Manager, Green Loans

Job Summary

The Accelerating Financial Resilience & Insurance for Young African Women in Agrifood Systems (AFIYA) program is a multi-country initiative that seeks to strengthen the resilience of vulnerable young women smallholder farmers and agri-preneurs across eight African countries. AFIYA complements and amplifies existing Mastercard Foundation country programs by embedding innovative insurance and financial inclusion solutions within established initiatives and trusted delivery channels. AFIYA’s core ambition is to enhance the financial security, climate resilience, and entrepreneurial capacity of young women in agriculture, enabling them to sustainably participate in and benefit from agrifood systems. The Manager, Green Loans will lead in the implementation, and management of AFIYA’s green lending and insurance-bundled credit interventions, ensuring delivery of inclusive, climate-aligned financial solutions to young women SHFs and Agri-SMEs across Sub-Saharan Africa. S/he will contribute to the implementation of the programme by leading key activities which include ensuring workplan execution; budget management; tracking achievement of project milestones and logframe indicators; providing technical supervision of consultants and quality control of outputs; liaising with implementing partners to support effective delivery of projects

Job Details

Reports to - Head of Delivery, AFIYA

Reports Indirectly to -  Principal, Innovation for Resilience

Direct Reports - Consultants engaged on projects

Contract type - Full Time 

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES AND ROLE REQUIREMENTS

1. Strategy and Programming

Work with the Head of Delivery, AFIYA within the context of FSD Africa’s strategy and the Adaptation & Resilience Pillar’s focus, ensuring that the programme results in meaningful real-sector outcomes:

• Scope out existing research (and undertake additional research if agreed upon), build a deep understanding of how green loan solutions can be leveraged to improve financial resilience, particularly in managing climate risks and supporting young women SHFs and Agri-SMEs.
• Share learnings associated with strategy development and programming with the broader FSD Africa organisation and partners
• Work collaboratively with the Development Impact to devise and manage results measurement and learning frameworks that will yield important insights.
• Monitor developments in green financing, sharing insights into strategic adjustments.
• Participate actively in strategy formulation sessions, contributing technical expertise and innovative solutions.

2. Project Cycle Management

Coordinate the roll-out of a delegated portfolio of green loan projects so that results are achieved, risks are managed, and quality results are delivered; ensuring that ongoing learning from the projects is fully utilised to maximise impact and innovation

• In charge of the management of the lending facility, including selection and onboarding of eligible fintech’s, MFIs, and insurtechs.
• Design and manage milestone-based fund disbursements, ensuring effective performance tracking and compliance oversight for implementing partners.
• Coordinate development of bundled insurance products and ensure seamless integration with emergency and working capital loan products.
• Review the Quarterly monitoring and evaluation reports for green loans projects and take appropriate action based on results and analysis:
  • If desired results have been achieved, initiate strategies for widespread awareness-raising and ‘crowding in’, focusing on applying leverage, replication of the project, and scaling; 
  • If desired results have not been achieved, either manage performance of the implementation team or adjust the strategy/approach. 
• Identify, report on and mitigate project risks in a timely manner (project delivery and partnership management). 
• Track program outcomes against KPIs, including loan uptake, default rates, insurance claims, and gender-disaggregated impact.
• Refine project strategies, creating detailed implementation plans, risk assessments, and tracking frameworks to guide execution.
• Ensure clarity among stakeholders regarding roles, deliverables, standards, and reporting requirements for effective project delivery.
• Lead effective project closure processes, ensuring sustainable outcomes beyond FSD Africa's involvement.

3. Influencing and Communicating for Impact

Actively participate in development, and lead implementation, of advocacy and communications plans for AFIYA programme: 

• Map stakeholders and devise strategic communication plans to influence key actors and advance project goals.
• Partner with the Communications team to integrate advocacy into project plans, driving stakeholder engagement effectively.
• Develop impactful content and materials for advocacy efforts, supporting visibility and strategic communication objectives.
• Represent FSD Africa professionally in public forums, enhancing its credibility and influence among stakeholders.
• Monitor communication efforts, adjusting strategies based on effectiveness and stakeholder responses.

4. Relationship Management

Take initiative to build relationships and ensure effective collaboration with and between all project stakeholders and FSD Africa colleagues; includes managing any consultants deployed to the projects being managed:

• Ensure that all stakeholders involved in green loan projects are fully briefed concerning expectations; especially on project milestone targets, quality standards, data collection/reporting, and compliance with accountability requirements. 
• Proactively build strategic partnerships with financial service providers and oversee collaboration with digital platforms to achieve project success.
• Foster collaboration across organisational pillars, identifying opportunities for synergy and coordinated actions.
• Respond effectively to stakeholder information needs, organising targeted capacity-building events or knowledge dissemination.
• Manage consultants and teams through motivational leadership, ensuring high performance and effective project outcomes.
• Engage continuously with stakeholders to nurture relationships, ensuring ongoing collaboration and support for projects.

5. Risks & Resources Management 

Ensure effective management of resources/budget for projects under management, aiming to optimise the impact that is achieved with resources and ensuring compliance with FSD Africa and Donor policies:

• Develop project plans, budgets, and forecasts to ensure optimal resource utilisation and compliance with organisational policies.
• Support fundraising by contributing technical sections and budgets to project proposals.
• Ensure rigorous due diligence and risk assessments are conducted, ensuring thorough analysis without impeding Green Loan partner operations.
• Liaise internally to manage financial resources effectively, ensuring compliance with statutory and donor regulations.
• Regularly analyse portfolio performance for value-for-money, adjusting strategies to enhance development impact.

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 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

• Master’s degree and 6 years of experience or Bachelor’s Degree and 8 years of experience
• Relevant postgraduate qualifications preferred.
• Excellent skills in written and spoken English.

Essential Experience, Knowledge and Skills

• At least 6 years of professional experience in developing and scaling green finance solutions, with a focus on expanding access to green loans and climate-resilient credit products across multiple countries and financial institutions, particularly within Africa.
• Excellent grasp of key principles of Project Cycle Management; proven track record of adaptive management.
• Experience working in a complex and pioneering environment.
• Track record of managing relationships and influencing stakeholders in the financial sector in Africa; good influencing/ interpersonal skills
• Track record of effectively managing people; including ability to motivate and coordinate teams.
• Ability to engage & influence convincingly at a senior management level. 
• Ability to manage a project using digital platforms or tools to communicate; ability to manage data/ documentation electronically.
• Ability to manage project portfolio with middle-level budget.
  
   

Desirable

• Experience of working in a multi-cultural environment
• Experience working with donors, including knowledge of donor policies and procedures.
• Previous experience of working in FCDO-funded projects 
• Knowledge and conceptual understanding of environmental risks (and associated topics) & application to international development / financial market systems development
• Languages: French, local African languages
   

Commitment to Equity, Diversity, and Inclusivity: 

FSD Africa 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.