Senior Specialist - Blended Finance at AGRA

Nairobi, , Kenya -

Full Time

Start Date

Immediate

Expiry Date

12 May, 26

Salary

0.0

Posted On

11 Feb, 26

Experience

5 year(s) or above

Remote Job

Yes

Telecommute

Yes

Sponsor Visa

Skills

Blended Finance, Agricultural Finance, Public Sector Engagement, Risk Mitigation, Partnership Development, Financial Instruments, Market Systems Development, Youth Empowerment, Gender Inclusiveness, Policy Design, Consultancy, Resource Mobilization, Networking, Agricultural Economics, Digital Financial Services, Communication Skills

Industry

Non-profit Organizations

Description

Working in alignment with the development priorities of our focus countries, we enable farmers to access improved and high-yielding seeds, gain knowledge on sustainable farming, and link to profitable markets. In our work, we aspire to build the alliances, partnerships, and networks required to drive an inclusive agricultural transformation. We work with our partners to create an equitable youth-friendly environment that harnesses the youth dividend on the continent to drive growth and facilitate open employment opportunities for young women and men. We achieve our key objectives through a focus on the following five areas of intervention: Policy and state capability - We support governments in creating an enabling environment for private sector involvement in agricultural transformation. Seed systems – We trigger higher productivity by increasing the availability and access to improved seeds by farmers, allowing them to increase their harvests for food security and better incomes. Sustainable farming – We support farmers in building resilient farming systems for sustained high yields through interventions such as mechanization and irrigation. Inclusive markets trade and finance – We work to increase the linkages between farmers and other market actors for a positive, sustained cycle of commercialization and reinvestment. Youth, Gender, and Inclusiveness – We enable women and youth to contribute to and benefit from agriculture for their economic empowerment. AGRA seeks to recruit a Senior Specialist – Blended Finance to support its programs. The Senior Specialist – Blended Finance supports governments and public institutions, including development banks, to play their role of leadership in creating an enabling environment that motivates potential funders (like DFIs/IFIs and financial services providers) to enter the food systems/agricultural sector, which is perceived as risky with low returns. This role influences governments and public institutions to make the agricultural finance sector more attractive for financial sector players through the effective design and deployment of public sector instruments like input subsidy, guarantee schemes, and other de-risking tools and policies. The ideal candidate will forge partnerships between Governments, public institutions, and financial sector players in the development, funding, and deployment of blended finance instruments that address the risks and gaps in financing the agricultural sector. S/He will support the development of models and instruments that enable the financial ecosystem to effectively fund the agricultural sector. The role holder will actively co-develop innovative risk mitigating instruments (including insurance) that unlock financing for Agribusinesses and farmers and promote, where necessary, the use of digital channels for financial services delivery to reduce risk and costs of financing the agricultural sector. Key Duties and Responsibilities: Assess, analyze, and understand the Agricultural Finance situation in each of AGRA’s 15 focus countries in relation to the country plans, focus value chains, availability of youth-focused funding, and AGRA’s investment portfolio. Identify risks and market gaps in financing the input and output markets for the identified value chains in collaboration with the AGRA country staff. Identify relevant public sector partners (Ministries, Central bank, de-risking schemes, DFIs/IFIs, donors) that are instrumental in designing and deploying de-risking instruments and relevant policies and regulations that enhance financing of food systems with a focus on the agricultural sector. Support AGRA’s country teams to engage public sector actors and enhance their role in reducing the cost and risk of financing the agricultural sector by introducing innovations and best practices through consultancies, convenings, and catalytic grants. Initiate dialogue with public sector partners on their role in financing the agricultural sector and the support that AGRA could bring to expand and improve financing of food systems. This could be through consultancies, grants, and convenings. Engage with public sector actors to support them in identifying opportunities and potential partners that improve access to financial services for food system actors. A trusted technical advisor to the Governments and, based on skills and evidence, advocates for the deployment of public funds to catalyze agricultural finance in the countries. Build strong networks in agricultural finance and stay abreast of market developments to proactively disseminate knowledge and experience to AGRA’s partners, networks, and other stakeholders in Africa. Develop and optimize tailored solutions that grow the agricultural finance sector (using public and donor funding) as a project proposal or program, including facility structuring, negotiations, documentation, and delivery. Achieve Resource Mobilization for AGRA and the focus countries to expand the blended finance portfolio and profile of AGRA. Optimizes relevant data and information and analytics to support the Head – Inclusive Finance to drive effective negotiations with governments and donor agencies involved with dense, functional networks of blended finance partners throughout AGRA’s program area. Document and disseminate learnings derived from the blended finance work. Key Qualifications and Experience Required: Bachelor’s degree from a reputable academic institution in a relevant field, such as public finance, agricultural economics, or business economics A master’s degree in (agricultural) business, macroeconomics, or another relevant field is desired. Experience in financial development, preferably in a public (funded) institution or an agricultural finance program in Africa Good knowledge of the structure and functioning of public sector institutions that can reduce the cost and risk of agricultural finance. Demonstrated expertise in designing and implementing blended finance structures that mobilize private capital to support inclusive and sustainable agricultural development. Experience in the financial and agricultural sector and working with relevant public institutions that influence the functioning of the financial ecosystem. Ability to align blended finance mechanisms with development outcomes and climate resilience in the agriculture sector. Proficiency in structuring concessional finance instruments (e.g., guarantees, subordinated debt, technical assistance) tailored to agricultural value chains and rural development context. Ability to work effectively and build the knowledge base of both national and regional teams in the specialized field of blended finance for food systems. Knowledge of market systems development (MSD) approaches and their interaction with blended finance intervention. In-depth understanding of the financing needs and challenges across agricultural value chains, especially in smallholder-dominated markets. Knowledge of the public regulatory regimes operating at the national level to identify areas for improvement in the financial instruments and products available to the agricultural sector. Proven experience working with bilateral and multilateral donors, development finance institutions (DFIs), and philanthropic organizations to mobilize capital and align funding with agricultural development objectives. Demonstrated ability to build partnerships that enhance the scalability and sustainability of blended finance interventions in agriculture. Excellent writing skills (ToRs, grant proposals, and knowledge documents) and communication skills (conducting webinars, chairing meetings, panel and moderation roles).

Responsibilities

The Senior Specialist - Blended Finance will support governments and public institutions in creating an enabling environment for agricultural finance. This includes developing partnerships and innovative financial instruments to address risks in the agricultural sector.