Palladium: Make It Possible
: Kenya
Date : 2023-03-28
Guarantees Manager
USAID FTF Kenya Private Sector Activity
Project Overview And Role
Palladium is seeking a Guarantees Manager for an anticipated USAID-funded economic growth program which is anticipated to begin in 2023. The USAID/Kenya and East Africa Feed the Future (FtF) Private Sector Activity (PSA) will be a 5-year program focused on accelerating agriculture-led growth in Kenya through partnerships with large agricultural sector firms (such as processors and off-takers) and expansion of smallholder farmer out-grower schemes. The anticipated activity will focus on creating jobs and generating large scale increases in sales/exports in the agriculture sector cost-effectively and, ideally, through a sustainable and locally-led vehicle. The activity would combine tools used in USAID’s traditional private sector development activities with tools used to mobilize finance and investment into one mechanism – supporting a range of agricultural firms to expand investments and operations via a blended finance approach. For more information on the potential project, please consult the RFI: https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/view-opportunity.html?oppId=338564 .
Duration: 5 years (anticipated start in July 2023)
Location: Nairobi, Kenya
Primary Duties And Responsibilities
Conduct rapid review of financial institutions with DCA guarantees based on Palladium previous work to establish a strategy to address access to financing in targeted value chains.
Work to connect prospective investors with DCA guarantees to ensure risk is sufficiently mitigated to finance target value chain SMEs
Analyze reasons for DCA under-utilization as well as success factors and develop methods to increase their utilization among Kenya’s financial institutions.
Supervise the work of subcontractors on KIM working to provide technical assistance and training to financial institutions.
Lead conversations with USAID Kenya and DCA in Washington to negotiate changes to existing DCA guarantee instruments and how they can be modified to align with a changing Kenyan market.
Work with the Opportunities Team to develop a pipeline of private sector firms whose loans could potentially be backed by DCA guarantees.
Monitor DCA utilization in the Kenyan market each quarter and report this information to USAID.
Develop and maintain a community of practice among financial institutions with DCAs to share lessons learned, highlight successes, and develop best practices.
Required Qualifications
Master’s Degree in a relevant subject (MBA, MA in Business, Economics, International Development, Agriculture, etc.) or a B.A. and 10+ years of similar experience.
Five years or more of work experience required in the finance and investment field.
Significant experience and/or exposure to USAID’s Development Credit Authority mechanism required.
Overall experience with loan guarantee mechanisms, financial inclusion services, and/or alternative financing schemes required.
Demonstrated Experience Providing Training To Financial Sector Actors Required
Excellent contacts within Kenyan international banking/investment fields
Impeccable professional record and integrity
Excellent verbal and written communication skills in English
Local Kenyan candidates are preferred
Company Overview
About Palladium - Palladium is a global leader in the design, development and delivery of Positive Impact – the intentional creation of enduring social and economic value. We work with governments, businesses, and investors to solve the world's most pressing challenges. With a team of more than 3,000 employees operating in 90 plus countries and a global network of over 35,000 experts, we help improve economies, societies and, most importantly, people's lives.
Equity, Diversity & Inclusion - Palladium is committed to embedding equity, diversity, and inclusion into everything we do. We welcome applications from all sections of society and actively encourage diversity to drive innovation, creativity, success and good practice. We positively welcome and seek to ensure we achieve diversity in our workforce; and that all job applicants and employees receive equal and fair treatment regardless of their background or personal characteristics. These include: (but are not limited to) socio-economic background, age, race, gender identity and expression, religion, ethnicity, sexual orientation, disability, nationality, veteran, marital or Indigenous status.
Should you require any adjustments or accommodations to be made due to a disability or you are a neurodivergent individual or for any other circumstance, please email our team at accessibility@thepalladiumgroup.com and we will be in touch to discuss.
Safeguarding - We define Safeguarding as “the preventative action taken by Palladium to protect our people, clients and the communities we work with from harm”. We are committed to ensuring that all children and adults who come into contact with Palladium are treated with respect and are free from abuse. All successful candidates will be subject to an enhanced selection process including safeguarding-focused interviews and a rigorous due diligence process.
