

Required Skills and Experience

Education

Master’s degree in management, finance, development, business and economics or related fields.

Experience

At least 5 years of experience in value chain finance programs, focusing on agricultural value chains;
Experience of working with banks, microfinance development banks and large scale financial cooperatives will be preferred;
Proven understanding of best practices in Micro Small and Medium Enterprise finance, including agricultural finance and credit delivered by value chain actors;
Demonstrated experience in developing and implementing new agricultural financial products, including experience with market research techniques, piloting new products, promoting strategic alliances and monitoring results;
Familiarity with UN agencies and prior experience working with donor-funded programs will be an advantage;
S/he will have excellent technical skills in value chain finance, and an in–depth knowledge of inclusive finance issues especially gender inclusiveness and responsible finance;
Good understanding of performance monitoring of financial institutions and good grasp of monitoring and evaluation in general;
Have had experience working with the financial sector in Nepal.

Language

Fluent in English ( written and spoken).