Senior Specialist, Catalytic Transactions

Job Summary

JOB PURPOSE

The Senior Specialist, Catalytic Transactions, plays a pivotal role in shaping and executing FSD Africa’s catalytic finance initiatives. Operating at a strategic level, the role is responsible for designing and delivering innovative financial transactions that unlock capital for sustainable development, strengthen market infrastructure, and increase private sector participation in priority investment sectors.

With a deep understanding of structured and blended finance mechanisms, the role involves engaging with regulators, investors, and implementing partners to drive innovation in transaction structuring, de-risking solutions, and capital mobilisation that supports inclusive and climate-resilient economic growth.

Accountable for ensuring that a delegated portfolio of catalytic transaction programmes aligns with FSD Africa’s strategy, optimises resources, and delivers systemic market change. This includes overseeing multi-stakeholder collaborations, providing high-level technical input, and designing transactions that demonstrate innovation and scalability, while leveraging capital from public and private sources.

CONTRACT DURATION: 12-month fixed-term, renewable 

REPORTING RELATIONSHIPS

• Reports directly to Director, Catalytic Transactions
• Management Oversight for Associate, Catalytic Transactions

Job Details

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES AND ROLE REQUIREMENTS

1. Thought Leadership & Strategy Development

Act as a thought leader on how catalytic finance and transaction structuring can result in measurable benefits for African people, economies, and the environment, developing a profound understanding of the blended finance ecosystem and potential change levers:

• Contribute to the development of the Catalytic Transactions pillar strategy, collaborating with the Director and Senior Specialists to shape strategic direction and investment priorities.
• Lead the development and delivery of a portfolio of catalytic finance interventions, applying structured and blended finance expertise to achieve FSD Africa’s objectives.
• Monitor market dynamics, product innovation, and systemic barriers in the blended finance landscape, generating insights to inform programme and transaction design.
• Build and apply financial and business models to assess transaction structures and investment targets, working closely with the Development Impact team on forecasting and learning.
• Provide technical guidance to staff and stakeholder in support of high-impact transaction design, execution, and delivery.

2. Project Origination & Planning

Develop a portfolio of Implementing Partners and Projects to drive impact and systemic change in catalytic finance:

• Work with the Director to define the Pillar Strategy and Theory of Change, ensuring the strategic selection of implementing partners and alignment with FSD Africa’s five-year strategy.
• Identify and curate a transformative portfolio of catalytic transactions and projects that mobilise private capital, address market barriers, and deliver measurable development outcomes.
• Lead the design and structuring of catalytic transactions, including thematic bonds, blended finance vehicles, and aggregation instruments, ensuring strategic fit and feasibility.
• Develop high-quality proposals for Investment Committee approval, embedding appropriate risk mitigation and aligning with FSD Africa’s catalytic finance principles.
• Support early-stage engagement with donors and investors to co-develop projects, shape financial instruments, and ensure delivery capacity and resource availability.

3. Financial Management, Risks & Resources

Optimise financial management to maximise impact while ensuring compliance with FSD Africa and donor policies:

• Identify and engage potential donors and co-investors, contributing to the resourcing of catalytic transactions and ensuring that financial structuring aligns with partner requirements.
• Develop and monitor financial models for transactions and project budgets, ensuring accurate valuations, leverage projections, and financial accountability across the portfolio.
• Work with FSD Africa’s support functions to ensure compliance with financial controls, procurement processes, and contract management standards.
• Manage financial and operational risks within the assigned portfolio, embedding appropriate risk mitigation tools and monitoring frameworks during design and implementation.
• Oversee resource planning and budget execution for the portfolio under management, ensuring efficiency, cost-effectiveness, and optimal allocation of technical assistance and grant funding.

4. Ensuring Impactful Implementation

Ensure effective project execution, ensuring that each investment and the overall portfolio achieve targeted results:

• Clarify roles and responsibilities for stakeholders involved in the implementation of transactions and associated projects, including internal teams, implementing partners, and delivery agents.
• Apply best practices in transaction structuring, investment facilitation, and risk mitigation throughout the implementation lifecycle.
• Implement robust performance tracking, integrating development impact metrics and learning insights to inform adaptive management.
• Lead evaluation and progress reviews of transactions and associated projects, identifying opportunities to improve delivery, enhance capital mobilisation, and scale successful approaches.
• Support closure planning, ensuring the sustainability of interventions and long-term value beyond FSD Africa’s direct involvement.

