Job Description
Overall Function of the Position
Reporting to the Senior Value-Chan Development Specialist, the Rural Finance Specialist is responsible for coordinating and supporting the implementation of the project activities. She/he works in close collaboration with services providers in financial aspect. More specifically, the Rural Finance Specialist is responsible for:
Establishing contracts and agreements with service providers and monitoring their implementation;
Helping to ensure that the rural poor, including specifically women, have sustainable access to financial services.
In collaboration with rural finance service providers introduce these products in the intervention area which includes: (i) product development in savings, leasing, value chain financing products (including the exploration of warehouse receipting), and index-based weather insurance; and (iii) capacity building and linkages for rural women and men (financial literacy), their organizations and farmer associations to microfinance institutions (MFIs); and (iii) promoting sustainable rural financial services through financial support of the Access to Finance Rwanda initiative. Identifying institution-building needs of MFIs and other partners as appropriate and organizing the provision of related support;
Strengthen women and men management skills as individuals and cooperatives in order to enable them to transform their income generating activities into sustainable microenterprises along the selected commodity chain.
Provide overall guidance and support the implementation of group enterprises and market-based initiatives, in close collaboration with financial institutions working with the project. This includes setting up a financial facility to finance activities under this sub-component;
In collaboration with other heads of units, preparing the annual work plan, budget and reports.
In collaboration with other unit heads and the M&E specialist, monitoring the implementation and impact of Project activities in his/her area of specialization.
Ensure follow up of budget execution under “Rural finance unit.
Field monitoring in collaboration with M&E and ensure that progress reports are submitted on time to the relevant authorities;
Undertake any other assignments or relevant duties in the field of his/her competences as may be assigned by his direct supervisor.
Qualifications:
Master’s Degree or Bachelor’s Degree in Rural Finance, Economics, Agricultural Economics/Business Management,
For Master’s Degree, three (3) years of experience in the implementation of Rural Development Programs and Projects.
For Bachelor’s Degree, five (5) years of experience in the implementation of Rural Development Programs and Projects.
Having worked with IDA projects is an added advantage
Extensive experience of relationship with government institutions and international cooperation agencies;
To explore the readiness of MFIs/FIs to provide loans to traders, farmers and other value chain actors;
Rural finance experience in Rwanda such as rural and agricultural finance, value chain finance and access to finance services or smallholder farmers and farmers’ organizations,
Capacity building of smallholder farmers in finance literacy and farmer cooperatives and linkages to financial institutions to access finance services, and promote bankable projects;
Development, design or refining of agricultural financial products tailored to farmers ‘needs;
Capacity building of microfinance institutions and enable them to deliver better services to smallholder farmers;
Capacity to organize work at different levels of participation.
Good skills in coordinating and working in teams.
Good writing skills and competence in the use of computer software applications
Fluency in Kinyarwanda, English or French is required; fluency in both English and French an advantage.
Minimum Qualifications
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Bachelor’s Degree in Economics
5 Years of relevant experience
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Master’s Degree in Economics
3 Years of relevant experience
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Bachelor’s Degree in Business Management
5 Years of relevant experience
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Master’s Degree in Business Management
3 Years of relevant experience
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Bachelor’s Degree in Agriculture Economics
5 Years of relevant experience
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Master’s Degree in Agriculture Economics
3 Years of relevant experience
Competency and Key Technical Skills
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Integrity
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Strong critical thinking skills and excellent problem solving skills.
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Inclusiveness
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Accountability
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Communication
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Teamwork
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Client/citizen focus
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Professionalism
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Commitment to continuous learning
