Uganda: Financial Access - Enterprise Development Advisor

PROGRAM SUMMARY:

Mercy Corps implements high quality- analytical work in tough environments. We've been operating in Uganda since 2006 and currently manage a range of programs in Acholi and Karamoja sub-regions with funding from a host of donors. We focus our work on crowding-in private sector actors to deliver highly demanded products and services that improve and contribute to inclusive economic prosperity and overall quality of life. In 2012 we were awarded a 5 year USIAD/ Food for Peace- funded program working in the Northern half of Karamoja. The project called the North Karamoja Growth, Health and Governance Program (GHG) aims to support the immediate needs of program beneficiaries while promoting long term development by spurring systemic improvements in key economic sectors of northern Karamoja. The program has three strategic objectives (SO):

1 Pro-poor market development 2 Improved health for children under five years of age 3 Improved security and governance

GHG is implemented by a consortium of actors; Mercy Corps is the prime grantee, leading the implementation of SO1 and supporting SO2 and SO3, with accountability for all project interventions. World Vision Inc. is the technical lead for SO2, while Karamoja Peace and Development Agency (KAPDA) plus other local civil society agencies lead the implementation of SO3. A research partner, Tufts University's Feinstein International Centre (FIC), performs annual impact evaluations to inform ongoing programming.

POSITION OVERVIEW:

Mercy Corps is recruiting a full time Financial Access-Enterprise Development Advisor- that will oversee program initiatives aimed at building an Inclusive Financial Environment and a Business Enabling Environment. The post holder will offer direct technical support and assistance to pro-poor economic initiatives developing innovative business models to strengthen service and product delivery across all the SO1 sectors of Financial Inclusion, Business Enabling environment, Animal Livestock Health and Marketing, and Ag-input and commodity marketing.

The successful candidate must have excellent technical and leadership experience in areas such as; financial inclusion, business development services, capacity building, creative and innovative solutions in expanding access to finance, enterprise development, and market systems development. In addition, the post holder must have excellent writing and communication skills, experience building public-private partnerships, knowledge of USAID and proven project management skills.

The success of the Financial Inclusion- Enterprise Development Advisor, will be measured on three success factors; degree to which the Advisor shall promote and capture learning, institutionalize activity reviews, identify and evaluate preconceptions, while promoting a culture of inquisition. Second success factor is the degree to which the Advisor shall drive results, making critical decisions and producing scheduled outputs on time and with expected quality. Third success factor is ability to support/ facilitate the implementation of sustainable, innovative activities in all stages of pro-poor economic development.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:

General Management

• Support the design and acceleration of innovative interventions to crowd in formal financial institutions into GHG's economic development activities.
• Work closely with the Financial Inclusion team and all other GHG teams in planning and implementation of financial inclusion/ business enabling environment components of the project according to the approved work plan and budgets, project document and implementation strategies.
• Work closely with all other program teams at the local level to identify clients for financial services and to support service extension as well as to ensure synergy and to maximize program impact.
• Actively participate in the periodic program planning, review and reflection meetings and sessions.

Technical Advisory

• Work with the Financial Inclusion technical team to capture learning from the field and to support strategy and tactic adjustment as needed.
• Write and edit reports, assessments, analytical reports/ stories for learning and to articulate GHG's work in building an inclusive economic environment.
• Lead planning, monitoring, technical advisory and delivery of all components of the GHG Project that focus on Financial Inclusion.
• Work closely with the Deputy Chief of Party and Chief of Party, counterparts with other donor funded programs, private and public sector actors to design and implement innovative, and predominantly systems-level, interventions in these areas.
• Undertake assessments, project design and strategy of the Financial Inclusion and Business Enabling environments.
• Support and facilitate the Business Forums in Karamoja to become sustainable
• Identify the capacity gaps of financial services and GHG Micro Small and Medium Enterprise (MSME) partner actors, design and implement most feasible capacity building activities based on identified gaps.
• Conduct light due-diligence on potential partners and support the negotiation process, as requested, in finalizing teaming and partnership agreements.
• Ensure consistent quality and effectiveness of all Financial Inclusion activities in the project; and
• Lead thinking and practice in innovative approaches to NGO-Private sector partnership models, and ensure that experience is well-documented and contributing to thinking of the country program.

