Historique

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 Microfinance Promotion and Supervision Department of Nepal Rastra Bank will be theimplementing 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.

Devoirs et responsabilités

  • Responsible for maintaining and developing strong partnership with regional and local level banks, micro-finance institutions, cooperatives, insurance companies, partner institutions, collaborators, private sector players, and any other associated stakeholders;
  • Working as a 'Coordination Point' between Component 1.1 and Component 1.2 of UNNATI Project in EDR;
  • Plays the role of Loan Facilitator by establishing cordial relationship between Component 1.1 UNNATI Challenge Fund (UCF) Grantees and Component 1.2 Performance Based Agreement (PBA)Grantees/Technical Assistance (TA) Partners.
  • Ensures active participation and representation at different levels of the project in the field level;
  • Liaises closely with local partners and communicates and meets with them on various issues as directed by Team Leader/Project Management;
  • Builds capacities of local level financial institutions and project partners involved in Agriculture Value Chain Finance (AVCF), mainly in the field of credit appraisal, marketing and follow-up activities;
  • Undertakes periodic regional market mapping in the area of AVCF.  Keeps the periodic record of the number of banks and financial institutions including insurance companies, Branchless Banking (BLB) points and their agents in different parts of EDR, and their products and services;
  • Assists the Project Team and Monitoring components in organizing various trainings, workshops, seminars, or field visits and managing their logistics;
  • Spot verification of agreement compliance by PBA Grantees/TA Partners and reporting to the Head Office, as per requirement;
  • Verification/certification of claims by PBA Grantees/TA Partners and forwarding the documents for payments;
  • Payment facilitation to partner institutions;
  • Receiving/sending the necessary documents from/to the Head Office;
  • Other necessary works, as assigned by management.

Gender and Social Inclusion

  • UNNATI -A2F works to address gender issues and has gender disaggregated indicators to reach unbanked population including women with appropriate financial services;
  • A2F also works to reduce the financial inequalities in the communities by helping the rural population have better access to financial services. The project ensures the participation of at least 55 percent of female in all of its activities;
  • The participation of women and people of disadvantaged groups living in the rural areas of the UNNATI project districts is prioritized in all activities;
  • To this effect, the Value Chain officer will ensure that the gender and social inclusion are adequately addressed and reflected.

Compétences

  • Promotes sharing of knowledge and experience, and actively works towards continued personal learning and development;
  • Good practical knowledge of inter-disciplinary development issues;
  • Ability to go beyond established procedures and models, propose new approaches which expand the range of projects;
  • Builds  strong relationships  with all partner, focuses on impact and results and responds positively to critical feedback;
  • Consistently approaches work with energy and a positive, constructive attitude;
  • Remains  calm, in control and good humored even under pressure;
  • Proven networking, team building, organizational and communication skills;
  • Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability;
  • Fulfils all obligations to gender sensitivity and zero tolerance for sexual harassment.

Knowledge Management and Learning

  • Have excellent written and oral communication skills in English and Nepali;
  • Have knowledge of credit procedures that are prevailing in the banking sector;
  • Have knowledge of various insurance products and services;
  • Have knowledge of agriculture financing or agriculture value chain.

Management and Leadership

  • Well developed interpersonal skills, including the ability to liaise effectively with officials of BFIs situated in the project area and the officials of Component 1.1;
  • Works in team effectively and shows conflict resolution skills;
  • Builds strong relationship with the branches and offices of partner BFIs and other concerned agencies;
  • Demonstrates openness to change and ability to manage complexities.

Qualifications et expériences requises

Education:

  • Completion of Master’s degree or Bachelor’s degree in Business Management, Banking, Finance, Economics, Agriculture, Rural Development or related fields.

 Expereince:

  • 3 years of work experience for Master’s degree and 7 years of work experience for Bachelor’s degree working at bank or financial institution; preferably bank;
  • Knowledge of agriculture value chain finance or agriculture/rural finance or SME banking.
  • Knowledge of banking and insurance products and services.