Technical Advisor - Financial Product Development at the Deutsche Gesellschaft fur Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ)

The Deutsche Gesellschaft fur Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH (German Agency for International Cooperation) is an international enterprise owned by the German Federal government, operating in many fields across more than 130 countries.

In Nigeria, GIZ's portfolio includes among others, a programme to support the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) in its regional integration goals. The programme aims to strengthen sector-specific capacities in the areas of Peace and Security, Customs and Trade as weir as Strategic Management and Organizational Development in the ECOWAS Commission.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Technical Advisor - Financial Product Development

Vacancy No.: 023
Location: Abuja
Organization: GIZ Nigeria, AgFin

Background
GIZ. Solutions that work:

• As a service provider in the field of international cooperation for sustainable development and international education work, we are dedicated to shaping a future worth living around the world. GIZ has over 50 years of experience in a wide variety of areas, including economic development and employment promotion, energy and the environment, and peace and security.
• The diverse expertise of our federal enterprise is in demand around the globe – from the German Government, European Union institutions, the United Nations, the private sector and governments of other countries. We work with businesses, civil society actors and research institutions, fostering successful interaction between development policy and other policy fields and areas of activity.
• Our main commissioning party is the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ).
• The registered offices of GIZ are in Bonn and Eschborn. In 2019, we generated a business volume of around EUR 3.1 billion. Our 22,199 employees, almost 70 per cent of whom are national staff, work in around 120 countries. As a recognised development service provider, we currently have 556 development workers in action in partner countries.
• Furthermore, in 2019, the Centre for International Migration and Development (CIM), which is run jointly by GIZ and the German Federal Employment Agency, placed 262 integrated experts and 515 returning experts with local employers in our partner countries, or provided them with financial support, advice or other services.
• *Personnel and business figures as at 31 December 2019*

Programme

• The global project AgFin in Nigeria aims to improve the provision of financial services to agricultural and agri-based enterprises in rural areas that are tailored to their business models.
• The project is closely linked to the global project "Green Innovation Centres in the Agricultural and Food Sector (GIAE)" and cooperates with the regional project "Competitive African Rice Initiative" (CARI) as well as the bilateral project "Pro-poor Growth and Promotion of Employment in Nigeria Programme" (SEDIN).
• Part of the project implementation is carried out by a contracted consulting firm.
• The project is part of the One World – No Hunger Initiative. It provides training to enterprises in the agriculture sector supporting these enterprises in acquiring business management and financial skills
• The project also advises and supports the expansion of financial institutions into the agricultural sector and assists them with developing adapted financial services. This process is based on business models the project has identified as viable.
• Particular attention is paid to the needs of businesses owned by women and young people. Innovations that promote the environmentally aware transformation of agricultural systems receive special attention.
• The project is operating in a total of 11 states, namely Ogun, Oyo, Osun, Kebbi, Kaduna, Kano, Plateau, Nasarawa, Benue, Cross-River and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
• The project supports agricultural institutions, advisory services and their educational organisations in sustainably mainstreaming the knowledge products developed by the project. It also makes analysis and training tools available to other projects, and shares its experience of implementation.

Responsibilities & Tasks

• The Technical Advisor will be responsible to coordinate the developed of new or adaptation of existing financial services in collaboration with the partner financial institutions of the project, the AgFin project team, other GIZ programmes as well as other international organisations. At the same time the advisor will be acting as a focal person for all partner financial institutions within Abuja, the Middle Belt and Northwest regions of Nigeria.
• The position is based in the project office in Abuja with frequent travel to the various project locations.

Under the direct supervision of the Project Coordinator the Technical Advisor will be responsible for:

• Coordination and implementation of project activities
• Providing technical assistance and advanced trainings to the management and staff of partner financial institutions, with a focus on agricultural finance, financial inclusion, digital finance and organizational development
• Developing and implementing joint operational plans with partners
• Supporting partner financial institutions in developing needs-based financial services for rural/agricultural enterprises and jointly managing the market roll-out and review processes of products

Tasks
The Technical Advisor performs the following tasks:

In close coordination with the technical team the position holder:

• Develops and implements joint operational plans with partners
• Provides technical assistance to management and personnel of financial institutions;
• Works closely with partner financial institutions (fis) to review and adapt their products and internal processes to improve access to finance for agri-based enterprises in rural areas
• Guides and manages processes with the partner fis related to product piloting and market roll-out
• Maintains close working relationships with the focal persons at the FI partners
• Supports business case assessment for different agricultural value chains
• Coordinates the implementation of various training and capacity development activities for financial institutions
• Develops, organises and facilitates workshops and trainings if necessary
• Plans consultancy assignments as well as coordinates and supports their missions
• Conducts different project management tasks according to GIZ standards, e.g. Development of appropriate strategies, needs assessments
• Monitors and evaluates implementation data and activities/training
• Supports in M&E and reporting
• Provides technical guidance to the demand side advisor
• Negotiates and follows up on working agreements with potential and current partners
• Represents agfin on regional, national and international levels, as required
• Compiles detailed documentation of case studies, achievements and results
• Assists in and/or carries out other project activities and any other tasks as assigned.

Required Qualifications, Competences and Experience
Qualifications:

• Minimum of Master's Degree in Finance, Agriculture, Agricultural Economics, Agribusiness, Organisational Development, or related field

Professional Experience:

• Minimum of 5 years of professional working experience in a similar position
• Profound knowledge of rural and digital finance concepts, agricultural economics, agriculture
• Demonstrable advisory and facilitation skills
• Experience in working for an international organisation is an added advantage
• Experience working with banks and other financial institutions on agricultural finance products development is required

Other knowledge, additional competences:

• Strong oral and written communication skills
• Ability to communicate adequately with interdisciplinary/multi-institutional teams (units/research organizations, NGOs and Governmental agencies, farmers, their organizations, and donors)
• Advanced working knowledge of ICT technologies and computer applications (e.g. MS Office)
• Developed attitude and awareness of service delivery
• Very good organisational skills and structured working methods
• Strong analytical and report writing skills
• Ability to manage and prioritise his/her workload
• Personal integrity and accountability
• Positive, collaborative and constructive attitude to people and work.
• Composed and good humoured even under pressure
• Open to change and ability to manage complexities
• Knowledge of local Nigerian languages of the project regions is an asset
• Team player

Salary
According to GIZ salary scale for Band 4

Application Closing Date
1st March, 2022.

How to Apply
Interested and qualified candidates should submit their CV and Letter of Motivation as one document with complete contact details via email to: recruitment-nigeria@giz.de using the "Vacancy no. 023" as the subject of the email.

Note

• GIZ is an equal opportunities employer committed to diversity. All qualified candidates, regardless of age, sex, ethnicity, race and religion are encouraged to apply.
• Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted