NGO Jobs – Financial Services Consultant at Mercy Corps

Organization: Mercy Corps
Duty
Station:
Kampala, Uganda
About
Mercy Corps:
Mercy Corps Uganda in
partnership with TechnoServe is implementing a three-year U.S. Department of
Agriculture (USDA) funded market development program in Lamwo district of
Acholi sub- region in northern Uganda. RAIN stimulates economic prosperity and
food security in by improving the performance of the agriculture sector.
Program strategic objectives include: (1) enhancing smallholder farmer
production and profitability; (2) improving agribusiness and trade performance
of key input and output markets; and (3) expanding access to rural financial
services.
About
RAIN:
RAIN uses a market
facilitation approach with a focus on key service markets including inputs,
tillage, information, financial services, postharvest handling, and output
markets. RAIN seeks to achieve systemic change that results in increased access
to and use of financial products and services in underserved Lamwo district.
RAIN focuses on market change at the financial institution level (supply) and
farmer/agribusiness level (demand) RAIN encourages choice and plurality in
financial markets. To address underlying financial market performance
constraints (quality, access, skills and training) RAIN will encourage
diversity and competition among financial providers as well as delivery methods
for financial services. This includes partnering with providers focused on the
poor but also in parallel with larger, formal financial institutions and direct
actors in the targeted supply chains.
Focusing on several
business models provides RAIN the basis for larger-scale and sustainable financial
services and products in Lamwo.
Facilitate the physical
expansion and increased technical capacity of formal and informal financial
institutions, including the use of mobile payments systems.
Introduce new financing
mechanisms to expand the range of products and delivery mechanisms available to
farmers and agribusinesses (a range of agriculture credit products, VSLA,
formal savings and credit products, micro leasing and micro insurance, and
e-wallets/mobile payments up and down the supply chain).
Support farmer- and
business-level financial understanding and access to new products and
technologies (embedded financial and digital literacy services, build credit
history).
Support and expand new
financing mechanisms between actors within the agricultural market chain
(increase financial relationships between buyers and sellers).
The RAIN Financial Access
Sector Strategy was finalized in June 2013. Follow up to this, the program is
seeking the services of an international consultant to help in the implementation
of the key recommendations.
Job
Summary:
The general
purpose of this consultancy work is to assist the program in the implementation
of key recommendations by the HQ technical support unit. In the process the
consultant is expected to build technical capacity of staff under the
department.
Key
Duties and Responsibilities:
  • Conduct
    rapid operational capacity and product development assessment of RAIN
    partner Savings and Credit Cooperatives (SACCO) to inform interventions to
    improve operational efficiency and financial products and services
    responsive to demand of Saving Group members.
  • Conduct
    SACCOs’ capacity building activities that are informed by the assessments.
    These may include technical assistance and training, and suggest
    recommendations for consideration by the program beyond this assignment
    period.
  • Work
    closely with partner financial institutions to improve existing
    agricultural products and terms, development of new products and services,
    and delivery models. This will include working with at least one national
    bank and potentially an MFI.
  • Develop
    Segment profiles of market actors. Utilize existing data to develop market
    segmentation profiles (actor profiles) as a marketing tool for financial
    institutions to understand the range of current and potential clients.
    This is also a tool for RAIN to understand which interventions are/are not
    appropriate or applicable to different segments. Profiles should be
    created for farmers as well as agro-processors, equipment agents,
    input/output agents, and input suppliers.
  • Work
    closely with financial institutions and mobile network operators (MNO) to
    develop their strategy and application of technologies in their products
    and services including mobile technologies for payment services.
  • Develop
    M&E tools for capturing outputs, outcomes and impacts of interventions
    and develop reporting templates for partnering institutions.
  • Review
    the existing financial and digital literacy training curricula and the
    trainings offered by or planned by RAIN financial institutions, market
    chain actors, and MNOs and work closely for improvement of curricula and
    delivery methodologies based on based practices/impact research.
Qualifications,
Skills and Experience:
  • At
    least seven (7) years in financial services sector and rural financing
    with focus on the agriculture sector
  • Uganda
    experience preferred.
  • Experience
    in financial services including financial literacy programs and product
    development.
  • Solid
    experience in capacity building of lower tier financial institutions
  • Demonstrated
    experience in finance in market facilitation programming
How
to Apply:
All candidates should send
their applications via email their CV, cover letter, and writing sample
outlining specific relevant work experience, and daily rate to:
noetting@mercycorps.org.
Deadline:
24th October, 2013

For More Ugandan Jobs,
Please Visit https://www.theugandanjobline.com   or
find us on our facebook page https://www.facebook.com/UgandanJobline

Related Jobs