AFRACA Rural Finance Officer job in Kenya

Rural Finance Officer Introduction

The African Rural and Agricultural Credit Association (AFRACA), is a regional association of Sub-Saharan financial and non-financial institutions involved in promoting rural and agricultural financial inclusion in Africa. Its membership consists of central banks, commercial banks, agricultural/development banks, microfinance institutions, financial sector stakeholder networks, training institutions, insurance agencies, farmer organizations, and various government ministries.
One of AFRACA’s key programmes is the Rural Finance Knowledge Management Partnership (KMP).

KMP is an IFAD-financed grant programme that started operations in 2003, mainly targeting IFAD programmes. In collaboration with a variety of partners, KMP Phases I and II pursued two objectives:

• strengthening IFAD’s engagement in rural financial service delivery in ESA through knowledge management (KM), experience sharing and capacity building services within IFAD programmes, and through direct technical and implementation support to IFAD-supported rural finance initiatives in the region;
•  developing new and innovative ways to provide financial services to the rural poor through action research programmes for the members of the partnership.

The KMP-Phase III will therefore intensify and improve services to IFAD-supported rural finance projects and will strengthen action research and sharing and dissemination of rural finance lessons learned and best practices through new partnerships at a time when countries in the ESA region want to improve financial inclusion as part of their strategy towards broad-based economic growth and poverty reduction.

Goal: To raise the income and standard of living of poor rural communities in the ESA region. Objectives: To improve access to affordable, appropriate, and sustainable financial products and services for poor rural communities in the ESA region.
Main Responsibilities

• Implementation support: Provide technical assistance to rural finance programmes in East and Southern Africa as required.
• Knowledge & Information Sharing: Assist in identifying, repackaging and sharing successful rural finance models that can be replicated.
• Act as the liaison person for collaboration activities between KMP, AGRA & Ruforum
• Assist in the planning & organization of annual rural finance workshops
• Participate in the design of annual workplans & budgets
• Facilitate platforms for experience sharing between rural finance projects in the region.
• Other duties as assigned by the Rural Finance Specialist

Requirements

• A relevant university degree with a strong background in rural finance, rural development or agricultural economics
• At least five years experience in agriculture / microfinance / rural finance work or a related field
• Superior verbal & written communication skills, highly self-motivated and driven thus can achieve results independently and with teams.
• Ability to work well with multicultural teams

Applications comprising a cover letter and a detailed updated CV with full day contact numbers, names and contacts of three traceable referees must be sent to:

The Secretary General, African Rural & Agricultural Credit Association (AFRACA)
2nd Floor Shelter Afrique building
Mamlaka Road off Nyerere Road
P.o Box 41378 – 00100,
Nairobi, Kenya

To reach us by 30th January 2013.

A competitive remuneration package will be offered based on qualifications and experience.

Only shortlisted applicants will be contacted.

AFRACA is an equal opportunity employer.