USAID FTF Kenya Private Sector Activity
Project Overview And Role
Palladium is seeking a Guarantees Manager for an anticipated USAID-funded economic growth program which is anticipated to begin in 2023. The USAID/Kenya and East Africa Feed the Future (FtF) Private Sector Activity (PSA) will be a 5-year program focused on accelerating agriculture-led growth in Kenya through partnerships with large agricultural sector firms (such as processors and off-takers) and expansion of smallholder farmer out-grower schemes. The anticipated activity will focus on creating jobs and generating large scale increases in sales/exports in the agriculture sector cost-effectively and, ideally, through a sustainable and locally-led vehicle. The activity would combine tools used in USAID’s traditional private sector development activities with tools used to mobilize finance and investment into one mechanism – supporting a range of agricultural firms to expand investments and operations via a blended finance approach. For more information on the potential project, please consult the RFI: https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/view-opportunity.html?oppId=338564 .
Duration: 5 years (anticipated start in July 2023)
Location: Nairobi, Kenya
Primary Duties And Responsibilities
Conduct rapid review of financial institutions with DCA guarantees based on Palladium previous work to establish a strategy to address access to financing in targeted value chains.
Work to connect prospective investors with DCA guarantees to ensure risk is sufficiently mitigated to finance target value chain SMEs
Analyze reasons for DCA under-utilization as well as success factors and develop methods to increase their utilization among Kenya’s financial institutions.
Supervise the work of subcontractors on KIM working to provide technical assistance and training to financial institutions.
Lead conversations with USAID Kenya and DCA in Washington to negotiate changes to existing DCA guarantee instruments and how they can be modified to align with a changing Kenyan market.
Work with the Opportunities Team to develop a pipeline of private sector firms whose loans could potentially be backed by DCA guarantees.
Monitor DCA utilization in the Kenyan market each quarter and report this information to USAID.
Develop and maintain a community of practice among financial institutions with DCAs to share lessons learned, highlight successes, and develop best practices.
Required Qualifications
Master’s Degree in a relevant subject (MBA, MA in Business, Economics, International Development, Agriculture, etc.) or a B.A. and 10+ years of similar experience.
Five years or more of work experience required in the finance and investment field.
Significant experience and/or exposure to USAID’s Development Credit Authority mechanism required.
Overall experience with loan guarantee mechanisms, financial inclusion services, and/or alternative financing schemes required.
Demonstrated Experience Providing Training To Financial Sector Actors Required
Excellent contacts within Kenyan international banking/investment fields
Impeccable professional record and integrity
Excellent verbal and written communication skills in English
Local Kenyan candidates are preferred
Company Overview
About Palladium - Palladium is a global leader in the design, development and delivery of Positive Impact – the intentional creation of enduring social and economic value. We work with governments, businesses, and investors to solve the world's most pressing challenges. With a team of more than 3,000 employees operating in 90 plus countries and a global network of over 35,000 experts, we help improve economies, societies and, most importantly, people's lives.
Equity, Diversity & Inclusion - Palladium is committed to embedding equity, diversity, and inclusion into everything we do. We welcome applications from all sections of society and actively encourage diversity to drive innovation, creativity, success and good practice. We positively welcome and seek to ensure we achieve diversity in our workforce; and that all job applicants and employees receive equal and fair treatment regardless of their background or personal characteristics. These include: (but are not limited to) socio-economic background, age, race, gender identity and expression, religion, ethnicity, sexual orientation, disability, nationality, veteran, marital or Indigenous status.
Should you require any adjustments or accommodations to be made due to a disability or you are a neurodivergent individual or for any other circumstance, please email our team at accessibility@thepalladiumgroup.com and we will be in touch to discuss.
Safeguarding - We define Safeguarding as “the preventative action taken by Palladium to protect our people, clients and the communities we work with from harm”. We are committed to ensuring that all children and adults who come into contact with Palladium are treated with respect and are free from abuse. All successful candidates will be subject to an enhanced selection process including safeguarding-focused interviews and a rigorous due diligence process.
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