Embedded Agriculture Financing Advisor(Re-Advertisement) at Development Bank of Rwanda (BRD): (Deadline 24 September 2024)

Embedded Agriculture Financing Advisor(Re-Advertisement) at Development Bank of Rwanda (BRD): (Deadline 24 September 2024)

Job Re-Advertisement

The Development Bank of Rwanda (BRD) Plc is Rwanda’s only National Development Bank mandated to support Rwanda’s Vision 2050 development agenda. Over the past five years, the bank has registered exponential growth contributing to socio-economic development, strengthening institutional and human capacity, fostering corporate governance and risk management practices.

The Bank is implementing the revised strategic plan for 2024-2028 which is appropriately aligned to the country’s strategic direction enabling the Bank to unlock better value creation for its stakeholders by supporting entrepreneurs, addressing market failures, and impactful socioeconomic development.

To deliver on its bold vision and impactful objectives, the Bank’s expanded and refocused mandate is underpinned on four strategic focus areas:

• Availing transformational finance.
• Increasing green financing for a resilient future.
• Driving scale and impact.
• Fostering innovation and technology.

To achieve its strategic mandate, BRD recognizes the importance of strengthening its human and institutional capital to drive sustainable development, and ensure the Bank remains a center of excellence in the financial sector.

BRD is committed to respecting gender equality and disability norms. We promote gender responsive practices. Qualified candidates particularly females and persons living with disabilities are encouraged to apply.

To help accomplish this ambitious and exciting vision, the Development Bank of Rwanda (BRD) would like to recruit suitable qualified candidates to fill the following position:

EMBEDDED AGRICULTURE FINANCING ADVISOR (1)

Background Information

Job Title: Embedded Agriculture Financing Advisor

Current Grade: N/A

Department: Business Development

Reporting line: functionally and administratively report to the Head of Business Development and work closely with the Manager of Agriculture Portfolio

Contract Terms – 2 years fixed-term renewable (Subject to funds availability)

 Purpose of the Job

BRD is now seeking the service of an Embedded Agriculture Financing Advisor to work with and support the Bank’s agriculture unit in order to increase the performance in the next 2 years and develop a comprehensive action plan and propose best practices for agriculture projects structuring and appraisal in order to achieve the department objectives and targets.

In addition, the Agriculture Financing Embedded Advisor will focus on strengthening the capacity of the staff in the agriculture unit and with PFIs staff in advancing agriculture lending through provision of financial and technical guidance on project appraisals, pipeline development; agriculture projects structuring, advise on the appropriate digital tools for agriculture financing.

The agriculture Financing embedded advisor is expected to advise the agriculture Unit performance improvements and key sector stakeholders. The agriculture embedded advisor will ensure that all agriculture related activities are executed in line with BRD’s strategy, best practices and the guidance provided by BRD management.

The advisor shall focus on identifying capacity gaps in terms of agricultural policy and regulatory framework design including potential climate finance opportunities and climate mitigation and adaptation in the agriculture sector, institutional implementation capacities of the Agricultural portfolio growth, availing the right skills for strong human resource base to spearhead the agricultural transformation; agricultural commercialization cluster development and management; enhancement in stakeholders’ engagement.

