Associate Program Officer – Inclusive Finance and Business Development (BDS) RE-GAIN

Key Duties and Responsibilities:

Champion, support and monitor the multi-partite contracts as proposed for model 1 and 2 that will enhance the accessibility and affordability of FL-RS for smallholder farmers.

Ensure that maximum leverage is obtained from the smart subsidies available under the RE-GAIN program (value for money).

Implement business development programs that adopt the best practices and contribute to improved competitiveness of market actors in FL-RS provision.

Identify and assess available agricultural finance solutions and actors that enhance the financing of agricultural value chain actors with a special focus on MSMEs in postharvest management and delivery of FL-RS to smallholder farmers.

Monitor and analyze the cost-benefit of FL-RS adoption for farmers as well as FL-RS provision by MSMEs. This includes the documentation of the business case and bankability of threshing, drying and other services provision that reduce food losses.

Troubleshoot and scale innovative financial and non-financial solutions for (young and female) Agri SMEs and farmers (such as climate finance, leveraging technologies, regulatory/policy framework changes, non-bank led finance, trade finance, supplier finance.

Promote and continuously link ecosystem players and solutions that enhance access to finance and non-financial services for postharvest management food system actors.

Support the integration of the RE-GAIN partner’s performance in the Agri SME performance monitoring systems.

Support the development of a simple but robust Agri SME performance monitoring system in consultation with the M&E unit, business unit lead, and country staff.

Adapt, adopt, and scale RE-GAIN agricultural finance solutions and models at the country level and with relevant partners

Develop knowledge-sharing products and events to position the RE-GAIN program and AGRA as an innovative practitioner in deploying blended finance instruments to grow the market for postharvest management

Represent the RE-GAIN Program (and AGRA, where needed) in events, networks, and relevant fora.

Facilitate targeted business development services (BDS) and broker linkages between MSMEs, financial institutions, and market players to strengthen FL RS performance.

Provide oversight, technical support, and advice to implementing partners on issues related to the RE-GAIN program and any other related topics in financing and SME development in postharvest management.

Develop relevant partnerships to connect RE-GAIN program beneficiaries, especially youth and young women, to financial and non-financial services providers.

Industries:Food Production

Function: Others