Monitoring & Evaluation

• Support development and implementation of project monitoring and evaluation processes that meet the basic monitoring and outcome reporting requirements of the GHG program.
• Work with MEL team ensure that lessons learned are built into future planning.
• Prepare periodic work plans and progress reports.
• Prepare accurate and timely reports and other project documentation and communication that contribute to a learning organization; good understanding of DPMELC is essential.

Administrative Responsibilities

• Coordinate with other Mercy Corps programs and local government bodies to ensure coherent program implementation and to capitalize on business opportunities in Mercy Corps' target communities.
• Conduct himself/herself both professionally and personally in such a manner as to bring credit to Mercy Corps and to not jeopardize its mission.
• Assists in all other tasks and duties as assigned.

Organizational Learning: As part of our commitment to organizational learning and in support of our understanding that learning organizations are more effective, efficient and relevant to the communities they serve - we expect all team members to commit 5% of their time to learning activities that benefit Mercy Corps as well as themselves.

Accountability to Beneficiaries: Mercy Corps team members are expected to support all efforts towards accountability, specifically to our beneficiaries and to international standards guiding international relief and development work, while actively engaging beneficiary communities as equal partners in the design, monitoring and evaluation of our field projects.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITY: Two Financial Inclusion Technical team members.

ACCOUNTABILITY:

REPORTS DIRECTLY TO: Chief of Party

WORKS DIRECTLY WITH: GHG program Team, Formal and Informal financial Institutions, Business Forums, and District Local Government

POSITION REQUIREMENTS:

• Master's Degree in Economics, Business Administration, International Development or relevant field.
• At least 3 years of experience providing technical support to agribusinesses, preferably in developing countries.
• Experience in MSME finance, value chain finance, access to finance and technical assistance in inclusive finance.
• Experience in Business Development Services, Business Strengthening and Enterprise Development
• Experience in Value chain Analysis and Market systems Market development
• Strong analytical and quantitative skills as well as familiarity with financial accounting required;
• Demonstrated flexibility, creativity and enthusiasm as well as a willingness to learn and to be continually adaptive within a dynamic and often self-directed working environment
• Demonstrated capacity to generate and to translate innovative ideas into practical development approaches as well as marketable investment proposals and concepts.
• Team Management and excellent interpersonal skills (communication and ability to work in multi culture teams)
• Experience working with USAID
• Excellent written and oral communication skills.

SUCCESS FACTORS:

The successful Advisor will work directly with small scale farmers while providing technical expertise to program team members. S/he will be innovative, decisive and have an inclusive leadership approach. Must have excellent communication and team-building techniques with the ability to manage ambiguity, frustration and stress while maintaining a sense of humor throughout. S/he will have high emotional intelligence, constructive mentoring skills and proven experience with capacity building and will be committed to long-term program sustainability and the delivery of high-impact activities. Successful Mercy Corps team members have a strong commitment to teamwork and accountability, thrive in evolving and challenging environments, and make effective written and verbal communication a priority.

LIVING /ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS:

This position is based in Kotido town in Karamoja. Kotido has basic health services. The town is small but there is an INGO presence with some expatriate staff. Running water is periodically available, Kotido is still off the national electric grid so power is supplied by solar and generators. The position requires frequent travel to field sites around Karamoja. Mercy Corps has a large, well equipped field office in Kotido, and the expatriate communal residence is located in a well built house on the office compound. There is shared accommodation for staff in Kotido. The field location is ineligible for family members.

Mercy Corps Team members represent the agency both during and outside of work hours when deployed in a field posting. Team members are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner and respect local laws, customs, and MC policies, procedures, and values at all.

Please follow this link to apply: http://www.aplitrak.com/?adid=amFtYW5kYS4xNjMxMi4zODMwQG1lcmN5Y29ycHMuYXBsaXRyYWsuY29t