 Main Responsibilities of the Job

• To contribute to the growth of the Bank’s portfolio through identification of bankable projects
• Develop an Agriculture Financing Strategy that would clearly show the opportunities available in the agriculture sector for a number of selected value chains.
• Develop new or fine tune existing productsthat the bank will use in financing agriculture based on market needs.
• Identify potential climate finance opportunities and climate mitigation and adaptation in the agriculture sector.
• Participate in the Agriculture sector research studies aimed at addressing financing bottlenecks.
• Provide technical support to the staff in appraisal process of projects for their approval by relevant authorities.
• Support PFIs staff in advancing agriculture lending opportunities on the market
• Participate in various forums organized by the Bank’s Sector stakeholders.
• Advising the Bank on the engagement and relationship management with key sector stakeholders including The Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Resources (MINAGRI), Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning (MINECOFIN), Rwanda Agricultural Board (RAB), Rwanda Cooperative Agency (RCA) as well as other implementing partners (e.g Banks, MFIs & SACCOs), and any other relevant stakeholders.
• Provide financing and technical advice by reviewing all Agricultural loans applications, and support in technical, financial and market analysis of projects identified for financing.
• Conduct financial modeling analyses, both during Project appraisal and project restructuring that might be needed.
• Provide advisory services to the Bank’ clients through preparation project feasibility studies.
• Assist with the delivery of workshops and presentations aimed at sharing experiences among project beneficiaries and implementing partners.
• Assist with preparation and delivery of learning events aimed at sharing experiences among stakeholders.
• Participate in the implementation of Agriculture financing strategy.
• Conduct field visit to clients both existing and new in a bid to provide advisory services for project sustainability and proper project identification.
• Advise and assist in drafting project implementation progress reports and briefing notes to different stakeholders.
• Advise and assist in preparation of terms of reference for consultancy work planned under the project by supporting the review process with other departments and address any comments to the draft documents in order to receive no objection.
• Advise and assist with the preparation and monitoring of the annual work plan and budget as well as monitoring reports.
•  Provide induction training to all agriculture unit staff on analysis of projects as well as knowledge transfer along different agriculture value chains.
• Advise and assist in the design tools for appraising the loan applications as well as tools for monitoring and reporting on progress of agricultural projects financed.
• Advise BRD’s management on the design of appropriate agricultural products.
• Participate in the design of the awareness campaign strategy for different products offered by the Bank.
• Assist with supervision of various consultancy services to the agriculture sector.
• Carry out any other assignment given by the BRD management.

 Performance indicators

• Weekly reporting to supervisor.
• Weekly briefing notes outlining key issues for BRD Management attention.
• Quarterly progress reports to the Senior Manager in charge of Investment describing major activities undertaken and tasks accomplished during the reporting period and challenges hindering implementation process.
• Meeting the annual target of the agriculture financing Unit
• Participation in the preparation of End of year performance report.
• Development of An Agriculture Financing Strategy approved by Management.
• Pilot products to finance at least 30-40 Projects.

Working relationships

•  All departments

Professional, academic qualifications and experience

• A Master’s degree in Agricultural Economics, Economics, Business administration, Accounting, Finance, banking or related discipline.
• At least 10 years of relevant professional experience in financial sector services, with at least 5 years of professional experience in project finance, Agriculture finance at managerial level.
• Experience of working on projects specifically related to lending to off-grid solar and mini-grids will be an added advantage.
• Experience of working on donor funded projects or other development partners will also be an added advantage.

Core competencies

• Strong financial skillset, including investment analyses, risk assessments, conducting due diligence, deal structuring and performing financial modeling.
• A track record of negotiation and underwriting skills.
• Exceptional communication, writing and analytical skills.
• Good organizational skills including attention to detail and multi-tasking skills.
• Strong working knowledge of Microsoft Office (Excel, Power point, Word, etc.).
• Proficiency in written and spoken English

Application Guidelines:

Interested candidate should apply online (https://www.brd.rw/careers/ ) and upload application documents including Curriculum Vitae, copies of degree certificates and professional certificates, motivation letter, names of three previous supervisors (as one document) as well as their emails and telephone. Please be informed that you will receive a notification pop up message after successfully uploading your application.

Only online applications shall be considered.

Email only for inquiries (not application): recruitment@brd.rw

Address all applications to the Head, Human Capital, and Corporate Services of the Development Bank of Rwanda.

Deadline for application: 24th September 2024

The employment package is highly competitive/attractive.

Due to expected high volume of applications, ONLY shortlisted applicants will be contacted.

Done in Kigali, Monday 9th September 2024

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