Inclusive Access to Finance Officer at Solidaridad East and Central Africa
Solidaridad East and Central Africa
Job Title: Inclusive Access to Finance Officer
Duration: 1-year contract (extension based on
performance)
Duty Station: ECA Country of Operation
Reporting Line: Head of Programmes
About Us
Solidaridad is a global civil society organization offering
market-driven solutions for sustainable and inclusive production and trade
across diverse supply chains. We envision a world in which the economy
works for all: where all we produce, and all we consume, can sustain us while
respecting the planet, each other and the generations to come. Our mission is
to enable farmers and workers to earn a decent income, shape their own
future, and produce in balance with nature by working throughout the whole supply
chain to make sustainability the norm.
Role Overview
The Inclusive Finance Officer will strengthen access to
finance and financial inclusion for smallholder farmers, cooperatives, and
agri-SMEs across Solidaridad’s portfolio in East and Central Africa. The role
will identify innovative finance models, build strong linkages with financial
institutions, and develop tailored financial solutions that unlock investment
for sustainable agricultural development. A key focus is on ensuring the
underserved – especially women, youth, and rural entrepreneurs – are integrated
into financial ecosystems and can access services that are affordable,
appropriate, and inclusive.
Key Responsibilities
- Financial
inclusion strategy and ecosystem development
- Design
and implement financial inclusion strategies aligned with Solidaridad’s
agricultural development objectives.
- Build
relationships with banks, MFIs, SACCOs, fintechs, and other financial
intermediaries to improve access for smallholders and agri-SMEs.
- Organise
matchmaking events and B2B forums linking SMEs and funders.
- Collaborate
with FSPs to design and pilot innovative financial products (e.g. loan,
savings, and insurance products) tailored to smallholders, rural clients,
women, and youth.
- SME
& Farmer access to finance
- Assess
financing needs and constraints among smallholder farmers, cooperatives,
and rural enterprises.
- Provide
technical assistance in developing business plans, loan applications, and
investment cases.
- Support
farmers and SMEs in improving their bankability and financial management
skills.
- Track
repayment performance and promote financial literacy at the grassroots
level.
- Crowdfunding,
Investment Origination & SME Support
- Identify,
assess, and package investment opportunities for early-stage and
growth-oriented agribusinesses aligned with Solidaridad’s crowdfunding
platform.
- Conduct
due diligence, including financial viability, risk assessments, and
investment-readiness evaluations.
- Support
post-investment tracking including loan monitoring, repayment status, and
investor reporting.
- Maintain
an active SME investee pipeline and coordinate pipeline reviews.
- Provide
technical assistance to SMEs and cooperatives on business development,
governance, and marketing.
- Field
Support & Knowledge Sharing
- Conduct
regular field visits to provide on-the-ground support to farmers and SMEs.
- Collect
case studies, impact stories, and lessons learned for regional learning.
- Facilitate
in-person and virtual training, workshops, and review sessions with local
partners.
- Proposal
Development, Fundraising, & Strategic Partnerships
- Support
in crafting investment and donor proposals with detailed cost structures
and financial models.
- Contribute
to fundraising strategies and concept development.
- Identify
and onboard co-investment and co-funding partners.
- Work
closely with the Business Development and Market Access teams on value
chain strengthening.
- Strategic
Innovation in Inclusive Finance
- Pilot
and scale innovative access-to-finance models targeting marginalized
groups.
- Contribute
to the development of internal tools, training materials, and templates.
- Support
integration of financial inclusion strategies in donor proposals and new
programs.
- Work
with MEL teams to embed impact metrics and monitor the success of
financial inclusion efforts.
Qualifications and Experience
Academic Qualifications:
- Bachelor’s
degree in Finance, Agricultural Economics, Business Administration,
Development Finance, or related field.
- A
Master’s degree or relevant certification in financial inclusion, impact
investing, or enterprise development is a strong asset.
Professional Experience:
- 5+
years of progressive experience in financial inclusion, SME finance, rural
lending, or agri-business development.
- Demonstrated
experience working with MFIs, SACCOs, banks, fintechs, or donor-funded
financial programmes.
- Prior
experience structuring agri-SME financing, crowdfunding campaigns, or
blended finance solutions.
- Familiarity
with smallholder farming systems, cooperative governance, and value chain
financing in East Africa.
Key Competencies
- Strong
analytical skills in financial modelling, risk assessment, and investment
readiness.
- Practical
understanding of inclusive finance models for low-income, rural, and
informal sector clients.
- Excellent
facilitation, training, and relationship-building skills with diverse
stakeholders.
- Proficiency
in MS Excel, PowerPoint, financial tools; CRM or pipeline tracking systems
is an asset.
- Strong
written and spoken communication in English, as well as Kiswahili or other
regional languages preferred.
- High
integrity, adaptability, and ability to work independently under pressure.
- Proactive
and self-motivated, with the ability to manage multiple priorities
independently.
- Innovative
and solutions-oriented, with an entrepreneurial mindset.
- Adaptable
team player with experience working in multicultural, cross-functional
environments.