Agriculture Finance Director - USAID Transforming Financial Markets for Ag SMEs in Africa

About Palladium:

Palladium is a global leader in the design, development and delivery of Positive Impact – the intentional creation of enduring social and economic value.  We work with governments, businesses, and investors to solve the world's most pressing challenges. With a team of more than 3,000 employees operating in 90 plus countries and a global network of over 35,000 experts, we help improve economies, societies and, most importantly, people's lives.

This Proposal Opportunity:

Palladium is seeking an Ag Finance specialist for an anticipated USAID-funded program across Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda, and Zambia which is anticipated to begin in 2025. The USAID Transforming Financial Markets for Agriculture SMEs is likely to be a 5-year program focused on mobilizing private capital for agricultural small-and-medium enterprises (SMEs) strengthen agriculture value chains. The activity will leverage results-based tools used in USAID’s finance and investment mechanisms – supporting a range of agricultural firms to expand investments and operations via a blended finance approach.

Duration: 5 years (anticipated start in 2025)
Location: Kenya

Primary Role and Responsibilities:

Define the program’s strategy to deliver innovative and fit-for-purpose financial products/services, and expand growth of financial institutions related to East Africa’s agricultural sector
Design and operationalize blended finance mechanisms to mobilize private capital for agricultural SMEs in East Africa.
Provide technical leadership to increase access to tailored financial products and stimulate for blended finance instruments. This may include overseeing the provision of technical assistance to financial services providers (banks and non-bank intermediaries) to enhance their products and services, structuring incentive schemes to enable financial institutions to expand into new sectors and value chains, among other activities.
Represent the program’s financial intermediary-related activities in meetings with public and private sector actors including country governments, non-governmental organizations, business associations, among others
Supervise implementing partners, sub-contractors, and grantees as they undertake tasks relating to expanding and supporting Fis and blended finance initiatives
Travel to various regions of East and Southern Africa as needed
Any and all other project-related tasks as required by the Chief of Party and Palladium HQ

Key Competencies Required:

Advanced knowledge of the blended finance, financial sector, and financial institution interventions in East Africa, including key stakeholders and existing products and services
Robust networks within the region’s financial sector
Proven track record working with financial intermediaries (including bank and non-bank financial institutions, funds, and technology-enabled firms) to enhance their products and services focusing on the agricultural sector,
Experience working on USAID or other donor-funded programs of a similar size
Excellent communications, organizational, and interpersonal skills
Knowledge of USAID policies, procedures, and reporting requirements preferred
Experience working for large donor organizations such as USAID preferred
Written and oral proficiency in English required

Equity, Diversity & Inclusion - Palladium is committed to embedding equity, diversity, and inclusion into everything we do. We welcome applications from all sections of society and actively encourage diversity to drive innovation, creativity, success and good practice. We positively welcome and seek to ensure we achieve diversity in our workforce; and that all job applicants and employees receive equal and fair treatment regardless of their background or personal characteristics. These include: (but are not limited to) socio-economic background, age, race, gender identity and expression, religion, ethnicity, sexual orientation, disability, nationality, veteran, marital or Indigenous status.

 Should you require any adjustments or accommodations to be made due to a disability or you are a neurodivergent individual or for any other circumstance, please email our team at accessibility@thepalladiumgroup.com and we will be in touch to discuss.

Safeguarding - We define Safeguarding as “the preventative action taken by Palladium to protect our people, clients and the communities we work with from harm”. We are committed to ensuring that all children and adults who come into contact with Palladium are treated with respect and are free from abuse.  All successful candidates will be subject to an enhanced selection process including safeguarding-focused interviews and a rigorous due diligence process.