5. Influencing and Communicating for Impact

Drive catalytic finance ecosystem transformation through effective influencing, advocacy, and communication strategies:

• Map and engage key stakeholders across public and private sectors who influence the enabling environment for catalytic transactions and market innovation.
• Define behaviour change objectives for priority audiences and work with the Communications team to develop targeted influencing and advocacy strategies.
• Support the delivery of the Catalytic Transactions pillar communication strategy, contributing insights, case studies, and technical content that promote adoption and replication.
• Represent FSD Africa at relevant regional and global platforms, advocating for the use of blended finance and catalytic capital to address systemic market constraints.
• Foster collaboration across FSD Africa teams and with external partners to amplify the visibility and impact of successful transaction models.

6.  Team Leadership

Lead project teams composed of FSD Africa staff and consultants in a manner that empowers them to add value and deliver high standards of performance:

• Provide clear guidance, accountability structures, and performance expectations for the Associate and any consultants supporting portfolio delivery.
• Ensure the portfolio is resourced with the appropriate technical expertise, working closely with Procurement to identify and engage high-quality external support.
• Foster a high-performance working dynamic through coaching, mentorship, and collaborative problem-solving.
• Review team and consultant performance regularly, offering developmental feedback and ensuring alignment with FSD Africa’s values.
• Coordinate effectively with implementing partners and co-investors, ensuring shared objectives, smooth delivery, and strong working relationships.

Carry out any other duties or special assignments as assigned by the Management.

COMPETENCIES
Competencies describe the key behaviours that drive success in all of FSD Africa’s roles, regardless of technical specialism. They have been derived from systematic research correlating performance with personal attributes. 

Competency Levels 

• Level 1: Basic
• Level 2: Foundation   
• Level 3: Specialist
• Level 4: Senior Specialist      
• Level 5: Leading Expert          
• Level 6: Executive

This position requires competency at Senior Specialist Level for all the competencies listed below:

ESSENTIAL FOUNDATIONS
Commitment & Alignment
Demonstrates commitment to serving our partners and alignment with the values and vision of FSD Africa
Change & Challenge
Has a strong sense of ownership that leads to learning, self-starting, taking initiative, driving change and leading development
 

ACHIEVEMENT COMPETENCIES
Situational Awareness & Thinking
Thinks clearly and intentionally, analysing information objectively, understanding issues, solving problems, and making decisions
Drive for results
Is keenly motivated to achieve goals & act with accountability to deliver quality results
 

PEOPLE COMPETENCIES
Relationships & Collaboration
Discerns and appreciates the values, viewpoints, or abilities of others; effectively reconciles different interests and displays emotional intelligence
Communication & Influencing
Deliberately adjusts behaviour to accommodate others; communicates clearly, confidently, and appropriately to influence others
 

Requirements

PERSON SPECIFICATIONS

Qualifications and Education

• Masters degree and 11 years of experience or Bachelors Degree and 12 years of relevant experience.
• Exceptional skills in written and spoken English.

Essential Experience, Knowledge, and Skills

• Strong track record of designing, structuring, or delivering catalytic or blended finance transactions in emerging markets, ideally with experience across multiple sectors or instruments.
• Solid understanding of the financial sector and capital markets in Sub-Saharan Africa, with a focus on mobilising private investment for sustainable development.
• Demonstrated ability to manage a portfolio of complex programmes or investments, including responsibility for technical design, financial modelling, and stakeholder management.
• Practical experience working with a range of partners including DFIs, donors, regulators, asset managers, and implementing partners.
• Strong analytical and strategic thinking skills, including the ability to assess systemic barriers, identify market opportunities, and design impactful solutions.

Desirable

• Professional qualifications in investment, development finance, or related areas
• Experience working in or with African public or private financial institutions
• Familiarity with transaction governance processes (e.g. investment committees, term sheet negotiation, due diligence reviews)
   

Commitment to Equity, Diversity, and Inclusivity: 

FSDAi is committed to building a diverse organization and a climate of equity and inclusivity.  We strongly encourage applications from candidates who can demonstrate that they can contribute to this goal.

Equal Opportunity Employer: 

We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity. We do not discriminate based on race, religion, colour, national origin, sex, gender, gender expression, sexual orientation, age, marital status, or disability status. We will ensure that all applicants are provided a fair chance to compete for available job opportunities.

About Company

FSD Africa

https://fsdafrica.org/

FSD Africa is a specialist development agency working to help make finance work for Africa’s future. Based in Nairobi, FSD Africa’s team of financial sector experts work alongside governments, business leaders, regulators, and policymakers to design and build ambitious programmes that make financial markets work better for everyone. FSD Africa Investments, provides early-stage, risk-bearing, catalytic and patient capital to inventive commercial organisations in order to stimulate capital flows in support of green economic growth benefiting people and planet. Established in 2012, FSD Africa is incorporated as a non-profit company limited by guarantee in Kenya. It is funded by UK aid from the UK government.